1. Improving Writing techniques
Chapter 3
Improving Writing techniques

2. Formal Research Methods for Gathering Information
Search manually (books, magazines, journals).
Access electronically (Internet, databases, compact discs).
Go to the source (interviews, surveys, questionnaires, focus groups).
Conduct scientific experiments (measure variables using control groups).

3. Informal Research Methods for Gathering Information
Look in organization files.
Talk with your boss.
Interview the target audience.
Conduct an informal survey.
Brainstorm for ideas.

4. Organize Information With an Outline
Title
I. First major component
A. First subpoint
1. Detail, illustration, evidence
2. Detail, illustration, evidence
B. Second subpoint

5. Organize Information With an Outline
II. Second major component
A. First subpoint
1. Detail, illustration, evidence
2. Detail, illustration, evidence

6. Organize Information With an Outline
Tips:
Define main topic in title.
Divide the topic into 3-5 main points.
Break the components into subpoints.
Strive to make each component exclusive (no overlapping).
Don’t put a single item under a major component.
Use details, illustrations, and evidence to support subpoints.

7. Organizing Business Messages
Direct Strategy
Main idea comes first followed by details and explanations
Indirect Strategy
Explanation precedes main idea

8. Organizing Business Messages
Direct Strategy
Advantages:
Saves reader’s time
Sets a proper frame of mind
Prevents frustration
Appears businesslike
Indirect Strategy
Advantages:
Respects feelings of audience
Encourages a fair hearing
Minimizes a negative reaction

9. Organizing Business Messages
Direct Strategy
Useful when:
Receiver is receptive
Receiver requires no education about topic
Message is routine
Indirect Strategy
Useful when:
Receiver may be upset
Receiver may be hostile
Receiver must be persuaded or educated
Message is sensitive

10. Effective Sentences
Complete sentences have subjects and verbs and make sense (are capable of standing alone).
Example:
Subject Verb
Employees send many messages.

11. Effective Sentences
Clauses also have subjects and verbs. Independent clauses can stand alone; dependent clauses rely on independent clauses for their meaning.
Example:
Dependent Clause Independent Clause
When you speak, you reveal yourself.

12. Effective Sentences
Phrases are groups of related words without subjects and verbs.
Example:
Phrase Phrase
In the afternoon, I work at the mall.

13. Effective Sentences Avoid sentence fragments. Revision:
Even though the pay was low. Many candidates applied.
Revision:
Even though the pay was low, many candidates applied.

14. Effective Sentences Avoid run-on (fused) sentences. Revisions:
Two candidates applied only one was hired.
Revisions:
Two candidates applied. Only one was hired.
Two candidates applied; only one was hired.
Two candidates applied, but only one was hired.

15. Effective Sentences Avoid comma-splice sentences. Revisions:
Many were qualified, Jeff was hired.
Revisions:
Many were qualified. Jeff was hired.
Many were qualified; Jeff was hired.
Many were qualified; however, Jeff was hired.
Many were qualified, but Jeff was hired.

16. Try Your Skill
Revise the following to avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and comma-splices.
You can create a Web-based job portfolio it will impress potential employers.
You can create a Web-based job portfolio; it will impress potential employers.

17. Try Your Skill
Revise the following to avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and comma-splices.
Send a scannable résumé. When you apply for a job.
Send a scannable résumé when you apply for a job.

18. Try Your Skill
Revise the following to avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and comma-splices.
Although technical skills are important. Communication skills are also in great demand.
Although technical skills are important, communication skills are also in great demand.

19. Try Your Skill
Revise the following to avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and comma-splices.
College used to be for young people, however many older students now seek degrees.
College used to be for young people; however, many older students now seek degrees.

20. Emphasis Through Mechanics
Underlining:
Which of these methods do you prefer?

21. Emphasis Through Mechanics
Italics and Boldface:
The use of boldface and italics captures the reader’s attention.

22. Emphasis Through Mechanics
All Caps:
Notice how EXPENSE-FREE stands out.

23. Emphasis Through Mechanics
Dashes:
Other methods–including dashes–may be used.

24. Emphasis Through Mechanics
Tabulation:
Listing items vertically emphasizes them:
1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item

25. Emphasis Through Mechanics
Other means of achieving mechanical emphasis include the following: use of white space, color, lines, boxes, columns, titles, headings, and subheadings.

26. Emphasis and Deemphasis Through Style
To emphasize an idea:
Use a vivid expression (“bug-free software” rather than “dependable software”).
Label the idea with expressions (“more importantly, the principal reason, or the best alternative”).
Put the important idea first or last in the sentence.
Put the important idea in a simple sentence or in an independent clause.

27. Emphasis and Deemphasis Through Style
To deemphasize an idea:
Use general words, rather than specific words (some customers complained, rather than 125 customers complained).
Place the idea in a dependent clause connected to an independent clause containing a positive idea.
Example:
Although items cannot be returned for cash, you will receive store credit for any returned purchases.

28. Active- and Passive-Voice Verbs
Active-voice verbs show the subject performing the action.
Examples:
Most major employers require drug testing.
(Active voice; the subject is acting)
Dr. Smith recommended Tina for the job.

29. Active- and Passive-Voice Verbs
In passive-voice sentences, the subject is being acted upon. Passive-voice verbs require helper verbs.
Examples:
Drug testing is required by most major employers.
(Passive voice; the subject is being acted upon)
Tina was recommended for the job by Dr. Smith.

30. Active- and Passive-Voice Verbs
Use the active voice for most business writing.
Use the passive voice to emphasize an action or the recipient of the action–rather than the actor (i.e. Specialists were hired; Laura was honored).
Use the passive voice to break bad news (i.e. Although your lease cannot be renewed, we can offer ).

31. Try Your Skill
Convert the following sentence to active voice. You may have to add a subject.
Our membership meeting was postponed by the president.
The president postponed our membership meeting.

32. Try Your Skill
Convert the following sentence to active voice. You may have to add a subject.
The résumés of job candidates are sorted quickly by the software program Resumix.
The software program Resumix sorts résumés of job candidates quickly.

33. Try Your Skill
Convert the following sentence to active voice. You may have to add a subject.
Computer paper was ordered yesterday.
Rachel ordered computer paper yesterday.

34. Try Your Skill Convert the following sentence to passive voice.
We must delay shipment of your merchandise because of heavy demand.
Your merchandise shipment must be delayed because of heavy demand.

35. Try Your Skill Convert the following sentence to passive voice.
The technician could not install the computer program.
The computer program could not be installed.

36. Developing Parallelism
Parallel expression results from balanced construction.
Match nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, phrases with phrases, and clauses with clauses.

37. Developing Parallelism
Poor: The process of writing involves organizing, composing, and revision.
Parallel: The process of writing involves organizing, composing, and revising.
(Matching endings of verbals)

38. Developing Parallelism
Poor: We are very concerned with the quality of raw materials, where they are located, and how much it costs to transport them.
Parallel: We are very concerned with the quality, location, and transpor- tation costs of raw materials. (Matching nouns)

39. Developing Parallelism
Poor: Serena takes the telephone orders, Matt locates the items in the warehouse, and the items are sent by Yolanda.
Parallel: Serena takes the telephone orders, Matt locates the items in the warehouse, and Yolanda sends the items.
(Matching voices of verbs)

40. Try Your Skill
How could parallelism be improved in the following sentence?
Our knowledge management system focuses on the collecting, storage, and sharing of best practices.
Our knowledge management system focuses on the collecting, storing, and sharing of best practices.

41. Try Your Skill
How could parallelism be improved in the following sentence?
We are pleased to recommend Elizabeth because she has sincerity, she is reliable, and she works with diligence.
We are pleased to recommend Elizabeth because she is sincere, reliable, and diligent.

42. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
For clarity, modifiers must be close to the words they describe or limit.
Be particularly careful to place a logical subject immediately after an introductory verbal phrase.

43. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Poor: After considering the problem carefully, new procedures were suggested by management.
Revised: After considering the problem carefully, management suggested new procedures.

44. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Poor: Any student has full online privileges who is enrolled in the college.
Revised: Any student who is enrolled in the college has full online privileges.

45. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Poor: It’s hard to understand why employees would not go to our technical support staff with software problems.
Revised: It’s hard to understand why employees with software problems would not go to our technical support staff.

46. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Poor: Using a search engine, the Web site was finally located.
Revised: Using a search engine, we finally located the Web site.

47. Try Your Skill
Revise the following sentence to correct any misplaced modifiers. Retain the introductory phrase.
To be hired, two years of experience is required.
To be hired, one must have two years of experience.

48. Try Your Skill
Revise the following sentence to correct any misplaced modifiers. Retain the introductory phrase.
Dipped in butter, you can really enjoy a fine lobster.
Dipped in butter, a fine lobster can truly be enjoyed.

49. Try Your Skill
Revise the following sentence to correct any misplaced modifiers.
She died in the house in which she was born at the age of 88.
At the age of 88, she died in the house in which she was born.

50. Try Your Skill
Revise the following sentence to correct any misplaced modifiers.
To receive an employment form, fill out this application. (Tricky!)
The sentence is correct as it stands. “You” is the understood subject of a command.

51. Three Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
To help guide your reader or listener from one thought to another, develop coherence by using one of these devices:
1. Repeat a key idea or key word(s).
Next month we plan to launch a promotion for our new Web site. The promotion will involve newspaper and TV campaigns.

52. Three Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
2. Use a pronoun.
Considerable interest is now being shown in our extended certificates of deposit. They are more profitable when left on deposit for long periods of time.

53. Three Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
3. Use an appropriate transitional expression.
Time Association
before, after
first, second
meanwhile
next
until
when, whenever
Contrast
although
but
however
instead
nevertheless
on the other hand

54. Three Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
3. Use an appropriate transitional expression.
Cause–Effect
consequently
for this reason
hence
therefore
Additional Idea
furthermore
in addition
likewise
moreover
similarly

55. Three Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
3. Use an appropriate transitional expression.
Illustration
in this way
for example

56. Paragraph Length
Paragraphs with eight or fewer printed lines look inviting and readable.

57. Composing the First Draft
Complete all necessary research.
Find a quiet place to concentrate and work.
Prohibit calls, visitors, and interruptions.
Organize information using an outline.
Decide whether to sprint write (get your thoughts down quickly and revise later) or revise as you go.
Imagine you are talking to a reader or listener.

58. KIM Bank Co. Ltd. Job application will be closed on 31st August 2011.
Please send your resume (or CV) along with the cover letter to Miss Suwattana Sawatasuk Human Resources Manager at KKUIC address.
You can make all details up in your resume and cover letter, but they need to be in the formal form.

59. End