Chapter 8

Every speech or essay should have a specific purpose

Audience: those whom we will speak or write

Organization: Refers to something you put together

Creating a diagram to show how your communication will be organized is a great way to start. It will make sure that you do not miss out on important information

Be clear - Make your meaning clear with concrete and precise language

Use a familiar word until a ten dollar word is needed

Clutter: Unnecessary words

With active voice, the subject is doing the action

In the modern day of hurry-up and go, readers will take only a few minutes to ensure where they are going to stop reading

The main goal is writing or speaking is to share meaning

Before writing, you should brainstorm

Arguments: Reasons given in proof

Reasons: Statements offered in explanation

Topic sentence: Introduces the main idea of the paragraph

The first few sentences should grab the reader with an unexpected story

Thesis statement: Main idea or central message of the essay

Blueprint: List of ideas in the topic sentences

Transitions are helpful in connecting your main points so that the essay flows easily. It tells the audience if we have finished relating one idea

Anticipating objections: Reasons or arguments presented in opposition

Use the most likely point of disagreement to provide additional support for your thesis

In the conclusion, you reiterate your thesis but in different words.

Think of something unique or memorable to finish off your essay

Staff study: Provides a professional format for presenting concerns or solutions

Principles in writing staff study reports:

Consider, state, analyze, gather, identify

Stage fright: Anxiety of speaking in front of people

Preparing your speech can decrease stage fright to up to 75% percent.

Common speaking methods:

Manuscript: This is when a person speaking will need a script or paper in front of them to speak

Memory: The speaker is so overwhelmed by accurately telling the speech as it was memorized, so he loses spontaneity.

Impromptu: The speaker has been given a topic to speak and has been given 2 minutes or less to gather thoughts

Extemporaneous: This type of speaker studies their topic, but they give themsleves freedom to speak spontaneously.

Central idea: Like the thesis statement used in writing, compact expression of argument

Signposts: Verbal cues

Resume:

Resume: Briefly documents your work history and gives you opportunity to apply for a job

It is not appropriate to list personal information

Identify career aspirations, list your highest level of education,

Career chronology method: The way you have listed major accomplishments or leaderhsip positions

Skills inventory method: Focus on the work related skills and the abilities you have acquired

Students should list all the awards that are relative to the position being sought. Before using someone as a reference, make sure that you have got their permission

Job interviews:

Make yourself neat and presentable

The people are waiting for your communication skills, leadership traits, before they decide if you are a good match for the job.

Ask questions: The applicant is also interviewing the job and evaluating if they can do the job

Social media:

Social media: Online tools that allows users to publish and share content over the web