End of semester

As I wrap up the semester, I have learned a few things about myself and my style of writing.  I didn’t realize how many types or genres of writing that I actually compose at my job.  My company is unique in that we are scientists but due to the nature of our product, we have to be skilled writers and editors as well.  

On a daily basis, I compose emails and memorandums to my co-workers and to our customers/students.  I also correspond, through a discussion board, with my students.  In the past four months I have had to create an oral presentation using PowerPoint; update the content on our company website; write two units for an online course; create a workbook for another online course; assist in writing a grant proposal; and edit multiple documents.  Not only do I have to be a subject matter expert on some tasks but also a writer or editor.  I always have to be aware of my audience and make sure that the material that I am producing is appropriate in content and comprehension level.  

Overall, I really enjoy what I do.  I love the fact that I can combine my love of science with my love of writing.  I have also realized that in today’s economy, it is better to have multiple skill sets because you make yourself more marketable.  Not only do I have a strong science background, I also have a good foundation in professional writing. 

Business correspondence

In any business setting, being able to write professional emails and other correspondence, like memorandums and letters, is important.  At my current job, my main form of correspondence is through email.  Whether I’m writing an email to my co-workers or to my customers, I always am aware of what I am writing.  It is important to have a clear subject title so the reader will have a good idea what the email is about.  It is also important to state what the email is about in the opening paragraph, whether it is to give information or ask for information.

I have found in my correspondence with my students that the less information in the email, the better.  I always try to put the most important information in bulleted lists or only bold the important words or statements that I want them to retain.  

There also is a difference in how you correspond with co-workers and with the customer or student.  With co-workers, I have found that you can be more direct and not have to be as formal, as long as you convey the message that you are trying to give.  With the customer, they may not be aware of everything regarding the issue, so you may have to give a little more information, but as long as it is concise and explains what you are seeking.  

Another thing when communicating through email that I find useful, is to always put a due date, regardless of the audience.  Everyone is busy and if you don’t put a “please respond by…” in the email, the person may file it away to work on later or even not respond at all.  If a response date is included, the reader is more apt to respond and provide the information requested. 

Writing course content

Creating course content for an online environment can be difficult but if done correctly, very beneficially to the student. One of the tasks that I have been working on this semester is writing course content for a new section in a pre-existing online course.  Instructional design is one of the duties that I have to perform at my job.  In writing content, I have to have specialized knowledge of the subject as well as the ability to write the material in a manner that is concise and comprehensive.  My background is in forensic science and chemistry, but writing is a big part of my job. 

In the online courses that I write, the course material is all inclusive.  I provide a “Getting Started” page that welcomes the student, provides information on how to navigate the course, and explains how the assessments are released.  In the course content section of the course, the material is broken down in units by relevant topics and each unit is broken into sections.  Each section can contain a variety of the following: a few paragraphs of content, images, interactive activities, self-assessments, discussion questions, or a mixture of any listed.  I also have a brief assessment that follows each unit to test the knowledge of student.  A library of resources, articles, additional information, etc, is provided to each student, as well a glossary.  When writing course content, I not only have to focus on the content but also all of the other items previously mentioned.

With the sensitive nature of the courses, we have to make sure that all the courses have the most up-to-date information.  Some courses have had to be completely overhauled do to industry changes, or like in my case this semester, just adding additional content will suffice.  The additional material makes the course a more cohesive experience for the student.  

I enjoy writing course content.  I like the feedback from students once the course is active.  It’s a nice feeling to know that the course that you spent months researching and writing has helped someone in his or her life, whether it be to get a better job or to enhance his or her skills in their current position.

Speech Writing

Preparing to speak in front of an audience can be a daunting task, especially if you have a fear of speaking in front of an audience.  Writing the speech, however, is not that bad if you are aware of several things. Recently I had to create and write a 15-minute oral PowerPoint presentation on research that I conducted.  I had to organize the research findings in to a cohesive body.  I had to do additional research to back up my findings.  After writing my abstract for the presentation.  I built on the information to create the main topics that I wanted to present.  I first wrote the speech as if I was presenting it without slides and then I reviewed it to see where I needed supporting documentation, graphics, or just information to help support the presentation.  Here are a few tips that I have used when writing a speech and creating a presentation.

First, you have to know your audience.  Are they peers or just the common observer? This is important because when you are speaking in front of peers, you can include, for example, jargon and research findings that they are familiar with. With the common observer, you have to make sure to explain any unfamiliar terms and explain the information on their level. 

Second, you have to be aware of the amount of time that is allotted for the speech.  This information will help in knowing how many words that you need and how to construct your speech.  If you only have 15 minutes to present, the information needs to be concise and informative, containing only the important aspects of the selected topic.  If you have any hour, the information that is presented can be more detailed and allow the presenter to provide more in-depth findings. 

Third, you have to decide whether to present your speech with or without slides.  If you choose to present with slides using PowerPoint or a similar program, you have to make sure your speech corresponds with the slide presentation.  One tip when presenting with slides is not to have your entire speech on the slides.  The slides should be used as a guide and provide support to your speech if you need to show images or graphics.  If you choose to present without slides, you have to be aware that the audience is focused solely on you and what you are saying.  The style of writing these two types are different.  With slides, you can use them for breaks in the content, to back up your message, and to provide the audience a visual of what you are presenting.  Without slides, you have to write in the breaks and make sure the message keeps the audience interested in what you are saying.

Finally, when writing a speech you have to make sure that you have a beginning, middle, and end.  With the introduction, let the audience know what you are talking about and what to expect.  In the middle, develop the ideas and present the facts.  In the end, you need to discuss the conclusions and summarize the message.