Professional Writing Minor Application

Clint Gordy

Portfolio for the Minor in Professional Writing (2013-2014) 1

Professional Writing Minor Portfolio:

Business Communication Track

Clint Gordy, October 4th 2013

Clint Gordy

Table of Contents

Personal Information and Academic Preparation...........................................3 Writing History.................................................................................................4 Statement of Goals for Pursuing the Minor in Professional Writing................5 Track Choices & Explanation..........................................................................6 Resume..........................................................................................................7 Writings From Coursework.............................................................................9

(Writing 107B Writing 107G Writing 107T Other Coursework) Tact Letter (Writing 107B)........................................................................10 ChitChat Business Plan (Writing 107B)...................................................12 Professional Negotiation in China (Writing 107G)....................................18 Instructions for Making a Paper Airplane (Writing 107T)..........................24 Recommendation Report (Writing 107T).................................................27 Nike Golf Sports Marketing Plan (Other Coursework).............................32

Other Writing Samples..................................................................................35(Careers Non-academics Presentations) Citrix Podio Sales Internship Cover Letter (Career Writings)...................36 Email for Inter-Fraternity Council Presidents (Non-academic).................38 Prezi for Professional Negotiating in East-Asia (Presentation)................41

Closing Remarks..........................................................................................43

Phone: (805) 698 0020 Email: [email protected]


Clint GordyI. Personal Information and Academic Preparation

Personal Information

Name: Clint Gordy

Local Address: 6643 Del Playa Drive, Goleta, CA 93117

Phone Number: (805) 698 - 0020

Primary Email: [email protected]

Academic Preparation

Overall GPA: 3.08

Major: 3.27

Minor: N/A (For Professional Writing Minor, 3.9)

Upper-division writing courses* completed as pre-requisites for the Minor:Course Instructor GradeWriting 107B Robert Krut AWriting 107G Jeffrey Hanson A-Writing 107T Amy Propen A

*Please note that a course taken at another college/university needs to be approved as a pre-requisite by the director of the Minor track to which youre applying. Please submit a separate folder with the syllabus, assignments, and writing samples for this transfer course.

Upper-division writing courses in progress as pre-requisites for the Minor:Course InstructorN/A N/AN/A N/AN/A N/A

Other Writing Program courses planned for winter and spring:Course QuarterWriting 150 SpringWriting 157A WinterWriting 157B Spring

Total units (approximately) you plan to take during winter quarter? 16-17 units spring quarter? 12-13 units


Clint GordyII. Writing History

Briefly describe your history as a writer, including writing you have done in academic courses, on your own, and at work (300 word limit).

Writing History:I have been a passionate writer since my first essay senior year of high school. Originally, I wanted to have a career associated with mathematics; however, because of my experience and knowledge gained from UCSB's writing courses, my focus has changed to professional writing.

Writing Completed in Academic Courses:I have taken the basic and the upper-division writing courses required to become a part of the Professional Writing Minor. These courses include the following:

Writing 1 (Fall 2010) Writing 2 (Summer 2011, Session B) Writing 107B (Summer 2012, Session B) Writing 107G (Spring 2013) Writing 107T (Summer 2013, Session B)

In Writing 1, my work called Adding a New Element was featured on the 2010-2011 edition of Starting Lines. The essay discussed my progression from being a student focused on mathematics to becoming a student passionate about writing.

In Writing 107B, with the help of three other students, I created a business plan called ChitChat that gave information about any event occurring in a specific area. Please refer to page 12 of this portfolio to see the marketing portion I completed for this business plan.

Writing Completed on My Own:In my own time, I use the skills learned from Professional Writing courses in all of my emails. I follow the memo format and use editing techniques taught in these writing courses, including spacing, bolding, underlining, and using active voice.

Writing Completed at Work:Currently acting as Vice President of Risk Management for UCSB's Inter-Fraternity Council, I compile professional emails each day. Some emails regard standard professional communication between the current executive board and myself, while others include important information presented to presidents of each fraternity chapter. Please refer to page 38 of this portfolio for an example.

Words: 295


Clint GordyIII. Statement of Goals for Pursuing the Minor in Professional Writing

Briefly describe your desire to join the Minor, as well as your goals for pursuing the Minor in Professional Writing (300 word limit).

I wish to join this minor because it is the most practical minor available at UCSB. This minor not only gives students practice writing professional documents, but also allows students to experience professional life before graduation.

A goal for pursuing the Minor in Professional Writing is to create a pamphlet for an organization that will be used for marketing purposes. Another goal is to create my own professional website for future employers, as well as to create a business card for any interested employers. In addition, I would also like to create a successful proposal for an organization that allows the company to progress in research and overall stability. A final goal for myself in pursuing the Professional Writing Minor is to become an excellent editor for every type of professional document. This includes making corrections to documentation for friends, family, coworkers, and even managers.

My major goal I wish to achieve from joining the Professional Writing Minor is to gain an internship position and positively change the organization for the employer and consumers. I plan on doing this by creating successful proposals, writing clear and concise emails, helping fellow employees enhance their professional writing techniques, and assisting coworkers in career scenarios other than writing.

Word Count: 205


Clint GordyIV. Track Choices & Explanation

Desired Track of the Minor

Explanation of Track Choices

Briefly discuss your choice of tracks in terms of your short- or long-term goals (200 word limit).

The Business Communication Track gives students first hand experience for developing written, oral, visual, and collaborative skills in the professional environment. These techniques help students succeed in any professional field and give students an edge over other competitors in the job market. If accepted to this track, I plan to utilize these skills after college in a corporate position under any business or organization to increase sales, marketing strategies, and overall collaborations between employees.

The Multimedia Communication Track gives students skills to evaluate, design, and produce creative multimedia content for professional audiences. In addition, students learn new computer skills that are crucial for today's job market. If accepted to this track, I plan to use these skills to create successful marketing strategies for an organization by creating designs for pamphlets, portfolios, and other documents.

The Professional Editing Track gives students skills to edit any document for grammar, genre, tone, and style. If accepted to this track, I plan to utilize these techniques to correct any form of professional documentation for my coworkers.

Word Count: 172


#1: Business Communication

#2: Multimedia Communication #3: Professional

Editing

Clint Gordy

Resume


Clint GordyCLINT GORDY

795 Embarcadero Del Norte, Goleta, CA 93117 | (805) 698-0020 | [email protected]

OBJECTIVESeeking acceptance to the Professional Writing Minor in a track focused on Business Communication to assist future employers with daily operations

EDUCATIONUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Expected Graduation: June 2014B.A., Global and International Studies, emphasis in Chinese Language

Major GPA: 3.27 Cumulative GPA: 3.08Relevant Coursework: Business Writing, Technical Writing, Professional Writing for Global Careers,Global Economy and Development, Global History and Cultural IdeologyLanguage Courses: Six Quarters of Intensive Chinese Language

EXPERIENCEInter-fraternity Council Vice President of Risk Management, UCSB April 2013-Current

Develop strategies to improve safety and legal conduct on all fraternity premises Correspond with school administrators, campus representatives, local authorities, and chapter presidents to

ensure risk management strategies are properly implemented Administer risk management policies for 10 or more legal situations quarterly in a tactful manner

Server at Sandbar Cocina and Bar, Santa Barbara, CA February 2012-October 2012 Worked efficiently with fellow employees to reach daily goal of $15,000 in sales Communicated effectively with managers to satisfy the needs of multiple customers at once

California Public Interest Research Group Marketing Intern, UCSB Spring 2012 Cooperated with other interns to reach goal of 500 student signatures to maintain chapter on campus Proctored new members in facilitating customer service skill to increase sales by 13%

Deliver Driver at Domino's Pizza, Isla Vista, CA Summer 2011-Winter 2011 Responded quickly and efficiently to satisfy up to 50 customer requests in a 5-hour period Dispersed proper change and handled customer requests through Domino's computer software

LEADERSHIP AND CAMPUS INVOLVEMENTMember of Accounting Association, UCSB September 2012-Present

Support 300 fellow members to prepare for on-campus recruiting experiencesDivision III Ice Hockey Team Member, UCSB Fall 2010-Winter 2012

Assisted in creation and stabilization of the current UCSB Ice Hockey TeamBrotherhood Developer of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, UCSB April 2011-September 2011

Oversaw and motivated 25 new members of Sigma Phi Epsilon for 6 months

RELATED SKILLS Team collaboration from the creation of a 50-page business plan called ChitChat in a 4-person team Professional writing skills from coursework such as Professional Writing for Global Careers, Technical

Writing, and Business Writing


Clint Gordy

Writings from Coursework

Writing 107B

Writing 107G

Writing 107T

Other Coursework


Clint Gordy

Preface:Tact Letter

(Writing 107B)

The purpose of this tact letter in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication Track is because tactful letters are necessary in many different situations regarding professional life. When a consumer has an issue with a product or service, employees must be able to handle the complaint in an efficient and understanding manner that will not deter the customer from future transactions.

The context of this Tact Letter regards a consumer who is dissatisfied with an event planning corporation (Reality, Inc.) because their favorite artist, Doctor P, is not playing at Festivalooza this year. I first address the problem from the consumer's point of view, then give the logistics to why the artist can not be brought back to the festival, and finally offer alternative solutions to satisfy the customer's preferences.


Clint Gordy20 June 2012

19333 Bass Raider WayLos Angeles, CA 91301

Mr. Richard Martin3005 West 29th, Suite 140Waco, TX 77663

Dear Mr. Martin:

I would like to thank you on behalf of Reality for your attendance at Festivalooza last year and helping make the event memorable for over 543,000 fans. We understand your concern for Doctor P not being able to attend the event this year, especially since he drew in a large percentage of our consumers at the event. Not only was his performance captivating, but it was a novel example of what we here at Reality strive towards; creating a realistic and memorable experience for our customers.

It is also our policy to maintain the satisfaction of not only our customers, but the venues that sponsors our events as well. The Hollywood Bowl holds nearly three-quarter of our events, allowing us to maintain the appeasement of our customers with large areas for huge crowds and multiple locations for concession stands. Without the help of these venues, we would not have become such a successful business in the music industry and be able to reach out to such a broad range of customers.

However, an issue during last years event occurred. Due to the increased frequency of Doctor Ps bass, the Hollywood Bowl was cited for disturbing the neighborhoods surrounding the venue. The citation was appealed on Realitys legal entities behalf, but our claims were nullified by the local judge. Therefore, due to this unlikely circumstance, Doctor P can not be invited back to the Hollywood Bowl this year. He was excellent at the Hollywood Bowl last year, and it disappoints this corporation to not invite him back for another memorable experience.

Even though Doctor P is not attending the venue this year, other artists of similar genre will be playing this year at Festivalooza. Artists such as Excision, Datsik, and Koan Sound will make an appearance this year at Festivalooza, whom are all similar in styles and are classified under the same genre. In addition, Flux Pavilion, who is under the same record label as Doctor P, will also be making an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl this year. Since they are under the same record label, he will play some of Doctor Ps music during his performance. On behalf of Reality, I apologize for any inconvenience of this news and we hope to see you at future events at Hollywood Bowl. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Clint A. Gordy


Clint Gordy

Preface:ChitChat Business Plan

(Writing 107B)

The purpose of this business plan in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication Track is because business plans are created each day in professional life. When creating a business from scratch, individuals must be able to analyze the market for potential competition, calculate startup financial statistics, create employment standards, and formulate other important professional characteristics for the corporation to be successful.

The context of the ChitChat Business Plan is a website and Smartphone application that allows consumers to find events in the area they live that accrues through their interests. This is achieved by utilizing the current increase of social media and using applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Shown in this portfolio is The Market section, the portion of the business plan I formulated from my research.*

*This is only a portion of the full business plan. References and citations have been removed for easier reading. Complete manual and list of sources available upon request.


Clint Gordy


Clint Gordy2.0 The Market

ChitChat will now analyze the current social media market and describe the reasoning for the market.

2.1 Introduction

The impact of social networking sites on the human population is growing every day. As seen in Table 3.1, companies are predicted to increase their spending on the use of sites such as Facebook remarkably more than any other form of social media. In this section, we will show how ChitChat plans to utilize this increase in social networking and display examples of what sets us ahead of competitors.

2.2 Target Market and Analysis

ChitChat will be a company which will set its foundation in the city of San Francisco, California. However, we will target the online market, expanding its horizon to other cities such as Los Angeles or New York City. The size of the online market is immeasurable, ranging across the entire planet. ChitChat will focus its aim on the social media industry, linking its sources to websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. Social media is defined as, online tools where content, opinions, perspectives, insights, and media can be shared. At the core, social media is about relationships and connections between people and organizations, a foundational goal for ChitChat.

2.3 The Increasing of Social Media

The number of consumers who use social media is rapidly expanding. From 2009-2010, a 43% increase in time devoted to socializing erupted, occupying each individuals time for more than 13.5 minutes per day. Currently, the top ten social networking sites contain 2.93


Clint Gordybillion registered users, approaching nearly half the population of the planet. ChitChat seeks to take advantage of this increase in socialization by allowing individuals to find events in any location around the world through these social media instruments.

Social media users engage in peer-to-peer conversation to collaborate, share, tag, edit, or create information. This helps consumers make decisions toward what kind of events or places they would like to attend because users, rely on the recommendations given to them by friends. In addition, social media allows users to interact with a company through the domain of a social network, permitting customers who use ChitChat to share their opinions with others. Due to this interactivity, ChitChat can generate feedback from customers that will help make the company grow while still helping the consumer, To utilize social media efficiently, a company must first determine strategically why creating a Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, or other similar application would help establish the goals of a company.

2.4 Market Trends and Growth Potential

ChitChat aims to create a social environment for users through a simple user-interface, exploiting social media and social images to find events, venues, shows, restaurants, or anything else in a consumers surrounding area. The creation of the ChitChat Application for all Smartphone devices will allow users to customize their profiles, share their night-life preferences, chart their travel histories to different locations, and share information between friends on other social networking websites. The use of this application will be effective for influencing and tracking consumer beliefs and attitudes related to our service. However, this is not the only form of social media we will create. As seen in Figure 2.1, ChitChat will utilize a plethora of social media websites to give users more options to find an event that pertains the best to their individual needs.

In a recent study, approximately 93% of brands across the globe have established an official Facebook page. Facebook alone has grown to 750 million users, making social media available to anybody across the planet. Our URL www.facebook.com/ChitChat will focus on developing relationships with consumers rather than solely providing information. Only ChitChat will be able to control wall content, but users may respond to current postings. We will create postings related to event information and voting systems based on how consumers felt about past venues. ChitChat will ensure that these postings will not exceed more than 20 a day so we do not bombard consumers with excessive information in their news feed. These postings will entail details such as theses relating to future event information:


Clint Gordyasking users to discuss previous experience at the venues, voting on how they thought of past events, selecting favorable aspects of an event such as sound system and crowd dynamics, and creating postings with images of events so consumers can tag themselves on their Facebook, allowing friends to get a visual representation of the venue before they are even there. The creation of ChitChats micro blog on URL www.tumblr/tagged/ChitChat will allow users to post pictures of themselves at events, take polls pertaining venues and past artists, write reviews on past shows, or simply communicate between individuals on the same social network. Micro-blogging creates an opportunity for establishing the ChitChat brand while still developing relationships with the customer. This Tumblr URL will create a positive attitude for us and customers with aspirations of higher turn-out ratios at events. .

2.5 Competitive Analysis

Online reviews are becoming increasingly important sources of customer information. These reviews will affect the sales of tickets at each venue positively, allowing the revenue of not only ChitChat to increase, but the location the concert is being held at as well. However, other companies such as Yelp and Citysearch present themselves as the largest hindrances towards our growth. Tens of millions people have visited all three websites at least once by April 2009. These forces will not intimidate ChitChat. With its new innovations and unique, simple interface, ChitChat will be put on the map using simple ideas from these competitors while adjusting them to meet the expectations of investors and consumers.

2.5.1 Competitors Profiles

The following information presents information on both of ChitChat's competitors, Citysearch and Yelp.

2.5.1.1 Citysearch

In 2006, Citysearch was the 42nd most popular website in the United States with 15.1 million visitors. This company follows the anonymity strategy, a theory which makes online reviews independent, meaning reviewers can not engage in any personal communication or social interaction due to a lack of personal profiles and instant messaging devices. In fact, user reviews were found to be buried under professional reviews since they hired professional staff to write editorial reviews of local businesses. Their use of the anonymity strategy made minimal attempts to attract a constant reviewing ratio. In turn, Citysearch showed statistics of 71.2% of reviewers writing a single review, 0.6% wrote 20 or more reviews, 64.4% of reviewers writing five or less, and an average of two reviews per-account.

2.5.1.2 Yelp

Yelp launched in 2004 and received $31 million in funding by the end of July 2009. With innovation such as the elite member advantages, a talk forum, and compliment letters, Yelp rose quickly to the top of the online review market. Using a foundation of intrinsic incentives to build social image, volunteers came to work for Yelp with the desire to be conceived as righteous from a large number of reviews or a profile picture. This definition of righteous means being a model individual for others to follow. With statistics such as 9.2% reviewers writing one review, 27.1% writing twenty or more, 2.3% of reviewers writing five or less reviews, and an average of 25 reviews per reviewer account, Yelp is capitalizing in this market with their innovations, until ChitChat matches or beats these numbers with its own unique innovations.


Clint Gordy2.5.2 Service Comparison

Online companies hold a strong incentive to invest in innovations that reduce advertising costs and increase appeal to all consumers equally. Each aspect of a company is a strategic complement, meaning that implementing one aspect increases the value of another, and decreasing one aspect decreases the value another. For example, implementing fast, open-source software for our search engine will increase the value of the company, and decreasing the speed of our search engine will do the opposite. However, ChitChat only plans on using the first option, enabling a fast search engine for our users to find events quickly and use an open-source software to create social interactions between our consumers.

ChitChat will utilize the intrinsic incentive of social image to create reviews of events from volunteers. We will also enable and encourage reviewers to establish a social reputation by evaluating other consumers' reviews, chatting online, becoming friends via the official ChitChat page, and giving users the ability to meet each other at offline social events they found on the website. Once a user has registered with ChitChat and has made 15 credible reviews, the member will be promoted to a Frequent Chatter position; 30 credible reviews promotes the user to Mr./Ms./Mrs. Popular; 50 credible reviews promotes the user to The It Guy/Girl. Not only does this approach promote credibility of each individuals reviews, but it also gives users incentive to continue reviewing and finding locations on ChitChat, creating an extremely social environment for consumers.

ChitChat will also give incentives to customers through discounts at events by frequent reviews or sweepstakes to win VIP tickets to different venues, allowing consumers to get involved in the social networking aspect and return to locations which they found suitable. This will be accomplished by the use of open-source software, where each user will be able to state their own opinions of venues and see those who won sweepstakes as incentive for future winnings. The advertising discussed in later sections will fund these promotions.

2.6 Conclusion

With the populations use of social media increasing rapidly, now is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the online review market. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and

Tumblr are increasing in registered users each day. This allows ChitChat to step in and create a unique and simple interface, permitting consumers to link with old and new friends to meet at events of their particular interests. As seen in Figure 2.2, we will utilize a three-part dynamic engine integrating the ideas of social media, organic search, and a local search to find an event which is truly unique to each individuals taste. With this search engine, consumers can find a venue that is not only close-by and pertains to their individuality, but also allows users to maintain a social standard and have fun with their friends as well.


Clint Gordy

Preface:Professional Negotiating in China

(Writing 107G)

The purpose of this professional negotiation manual in my Professional Writing Minor application for the Business Communication Track is because having successful negotiations are crucial to success in professional life. Negotiation tactics are different all over the world; therefore, knowing how to negotiate deals in a different country (in this case, China) is an excellent skill to have for successful business communication.

The context of this document is to give certain tactics to business professionals looking to do business in East-Asia. This entire negotiation manual was created with six fellow students and focused on areas such as China, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. The name of our company is Asian Consulting Group (ACG). The following professional document is my portion of the manual focusing on research I found regarding China's current negotiating tactics.*

*This is only a portion of the full manual. References and citations have been removed for easier reading. Complete manual and list of sources available upon request.


Clint GordyChina

For centuries, China has stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in arts and sciences. Since the early 1990s, China has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations. As seen in Figure 1.1, Chinas Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has seen a tenfold increase since the countrys economic reconstruction in 1978. As a growing superpower, China is quickly becoming more involved in international business. Therefore, it is imperative for you to know how to negotiate properly with Chinese business professionals.

Figure 1.1: Chinas GDP Growth Percentage, 2008-2012

1. Negotiation in ChinaBefore establishing contact with your business associates in China, you must understand the core cultural difference between the United States and China. These differences will affect your business negotiations in various aspects.

Business professionals looking to successfully conduct business in China need to understand how Chinas cultural ideologies will affect negotiations. Please refer to Figure 1.2 to see a visual comparison of four cultural dimensions that affect negotiating tactics differently in both the United States and China.

1.1 CollectivistThe United States represents a highly individualistic culture. In United States business culture, you are expected to be self-reliant and display initiative. China is a highly collectivist culture where individuals act in the interest of the group and not of themselves.

1.2 Power-DistanceThe United States focuses on equal rights for all individuals in society. Information is shared frequently and both managers and employees expect to be consulted. China is a society that believes inequalities amongst people are acceptable. The subordinate-superior relationship is polarized and there is no defense against power abuse by seniors.


Clint Gordy1.3 Long-Term OrientationThe United States is a short-term oriented culture. This orientation drives individuals to strive for quick results in the workplace. China is a highly long-term oriented society in which persistence and perseverance are normal.

1.4 Masculinity/ FemininityThe United States is considered a masculine society. Conflicts are resolved at the individual level the main goal is to win the conflict. China is also a masculine society by being success oriented and driven. Many Chinese business professionals will sacrifice family and leisure time for their business.

Figure 1.2: Types of Cultural Dimensions in China and the United States

2. Establishing CommunicationNow that you understand some basic cultural differences between China and the United States, we will lead you through several different methods to successfully establish communication with your business associates in China. In Chinese business culture, initiating proper contact is key to successful negotiations.

2.1 Initial ContactBefore initiating business negotiations in China, you should identify and engage a local intermediary. This person will help bridge the cultural and communications gap, allowing you to conduct business with greater effectiveness. In most cases, initial contact may be more of a social opportunity as opposed to a negotiation discussion.

2.2 Greetings and MannerismsThere are two main mannerisms of negotiations Chinese business professionals follow. You should follow these mannerisms to have the most positive impact on your negotiations with Chinese professionals.


Clint GordyThe Mianzi mannerism centralizes on the term face. Face is a mark of personal pride and forms the basis of an individual's reputation and social status. Causing someone to lose face through public humiliation or inappropriate allocation of respect to individuals within the organization can seriously damage your business discussions. However, praising someone in moderation before their colleagues is a form of giving face and can earn you respect and loyalty, which will aid your negotiations.

The Confucianism mannerism is based on the concept of relationships and the elements of responsibility and obligation. It is paramount that you build your reputation in any Chinese business by forming positive relations and being responsible for any claims you make.

3.3 Attitudes and StylesChinese negotiation sessions are a team effort. Chinese business professionals create work teams with tasks assigned to these groups rather than to individuals. In addition, it is also important to maintain eye contact with your interlocutor. Avoiding eye contact is considered untrustworthy and you will deplete the chance of positive negotiations. It is also important to not show excessive emotion while conducting business transactions because Chinese professionals see it as unfriendly. Punctuality is also very important during Chinese business negotiations.

4. Conducting MeetingsIt is rare that Chinese professionals will deal with people they do not know or trust. Therefore, it is important that you understand how to conduct yourself appropriately during meetings to have successful negotiations.

4.1 PreparationAn important element before commencing business meetings is to engage in small talk. Be prepared, because Chinese professionals may ask rather personal questions. Furthermore, Chinese professionals will likely use their native dialect, Mandarin or Cantonese. Therefore, some things to consider before attending a meeting include the following:

Do bring a translator if you do not know Chinese Do use formal you (Nin) instead of informal you (Ni) Do not use direct negative replies because they are considered impolite Do address your Chinese counterparts with their title and their last name

4.2 LocationsThe Chinese usually conduct business over lunch and dinner. If not, negotiations are done at places of business, such as a company meeting room. Furthermore, many deals are often concluded over a meal.

4.3 Pace of NegotiatingChinese business negotiations take longer and meander more than the United States. The Chinese send large delegations of business professionals to negotiation sessions. A group


Clint Gordyconsensus among the delegation is an important factor in determining the progress of business talks. Humbleness and patience are crucial for successful negotiations. Remember that giving face will increase the pace of negotiating.

4.4 Information-SharingChinese negotiators are willing to spend many weeks or many months gathering information and discussing various details before the bargaining stage of a negotiation can begin. The Chinese believe that privileged information creates bargaining advantages, so information is rarely shared freely.

5. Building RelationshipsChinese business professionals place a focus on the concept of relationships and the elements of responsibility and obligation. Building a solid relationship with the Chinese business culture is crucial for you to have successful negotiations.

5.1 Social FunctionsNegotiations will often take place during long and elaborate meals with alcohol. Local clients and business professionals may come into these meetings with the expectation that you will drink with or for them. Therefore, it is important to pace yourself in both drinking and eating. In addition, eat slowly because there will be multiple courses.

5.2 GiftingIn many situations, you may be expected to give or accept gifts. In China, gift giving is much more common in business situations. Failing to show up with a gift may cause the other side to lower their assumption of you as a business professional. Be sure to consult with the supervisor or the company policy so that your gift does not cross the line into bribery.

6. Finalizing DealsUnderstanding the proper methods to close important deals is important for your success as a professional in China. Successfully business closing interactions will give you connections for future negotiations. Therefore, finalizing transactions with Chinese professionals is crucial to future of your Chinese business ventures.

6.1 BargainingBargaining and haggling are used frequently in Chinese business life, and native professionals may use a wide variety of negotiation techniques confidently. These negotiation aspects can be extensive. Deceptive techniques can be frequently employed, and Chinese negotiators may expect you to use them too.

6.2 DecisionsDecisions making is normally a consensus-oriented group process in China. This negotiation aspect can take a long time and you must be patient in some negotiations. Chinese business professionals are reluctant to take risks. If you want them to support a decision they are unsure


Clint Gordyabout, you may need to find ways for the Chinese professionals to become comfortable with it first. You are much more likely to succeed in negotiations if the relationship with your counterparts is strong and you have their trust.

6.3 ContractsWhen negotiating contracts, make sure you exchange written agreements with your counterpart after meetings and at key stages in negotiation. Oral statements are not always useful because any part of an agreement can still change before both parties sign the final contact. Contracts are not always dependable, so remember to be flexible.

6. Section OverviewFor your reference, Table 1.1 presents a quick summary on the key negotiating tactics to use when you travel to China to do business.

Steps Actions

Establishing Communication Bring a local representativeBe punctual for first meetingsMaintain proper face when negotiating

Conducting Meetings Engage in small talk prior to meetingsBring a translator Be humble and patient after negotiating

Building Relationships Build a solid relationship with your associatesPartake in dining functions for negotiatingBring gifts that do not cross the line into bribery

Finalizing Deals Employ proper bargaining techniques Be patient, decisions are consensus-orientedExchange written agreements for contracts

Table 1.1: China Section Overview

ClosingChinas negotiation techniques may take time and patience to master. It takes time to build long-lasting relationship with Chinese business professionals. You should remember to be patient when negotiation or bargaining with them. This wait will help you establish a strong relationship between you and the native professionals, enabling future negotiations to run faster and smoother. Furthermore, you could utilize your counterpart as a connection for later Chinese business ventures.


Clint Gordy

Preface: Instructions for Making a Paper Airplane

(Writing 107T)

The purpose of these instructions for making a paper airplane in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication Track is because creating clear and concise steps for making an object or completing a task is crucial to professional life. Instructions such as these are utilized for making items as small as paper airplanes, to objects as large as commercial airplanes. In addition, instructions are also used by businesses as guidelines for completing certain tasks, such as successfully negotiating with a client over the telephone.

The context of these instructions are to guide students in making a working paper airplane from a single piece of paper. Included in the instructions are images for a visual reference to the user, lists of items needed for assembly, and ledgers for any unknown symbols to the student.


Clint GordyHow to Make a Paper Airplane

These instructions will help you create a fully-functional paper airplane with a piece of paper.

Items Needed Ledger1. Paper (Preferably 8 x 11) 1. ---- = fold mark2. Scissors (Optional) 2. = inches

Step 1: Fold the paper lengthwise and run your thumb along the fold to crease it sharply. After, unfold the paper.

#1

Step 2: Fold down the top 2 corners to the crease you just made, as indicated by the arrows. This will be the front of your paper airplane.

#2

Step 3: Fold the two edges toward the center line, as directed by the folds and arrows.

#3


Clint GordyStep 4: Fold the plane in half along the center crease, as indicated by the arrow. Afterwords, turn the plane as shown in Step 5.

#4

Step 5: Create a wing crease that be at about 1 from the front nose, as shown.

#5

Step 6: Make sure your paper airplane looks similar to this three-dimensional image. For more lift, bend up the tailing edges of the wings about 1, as instructed by the red arrow. Now just throw it and let it fly!

#6


Clint Gordy

Preface: Recommendation Report for Helping Global Majors

Discover Their Futures (Writing 107T)

The purpose of this recommendation report in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication track is because researching information to make a change in a current issue is prevalent in professional life. This research is compiled from multiple sources, ranging from scholarly articles to one-on-one interviews. After the research is compiled, professional writers formulate a recommendation for their audience to adopt. Therefore, utilizing these research techniques are crucial for successful business communication.

The context of this recommendation report is for career counselors to adopt new guidance methods that will aid Global majors in finding a specific emphasis within their major. This is accomplished by using new guidance techniques I researched, such as the Possible Lives Map and the Individual Vocational Evaluation Plan. Based on my research, I recommend that career counselors use these approaches because they are easy, visual, and entertaining methods for helping Global majors find a specific emphasis. Furthermore, I recommend that career counselors work collaboratively with students after these approaches are finished to help them find an internship or job that accrues to their particular interests.*

*This is only a portion of the full report. This sample only includes the cover letter, introduction, conclusion, and recommendation. References and citations have been removed for easier reading. Complete manual and list of sources available upon request.


Clint Gordy

DATE: August 31, 2013TO: Career Counseling Office, UCSBFROM: Clint Gordy, StudentSUBJECT: Recommendation Report to Help Counselors Find a Specific Emphasis for Global

Studies Majors

According to Howard Mehlinger of the National Education Association, the Global and International Studies major develops a global perspective for students to understand and function effectively in today's world. Perceptions gained range from human society and the natural environment to differing cultural lifestyles and human rights. Therefore, Global students learn a wide range of capabilities in the professional world, acquiring skills such as reading, deliberating, researching, debating, and gaming from coursework in the major.

To achieve an understanding of career counseling techniques, I completed the following tasks: formulate a basic understanding of the Global Studies major, interview two types of UCSB counselors for current career guidance methods, and research guidance methods utilized by counselors worldwide.

When performing these tasks, I conducted primary and secondary research. I held interviews with the undergraduate advisor for Global Studies and a career counselor at UCSB's Counseling and Psychological Services Department. I also researched scholarly articles to find career guiding methods that UCSB currently does not utilize.

My findings suggest that there are simpler and more collaborative approaches for helping Global majors find a specific emphasis. These methodologies include the Individual Vocational Evaluation Plan and the Possible Lives Map. Both these approaches provide students with a firm understanding of their skills and strengths, allowing them to follow a career path that pertains to their particular interests.

On the basis of these findings, I recommend that career counselors adopt these new approaches for helping students find a specific emphasis.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to view this recommendation report and allowing me resolve a prevalent issue in the Global Studies major. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at or at (805) 698 0020.


Clint GordyIntroduction

Many Global Studies majors often have a difficult time finding a secure job after graduation. According to Jodi Cutler, the undergraduate advisor for Global and International Studies at UCSB, the most inquired question by Global students is, What can I do with this major? Global Studies majors learn multiple professional skills including reading, deliberating, researching, debating, and gaming. Due to the broad nature of the major, many students have a difficult time finding a niche in professional life after college that accrues to their particular interest. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to recommend new methods for career counselors at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) to help Global Studies Majors find a specific emphasis to help prepare them for professional life after college.

Currently, career counselors use a Basic Career Assessment for students who are confused about their futures. It allows students find their preferences by focusing on things they enjoy to narrow down potential major choices. They also offer informational interviews or job shadowing based on students' preferences found from the assessment. However, this approach is not a collaborative effort between students and counselors. Generally, students handle these tasks by themselves, which can cause confusion or disappointment if the results are not as expected. In addition, this approach applies to every major, instead of specifically aiding students who already have a major.

For this recommendation report, I first interviewed a career counselor at the Counseling and Psychological Services on UCSB's campus to discover their current methods for guiding Global majors to a specific emphasis. Next, I also interviewed Jodi Cutler, the main counselor for undergraduate Global majors, to find out what kind of questions Global students come to her with regarding their career plans. After, I researched multiple scholastic and popular articles pertaining to common career counseling techniques. Finally, I collected the data and applied it to the context of Global majors at UCSB.

I found that other ways of counseling would be more beneficial to Global Studies majors at UCSB. This includes the Four Domains of Assessment founded by the Institute for Education Leadership, the Possible Lives approach discovered by Katharine Brooks, or the Individual Vocational Evaluation Plan (IVEP) for a thorough breakdown of future career interests. These methodologies help students who already have a major find a specific emphasis easily, accurately, and enjoyably.

Based of these findings, I recommend that UCSB career counselors utilize any of these guidance approaches to help Global majors find a specific emphasis within the major. Afterwords, counselors should work with students to find a job or internship that satisfies this emphasis.

In the following sections, I provide additional details about my research methods, my results I obtained, my conclusions I drew from those results, and my recommendation.


Clint GordyConclusion

In this section, I present my conclusions based on my research on career counseling techniques.

Current Counseling TechniquesCareer counselors at UCSB currently use techniques to help students find a potential career path. However, these approaches are generalized for all majors and not specified toward the Global Studies major. Though helpful to a certain degree, these approaches are not collaborative and the results of these counseling methods can dissatisfy Global majors.

Skill Assessment Techniques for CounselorsFor a quick and visual representation of students' skills, career counselors use the Possible Lives approach. Counselors enjoy using this method because it serves the following purposes:

Sees how clear the visions are of a student's Possible Lives. Sees what students know and do not know about each Possible Life. Confirms students genuine interest in the Possible Life. Helps students determine which Possible Life to focus on first.

Katharine Brook's Possible Lives approach has been praised by counselors all over the world. For example, Jaye Roseborough, Executive Director of Career Services at Middlebury College, states that this approach has provided liberal arts grads with exactly what they need to succeed. In addition, Paul Binkley, Director of Career Development Services at The George Washington University, says that the Possible Lives approach helps young people find the connections between their interests and the inexhaustible career options available to them.

For a thorough, non-visual, supervised examination of student's skills, career counselors use the Four Assessment approach. Vocational evaluations, such as the IVEP, provide students with a comprehensive understanding of their skills. On going collaboration between the counselor and the student are crucial to successfully completing this evaluation. This communication creates a common understanding of the evaluation program, specifies questions that need to be addressed, and identifies techniques to meet the needs of counselors and students.

Recommendation

I recommend that UCSB career counselors adopt the IVEP and Possible Lives approach to help Global majors find a specific emphasis within the major. If a counselor compiles both approaches, it will increase the chance of finding a route that truly fits the student's interests. In addition, career counselors should help Global majors gain experience in fields that utilize their specific emphasis. This can be accomplished through internships, jobs, volunteer opportunities, and other methods that help a student gain experience.


Clint Gordy

Preface:Nike Golf Sports Marketing Plan

(Other Coursework)

The purpose of this sports marketing plan in my Professional Writing Portfolio towards the Business Communication Track is because creating a marketing plan is necessary for any corporation to succeed. In addition, this writing was completed collaboratively with a group of six students in my Sports Management course. Collaboration is a key concept in business communication because most projects in professional life are completed by a team then completed by an individual.

The context of this sports marketing plan is creating a new marketing strategy for Nike Golf between the years of 2012 to 2015. This new marketing plan is focused toward helping to increase awareness and participation in golf for the younger population and women of the United States. This is the Target Market section of the sports marketing plan. The research of this document is compiled by myself and the writing of this marketing plan was completed collaboratively.*

*This is only a portion of the full marketing plan. References and citations have been removed for easier reading. Complete plan and list of sources available upon request.


Clint Gordy

2012-2015 Marketing Plan


Clint GordyIII. Target Market

A. Target MarketThe target market for the marketing plan is potential youth consumers between the ages of 12 to 18 in the United States. The 2010 United States Census estimates that there are 60.5 million individuals who meet this specification.

A-1. DemographicsThe target market for Nike Golf is youth consumers between the ages of 12 and 18 in the United States. Although this age range seems rather broad, it is actually a specialized niche because the majority of United States golfers are over the age of 40. The 2010, the United States Census estimates that there are 60.5 million individuals who meet this specification.

Anyone who plays golf regularly, competitively, or sporadically is included in this target market. There were 28.8 million golfers in the United States above age six in 2009. By focusing on a younger age group, the brand will be able to increase popularity as this population age and continue golfing. Also, this younger age group is more conscious about the brands they utilize and replicate what is trending in their generation.

The younger target market, ages 12-18, has a population of approximately 15 million according to the 2010 United States Census. This population will be marketed separately by advertisements, commercials, competitions, and other marketing factors because this generation is typically associated with their parent's purchasing power. Teenagers will want to buy a brand that is engaging and well-known. Adults will be more willing to buy their kids a brand with a positive image that offers opportunity for success and social stigma.

A-2. Income and Purchasing PowerThe proposed target market are individuals with low-to-high income purchasing power. In 2011, men and women between the ages of 12 and 18 had an income of about $7,000 per year. The Consumer Price Index for purchasing mens sports apparel increased from 2010 to 2011 by 9.6% for this age group. The Consumer Price Index for consuming womens sports apparel also increased by 15.4%, showing an increase in the target market's need for athletic apparel.

A-3. CharacteristicsMen, women, and the youth between the ages of 12 and 18 increasingly utilize social media websites and applications. In 2010, social media usage in this target market rose from 61% to 65%. This generation enjoys reading information about sports products via social media institutions such as third-party reviewers, social media websites, blogs, and online product reviews. These individuals utilize social media websites for getting information on products because they feel that they can trust their friends or peer's reviews since their age group share similar tastes. With this generation using social media instruments such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr at a higher frequency, they can find a new product intentionally or by chance. In addition, this youth age group enjoys communicating with their family and friends about new products they recently purchased, giving the consumer assurance when making decisions about purchasing a sports good.


Clint GordyA-4. TrendsCurrent trends in the golf industry show consumer interests increasing. In 2011, there was a 6.3% increase in demand for fitness equipment, an indicator that people are looking to become healthier and more active. In particular, golf revenues have increased 1.1% in the past year, showing a growth in the sports industry. Golf equipment is expected to increase steadily from 2012-2016, making the market favorable for golf sales. In addition, womens involvement in golf has expanded over the past several years. Therefore, women's increased involvement in golfing will increase feminine apparel sales this upcoming quarter.

A-5. RationaleThis group of youth consumers has many long-term advantages, so Nike Golf is shifting its marketing strategies to this age group. Due to long-term potential brand loyalty with consumer aging, and the recent increase in demand for athletic apparel, this target market has the capability to place Nike Golf at the top of the golf industry.


Clint Gordy

Other Writing Samples

Career Writings

Non-academics

Presentations


Clint Gordy

Preface: Citrix Podio Sales Cover Letter

(Career Writings)

The purpose of placing this cover letter in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication Track is because creating a clear and concise cover letter is important for any professional writer to be successful in the job market. A cover letter is the employer's way of finding out what kind of employee an applicant will be if they are hired. This document is a professional's way of speaking and persuading the reader through their writing, a crucial element to business communication.

The context of this cover letter is about my successful application to become an intern at Citrix's sales division for Podio, a collaborative interface where professionals meet and chat through social media and other applications. This document gives my purpose for writing the cover letter, discusses my education as it pertains to the position, states my experience that relates to sales, and closes with salutations and contact information.


Clint Gordy6643 Del Playa DriveGoleta, CA 93117(805) [email protected] 12, 2013

Citrix Online, LLC7414 Hollister AvenueGoleta, CA 93117United States

Dear Human Resources Manager:

I am writing to express my interest in the Podio Sales Internship available from your company. I learned of this position through the University of California, Santa Barbara's (UCSB) career aiding website Gaucholink. As an industry-leading firm that services many clients, this company not only thrives economically, but also reflects my values of teamwork and customer service for clients and employees. My education in international relations and my customer service skills gained from my work experience have prepared me for this internship position.

The knowledge I gained from various courses at UCSB have prepared me for this internship. I have taken several international studies, international relations, and basic accounting courses to educate myself on business styles of different cultures. In addition, my coursework in advanced calculus allows me to follow formula models found in the work environment. Furthermore, my ability to use accounting computer programs such as Microsoft Excel to create sales models and projects have also helped prepare me for this position. Additionally, my knowledge of the Chinese language permits me to communicate internationally, allowing me to outreach to clients across the globe.

The experience I gained from jobs and internships have also prepared me for this position. My position as the Vice President of Risk Management for the Inter-fraternity Council at UCSB gave me the leadership skills to consult fraternities on proper community safety and legal conduct, as well as help me develop effective communication skills with high-ranking officials. In addition, my employment as a server at Sandbar Restaurant has given me the customer service skills to respond efficiently to the requests of clients. Likewise, working as an intern at the California Public Interest Research Group at UCSB has given me the teamwork skills to work with other interns to successfully reach goals, such as obtaining 500 student signatures to maintain CALPIRG's charter on campus.

Thank you for your time in reading this cover letter and resume. I can be reached anytime through my email [email protected]. I hope you will agree that my credentials match the requirements for the Podio Sales Internship position, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Clint Gordy


Clint Gordy

Preface:Risk Management Email for All Inter-Fraternity Council

Chapter Presidents (Non-academics)

The purpose of this email in my Professional Writing Portfolio toward the Business Communication Track is because contacting people by electronic messaging is a part of everyday professional life. Whether the recipient is an important client or fellow coworker, professional emails should be handled with concise grammar, clear editing, and consistent spacing. This allows the reader to establish the main points presented in the email quickly and effectively, a crucial element for successful business communication.

The context of this email is for the Inter-Fraternity Council Chapter Presidents at UCSB becoming updated on current risk management procedures. This information was collected from a primary research interview with Lieutenant Darren Miller, head of the Isla Vista Foot Patrol. The research presented in the email gives presidents information about how to avoid getting cited for instances such as a noise violation.


Clint GordyDear Chapter House Presidents:

I hope Spring quarter has been treating you well. Enclosed in this email you will find information about certain violations, fire hazards, and legality issues the Santa Barbara Police Department and Isla Vista Foot Patrol enforce.

Please feel free to distribute this information to your executive board, your risk management chair, or your chapter house members.

Police's AuthoritiesThis section includes the attitudes and responsibilities of police officers during an event or party.

In what ways is a police officer allowed to walk into a party?A police officer can enter in any of the following situations:

Can walk in if an entrance is barricaded Can walk in with a warrant Can walk in with consent of a chapter-house member Can walk in because of external circumstances (e.g. Fight in progress, sight of weapons, etc.)

Just because an officer has their foot in the door does not meant they are allowed to walk in. However, show them kindness and respect if they do end up walking into an event. Try to seek out ones you get along with and network them to other chapter houses. If some do not shake your hand upon greeting, do not be offended because some officers are very cautious of germs.

Before the authorities leave, a preferably sober chapter house member should ask the officer if there is anything that your house can do to prevent similar instances from happening. These questions build good relations with the local law enforcement for your chapter and for the Greek community.

How far does a front-door security's authority extend once a police officer arrives?Do not get in the way if the authorities show up. You will be arrested immediately for impeding an officer's duties. Get someone sober to talk to the police officer and refrain intoxicated people from confronting the authorities.

It is preferable to use a person in your own house because it is cheaper and does the same obligation as hired security. Also, it is better to have someone you trust guarding the entrance to your event to prevent unwanted people from walking into an event.

Are officers allowed to come into senior houses during a party?There are some legality issues behind this matter, but if a police officer does enter a senior house unwarranted, do not confront the cops with negative attitude. Remember, show them kindness and respect to build future relations.


Clint GordyClosingI hope you have found the information presented in this email useful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thank you for your time, and let's make Spring Quarter great for everyone.

Regards,

Clint GordyIFC Vice President of Risk [email protected]


Clint Gordy

Preface:Asian Consulting Group (ACG) Manual Prezi

(Presentations)

The purpose of this Prezi in my Professional Writing Portfolio for the Business Communication Track is because presentations are a very important aspect for negotiations in professional life. These presentations allow an audience to gain a true perspective of the personality of a professional. Businesses use presentations to gain grants, give information, or receive rewards. These are all important characteristics to an individual's success in professional life.

The context of this presentation is from my collaborative team Asian Consulting Group (ACG) to win a grant for the production of our professional negotiation manual in East-Asia for Writing 107G with Professor Hanson. This Prezi included a promotional video, a layout of how ACG formulated their manual, and an application of real-life professional negotiating scenarios in East-Asia.*

*This is only a screenshot of the presentation. To view the entire presentation, please visit the following URL:

http://prezi.com/qtm1gzijs7dh/present/?auth_key=dkucs70&follow=zye14tswecwj&kw=present-qtm1gzijs7dh&rc=ref-42912131


Clint Gordy


Clint Gordy

Closing Remarks

Thank you for your time in reading my Professional Writing Minor Portfolio. I hope that you will agree my experience gained by taking the required upper-division and low-division writing courses match the credentials for the Business Communication Track. If you have any further questions, please feel contact me at my telephone number or email listed in the Personal Information and Academic Preparation section on page 3.

In addition, I would like to thank all of the writing professors that helped me prepare for this minor. Even if I am not accepted into the minor, I learned tools from these courses that are invaluable and that will carry on into any aspect of my future career.


Documents

Professional Writing Minor Application