1. Agenda Peer review of drafts More discussion of Computer Use Case
Portfolio revision #1

2. Peer review As usual, exchange drafts with a partner
Pay particular attention to the following:
Are facts used accurately?
Are inferences supported with clear, reader-focused explanation?
Are supporting paragraphs clearly relevant to the main point?

3. Computer use case Task: Requirements:
To summarize, interpret, and transmit relevant information
Requirements:
To identify and convey relevant information
To place information in a meaningful context
To make information easily accessible to a busy reader

4. Ambiguity of information
How will you look for something when you don’t in the least know what it is? How on earth are you going to set up something you don’t know as the object of your search? To put it another way, even if you come right up against it, how will you know what you have found is the thing you didn’t know?
From Becoming a Manager by Linda Hill

5. Ambiguity of information
Ambiguity of information is the normal state of affairs in corporate America
Part of being an effective communicator is knowing how to analyze what a situation demands (what is relevant, how much detail, etc.)

6. Ambiguity of information
This assignment asks you to analyze the situation as well as the article
To succeed, you need to:
Set criteria for relevance
Determine what background on the data is needed to make it meaningful
Present the information in clearly, concisely, and in an easy-to-follow manner

7. Framing information
How you frame information is critical to how it is received
Weak examples:
Based on the information in this article, I will explain why the Board should not pursue a Web presence.
This article is not relevant at all to the Board’s decision, as I will explain in this memo.
This article talks about ...

8. Executive Director’s View
The “relevance” test
Executive Director’s View
Your View

9. Framing information
As part of my research on Internet use as it relates to Kids ReACT’s potential web presence, the article “About Time, Computer Time,” is of limited use. While it does not focus directly on our key decision factors, it can offer some insight into A, B, and C.
Spell out factors limiting usefulness
Spell out how article connects to A, B, and C

10. Portfolio revision #1
In this revision, we will focus on informative and analytical writing
Read the instruction sheet and follow the directions
You have 45 minutes; you may leave earlier if you finish
Turn in:
Your portfolio documents
Your self-analysis memo
Your revision

11. Assignment
Work on the final draft of the Computer Use Case assignment (due Thursday, 2/20)
You may bring a “second rough draft” for review next Tuesday, 2/13 (optional)
Read EBC Ch. 5