{"id":120,"date":"2022-01-26T19:36:56","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T00:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/part\/writing-at-work\/"},"modified":"2022-07-14T19:16:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T23:16:40","slug":"writing-at-work","status":"publish","type":"part","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/part\/writing-at-work\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 10: Writing at Work","rendered":"Chapter 10: Writing at Work"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Learning Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n\nBy the end of this chapter, the reader will be able to:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Identify the audience, purpose, and tone in writing<\/li>\n \t<li>Plan a writing task<\/li>\n \t<li>Describe strategies for writing in different formats<\/li>\n \t<li>Practice revising writing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--terms\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Terms to Know<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"192\"]Audience[\/pb_glossary] - The reader of your writing. The audience can be specific (like your supervisor) or more general (like customers at your workplace).\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"193\"]Copy[\/pb_glossary] - The meaning of the term as it is being used here means written material that is to be published. A short form of copywriting.\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"194\"]Editing[\/pb_glossary] - Making changes to your writing to more clearly emphasize the audience, purpose and tone while improving clarity, consistency and organization.\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"195\"]Proofreading[\/pb_glossary] - Updating your writing to ensure it is free of grammar, spelling, typos and other minor writing errors.\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"196\"]Purpose[\/pb_glossary] - The reason why you are writing. Purpose focuses on action. Some common purposes for writing are to request information, to provide information, to make a complaint or to persuade.\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"197\"]Revision[\/pb_glossary] - The process of editing or refining your written work before you share it with your intended audience.\n\n[pb_glossary id=\"198\"]Tone[\/pb_glossary] - The way you sound to your audience. It summarizes the attitude of your writing. Professional writing tone typically is direct, confident, sincere, and positive.\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--case\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Case Study: Aimee (She\/Her) Begins her New Position as Communications Assistant<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n\nAimee has just been hired as a Communications Assistant for the airport. She will be supporting her supervisor Mark with a variety of initiatives to help encourage people that airports continue to be a safe and affordable travel option. Mark is planning a media campaign that includes press releases, advertisements, social media, and some event promotion. Though he will oversee and approve any work that Aimee creates, he expects her to come up with ideas, collect copy from the rest of the marketing team, and help with the rollout throughout the next two months.\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Introduction<\/h1>\nIn most jobs, you will need to do a variety of tasks that involve writing. Writing helps make things happen! It creates action, which, in the world of jobs, creates work. In an employment context, writing is a form of transaction. You write to solve problems, make requests, promote sales, describe procedures, and to fix errors. Writing is grounded in purpose and action: you write to get things done, meet your goals, and serve the needs of others.\n\nGood writing is clear, concise, and professional, but the content can change significantly from task to task.\u00a0 Some will be quick and simple, like confirmation emails or even text message updates. Others may take a long time and involve complex documentation, reporting, and carefully crafted language. For example, you might be asked to send an email to a client, take a message for an unavailable staff member, or write a piece for your company\u2019s website. While each of these is writing, the audience, purpose, and tone will be different for each. To become a strong writer at work, you need to think about each of these aspects every time you start a new message.\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Activity<\/p>\n\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n\nSometimes the best way to learn good writing skills is to see what <em>not<\/em> to do. Before you learn more about writing for work, see if you can spot some of the common errors in this message. In this message, Alex is writing to her boss to request vacation.\n\nHow could we improve the following email?\n<div class=\"textbox\">To: m.adelman@sportsplexnorth.com\nFrom: cat_krazy_alex@hmail.com\nSubject: Annual VACAY!!!\n\nU probably don't remember, but I always take my vacation in July. This year I'm taking the last too weeks of August instead. BTW if you do not approve this you'll create considerible inconvenience for me and you better believe I'll take this up with HR.\u2639\ufe0f\n\nA<\/div>\nChoose all answers that apply.\n<div class=\"h5p\">[h5p id=\"52\"]<\/div>\n<div class=\"pdf\">\n<ul>\n \t<li>Leave out Emojis<\/li>\n \t<li>BTW \u2013 by the way is inappropriate<\/li>\n \t<li>Tone is inappropriate, unprofessional, threatening even.<\/li>\n \t<li>A more appropriate subject line, such as Vacation Request<\/li>\n \t<li>Add a greeting \u2013 Hello Louisa<\/li>\n \t<li>Email from your company email account<\/li>\n \t<li>Spelling error in inconveneince \u2013 e and i are flipped around<\/li>\n \t<li>Inappropriate salutation \u2013 Thanks, Alex<\/li>\n \t<li>The wrong form of too \u2013 should be two<\/li>\n \t<li>Ask, don\u2019t demand<\/li>\n \t<li>Missing a comma after this<\/li>\n \t<li>U should be You<\/li>\n \t<li>Shouldn\u2019t threaten \u2013 it may come to that but don\u2019t start there<\/li>\n \t<li>Spelling error in considerable \u2013 a not i<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\"><strong>Learning Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this chapter, the reader will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the audience, purpose, and tone in writing<\/li>\n<li>Plan a writing task<\/li>\n<li>Describe strategies for writing in different formats<\/li>\n<li>Practice revising writing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--terms\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Terms to Know<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_192\">Audience<\/a> &#8211; The reader of your writing. The audience can be specific (like your supervisor) or more general (like customers at your workplace).<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_193\">Copy<\/a> &#8211; The meaning of the term as it is being used here means written material that is to be published. A short form of copywriting.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_194\">Editing<\/a> &#8211; Making changes to your writing to more clearly emphasize the audience, purpose and tone while improving clarity, consistency and organization.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_195\">Proofreading<\/a> &#8211; Updating your writing to ensure it is free of grammar, spelling, typos and other minor writing errors.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_196\">Purpose<\/a> &#8211; The reason why you are writing. Purpose focuses on action. Some common purposes for writing are to request information, to provide information, to make a complaint or to persuade.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_197\">Revision<\/a> &#8211; The process of editing or refining your written work before you share it with your intended audience.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_120_198\">Tone<\/a> &#8211; The way you sound to your audience. It summarizes the attitude of your writing. Professional writing tone typically is direct, confident, sincere, and positive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--case\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Case Study: Aimee (She\/Her) Begins her New Position as Communications Assistant<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Aimee has just been hired as a Communications Assistant for the airport. She will be supporting her supervisor Mark with a variety of initiatives to help encourage people that airports continue to be a safe and affordable travel option. Mark is planning a media campaign that includes press releases, advertisements, social media, and some event promotion. Though he will oversee and approve any work that Aimee creates, he expects her to come up with ideas, collect copy from the rest of the marketing team, and help with the rollout throughout the next two months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1>Introduction<\/h1>\n<p>In most jobs, you will need to do a variety of tasks that involve writing. Writing helps make things happen! It creates action, which, in the world of jobs, creates work. In an employment context, writing is a form of transaction. You write to solve problems, make requests, promote sales, describe procedures, and to fix errors. Writing is grounded in purpose and action: you write to get things done, meet your goals, and serve the needs of others.<\/p>\n<p>Good writing is clear, concise, and professional, but the content can change significantly from task to task.\u00a0 Some will be quick and simple, like confirmation emails or even text message updates. Others may take a long time and involve complex documentation, reporting, and carefully crafted language. For example, you might be asked to send an email to a client, take a message for an unavailable staff member, or write a piece for your company\u2019s website. While each of these is writing, the audience, purpose, and tone will be different for each. To become a strong writer at work, you need to think about each of these aspects every time you start a new message.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Activity<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Sometimes the best way to learn good writing skills is to see what <em>not<\/em> to do. Before you learn more about writing for work, see if you can spot some of the common errors in this message. In this message, Alex is writing to her boss to request vacation.<\/p>\n<p>How could we improve the following email?<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">To: m.adelman@sportsplexnorth.com<br \/>\nFrom: cat_krazy_alex@hmail.com<br \/>\nSubject: Annual VACAY!!!<\/p>\n<p>U probably don&#8217;t remember, but I always take my vacation in July. This year I&#8217;m taking the last too weeks of August instead. BTW if you do not approve this you&#8217;ll create considerible inconvenience for me and you better believe I&#8217;ll take this up with HR.\u2639\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>A<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Choose all answers that apply.<\/p>\n<div class=\"h5p\">\n<div id=\"h5p-52\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-52\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"52\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"writing at work - activity 1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pdf\">\n<ul>\n<li>Leave out Emojis<\/li>\n<li>BTW \u2013 by the way is inappropriate<\/li>\n<li>Tone is inappropriate, unprofessional, threatening even.<\/li>\n<li>A more appropriate subject line, such as Vacation Request<\/li>\n<li>Add a greeting \u2013 Hello Louisa<\/li>\n<li>Email from your company email account<\/li>\n<li>Spelling error in inconveneince \u2013 e and i are flipped around<\/li>\n<li>Inappropriate salutation \u2013 Thanks, Alex<\/li>\n<li>The wrong form of too \u2013 should be two<\/li>\n<li>Ask, don\u2019t demand<\/li>\n<li>Missing a comma after this<\/li>\n<li>U should be You<\/li>\n<li>Shouldn\u2019t threaten \u2013 it may come to that but don\u2019t start there<\/li>\n<li>Spelling error in considerable \u2013 a not i<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_120_192\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_192\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The reader of your writing. The audience can be specific (like your supervisor) or more general (like customers at your workplace).<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_193\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_193\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The meaning of the term as it is being used here means written material that is to be published. A short form of copywriting.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_194\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_194\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Making changes to your writing to more clearly emphasize the audience, purpose and tone while improving clarity, consistency and organization.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_195\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_195\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Updating your writing to ensure it is free of grammar, spelling, typos and other minor writing errors.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_196\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_196\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The reason why you are writing. Purpose focuses on action. Some common purposes for writing are to request information, to provide information, to make a complaint or to persuade.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_197\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_197\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The process of editing or refining your written work before you share it with your intended audience.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_120_198\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_120_198\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>The way you sound to your audience. It summarizes the attitude of your writing. Professional writing tone typically is direct, confident, sincere, and positive.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"parent":0,"menu_order":14,"template":"","meta":{"pb_part_invisible":false,"pb_part_invisible_string":""},"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-120","part","type-part","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/part"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":220,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/120\/revisions\/220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=120"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/workintegratedlearning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}