English 2311 Portfolio

Resume and Job Letter

emyers — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:32:07 +0000

The purpose of the resume and job letter was to practice organizing our abilities and qualifications in a clear and concrete format. We were instructed to find a job resume from our future career to use as a model. The job letter explained in greater detail the qualifications and previous job experience listed in the resume. The job letter also allows the job applicant to explain why they are beneficial to the company and why they should be hired.The hardest part of this assignment was composing the resume. As a sophomore, I do not have a large amount of work experience or community involvement to put on a resume. This made it difficult to organize the most important details of the resume when there were so few to choose from.The best way to go about preparing for this assignment is to brainstorm for each section of the resume. First, I divided the resume into categories. These included education, previous job experience, activities, and achievements. Then, wrote down all of the information that could be considered relative to each of the categories. The last step was adding detailed descriptions such as the time span of each job and job responsibilities.

Formal Memo

emyers — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:46:36 +0000

The purpose of the formal memo was audience analysis and how to best provide information to that particular audience in a way they would understand. For this memo assignment, we were instructed to pick a topic or problem that could be presented to an audience. We had to analyze the audience and explain our reason for choosing this audience. Out of the three available types of formal memos, I used the persuasive memo. This persuasive memo consisted of subtitles such as background information, audience analysis, the situation or problem, the proposed course of action, and the benefits of change. I wrote the memo using clear and simple sentences to present the information in a precise manner.For this memo, we were allowed to use a topic that we used in another class. I wrote a persuasive presentation about advertiser’s affects on children’s food choices, a topic that I used in speech class last semester. This saved me time and research because I already had knowledge and documented information about the subject matter. It also helped to identify a specific audience, one individual if possible. After picking that individual, it is easier to choose what format and context to use when writing the memo.My advice to a future student in this class is to pick a topic that is simple and interesting to research or that you already have knowledge about. The next step is to pick out a definite problem within the topic and propose a clear cut solution and how you intend it to be implemented. The complexity of the issue is not as important as the clarity of the problem and solution.

Formal Memo

Instructions Selection Memo

emyers — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:42:01 +0000

The goal of the instructions memo was to choose and analyze a set of instructions based upon the wording, presentation, format, and usefulness for the particular audience that the instructions were written for. Although it was suggested that the instructions pertain to a future career or current major, it was not required. The most important aspect of the instructions was that it was easily tested and had a specific audience and goals.

The memo explained the audience, purpose, and goals of the Magic Bullet user guide, which was the set of instructions that I choose to analyze. I gave Dr. Art three different audience types that the user manual could have chosen to appeal to. I stated the purpose of the user guide and what techniques and formats the writers of the manual used to achieve the purpose and achieve the goals of the manual.

Instructions Selection Memo

Instructions Analysis

emyers — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:39:56 +0000

The goal of the instruction analysis was to test and improve a set of instructions. Each member of the class chose their own instructions that they felt targeted a specific audience and could be tested in class for its effectiveness. I choose to use the instruction manual of the television advertised Magic Bullet. I tested the likeliness of college age student’s willingness to buy the Magic Bullet based upon the appeal of the manual cover. The students were asked if they would buy the Bullet starting at ten dollars and then increasing the cost by increments of ten dollars. The product manual proved successful if the students were willing to pay the retail price.To simplify the instruction analysis process, I divided the memo into eight sub categories. These categories identified the audience, goals, and testing procedures. I specified which audience and goal I am tested in the testing criteria and testing method section of the memo. Additional information that I included in the analysis was consumer suggestions and alternative testing methods. The suggestions provided the company with ideas for improving the user guide. The alternative testing methods section took up space in the memo and provided alternative ways for goal testing. The most valuable source of help during the editing process was visiting Dr. Art during his office hours. This helped me identify the most efficient way to test the user guide and which audience to concentrate on. I was able to get my thoughts in order and attain a clear picture of how the analysis was supposed to look. I was then able to write out each sub category and simplify the sentence structure and style.

Instructions Analysis

Proposal Plan Memo

emyers — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:40:45 +0000

The goal behind the proposal plan memo was for each group to set detailed and concrete plans for the future progress of the proposal project. The first part of the memo stated the problem and proposed solution that the entire project would center around. The rest of the memo described our group strategy to complete the work on time and in the most efficient way. My group constructed a schedule for meeting times and prepared a time line that set up all of our deadlines for when we wanted to have each part of the project completed. The planning memo promoted group communication skills and individual contribution from each member. My group also set up a wordpress site to post all of our assignments and handouts on. We were able to edit one another’s individual memos as well as the group assignments. The plan memo was also designed so groups could work out their problems and differences at the start of the project rather than half way through it. My group did not have any difficulty with this. We identified each member’s technical writing strength and used it to the advantage of the entire group. Since each member completed their assignments and showed up to each meeting, we had no trouble completing work on time and turning some assignments in for early grading. Dr. Art allowed the students to choose members in the class that we were comfortable with or wanted to work with on the project. I knew a student in the class, and we choose to work together, knowing that we both took the class seriously. This was a huge advantage. If you have the choice, choose group members who you know will get the work done and will come to the group’s meetings. This made the project a much easier assignment to complete. The best way to complete this planning memo is to use as much detail and description as possible. This will benefit you in the long run as far as knowing the groups goals and each member being on the same page as to when every assignment has to be completed.

Proposal Plan Memo

Proposal Rough Draft and Progress Memo

emyers — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:41:25 +0000

The proposal rough draft was the start of what would be the formal proposal. This assignment gave a basic description of the audience, the problem, who the problem affected, our proposed solution, and how we intended to implement the solution. Our rough draft consisted of all the information that we intended to use in the final draft. My group set up a meeting time in the library to go through each section of the proposal and fill in all the information. Our draft included background information on the flu and the flu virus and our solution to the problem. During this process, our group began developing the handouts that we use in the presentation as well as the PowerPoint presentation slides. Our group choose to turn the rough draft in for early grading to we could receive feedback from Dr. Art before the formal proposal was due two days later. We then came to his office during his extended office hours to go through the entire document with him. This was very useful and gave our group the advantage of having Dr. Art’s advice for the formal proposal. I would advise you to take advantage of all of the extra help Dr. Art gives you. Completing assignments for early grading and visiting him during office hours will dramatically improve the quality of your assignments and the grade you receive in the class. The progress memo was used to inform Dr. Art how the report process was coming along and some of the challenges and changes that had to be made. We could also use the memo as an opportunity to explain why we did certain things within the draft and why it was necessary. I also informed Dr. Art of future assignment plans.

Formal Group Proposal Report

emyers — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:42:26 +0000

The formal group proposal consisted of a 12- 16 page report divided in to different sections so as to explain all aspects of the proposal. The sections of our formal proposal included a proposal overview, background information, the solution, public relations, a conclusion, and an appendix. All of the sections included document information from reliable sources, such as government and medical Web sites. This information was cited at the bottom of each page, using the correct citation format. The appendix of the report consisted of a calendar that informed parents of their child’s school’s vaccination date. The second handout gave the parents background information about the flu and why the flu vaccine was in the best interest of their child and the entire
Lubbock community. The parent handout was easier for parents to read than an entire formal proposal report.

Formal Group Proposal Report

Proposal Presentation Memo and Handout

emyers — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:42:46 +0000

This assignment was completed by each individual group member. We each evaluated our class presentation based on the comments of our audience. A few of the items that needed to be addressed in the memo were group management of the presentation and overall project, what we would change if we could repeat the presentation, and what we would personally change if the entire project were repeated. I really had to evaluate my work as an individual group member over the course of the project, and my contribution to the class presentation. I also evaluated each of my fellow group members for their contributions to the project and presentation participation. The class comments provided constructive criticism that gave suggestion on ways to improve the presentation if it were to be repeated. My particular group needed to have more information in the presentation and practice eye contact with the audience members. The Handouts were the same ones we passed out to the class on the day of our presentation. These handouts included a calendar of vaccination dates for each school in theLubbock
Independent
School District, and a parent information sheet that gave the information provided in the formal proposal in a more simple format.