Rhetorical Approaches
to Professional Communications

 

Correspondence (Contexts & Genres)

Professional Letters: Types & Formatting
types
format
block
block vs. modified block
signature block
avoid redundancy
Professional Emails
overview
do emails matter?
characteristics of successful emails
dos & don’ts
tone
etiquette
signature block
avoid redundancy
Professional Memos
overview
types
formatting & organization
avoid redundancy
Memos as Email Attachments
memos as attachments?
policy memo attachments
example & explanation
Writing Effective Subject Lines
why subject lines are important
subject lines ≈ purpose
clarity, specificity, conciseness
avoid
tips +
Salutations, Names, Titles, Closings, & Signature Blocks
salutations
names & titles
gender
closings
signature block
Positive, Neutral, & Informational Contexts
overview & goals
types
organization
direct vs. indirect openings
Negative Contexts & Messages
intro
goals
organization
buffer
explanation
bad news
exit
alternatives
example
Persuasive Contexts
introduction
motivation vs. persuasion
sales vs. persuasive
sales messages
persuasive messages
extrinsic vs. intrinsic
goals
organization
persuasive appeals
ethos
logos
pathos

Professional Research & Reports

Professional Reports
highlights
preface: report as genre
introduction
what is a report?
types of reports
common types & functions
informational vs. analytical
common components
helpful headings
topic vs. talking
more on headings
pro report examples
reports risk being boring
case study in awesome
Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Research
primary research
secondary research
tertiary research
scholarly vs. non-scholarly
what’s the difference?
sample sources
Research Source Credibility
pro research approach
credibility considerations
c.a.r.s. method
Research Integration, Citation, & Documentation
attribution goals
in the workplace
definitions
what needs attribution?
quote, paraphrase, summary
parenthetical vs. natural
using footnotes
list of references
image attribution
Extended Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation
summary
how to summarize
example summary
example summary
using summary
paraphrase
example paraphrase
quotation
example quotation
Do You Really Need Quotation(?)
academic vs. professional
definitions
using summary
when and how to quote
working with quotation
quote integration methods
short quotes
long/block quotes
altering quotes
HATS: Design for Professional/Technical Documents
overview
headings
topic vs. talking
more on headings
access
typography
type
alignment
space
summary
one more thing
Document Design & Page Layout in MS Word
word for desktop publishing
tips for design
text borders
font effects: small caps & character spacing
The Job Search
(Resumes, Cover Letters, Interviews, etc)
Finding a Job
intro
professional associations
linkedin & social media
job ad criteria
Job Targets
three element structure
industry
function
geography
Job Ad Annotation Exercise
Résumé Goals
what is a resume?
functions & goals
master resume
Résumé Types
traditional resume types
chronological
skills (functional)
combination (hybrid/mixed)
other resume types
scannable
electronic
curriculum vitae (CV)
Résumé Content
overview
contact
objective
qualifications
education
coursework
experience
skills
awards
memberships
Résumé Verb (Accomplishment) Statements
overview
verb/accomplishment statements
weak vs. strong
targeted verbs (& adjectives)
structure, tense, etc.
structure
punctuation
verb tense
person
Optimized/Scannable Résumés
introduction
scannable appearance
why format matters
format rules
keywords
shift language
verbs → nouns
past tense → present tense
write a scannable
scannable formatting
scannable content
example
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Résumés: Frequently Asked Questions
Job Application Cover Letters
overview
purpose
tailoring materials
preliminary work
format & conventions
organization
intro
body
closing
bad example
Cover Letter and Job Search Correspondence: FAQ
Job Interviews & STAR Method
before the interview
during the interview
STAR for behavioral qs
STAR examples
weaknesses
weakness examples
pet peeves
Interviews: Frequently Asked Questions
After the Interview: Follow-up/Thank you Letters
immediately after
within two days
genre considerations
content & organization
do nots
jsp guidelines
HATS: Design for Professional/Technical Documents
Document Design & Page Layout in MS Word
word for desktop publishing
tips for design
text borders
font effects: small caps & character spacing