Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job / Edition 11

by Walter E. Oliu, Charles T. Brusaw, Gerald J. Alred

Overview

More than ever, Writing That Works is the right choice for the most up-to-date coverage of business writing. Real-world model documents are grounded in their rhetorical contexts to guide students in navigating the increasingly complex world of business writing. Now in full-color, the thirteenth edition continues to reflect the central role of technology in the office and the classroom, showcasing the most current types of business documents online and in print, providing succinct guidelines on selecting the appropriate medium for your document, communication, or presentation, and featuring new advice on creating a personal brand as part of a successful job search. Also available as an e-book and in loose-leaf, Writing that Works offers robust but accessible coverage at an affordable price.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781457611131
Publisher:	Bedford/St. Martin's
Publication date:	10/12/2012
Edition description:	Eleventh Edition
Pages:	752
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Walter E. Oliu served as chief of the Publishing Services Branch at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where he managed the agency’s printing, graphics, editing, and publishing programs. He also developed the public-access standards for and managed daily operations of the agency’s public Web site.  He has taught at Miami University of Ohio, Slippery Rock State University, and as an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery College and George Mason University.  His books include Writing That Works,  Tenth Edition  (reprinted chapters appear in Kevin J. Harty’s Strategies for Business and Technical Writing, Fifth Edition, , and Brenda D. Smith and Laura C. Headley’s The Lifelong Reader, Second Edition); The Handbook of Technical Writing, Ninth Edition; The Business Writer’s Handbook, Ninth eEdition (Fortune and Book-of-the-Month Club selections); The Business Writer’s Companion, Sixth Edition; The Technical Writer’s Companion, Third Edition; Writing from A-Z, Fifth Edition; and The Professional Writer.

 
Charles T. Brusaw was a faculty member at NCR Corporation's Management College, where he developed and taught courses in professional writing, editing, and presentation skills for the corporation worldwide. Previously, he worked in advertising, technical writing, public relations, and curriculum development. He has been a communications consultant, an invited speaker at academic conferences, and a teacher of business writing at Sinclair Community College.
 

Gerald J. Alred is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he teaches courses in the Professional Writing Program. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and several standard bibliographies on business and technical communication, and is a founding member of the editorial board of the Journal of Business and Technical Communication. He is co-author of The Business Writer's Handbook and Handbook of Technical Writing. He is a recipient of the prestigious Jay R. Gould Award for "profound scholarly and textbook contributions to the teaching of business and technical writing."

Table of Contents

Index of Sample Documents 
About the Authors 
Preface 
Brief Contents 
PART ONE The Writing Process at Work
Chapter 1 Understanding the Workplace Writing Context: A Case Study 
Writing Systematically 
Determining Your Purpose 
Assessing Your Audience’s Needs 
Considering the Context 
Generating, Gathering, and Recording Ideas and Facts 
Establishing Your Scope 
Organizing Your Ideas 
Selecting the Medium 
Writing for Results 
Writing Persuasively
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 2 Planning, Drafting, and Revising Workplace Writing: A Case Study  
Organizing Your Information 
Traditional Roman Numeral Outline 
Decimal Numbering System Outline 
Essential Organizing Patterns 
A Case Study Part I: How Audience and Purpose Shape Organization
Drafting a Document
Beginning Your Rough Draft
Keeping Your Audience in Mind
Accommodating Multiple Audiences
Writing for an International Audience
Writing an Opening
Writing a Closing
A Case Study Part II: Drafting the Lifemaker Brochure
Revising a Document
Content and Organization
Coherence
Paragraph Unity
Transitions
Emphasis
Active and Passive Voice
Subordination
Parallel Structure
Lists
Other Ways to Achieve Emphasis
Point of View
Style and Language
Formal Writing Style
Informal Writing Style
Context and Word Choice
Conciseness
Bias
Plain Language
Proofreading
Case Study Part III: Revising the Lifemaker Brochure
Exercises
Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
PART TWO Methods and Design
Chapter 3 Collaborating on Content 
Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaborative Writing 
Functions of a Collaborative Writing Team 
Planning 
Research and Writing 
Review and Revision 
The Role of Conflict in Collaborative Writing 
Leading a Collaborative Writing Team 
Schedule 
Review Transmittal Sheet 
Collaborating with Other Departments 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 4 Conducting Research  
Conducting Primary Research: Experience, Interviews, Observations, and Questionnaires 
Beginning with Your Experience 
Observing Firsthand 
Using a Questionnaire 
Conducting Secondary Research: The Workplace, the Library, and the Internet 
Developing a Search Strategy 
Workplace Sources of Information 
Library Research 
Searching the Web 
Evaluating, Recording, and Acknowledging Research Sources 
Evaluating Sources 
Taking Notes 
Quoting from Your Sources 
Paraphrasing 
Summarizing 
Avoiding Plagiarism and Other Intellectual Property Violations 
Copyrights 
Patents 
Trademarks 
Documenting Sources 
APA Style 
MLA Style 
Other Style Manuals 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 5 Designing Text and Visuals 
Understanding Design Principles 
Designing Documents 
Typography 
Highlighting Devices 
Integrating Other Design Elements 
Creating Visuals 
Designing and Integrating Visuals with Text 
Tables 
Graphs 
Drawings 
Flowcharts  
Organizational Charts 
Maps 
Photographs 
Infographics 
Using Visuals to Communicate Internationally 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 6 Writing in an Online Environment 
Crafting Content for Rapid Consumption 
Using the Inverted Pyramid 
Using a Simple Style and an Appropriate Tone 
Writing Concisely 
Chunking Content 
Highlighting Information 
Using Headings and Subheadings 
Using Bulleted and Numbered Lists 
Giving Directional Cues 
Providing Keywords for Content Retrieval 
Using Graphics and Typography 
Linking to Internal Content 
Linking to External Content 
Repurposing Existing Content 
Documenting Sources of Information 
Protecting User Privacy 
Enhancing Access to Content 
Ensuring Access for People with Disabilities 
Considering International Users 
Social and Collaborative Media in the Workplace 
Blogs and Forums 
Wikis 
Podcasts 
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 
Social Media 
Summary
Exercises
Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects

PART THREE Messages and Models
Chapter 7 Writing E-mails, Memos, and Letters 
Using Professional Style and Tone 
Audience and Writing Style 
Goodwill and the “You” Viewpoint 
Structuring Effective Messages 
Direct and Indirect Patterns 
Openings 
Closings 
Developing Clarity and Emphasis 
Lists 
Headings 
Subject Lines 
Managing Your Email and Protocol 
Review and Confidentiality 
Writing and Design 
Observing Protocol 
Sending Text and Instant Messages 
Designing Memos 
Memo Format 
Designing Letters 
Letter Format 
Heading 
Inside Address 
Salutation 
Subject Line 
Body 
Complimentary Closing 
Writer’s Signature Block 
End Notations 
Continuing Pages 
Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Message 
Understand the Assignment 
Gather Information 
Organize Your Thoughts 
Write the Draft 
Polish the Draft 
Take a Well-Deserved Break 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 8 Writing Routine and Sensitive Messages 
Routine and Positive Messages 
Cover Messages (or Transmittals) 
Acknowledgments 
Inquiries 
Responses to Inquiries 
Sales and Promotions 
Sensitive and Negative Messages 
Routine and High-Stakes Refusals 
Complaints 
Adjustments 
Collections 
Writing International Correspondence 
Culture and Business-Writing Style 
Cross-Cultural Examples 
Meeting the Deadline: Writing a Sensitive Message 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 9 Writing Informal Reports 
Planning and Writing Informal Reports 
Considering Your Audience 
Collecting Information 
Parts of the Informal Report 
Reaching Plausible Conclusions: Evaluating Cause and Effect 
Types of Informal Reports 
Progress and Periodic Reports 
Investigative Reports 
Incident Reports 
Trip Reports 
Test Reports 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 10 Writing Formal Reports 
Transmittal Messages 
Front Matter 
Title Page 
Abstract 
Table of Contents 
List of Figures 
List of Tables 
Foreword 
Preface 
List of Abbreviations and Symbols 
Body 
Executive Summary 
Introduction 
Text (Body) 
Conclusions 
Recommendations 
Works Cited (or References) 
Back Matter 
Bibliography 
Appendixes 
Glossary 
Index 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 11 Writing Instructions 
Planning Instructions 
Learn to Perform the Operation Yourself 
Assess Your Audience and Purpose 
Organize the Instructions 
Writing Instructions 
Write Directly to Your Reader 
Include Warnings and Cautions 
Using Illustrations and Design Principles 
Illustrate for Clarity 
Design for Ease of Use 
Testing for Usability 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 12 Writing Proposals  
Planning and Writing Proposals 
Audience and Purpose 
Project Management 
Repurposing Content 
Organization 
Persuasive Writing 
Internal Proposals 
Routine Internal Proposals 
Formal Internal Proposals 
External Proposals 
Solicited Proposals 
Unsolicited Proposals 
Grant and Research Proposals 
Sales Proposals 
Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Proposal 
Requests for Proposals 
RFP Structure 
Information about Your Company 
Project Description 
Delivery Schedule 
Proposal Description 
Vendor Qualifications 
Proposal-Evaluation Criteria 
Appendixes 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 13 Giving Presentations and Conducting Meetings 
Preparing and Delivering Presentations 
Determining Your Purpose 
Analyzing Your Audience 
Gathering Information 
Structuring Your Presentation 
Using Visual Aids 
Practicing Your Presentation 
Delivery Techniques that Work 
Reaching Global Audiences 
Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Presentation 
Part I: Planning Your Presentation
Part II: Creating Your Presentation
Part III: Practicing Your Presentation
Part IV: Delivering Your Presentation
Listening 
Fallacies About Listening 
Steps to More Effective Listening 
Conducting Productive Meetings 
Planning a Meeting 
Chairing a Meeting 
Chapter Summary
Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects
Research Projects
Chapter 14 Finding the Right Job 
Promoting Your Skills for a Successful Job Search 
Establish Your Personal Brand
Post an Online Personal Profile
Create a Personal Website
Conducting the Job Search
Networking 
Campus Career Services 
Strategic Web Searches 
Job Advertisements 
Trade and Professional Journal Listings 
Private, Temporary, and Government Employment Agencies 
Internships and Co-ops 
Direct Queries and Informational Interviews 
Job-Search Record Keeping 
Preparing an Effective Résumé 
Analyzing Your Background 
Organizing Your Résumé 
Digital Formats and Media Résumés 
Sample Résumés 
Writing an Effective Letter of Application 
Opening Paragraph 
Body Paragraphs 
Closing Paragraph 
Sample Letters 
Completing a Job or an Internship Application 
Doing Well in the Interview 
Before the Interview 
During the Interview 
Sending Follow-up Correspondence 
Sending a Resignation Letter or Memo 
Chapter Summary
Exercises
Collaborative Classroom Projects   Research Projects
Appendix A Revision Guide: Sentences, Punctuation, and Mechanics 
Proofreaders’ Marks 
Sentences 
Sentence Faults 
Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices 
Sentence Fragments 
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers 
Nouns 
Count and Mass Nouns 
Articles 
Prepositions 
Pronouns 
Pronoun Case 
Pronoun Reference 
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement 
Adjectives and Adverbs 
Comparatives and Superlatives 
Placement 
Usage 
Verbs 
Subject-Verb Agreement 
Voice 
Mood 
Tense 
Helping Verbs 
Conditional Sentences 
Gerunds and Infinitives 
Punctuation 
Commas 
Linking Independent Clauses 
Introducing Elements 
Enclosing Elements 
Separating Elements 
Using Commas with Other Punctuation 
Avoiding Unnecessary Commas 
Semicolons 
Colons 
Apostrophes 
Showing Possession 
Indicating Omission 
Forming Plurals 
Quotation Marks 
Identifying Quotations 
Setting Off Words, Phrases, and Titles 
Using Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation 
Periods 
Question Marks
Exclamation Marks 
Parentheses and Brackets 
Hyphens 
Linking Modifiers 
Separating Prefixes and Suffixes 
Other Uses 
Dashes 
Ellipses 
Slashes 
Mechanics 
Capitalization 
Proper Nouns 
Common Nouns 
First Words 
Specific Groups 
Specific Places 
Specific Institutions, Events, and Concepts 
Titles of Works 
Professional and Personal Titles 
Abbreviations, Letters, and Units 
Numbers 
Words or Numerals 
Plurals 
Money 
Measurements 
Time and Dates 
Addresses 
Punctuation 
Documents 
Abbreviations 
Names of Organizations 
Measurements 
Personal Names and Titles 
Italics 
Foreign Words and Phrases 
Titles 
Proper Names 
Words, Letters, and Numerals 
Subheads 
Index 

Editorial Reviews

This business-oriented writing introduction covers the basic elements of composition, writing strategies, business correspondence, formal and informal reports, research, visual aids, proposals, oral presentations, resumes, word processing, the Internet, spelling and vocabulary, grammar, and ESL. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"One of the best textbooks of its kind on the market. It meets all the major needs in business writing in the real world today."
—Will Zhang, Des Moines Area Community College

"This text balances foundational knowledge with the ongoing conversation of the changing climate of technology."
—William Garland, University of South Carolina

"My students tell me they use the text lessons right away on the job to help them shape their memos and craft instructions as part of their duties."
—Renee Rallo, St. Joseph College

"An iconic title that covers the various types of key documents and writing challenges in the world of work; it includes examples and models to underscore principles and best practices brought out in the text, and offers tips on how to get your message across effectively, succinctly, and clearly."
—Charles Warren, Salem State University

From the Publisher