September 5, HW #2 - Comprehensive Grammar Diagnostic #1
My results after taking the first Comprehensive Grammar Diagnostic test were lower than I expected. My over all score was 76%. I am proficient in basic grammar, punctuation and mechanics, and usage and style. I am not proficient in Sentence grammar. After analyzing the results the areas I would like to work on are run-on sentences, fragments, eliminating wordiness and coordinating ideas and structures.

September 5, HW#2 - Deadline Reflection
What I’ve taken away from the weeks assignments is that I will have to apply the rhetorical situations to all of my writing, not only for this course, but in writing for work. Learning that I should think about the writer, the audience, the subject matter, exigence and purpose will help with the writing process.

Blogs that I commented on:
Onita - Introduction http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33225362&postID=115661184789985815

Wendy - "Deadline Reflection September 5th" http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33193151&postID=115743350794041109

Wendy - "Comprehensive Grammar Diagnostic #1 Test" http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33193151&postID=115717742314477394

Shannon - "Questions, Comments, and Concerns HW#1" http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33198550&postID=115692246757034888

Elizabeth - August 30, HW#6, Audience Analysis for Job Application Packet - http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33240177&postID=115697804043699650

September 5, HW#2 - Questions & Concerns
Oh my where do I start? I guess with stating that this is my first online course and when I saw the syllabus I began to feel overwhelmed and it has gotten worse from there. I went to the tech help class and found that I had all the different web sites, with the exception of http://www.mycomplab.com/, set up correctly. The technical issues with mycomplab and the fact that I was sold the wrong edition of A Concise Guide to Technical Communication has not helped my frustration level at all. Speaking of the different web sites, I don't understand why there are so many web sites especiallyy blogger, I personally hate blogging. I am a private person and really only want to share my thoughts with the people that I choose. I do understand that we have to respond to our classmates writing, but can't that all be done in Exchange where it is a more private setting? Also how do I find my classmates blogs and how do I comment on them? In a positive light, Ms. Rodrigo has been helpful in her communications with me and I'm sure the mycomplab/Exchange issues has not been easy for her as well.

September 5, HW#2 – Job Application Audience Analysis

Audience – The audience will depend on the size of the company. If it is a large corporation there will be a primary audience of managerial staff. The managerial staff could range from supervisor to the director of a facility. The secondary audience will be the human resources department. The information that is needed and the attitude that the audience will take will vary depending on how high up in a company the application packet goes. If applying for a small company of a private business then that primary audience will be the owner and their might be a secondary audience of office manager. Weather applying for a large of small company you should write as if the owner of the company will see the information.

Purpose – The purpose is for your audience to learn your career objectives, level of education, previous work experience, contact information, and references. The packet information will supply the audience with the information needed to ascertain weather or not you are qualified and if you will be able to perform the job for which you are applying. Secondary use of the job application packet is that if you are hired it will go in your employee file. However, if you are not hired most companies will save job application packets for future reference when hiring again.
Context – Considering the legal, cross-cultural and political issues is important. It should be taken into account if you will be dealing with customer information or the company's proprietary information since both of these require confidentiality. Cross-cultural and political issues have to be taken into consideration since the audience’s background can be very diverse

September 5, HW#2 - Job Application Packet Ideas
When putting together a job application packet you should include a cover letter, a resume and a job application.
The cover letter should state the position for which you are applying, how your credentials meet the credentials that a company is looking for and to impart a sense of professionalism to the employer. You can also emphasize an area that is listed in the resume.

The resume should state the following: Objective - Type of work, type of company, skills, long-term expectations. Education - degree, university, college, city, state year, emphasis, honors. Previous work experience - job title, company, location, years. Skills – languages, computers, skills pertaining to job. Personal Activities or Memberships – What external organizations do you belong to? Interests

In writing the cover letter and resume you should follow the guidelines for the rhetorical situation. Consider it’s purpose, what type of job are you applying for? What is your exigence or why are you applying for the position? Who is the audience? Who will view the packet? What is the subject matter? Does the information in the packet pertain to the job you are applying for?

September 5, HW #2 - Rhetorical Situation
Rhetorical situations are circumstances one is in when they want to communicate. They consist of several elements: the writer, the audience, the subject matter, exigence and purpose. The writer is you, the audience is the readers, subject matter is the topic, exigence is the event that brings about the writing, and purpose is what you want the writing to convey. All of these elements should be analyzed prior to writing since each writing situation is different.
I sit in on focus group at work where, at times, we are asked to review written material or educational films. During these focus groups we consider the audience, the message that is being conveyed and what will the viewer will take away from the communication.

September 5, HW#2 - Reading Reflection
I found chapters 1 & 2 of A Concise Guide to Technical Communication to be very helpful for the fundamentals of technical writing, since I do not have to write as one of my job duties. Some of the areas that I have found most helpful are:

Relevance – Since relevant information focuses on the purpose of the document for the audience which it is written. Some questions I will be asking while writing are: Is the information consistent, clear and accurate to the proper degree for the audience? Is the verbiage appropriate to the audience? Is the verbiage consistent throughout the document? Will it apply to the purpose of the document?

Teamwork/How to Manage a Collaborative Project – I have worked in groups for different class projects and have always been annoyed by the lack of structure. I think that the table of tips is a good guide to help manage a group project since it spells out different rolls one will fill in the project and what their responsibilities are.

Typical Audiences and Purpose for Technical Communication – I found the fact that we all belong to more than one discourse community to ring true. I think that the listing of categories of different audiences and the purpose for which they read will be helpful since it helps differentiate the different audience types.

August 25, HW#1
I love to have fun. I go out as much as possible. Sometimes to see a friend's band play but mostly to dance. I read just about anything I can get my hands on, and will read 5-6 books back to back but then not pick up a book for a few months. My husband and I are the parents to 2 neurotic cats that have us trained very well. I enjoy just about all mediums of art with music as my favorite. I am attending MCC with the hopes of obtaining a degree in mortuary science. Once I have my license, I would like to move to a rural area and open my own mortuary. I want to learn more about how to write for business and I expect to be challenged in this course. I also expect good student teacher communication .

Michelle
"Work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching!" Mark Twain