09/10/2014

Class Notes

Notes taken since the beginning of the class until the break

1. Reviewing some SYLLABUS specifics:

• DO NOT BE LATE;
• DUEDATES MUST BE OBEYED;
• ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT TO BE GRADED AFTER THE DUEDATE;
• UNCATEGORIZED BLOG ENTRIES ARE NOT TO BE GRADED;
• REVIEW THE SYLLABUS.
• Under the category of RESOURCES, students can find many valuable and legit reading materials about Technical Writing.

2. TECHNICAL WRITING – definition based on the readings:

• It is simplified –deride what is not important;
• Streamlineal – optimized for the specific purpose;
• Consumer/audience/user oriented.

3. TECHNICAL WRITERS as translators and convertors. The translated or simplified technical writing must include all of the eight characteristics of excellence.

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Notes taken after the break:

1. COVER LETTER

• Argument/Persuasive form(state a claim, and then provide evidences to prove the claim)
• Must be one page, in paragraph form, include four paragraphs (1^st paragraph: introduce; 2^nd: write about yourself; 3^rd: write about experiences; 4^th: state how can contribute.)
• It has to look professionally, one-inch margins all around;
• It has to be narrative-tell the story;
• With reasoning and prioritizing, to fit employer’s needs.
• Has to be written 100% in the active language.
• Active language – describe the action in several different ways, write how YOU influenced the situation rather then, how everything happened to you. Constant rotation of subject and object.   

2. RESUME

• Should not be a duplicate of cover letter;
• Should be straightforward include: skills, dates, education, bullet point form.

3. JOB AD SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY

• Requirements with “must” are important ;
• “desired”- not so important;