Week 2

 

Date

Class Meeting

For Next Class
Mon, 1/14

In small groups, share job ads with classmates and identify:

  • an interesting job ad
  • an annoying job ad

  • a useful job search resource
  • an overrated (iyho) job search resource

  • some job search/ employment document questions your group wants to discuss
  • some good advice someone in your group has received

Further discussion of job searching strategies, employment project documents (job ad analysis, resumes, letters, portfolios), etc.

Letters & memos:

Job Ad Analysis due next class.

Choose an ad that looks suitable for the employment project and complete the Job Ad Analysis form.

In TCT, read chapter 9, "Designing Documents and Interfaces";

Read through the OWL handout Higher Order and Later Order Concerns for Business Writing.

Start updating resume for Friday

Wed, 1/16

Post 2 comments in response to 2 different classmates' first blog entry.

Review Job Ad Analysis forms:

  1. Identify a few forms of feedback you'd find helpful (for example, "I can't find the company's history or mission statement": "Does my answer for question 3 make sense?")
  2. Post your Job Ad Analysis form to your blog with a brief cover note explaining what feedback you'd like.
  3. Form groups and compare ads and forms.

Introduction to document design (ppt)

We didn't get to the items below:

Finish letters/ memo overview: design, types, contexts

 In-class exercise: create letterhead for your job application letters

Cover letters and resumes (discuss samples in class):

Example from Found Magazine: possible contexts

Resume draft due next class

In TCT, read chapter 12, "Revising and Editing"

Fri, 1/18

Resumes: questions, discuss one (the bad example or a volunteer's) as a class 

Peer-review of resumes

Informational Interviews (what, why, how)

If time:

  • "Brenda's" cover letter
  • "Advising Patricia" case study (handouts)Editing 101: revision and substantive editing
    		•
    1. Weekly blog #2: Informational interview plan
    2. Draft cover letter due Wed
    3. If you'd like additional resume feedback, bring your (revised) resume on Wednesday
    4. do monthly assignment #1 if you like one of the options

     

    introductory questions on letters & memos

    Now that we’ve reviewed the formatting of letters and memos, take a second and think about the following questions.

    1. What are some ways to make a letter (or memo) look nice on the page?
    2. What are some common types of business letters? (Hint: what sort of business letters have you received? Written?)
    3. What usually determines whether to send someone a letter rather than a memo? (Hint: Memos do not include a snail-mail address, but letters do).