Improving the Quality of Workplace Writing Through Process Writing TechniquesMichelle Stabler-HavenerSenior English Language FellowRegional Institute of English, South India, Bangalore

Learning OutcomesParticipants will be able to • Format and write a business

letter• Identify the parts of the

writing process• Say why identifying one’s

audience when writing is important• Brainstorm using clustering

or listing• Organize information after

brainstorming http://writerswritedaily.wordpress.com/creative-writing-classes/

My Husband, James, and Me

• I’m from York, Pennsylvania.

TPSA Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Method• THINK. Individual reflection. Write a few

notes on a piece of paper.

• PAIR. Pair/small group discussion (2-4 people). Just 1 person writes.

• SHARE. Whole group reflection. Please ALWAYS be prepared to share with the large group.

1 Thumb + 2 Fingers Up = Silence

Warm-Up: tPS• What are the parts of

a business letter and how do you format them?• What are the parts of

the writing process?• What are parts of the

pre-writing process?

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Business Letter Format

• Sender’s Address (if not using letterhead, 2 inches from top) • Date• Inside Address • Salutation• Body (3 paragraphs)• Closing• Enclosures• Typist’s initials (if you are typing the letter for someone

else)• SAMPLE

Pre-Writing:

1. Identify the audience

2. Brainstorm3. Narrow the topic4. Organize the

information

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AUDIENCE

http://audiences.northings.com/audience-development/

Group Discussion (PS) The Audience• Who reads your writing?• Who reads your students’ writing?• Why is it important to identify your audience?

http://tutordoctorofwny.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/arts-and-education-saturday-audience-schmaudience/

http://lisaannjacobs.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/writers-remember-your-audience/

Group Discussion (PS)The Audience: Expectations

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• What do you think a movie called First Love will be about?• What do you think a

book called Cooking with Keira will be about?• What kind of music

do you think a CD called Classical Delights will have on it?

The Audience: Expectations

• Would you be surprised if…• First Love was a Kung Fu movie with lots of

action but no romance?• Cooking with Keira was about shark attacks off

the coast of Australia?• If Classical Delights was a Hip Hop Rap music

CD?• All audiences have expectations.

Photo: http://koolcampus.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/kung-fu-panda-2-more-heart-soul-and-action/

The Audience

• Who you are: a student? a daughter or son? an employee?

• Who the audience is: the teacher? parents? colleagues? the boss?

http://neilcommons.com/?p=312http://kecasmedia.blogspot.in

In order to communicate successfully, one needs to decide:

The Audience

• Decisions about who you are and who the audience is will determine what you write.• What does your audience know?• What doesn’t your audience know?• What are the audience’s interests, needs, and

expectations?

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Return Return 2

The Audience

• Who you are and who the audience is will determine how you write (continued).• Will short sentences and simple language be

used?• Will sophisticated or complicated concepts and

terms be used? • Will charts or photographs be used?

Photo: http://www.connectioncafe.com/posts/2011/08-august/my-audience-is-my-community.html

Return

BRAINSTORMING: MORE THAN JUST THINKING ABOUT THE TOPIC

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Discussion: PS• What is brainstorming?• Why is brainstorming important?• What are different brainstorming techniques and activities?

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Why is it important to take time to brainstorm?

It helps the writer: • Focus intellectually• Clears distractions • Opens the mind to ideas

• Narrow and define topics for the paper• Develop a logical structure

From http://www.studygs.net/writing/prewriting.htm

http://yourhiddenpotential.co.uk

Group Brainstorming TaskYou work at Lee Capstone. They need an Office Manager. • Write a letter to your boss, recommending a friend for the

job. This is what s/he needs to be able to do:Office Managers supervise:• Attendance and punctuality• Staff communications• Reporting needs to higher management

Candidates should have: • Excellent written and spoken English• Be computer savvy and have great organizational skills• A college degree in human resources, management

Audience wants, needs, & expectations

Brainstorming Activities• Whole group brainstorm

activity • Cluster • List• Check out

www.eslflow.com/brainstorming.html

for more great brainstorming ideas, worksheets, and techniques!

http://dianechamberlain.com

Cluster Diagram

Letter Writing TaskYou work at PILOT MACHINERY CORPORATION • They need a Computer Operator cum Office

Assistant • Write a letter to your boss, recommending a

friend for the job. This is what s/he needs to be able to do:

Prepare invoices, fulfill office assistant responsibilities, catalogue preparations, be proficient in MS-Word, Excel, MS Paint, PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and email

http://forums.unfiction.com

Brainstorming: T

• Choose a brainstorming technique. • Cluster or List

• Brainstorm for 3 minutes. • Write ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that comes to

mind. Be creative!• Do NOT write your letter yet!!!• Keep in mind:• What does your boss need to know about your

friend? • What do you want the boss to know about your

friend?http://scilanginst.blogspot.in/

Narrow the Topic (T)

It is important to be concise when writing a business letter.• Look at your brainstorming notes.• What does your boss need to know?• What would s/he find interesting?• Think critically: What is not important or not

interesting to your boss? Cross it out.

Audience Expectations

Organize the Information (T)

1. What order will you write your information? Number it. 2. Look at the letter writing sample. • What information will go in the first paragraph? • The second paragraph? • The third paragraph?

3. Do you need any additional information to complete the letter? If so, write it down now. It does not need to be in a complete sentence! This is still brainstorming.

http://www.speak-simple.com/organize/

Task: Write Your Letter (t-pS)• You work at PILOT MACHINERY CORPORATION • They need a Computer Operator cum Office

Assistant • Write a letter to your boss, recommending a

friend for the job. This is what s/he needs to be able to do:

- Prepare Invoices, Fulfill office assistant responsibilities, Catalogue preparations, Be proficient in MS-Word, Excel, MS Paint, PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Email

http://forums.unfiction.comThe Audience

Reflection (PS)

• Share with your partner or small group at least one thing you learned or will think more about after after today’s session.

Photo: http://www.contentping.com/social-media-2/a-sea-change-in-consumer-feedback/

COMMENTS? QUESTIONS?

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