Professional Communication: Strategies for College and the Workplace by Dan Jones & Karen Lane

Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Professional Communication:Strategies for College and the Workplace

by Dan Jones & Karen Lane

Chapter 5:

Gathering Information


Conducting Effective Interviews


Conducting Effective Interviews

• Look for subject-matter experts• Research the credentials of the

person you are interviewing• Research the company or

organization that you are investigating


Research

• Look for subject-matter experts• Research the company or organization


Prepare

• Decide how you will keep track of information

• If necessary, arrange for an on-site visit• Check to see if you need security

clearance at the interview sight

— continued —


Prepare

• Consider what you will wear• Plan the length of the interview• Make the actual physical arrangements

— continued —


Prepare

• Create a list of questions

• Practice, practice, practice


At the Interview

• Be friendly, yet businesslike• Ask clear questions• Listen carefully• Take comprehensive notes• Obtain any necessary permissions


Follow up

• Send a written thank-you letter

• Work your notes into an organizational outline

Using the Library


Plan Your Research

• Allow enough time for investigation

• Define your topic

• Decide how you will document your research


Locating Information

• Translate your topic into the subject language of indexes and catalogs

• Work from the general to the specific

• Check for more information in your– lecture notes– textbooks– reserve readings

— continued —


Locating Information

Use a variety of sources–books–journal

articles–online

databases

Look in other libraries– interlibrary

loan– online

catalogs


Working with Your Information

• Have a good balance of sources-- don’t have

too few or too many

• Evaluate what you have found

• Use a standard format for your bibliography


Evaluating Print Sources

• When was the source published?

• Is the work a first edition?

• Who is the publisher?

• Is the source a scholarly or a popular journal?— continued —



• What type of audience is the author addressing?

• Is the material fact, opinion, or propaganda?

• Is the information valid and well researched?

• Is the author objective and impartial?

— continued —



• Does the work – supplement other sources you’ve used?

– substantiate other materials?

– provide new information?

— continued —



• How thoroughly does the work cover your topic?

• Is it primary or secondary material?

• Is the publication logically organized?

• Has the work been well received by others?


Evaluating Internet Sources



• Many Internet sources have not been reviewed

• Consider the author’s credibility

• Try to ascertain the material’s accuracy

• Identify the author’s perspective— continued —



• Determine the author’s purpose

• Look for evidence of quality control

• View the quality of the content and formatcritically

• Check the material for completeness— continued —



• Analyze the content for:• balance• objectivity and bias• accuracy

• Check for timeliness

• Ascertain originality— continued —



• Review accessibility

• Look for documentation

Documents

Professional Communication: Strategies for College and the Workplace by Dan Jones & Karen Lane