Longman / Prentice Hall

English

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Workplace Communications, 4/E
George J. Searles, Mohawk Valley Community College

ISBN-10: 020560336X
ISBN-13: 9780205603367

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2009
Format: Paper; 352 pp
Published: 02/06/2008

Suggested retail price: $59.80
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Workplace Communications: The Basics is the first text specifically intended for applied writing courses in community college and other settings where many students are academically under-prepared and therefore intimidated by lengthy, theory-intensive tests.

This text focuses instead on the basics of workplace writing by emphasizing practical applications. Written in a simple, conversational style, Workplace Communications is designed to be both accessible and useful, incorporating numerous examples, illustrations, and exercises. The new edition includes greatly increased coverage of technology in all areas of work-related communication including the job search, correspondence, oral communication, and research.

  • Basic approach affords greater accessibility to the underprepared student.
  • Focus is on the core topics most commonly covered in workplace communication courses at the community college level.
  • Relatively brief treatment of key concepts is accessible to students and enables instructors to cover all the topics in the book in a single semester.
  • Numerous examples and exercises, all based on actual workplace contexts, help students better understand key concepts by showing them how certain documents are prepared and then reinforcing the material with ample opportunities for practice.
  • Helpful checklists allow students to measure their work against specific assessment criteria.
  • Information on computer technology and its impact on the contemporary workplace is integrated throughout.

  • An increased focus on ethics throughout. This helps you understand and successfully navigate ethical dilemmas in workplace communications, thereby satisfying the demands of both conscience and the law.
  •  Greatly expanded treatment of electronic communication, particularly e-mail. By devoting a  separate chapter to the memo and e-mail (rather than discussing them along with the business letter, as in past editions), the new edition places appropriately greater emphasis on e-mail and better enables you to see how it has evolved from the traditional paper memo. 
  • New examples of visual elements in reports. Updated illustrations assist you in grasping the principles governing effective tables, graphs, charts, and illustrations.   An updated chapter on the employment application process. Expanded discussion of on-line job search strategies offers practical advice about designing a scannable résumé and using key words to craft the personal summary.
  •  Many new sample documents. Updated examples throughout reinforce the book’s “real world” flavor, helping you relate to the situations portrayed, and providing models to guide your own writing.
  •  An entire new chapter on preparing proposals. Analysis of the strategies that characterize persuasive writing enables you to create convincing proposals, a highly valued workplace skill.
  •  Helpful checklists. As in past editions, step-by-step guidelines allow you to assess your work with respect to format, content, and execution as you complete each kind of assignment.
  •  Revised “Tech Tip” pointers. Updated discussion of various aspects of the computerized workplace brings you up-to-date on the latest technological developments. Increased coverage of documenting on-line sources. In recognition of our ever-expanding use of the Internet when conducting research, this new edition features many new Web-based examples and explains in far greater detail how to document such material.
  •  A new appendix on avoiding plagiarism. This supplemental section provides concrete suggestions for quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing to give you the information you need to avoid accusations of–and penalties for–plagiarism.

Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

 

1

The Keys to Successful Communication:

Purpose, Audience, and Tone 3

Purpose 4

Audience 5

Tone 8

Exercises 20

 

2

Memos and E-mail 33

Memos 34

E-mail 35

Exercises 44

Checklist: Evaluating a Memo or E-mail 45

 

3

Business Letters 51

Letters 52

Formats 52

Checklist: Evaluating a Letter 71

Exercises 72

 

4

Effective Visuals: Tables, Graphs,

Charts, and Illustrations 77

Principles of Effective Visuals 78

Tables 80

Graphs 81

Line Graphs 82

Bar Graphs 83

Charts 84

Flowcharts 84

Organizational Charts 84

Circle Charts 86

Gantt Charts 86

Illustrations 88

Photographs 88

Drawings 89

Diagrams 94

Checklist: Evaluating a Visual 96

Exercises 96

 

5

Short Reports: Page Design, Formats, and Types 99

Page Design 100

Report Formats: Memo, Letter, and Booklet 107

Types of Reports 120

Incident Report 120

Progress Report 124

Recommendation Report 129

Travel Report 130

Exercises 135

Checklist: Evaluating a Memo Report 135

Checklist: Evaluating a Letter Report 136

Checklist: Evaluating a Booklet Report 138

 

6

Summaries 141

Types of Summaries: Descriptive, Informative,

and Evaluative 142

Summarizing Print Sources 145

Summarizing Nonprint Sources 145

Checklist: Evaluating a Summary 153

Exercises 153

 

7

Mechanism and Process/Procedure

Descriptions 157

Mechanism Description 158

Checklist: Evaluating a Mechanism Description 161

Exercises 168

Process/Procedure Description 170

Checklist: Evaluating a Process/Procedure Description 172

Exercises 177

 

 

 

8

Instructions 179

Instructions 180

Avoiding Liability 184

Checklist: Evaluating Instructions 186

Exercises 192

 

9

Job Application Process: Letter, Résumé,

Interview, and Follow-Up 195

Application Letter 196

Résumé 202

Traditional Résumé 209

Scannable Résumé 213

Interview 218

Follow-up 220

Checklist: Evaluating an Application Letter, Résumé,

and Follow-Up 222

Exercises 223

 

10

Oral Presentations: Preparation and Delivery 233

Preparation 234

Preliminaries 234

Rehearsal 238

Delivery 239

Introductions and Conclusions 239

Vocal Factors 241

Physical Factors 242

Eye Contact 242

Audiovisuals 243

Enthusiasm 252

Checklist: Evaluating a Public Speaker 253

Exercises 253

 

11

Proposals 257

Solicited Proposals 258

Unsolicited Proposals 258

Internal and External Proposals 261

Formats of Proposals 261

Objectives of Proposals 261

Checklist: Evaluating Proposal 286

Exercises 286

 

12

Long Reports: Format, Collaboration,

and Documentation 289

Format 290

Transmittal Document 290

Title Page 290

Abstract 292

Table of Contents 292

List of Illustrations 292

Glossary 292

Text 298

Visuals 298

Pagination 298

Collaboration 298

Documentation 303

Bibliography 305

Parenthetical Citations 310

Checklist: Evaluating a Long Report 313

Exercises 330

 

Appendix : A Guide to

Avoiding Plagiarism 333

 

Index 339

George Searles, Mohawk Valley Community College

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