Indirect Letters/Job Search

Week 4, Part 1

Reminder

1. Slideshare.net/janegriffith

Today

1. Indirect letter peer edit2. Job search introduction

Grammar-rama

7Cs constructive courteous clear and concise concrete and specific complete coherent correct

Clear and Concise

Being clear from the beginning avoids follow-up

Clear and Concise

Achieve clarity through Clear paragraphs

One idea per paragraph only 10 lines maximum per paragraph Topic sentence

Clear sentences One idea per paragraph

Clear word choice jargon

Clear and Concise

Achieve clarity through Deleting wordiness/redundancy

In no way, shape, or form In the month of May I will return the stapler back to its

position. Blank’s Quirk list

Clear and Concise

With regard to your previous letter of January 6, in view of the fact that at the present time our office has a sufficient number of employees, at this point in time, we cannot offer you employment with our company.

One factor that made the report boring was the fact that it was extremely wordy.

It is advised that the meter reading should be recorded hourly by your technician.

Indirect Approach

Peer Edit Sheets

No announcements

“In this letter I will discuss” “This letter is to inform you that”

Assignment Details

Peer edit due: January 25 Final version: January 27 Write a letter using format discussed today Letter should be 200 words Choose ONE scenario:

#1-5 on page 66-67 Change scenario slightly: you already know

the person, you have already made the request, and now you are delivering bad news that it will cost more/take more time.

Job Search Introduction

Job posting Coverletter Resume

Tips: Small Groups

How to find job postings How to succeed in an interview How to make a resume/coverletter stand

out

Job Search Documents

No margin for errors Edit again and again Give to other people to read it Cater to the job—no mass send-outs Keep it short Delete information that is now too

old/irrelevant

Grammar Quiz: February 1

Comma splices Active/passive 7Cs Fragments

Comma Splices

Identify the subject and verb in each sentence:

The youth left the housing complex earlier last year.

The student was off drugs for 6 months.Her biological mother lives on the Island.Luckily, Michael has found work close to

his child’s school.

Comma Splices and Run-ons Comma splices and Run-ons Same problem: two independent clauses

fused together improperly

Comma splice:Subject verb, subject verb

I love ice cream, I love chocolateRun on:Subject verb subject verb

I love ice cream I love chocolate

Comma Splices

Dependent clause Cannot stand alone as a sentence May be missing a subject, a verb, or

have both but also a subordinating conjunction.

Example: Before I leave, I want to dance.

Comma Splices

Independent clause Can stand alone as a sentence Has at least a subject and a verb Example: The star shines.

Comma Splices

Two independent clauses cannot be fused together on their own.

Comma Splices

Comma Splice: When a comma is doing the work of period. Comma is too weak to take this role Comma = weak Period = strong

Comma Splices

Examples His new album has an interesting picture

on the cover, in other words the cover demands attention.

Hand gestures are important for everyone, however they are a means of survival for the hearing impaired.

Tools We Need:

Coordinating Conjunction (“co-con”) FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Subordinating Conjunctions (“sub-cons”) Examples: after, although, as, because,

before, even though, if, once, rather, than, since, that, though, unless, while

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on1. Stronger punctuation2. Use a coordinating conjunction3. Make one phrase dependent

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on1. Use stronger punctuation

1. Period2. Semi-colon and a transitional phrase

1. Examples: also, anyway, besides, furthermore, incidentally, moreover, otherwise, thus, however, in addition

He’s an excellent swimmer; he won an Olympic medal.

He’s an excellent swimmer. He won an Olympic medal.

He’s not a good swimmer; however, he enjoys the water.

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on2. Add a coordinating conjunction

FANBOYS

He’s an excellent swimmer, and he won an Olympic medal.

How to Fix a comma splice/run-on3. Make one phrase dependent

with a subordinating word.by changing it entirely

He is recognized as a great swimmer because he won an Olympic medal.

His great swimming ability won him an Olympic medal.

Try It!