The final chapter: what ENGL 201 has taught me.

I learned that technical writing might be a different genre, but it applies the same principles of writing: proofreading, editing, rewriting, summarizing and close reading. What fascinated me about the course was the time and effort required to produce a well thought of document. I took this for granted until I saw essay #1 how the language, color contrast, fonts and quality of the material could either elevate a company's product or completely destroy it. I never thought of technical writing as a profession until I became entrenched in creating documents for the class. My most difficult time was creating the flyer for Bridgewate State University. The alignment of information with graphics became an exercise in futility. I remember being so frustrated that I threw all my drafts across the living room; ten pieces of paper scattered on the floor. Then I stopped caring about the entire thing which led to a crummy document. I didn't know enough about the features I could have used and I lost focus on my audience and my purpose for the assignment. I keep hearing the word "Audience" in my dreams. Isn't that sad? Seriously, I must have heard this word a million times. It became a part of me like breathing. The minute I sat down to do an assignment I heard myself  asking out loud, "Who is the audience?" Finally, the best part of the semester was being a part of an eclectic group of personalities in an intense five week summer course. No one prepared me for it and it was a culture shock. The jokes, silly banter and lighhearted humor kept me from going stir crazy. Thank you all

Why I am the candidate for the job

I located a job ad for a middle school English teacher in the town of Randolph. It is a full time position specifically educating 6th graders. I have to be proficient in collaborating and planning lesson plans in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts academic standards. I want this job because 6th graders are a great age to educate them about the intricacies of reading and writing. The location is convenient for me because I live ten minutes from Randolph. I will be certified and possess all credentials needed for this job upon graduation and this job requires all the licsences that I have attained. The main reason that I covet this job is the significant increase in salary that I will make; it is a dramatic rise, up to fifteen percent. i like that very much.

Learning about the gruop and the group project

Since I began working on the collaboration project I discovered a few things. I discovered how imporatnt it is to establish great communication amoung your members. I was absent the day the teams were picked for the project. Melissa emailed me later on to inform me that I was part of the group Pierre and she were in. i thought that was a classy move on her part because it got the ball rolling on the type of people I am working with, and that is key. I also discovered that we bring certain talents to the gruop that will allow the presentation to go smoothly. Melissa is the computer wizard of the gruop, Pierre likes the nuts and bolts o fthe presentation and I am all about the structure and flow of it.

What I didn't know about writing emails, memos and letters that I know now is that language is key. The language in these documents can create a smooth flow of information through the chain of command, or cause utter confusion among the masses. I believe that the most important part of these documents is the author.

Collaborations and being funny.

I disagree with the problems the book presents with collaborations. I have been part of several dozen collaborations during my time at Bridgewater State University and the only problem that was constant in every single one of them was dealing with a slacker. I have never encountered groupthink or interpersonal conflict. The reason I love collaborations is I get to know more about the people I am working with on a much more personal level. I get to listen to their fears and frustrations about the project. I discover what angers them, what makes them laugh and then I develop a plan as to how to work with them. The flyer project I am working on at very this moment could sure use some collaboration because I am at a lost when it comes to certain aspects of the computer. I love public speaking because I love to express myself about a document I worked on. One thing that grabbed my attention: never prepare to be funny. i remember how President Clinton was a master at it, Al Gore was horrible at it and President Obama has taken it to another level. Some people are natural at humor and some just wasn't born with a funny bone in their body.

A source for essay #2

I would certainly use the Bridgewater State University website as a source for designing and crafting a document. my reasoning for this is simple: it's an effective way to reach prospective students who might entertaining the notion of coming to the university to pursue academic studies. Another reason that the school's website is a great tool is it's information and background provided about the programs and services available to students. I had a very rough time last semester. I was on the brink of depression. I remember locating a service on campus that help students cope with balancing school life and their regular lives. I found that through the school's website. This is just an example of what the heart of a website should be: how to find what it is that a student needs.

The science of a company's design

My favorite reading thus far in English 201 has been the chapter on design. What fascinated me was the different components that make up the team that design either a website or a brochure for the teeming masses. I always believe that these kind of documents are the sole resposibility of marketing; I was wrong. What bothers me is the energy compnies put into alignment, boldface, use of white space and other assortments and they still  manage to lose the audience about their purpose. A writing professor once alluded to the fact that if I the writer cannot grab his attention( The reader ) with the first line of my work, then both his and my time have been wasted. I agree. Do companies need over the top graphics and convaluted language for their respective documents? My answer is no. I am more interested in the goal of the company. A product can be sold to any audience, if the message is concise. If the average customer doesn't know what the company is selling, then they certainly aren't buying.