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Posts from February 2018

The Final Three Major Projects

The Final Three Major Projects published on

This is the post for the week of February 26, 2018.

Notes for the Week

  • Since Spring Break begins at the end of the week, all of the Discussion posts for this week have been published on Monday. This change will allow you to get everything done early if you are leaving town. If you aren’t leaving, no worries! Just do things as you usually would, getting the work done as you can.
  • This week, we begin work on the last three major projects you will complete for the course. All of the remaining major projects in the course are connected. Here’s how:

    Genre Report Timeline

    The important detail here is that you have to decide on your plan for both the proposal and the genre analysis report this week.

Readings for the Week

Tasks for the Week

Complete the tasks and readings included in the Short Proposal Overview Module in Canvas:

  1. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 26, submit your 02/23 Labor Log in Canvas, if you are using the grace period.
  2. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 26, submit your project in the Analysis assignment in Canvas. If you are using the grace period, submit your project by 11:59PM on March 1.
  3. Leave a comment on the Discussion Posts if you like.
  4. By 11:59PM on Friday, March 2, write your 03/02 Labor Log in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, March 12. Spring Break doesn’t count in the calculation, but if you put off writing, you may forget what you have done. Endeavor to submit your log on time.

 

Note: This image already has a text description, so a transcript is not needed.


 
Last updated on Thursday, March 1, 2018

#WeekendWatch: Reader-Friendly Proposals

#WeekendWatch: Reader-Friendly Proposals published on 5 Comments on #WeekendWatch: Reader-Friendly Proposals

Lynda.com Login Help

Lynda.com videos are free to Virginia Tech students with your VT.EDU login. Start at the VT.EDU login page to access these resources.

This week’s #WeekendWatch demonstrates how Reader-Friendly Design (4m40s) can improve a proposal, making it more likely that readers will consider the document fully.

The video shows a before and after version of a chunk of text from a proposal and walks through the changes that make the original document easier to read. The video shows why it’s important to pay attention to paragraphing, headings, and document structures like bullet lists for a reader-friendly design.

Watch the video for more information on strategies that you can apply in your short proposal.

Screenshot of the opening image from the Lynda.com video on Reader-Friendly Design in Proposals

 

Note: This video has closed captioning, so it does not need a transcript.


 
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2018

#FridayFact: Proposal Readers Don’t Want Suspense

#FridayFact: Proposal Readers Don’t Want Suspense published on 12 Comments on #FridayFact: Proposal Readers Don’t Want Suspense

The Psycho House by Steve on Flickr, used under a CC-BY-SA 2.0 licenseIf you want a positive response to your proposal, be up front with the key information. Don’t keep your readers in suspense, waiting for the details.

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) article “Don’t Make Your Innovation Proposal into a Hitchcock Movie” explains that readers don’t like to wait for the details in a proposal. Suspense works well for movies like Hitchcock’s Psycho, author Scott Anthony argues, but proposal readers want the key information right way. Anthony explains, “You simply cannot leave them waiting and wondering about what you want to do and what you need.”

As is the case with all writing, audience awareness can make or break your proposal. Your document has to give readers what they want and need. “The One Unbreakable Rule in Business Writing,” according to Harvard Business Review’s Tucker Max, is that your document “has to be about the reader, not about you.” Read the article for three questions that will help you make sure you meet your reader’s expectations.

 

 

Photo credit: The Psycho House by Steve on Flickr, used under a CC-BY-SA 2.0 license


 
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2018

#InfographicInspiration: Persuasion and Storytelling

#InfographicInspiration: Persuasion and Storytelling published on 13 Comments on #InfographicInspiration: Persuasion and Storytelling

If you think about it, you already know that storytelling is persuasive. Picture any commercial that you’ve seen that really caught your attention. Chances are high that it included some kind of a story. It might have included people telling a story as a testimonial for why the product or service is good, or it might depict a story that demonstrates why the product or service is good.

Storytelling can work well in professional writing too. When you work on a proposal for a client, you want to include details the demonstrate why your ideas are the best ones. This week’s #InfographicInspiration outlines why storytelling can be so persuasive for readers.

Storytelling: The Most Effective Way to Engage and Persuade People
Larger image available

 

Note: This infographic needs a text-based transcript. See the Optional Accessibility Transcript Activity for more details.


 
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2018

#WednesdayWrite: Midterm Evaluation

#WednesdayWrite: Midterm Evaluation published on 41 Comments on #WednesdayWrite: Midterm Evaluation

Course Evaluation Day. Finally I Have My Revenge!Since it’s the middle of the term, I want to invite you to tell me how you feel about the course so far. Here are three ways to respond:

  • Add a comment that tells me how you feel about the course so far.
  • Reply to a comment someone else has made. It’s useful to know if a lot of you are interested in the same thing.
  • Send me an email or a private message in Canvas if you want to say something but don’t want to say it in public.

Possible Questions

I will share some questions you can answer if you like; however, you are free to comment in whatever way you like. Don’t feel limited by the questions.

  • What do you love about the course?
  • What do you hate about the course?
  • How can I help you learn better?
  • What can you do to do better in the course?
  • What is most helpful to you about the course?
  • Is there anything you wish the course would cover? What?
  • “Stop, Start, Continue”:
    • What do you want to stop in the course?
    • What would you like to start?
    • What would you like to continue?

Please Be Honest

I will not use your comments against you, nor will your comments help you. Just be honest, and give me some details to support what you say. Here’s an example:

Not Very Helpful
This class sucks! [This response doesn’ let me know what I need to do to improve.]

Helpful
This class sucks because I prefer multiple choice quizzes to writing projects.

Naturally, I cannot make every change you might like. I can’t eliminate writing projects, for example, since this is a writing course. I will take your suggestions seriously and make changes that the majority of people want if possible however.

 


 
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2018

#TuesdayTutorial: Proposal Overview

#TuesdayTutorial: Proposal Overview published on 8 Comments on #TuesdayTutorial: Proposal Overview

Lynda.com Login Help

Lynda.com videos are free to Virginia Tech students with your VT.EDU login. Start at the VT.EDU login page to access these resources.

The Discussion posts this week provide more information about proposals. Some of the information, like today’s tutorial, include information that expands beyond the basic details you need to write your short proposal for this class. Since you are likely to write more than one kind of proposal once you enter the workforce, the thorough details in this video are sure to come in handy

This week’s #Tuesday Tutorial, the Lynda.com video Overview of Business Proposals (5m25s), introduces the four different types of proposals and goes on to discuss common proposal characteristics such as document structure, the necessary length, and audience needs.

As you watch the video, consider how the information relates to the short proposal that you will write. Since you will write about different kind of writing and for different reasons, how can you apply the information the video shares? If you have experience writing proposals in the workplace or elsewhere, how does your experience match the information in the video?

Screenshot of the opening screen of the Lynda.com video Overview of Business Proposals
Screenshot of the opening screen of the Lynda.com video Overview of Business Proposals

 

Note: This video has closed captioning, so it does not need a transcript.


 
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2018

#WeekendWatch: Control Page Breaks in Tables

#WeekendWatch: Control Page Breaks in Tables published on 12 Comments on #WeekendWatch: Control Page Breaks in Tables

As you are working on your table for the Analysis project, you may find yourself in the situation where a row of information breaks onto two pages. Our #WeekendWatch takes care of that problem. All you need to do is change a checkbox in Word to keep rows of information together.

This Auburn University Writing Center video demonstrates how to change that setting in Microsoft Word for Mac. The process for Windows is similar, so it’s still worth watching the video if you’re a Windows person.

If you use Windows, use the instructions from Microsoft to make the change.

 

 

Note: This video has closed captioning, so it does not need a transcript.


 
Last updated on Monday, February 19, 2018

#FridayFact: Grammar and Style Checkers Are Often Wrong

#FridayFact: Grammar and Style Checkers Are Often Wrong published on 16 Comments on #FridayFact: Grammar and Style Checkers Are Often Wrong

Screenshot of autocorrect on a phone, with the image of a police officer riding a unicornWe all rely on grammar and style checkers to help us find the small errors in our writing. Anyone who has had autocorrect go wrong, however, knows that grammar and spell checkers are not necessarily accurate. Sometimes (as in the case of the unicorn-riding police officer in the image on the right) these tools can change our messages to say things we never intended.

In the same way that you must double-check the changes that autocorrect suggests, you have to pay attention to the grammar and style tools that are available in your word processors. Read the Slate.com article Microsoft Word’s Grammar and Style Tools Will Make Your Writing Worse for lots of examples of how Word can suggest changes that will confuse your readers.

Finally, as long as you are still at Virginia Tech, remember that you have free access to the Lynda.com course Grammar Foundations (below). You can look up any grammar questions you have there.

Note: This video has closed captioning, so it does not need a transcript.


 
Last updated on Sunday, February 18, 2018

Grades on the Professional Bio Project

Grades on the Professional Bio Project published on 22 Comments on Grades on the Professional Bio Project

Distribution of Grades on the Bio ProjectI have graded all of the Professional Bio projects. This post accomplishes the following goals:

  • Tells you about the feedback strategy I used.
  • Provides overall feedback on the project.
  • Outlines revision activities you can complete if you are not happy with your grade.

Please read the information carefully and note the related dates. If you have questions about grading in this course, consult these resources:

The Feedback Strategy for the Project

I recorded a video for each of you that gives feedback on your project, explaining what I am seeing as I look at the document and talking about how you can improve it.

This is the first time I have tried video feedback. Please watch the entire video as I give you suggestions for improving that will help with future projects. Even if you have a complete on the assignment, there will be useful information in the video. Since I have not used video in this way previously, I would love feedback from you. You can leave a comment on this post that tells me what your thoughts are on this strategy.

I need to share a few details about these videos:

  • The video feedback files are mp4s and should play in Canvas. All you need to do is click on the link in the comment area on the assignment. The video has audio, so you may want to use your earbuds when you listen.
  • I may have mispronounced your name. If so, I apologize. Please let me know how to say your name so that I get it right the next time.
  • You may well hear background noise in the videos. Some of you will hear the dogs bark. One of you will hear the dog flinging himself into the door because he was angry that I shut him out. One of you will hear me gasp when my sister suddenly shoves a piece of paper into my view (I didn’t hear her come in the room and she scared the tar out of me). Several of you will hear my fan, which I forgot to turn off. Apologies for all that.

Overall Feedback for the Class

  • Complete bios: Most of you did a good job following the instructions in the assignment by including all of the required information.
  • Work on document design: Many projects could be improved with more attention to document design. In particular, remember the design elements from the CRAP infographic and the F-shaped reading pattern.
  • Focus on showing: The details in your documents should show the reader what you want to communicate. You may have had a teacher in the past talk about the difference between showing and telling in your writing. A Stanford technical writing course explains it this way:
    [U]se specific examples and stories. In writing, we call this show, don’t tell. Don’t just say you are committed to solving global health problems, show an example of this. Readers don’t remember abstractions. They remember stories.

  • Help from the Writing Center: Remember that anyone can visit the Writing Center in the library for help with projects for the course. Writing Center tutors can help you strengthen your content as well as work on document design and issues with phrasing, grammar, or punctuation. You can read more about the Writing Center and make an appointment at https://lib.vt.edu/spaces/writing-center.html.

Revision Activities for the Analysis Project

I have reopened the assignment so that those of you who want to revise can improve your project. Follow the guidelines below to resubmit your work.

  1. If I made a mistake or there is a technical issue with your video
    Send me an email message or a private message in Canvas with the details. I’ll fix it.
  2. If there were problems with the content or design of your bio
    Revise your project to improve your work, adding whatever is missing and/or tweaking the design. Resubmit your project, and I will regrade your work.
  3. If you did not submit your work at all
    It is too late. Be sure to turn in all the remaining projects if you want to pass the course.
  4. If something else is going on
    Send me an email message or a private message on Slack with the details. I’ll see what I can do to help you.

Suggested Revision Dates

It would be unfair to ask for revisions before Spring Break. I’m sure many of you have plans (or at least dreams) of getting out of Blacksburg. Likewise, I take time off during break, so I assume you do too. As a result, I would like to give you a longer period of time to get revisions in.

By 11:59PM on March 16, aim to submit your revision. It will help you to have the bio done before we dive fully into the second half of the term.

If you need more time, that is fine. The bio assignment is open until the last day of classes. You do not need to contact me. Realize however that if you put off revising until the last day, you may run out of time. You cannot revise after the last day of classes.


 
Last updated on Thursday, February 22, 2018

#InfographicInspiration: Punctuation Rules

#InfographicInspiration: Punctuation Rules published on 10 Comments on #InfographicInspiration: Punctuation Rules

Lots of handbooks explain how punctuation works, but who wants to read pages of information in a grammar textbook? Today’s #InfographicInspiration won’t eliminate the need to look up how certain rules work; however, it does provide a nice overview of the primary ways that most punctuation marks are used.

I suspect that you will be familiar with a lot of the rules, especially for marks like periods, commas, and exclamation points. Other punctuation marks may be new to you, such as en dashes and em dashes.

If you find anything new to you or need more information on an exclamation, try searching for details on the information on Punctuation on the Purdue OWL site.

69 Rules of Punctuation
Click for larger image and transcript

 


 
Last updated on Sunday, February 18, 2018

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