[h5p id="3"]


[h5p id="4"]

Commas and Quotation Marks

[h5p id="5"]

Capitalization

[h5p id="6"]

It is extremely important to know how to write and speak well, especially if you work in a corporate environment or own your own business. For instance, a person’s accent can get in the way of communicating well with others which can cause that person to feel inadequate or others to find them unqualified for a job. It doesn’t matter if you are from another country or another state in the US, it can be a stumbling block to communicate well. Some students whose first language is not English might have a difficult time expressing themselves through speaking and writing. While trying to master the complexity of the English language, some students have difficulties pronouncing certain words and would mix up the tenses in their writings.

Learning standard English grammar is essential to the flow and grace of both writing and speaking. Native Jamaicans, for example, may find this to be a challenge. Although their first language is English, Jamaican Patois (or Jamaican Creole or Patwa) is the most widely spoken. Being in the company of family or a fellow Jamaican unconsciously brings out the accent and the native Jamaican is no longer speaking with standard English patterns. For those for whom English is their second language, it can be time consuming to write in customary English because one is always second guessing if he or she is saying or writing the grammatically correct way according to the American English standards. However, if one can write well, then one should be able to speak even better. Regardless of background or education, it is essential to learn how to be a good writer by mastering the art of being a great English-speaking writer.

In addition to using writing to become a better speaker for emigrant English speakers, writing could be used as a tool to structure a speech or conversation. In everyday life, people must communicate to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain. When writing these structures must be kept in mind (e.g., topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion). This type of structure also applies when speaking.

It is so important to be a good writer and convey ideas in an organized way because this skill often translates to effective communication with others.

Express Ideas Clearly

Often, our writing is the only thing we could use to represent ourselves to others. This writing could be in the form of a resume, cover letter, or novel. The message we want to get to someone else needs to be clear and polished or it will otherwise create a bad image for ourselves.

The quality of writing really matters, especially when it becomes one of the only representations for the writer as a person.

Overall, the idea of writing can be intimidating, but if we allow ourselves to slow down and clear our thoughts, we’ll be able express our ideas and pour our sentiments into a computer or on paper. The more care we take with our work, the better it will be. One way to help map out our thoughts and organize them to prepare for quality writing, is to write it down in a journal. It can be a great tool to help delineate patterns and themes. A journal allows the writer to put thoughts down on paper and think them through. By using this technique, one can work out a difficult situation, make the right decision, or come up with innovative concepts. It can also help one to achieve goals and respond effectively to challenges in the future. With better decision-making skills and brainstorming techniques, one’s writing, and even life trajectory, will be that much clearer.  The video below by Dr. Jodie Salter demonstrates the difference between active and passive voice.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1_IRU6zx9g[/embed]

For anything to be considered good, it must first meet certain criteria. So, what is “good” writing? First and foremost, it should be easy to follow and comprehend. Even if you believe your message is logically sound, the messy organization of sentences can make it look like gibberish. Any reader will agree that good writing is interesting, yet even that is subjective. If one is not interested in a subject, they will not enjoy reading about that subject. The writer should write to his or her readers’ interests. In WRIT 300 MSB, readers’ interests are determined by the [pb_glossary id="200"]discourse community[/pb_glossary] you are writing for or about.

In my academic career, I have received a lot of praise for my writing style. Despite the compliments, my shortcomings are almost always the same. I tend to split hairs on certain ideas and go down rabbit holes until I forget about the initial premise. I had to recognize this as a curse and a blessing.

When writing lengthy (10+ page) papers, I am (and you will be, too) forced to keep points concise and easy to understand. To combat this habit, I start freewriting all my first drafts; writing everything I have to say just to get it on paper. After I freewrite, I highlight the points that are essential to communicating my message and trim out the ones that aren’t necessary, even if they are informative. I ask myself, “Will they still get my point if I don’t say this?”

Applying this strategy to business writing is particularly important. In most business genres, people do not have the time or inclination to read every word. It is incumbent upon the writer to use section headers to guide the reader through the text. [pb_glossary id="199"]Headers[/pb_glossary] give readers a general idea of what will follow and allow them to choose the information relevant to them. A good writer also must be a voracious reader. Understanding what good writing looks like is the key. In WRIT 300, you will read a lot of documents. Success will entail reading analytically to best understand not only why, but how the writer has communicated key points.

Good Writing is Essential

Writing is the act of skillfully representing one’s ideas and opinions in the form of text. Writing is a vital skill in communicating ideas and opinion. In most [pb_glossary id="200"]discourse communities[/pb_glossary], professions, and industries, writing is one of the essential methods of communication.

Good writing plays a major role in a person obtaining employment. One’s writing skills (in the resume and cover letter) serve as the first impression a potential employer perceives before he or she is hired.

Developing one’s writing skills makes one stand out, giving a person an extra edge over those who might have more experience. Being able to effectively communicate one’s experience in written form will give an employer a better gauge of skill the applicant’s skill set in comparison to someone with years of experience but poor writing skills. As such, the person with a clearer representation of their skill set would attract the attention of the employer, thus gaining an advantage.

In the same manner, being able to use effective written communication in the workplace gives one an edge over co-workers. This is because being able to effectively communicate one’s thoughts and ideas allows information to be conveyed without confusion or the need for clarification, which in turn can lead to an improved work process. It may also contribute to better relationships between co-workers, superiors, and clients.

From a business perspective, being able to communicate effectively and professionally with one’s clients through writing helps create a good relationship with one’s customers. One should ensure that documents used by the business do not have typographical errors. The presence of typographical errors or incorrect grammar can create a negative image of the business and affect profitability.

In conclusion, irrespective of one’s professional status, whether potential employee, employee, or employer, being a good writer is essential and beneficial to achieving one’s aim professional objectives.

Topical Outline: Business Report Practice

TheBusiness Report Sample and Guide from the English Department Writing Centre at Humber Liberal Arts and Sciences provides a sample as well as a guide for this business writing format. Using the guidance, create an outline of a business report on a business topic you are familiar with.

Business Genres

Rhetorical analysis: A discussion

When was the last time you optimized something?

Perhaps you've been engaging proactively?

Are you strategically evolving a market in real-time?

Any idea what any of that means?

Thea Knight is on a crusade to kill the jargon that is strangling our conversations. She explains how we can be more "intentional" about our words - so we can start to actually say things again. This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with State Street.

Business students should be prepared to conduct research to validate and substantiate the points made in their essays. Sources should be obtained from expert or authoritative sources, and information used from these sources should be properly cited per APA standards and formatting. Research requires detailed, methodical examination of a specific topic. Every writer has an opinion about their topic, but only opinions that are corroborated by expert or authoritative sources will be considered substantiated.

A few examples of authoritative sources are Business Week, The New York Times, or WebMD. An article in one of these publications would be considered authoritative.

Online blogs and public information sources such as Wikipedia, is not considered authoritative. It is unreliable because it is public domain, and anyone can publish with no peer review or validation of facts. However, by using the lateral reading technique of searching additional citations, affiliations, or other information found on the website, a good researcher will be able to legitimize some information found in an unreliable, non-authoritative source (Expository Writing Boot Camp, 2020).

online research sources:

• Bielefeld Academic Search Engine
• Educational Resources Information Center
• Google
• Google books
• Google scholar
• Infotopia
• iSeek
• Microsoft Academic
• RefSeek
• ResearchGate
• Wolfram Alpha
• Your school library
  

There are four primary best practices I would recommend for students taking Composition and Research: read often; write even more often; familiarize yourself with APA format; and review the literature of your discourse community.

Reading opens a whole new world, it broadens our horizons, and allows us to experience things we haven’t experienced before. Reading also allows us to see various writing styles and ways of using words that are within the lexicon of your discourse community. If you are a marketing major, immerse yourself in various marketing channels and campaigns, review strategies, and the genres that marketing professionals use. This immersion should be undertaken regardless of your major. Then you write.

Practice writing for your discourse community using the lexis that you discovered through your reading. Determine your audience and practice writing for them. If you are an economics major, put your thoughts down on paper it they relate to a topic in your discipline. Use good English grammar and punctuation. Write in the third person, expository writing style, and try to clearly convey your thoughts using the active voice. See if your thoughts and ideas concur with experts. Review the literature.

A literature review, particularly among researchers and those pursuing advanced studies and terminal degrees, is the process of finding expert and authoritative sources within your topic area. The goal of this process is to discover the available knowledge base and determine what experts are saying about your topic. Finding sources that concur with your premise can validate your point of view. The key is knowing how to properly attribute these sources, and this takes practice. Now is the time to familiarize yourself with APA format.

Your school's Writing Center provides excellent a resource link for APA style guidance. The Excelsior Online Writing Lab provides for the Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago Style Guide, and APA, with specific attention on preparing citations, in-text and in the list. The other option is the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), a comprehensive and updated source for the latest APA formatting standards.

These best practices are merely suggestions but being prepared with some strategies for success is always a good choice.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rhetorical Analysis

By David Feliz (‘20) & Miranda Liberto (‘21)

Rhetoric is the use of words. Rhetorical situation is the circumstance which provides the genesis for the rhetoric used. When learning about genres in a rhetorical situation, it is important to recognize the patterns present in the text. It is important not only to understand the material one is reading, but to also be aware of the writer’s purpose and intent, and the context of what is being conveyed to the audience. Genres not only allow the reader to better understand, but they also help the writer with his or her writing process. So, what specifically is a genre and how can it help one’s understanding of the written word?

A genre is a type or style of writing. Knowing the genre of a text will help one have a better understanding of where the author is coming from. This knowledge will also help one to interpret the writing and identify the author's intended audience. A solid approach begins with finding examples, looking for patterns, identifying standards and conventions, and applying those to the writing situation (professorrome, 2010, Oct. 21).

There are many types of genres, for example, book genres include fiction, nonfiction, biographies, autobiographies, and fairytales. But when it comes to business writing, some examples of different genres include memos, proposals, reports, and resumes.

[professorrome]. (2010, Oct. 21). Genre & Rhetorical Situation Review

[Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/1g67LhcXeJ8

Accounting Genre

By Laura Diaz (‘21) & John Isokpehi (‘21)

Swales (2017) posits that genres are types of documents easily identified by readers and authors that address the rhetorical circumstances they represent or function in. Understanding genres has helped us to identify discourse community communications. Members of the accounting discourse community have several different types of genres, such as monthly statements, invoices, and real estate closing binders.

A monthly statement is a synopsis of all financial transactions of a client during the month and will include any credits given. It is typically just given to clients with whom the merchant has affirmed to have a record with, and who have a business/buys terms of understanding. Statements are normally sent once every month as a record of debits and credits. Invoices and receipts are source documents for accounting: an invoice is also called a bill. Invoices and receipts are used in accounting to record sales transactions and to account for receipts for payment. A real estate closing binder is a compilation of the fully executed transaction documents accountants deliver to the individuals involved at the close of the transaction.

Being able to identify genre in the written word is an important means for improving the quality of one’s work. There are many types of genres and they are used in various ways to convey specific information to readers. A genre is a major category or a type of writing. The major categories can be informative (e.g., employee handbook), persuasive (e.g., researched argument), or narrative (e.g., fiction). Within those major categories of genre are types of documents, or genres, that are used within a discourse community, such as one’s workplace, school, or membership organization.

In the business discipline, and in any discourse community therein, being able to identify genres – a classification of literature, characterized by parallel format or subject matter – is a skill that will benefit all students throughout their college course work.

Swales, J.M. (2017, Fall). Composition Forum 37. Composition Forum. http://compositionforum.com/issue/37/swales-retrospective.php

More on Genres

By Timothy Spurrier (‘21) & Seng Tsin (‘23)

In every work of writing, the genre is specifically structured and formatted in response to a rhetorical situation – audience, purpose, tone, content, etc. (Dusseau, n.d.). Genres are the communication methods used to connect to the intended audience. When beginning to write, one must first determine the desired audience to structure and format the genre to fit the audiences’ preferences.

Understanding the premises of discourse communities is an essential component to understanding genres in composition. Examples of genres in professional composition may include financial statements, memos, scholarly articles, emails, or even billboards. Once an understanding of both discourse communities and genres in composition is established, one will be able to further recognize the connection between specific genres and their place in a discourse community. For example, financial statements may be more common in an accounting discourse community, while billboards may be used in advertisement across discourse communities.

In business composition, genres serve as forms of communication within each discourse community. Gaining a strong understanding of genres and their purpose in communication within discourse communities is an essential component for success in WRIT 300 and in the business world.

Dusseau, D. (n.d.). Genres ff Business Writing. Dark Wing U Oregon. https://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ddusseau/101/199/199GENRES.htm

Business Writing Genres (Informational and persuasive) :
Advertisements

Contract

Email

Informational video

Letter

Memo

Mission Statement

PowerPoint Presentation

Proposal

Report

Website

Whitepaper

5