Response to Vic Marcus

I agree when you said that oral presentation take a fair amount of planning and that you should be very prepared before you give one. Knowing what you are going to say and when you are going to say it helps presentations go a little smoother. Also with websites I think usability is at the top of list as far as importance. If the viewer doesn't like what they see, most likely they won't be back. Like everything else we have learned, you need to understand your audience.

Chapter 17 & 18 - 11.14.08

Chapter 17 is all about listener-centered oral presentations. Like the book says, the most important idea presented in this chapter is that of knowing the goals of your presentation. Obviously you start there. PowerPoint has become unwritten standard for giving oral presentations. Having the visual aspect to back up your oral presentation is like putting a pretty bow on a present. Being able to tie these two aspects together seamlessly and effectively is the trick. After reading this chapter I think I will have a better handle on how to make presentation a nice little package. A few of the other points in the chapter should come without saying. Like don't be afraid of being interrupted and rehearse. I really love PowerPoint presentations because it will usually take eyes of me and in turn allows me to relax. Does anyone else feel this way?

Chapter 18 is centered around reader centered websites and web pages. Like everything else we have learned, it is very important to define your objectives at the onset of the project. Planning is huge when designing a website. You have to be very careful about how it is laid out and how it jumps off the screen. It needs to be organized and detailed without being overwhelming. I think websites are either hit or miss. When a person jumps onto a site they either leave in the first 30 seconds or stay, browse and come back. Being able to communicate the information visually is the trick. I can't stand websites that are hard to navigate or are to hard to sift through all the information. I don't think I am alone on this one.

Response to Jessica Soule's 10.31.08 Post

I agree with you when you pointed out that in technical writing you are no longer writing for yourself, but for your reader. I think that is the single most important idea that we have learned yet. It has caused me to take a step back from my writing and really focus on whether or not my writing will reach the reader in the way that I intend. Like you said, you can save a lot of time in the long run if you can be effective the first time around. Testing can be a beneficial way to streamline this process, but just like reader centered writing, your focus group must be the right type of group.

Chapters 2, 9, 10 - 11.07.08

Chapter 2 is focused on taking a reader centered approach to resumes and job application letters. The first thing you need to do is identify who your potential employers are. You can accomplish this by making a list. Next you need to figure out your angle. Basically you need to tailor your resume based on the type of job you are applying for and figure out how best to describe your strengths to the reader. The chapter also points out that in most cases your resume only needs to be one page. Only if you have extensive qualifications should you prepare a second page. Job application letters can often be more important to a potential employer than your resume. If your letter can grab the attention of the person reading it than most likely they will look further. The process for creating a letter of this type includes planning, drafting, and revising. When writing a job application letter you need to be very conscious of who the reader will be in order to be effective.

Chapter 9 talks about perfecting the way you begin a communication. Mastering this step can go a very long way. If your opening can grab the readers attention you can be almost sure that they will continue reading. Eight guidelines are laid out in chapter 9. In my opinion guideline 2 is very important. I have said this a couple of times before in previous blogs but I will say it again. Don't waste peoples time. Get straight to the point and you save people a lot of time. You will also grab their attention and potentially they will keep reading. Guideline 3 is also important in this nature. "Tell your readers what to expect." If they know the scope of what they are reading, they save time once again and everyone is happy. The beginning of a communication is definitely the most important part.

Chapter 10 is the opposite of 8. Ten goes into how to finish a communication. Guideline 1 lays the foundation pretty well, " after you've made your last point, stop." This idea is especially important in proposals. Readers expect that after you have explained what you plan to do, the proposal is finished. Another good point that the chapter makes is how to tell your readers to get more information. It depends on the communication, but guiding the reader for more info is very beneficial. I have found the last guideline to be very useful in my professional life. Writers need to follow the standards of their particular profession.

Response to Holly Schmeck

I agree when you emphasized how important it is that your test readers represent your targeted demographic. If you don’t do this then you are obviously wasting your time. This idea represents a lot of what we have focused on in this course. Reader centered writing is very important and this idea has been drilled into me. Revision is very important and doing it thoroughly can save you a lot of time in the end.