Cover Letter, resume and email
kcprayash6
Chapter29.pptxChapter 29
Writing in Business and Scientific Genres
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Categories or types of texts.
Movies, for example, could be action adventure, romantic comedy, or film noir.
What’s a genre?
Many of your decisions – from subject choice to organizational structure, length, formatting, and design – are all affected by the audience’s genre expectations.
Why does it matter?
As you look at documents in your text, analyze the way language and design (typography, color, white space, and visuals) are used to inform and guide readers.
What language choices and design features made the documents easy to read?
What choices and features make finding specific information easy?
What choices and features make the documents easier to use?
Things to look for…
The business letter is the document most used for correspondence between representatives of one organization and another (although email is increasingly being used in place of business letters).
Business Letters
Letterhead: provides full contact information
Full-block format: each new line starts at left margin
Date: In formal format
Full address of recipient in formal format
Addressee: The person to whom you’re writing.
Turn to page 719
Purpose clearly stated, followed by elaboration, support and/or detail.
Spacing: Single with double spaces between paragraphs.
Signature
Turn to page 719
To obtain information about a company’s products,
To register or respond to a complaint,
To introduce other documents (such as a proposal) that accompany the letter,
To apply for a job
What are they used for?
Whether the letter is delivered electronically (email) or in print, the expectations are the same:
The writer should state the purpose of the letter in the first few lines, provide supporting information in the paragraphs that follow, maintain a courteous and professional tone.
What to remember:
Like other business correspondence, email messages are usually concise, direct, and limited to a single subject.
Although most business letters sent by email should be fairly formal, other email messages may be polite but informal.
In anything other than an email to friends, you should maintain a professional tone.
Tone
Avoid sarcasm and humor, which may not come across as you intend.
Be sure to proofread and spell check before sending it.
Because emails are accessible to many people besides the intended recipient, always be careful about what you write in an email.
Always double check your attachment to make sure, 1, it’s attached, and, 2, that it’s the correct item.
Content
You can set up a signature on your email account that will populate every time you send/respond to an email.
Grayson Edds, MFA
McLennan Community College
English Department
Signature
A résumé is used to acquaint a prospective employer with your work experience, education, and accomplishments.
All résumés contain basic information: name, address, phone number, email address.
Résumé
Resumes may also vary in terms of what is emphasized – educational or work experience, for example.
If you have little work experience, focus your resume on your grade point average, the courses you’ve taken, the projects and internships you’ve completed, any applicable skills and abilities you have acquired in college.
What to include
The resume is a good example of why the context in which a document is read is important. Your resume may not be read closely the first time, so it’s important to highlight your important qualifications visually so the reader can quickly find the pertinent information by scanning the page.
The format varies among disciplines and professions. Some professions require traditional formatting, while others allow for flexibility in design.
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If you have extensive, relevant, and continuous work experience, consider a reverse-chronological resume, listing jobs you’ve held and describing duties, responsibilities, accomplishments associated with each one.
What to include
The resume is a good example of why the context in which a document is read is important. Your resume may not be read closely the first time, so it’s important to highlight your important qualifications visually so the reader can quickly find the pertinent information by scanning the page.
The format varies among disciplines and professions. Some professions require traditional formatting, while others allow for flexibility in design.
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If you’ve shifted directions during your adult life, consider organizing your resume in a way that emphasizes the strengths and skills you’ve acquired and used in different settings (public speaking, handling money, working with different software).
What to include
The resume is a good example of why the context in which a document is read is important. Your resume may not be read closely the first time, so it’s important to highlight your important qualifications visually so the reader can quickly find the pertinent information by scanning the page.
The format varies among disciplines and professions. Some professions require traditional formatting, while others allow for flexibility in design.
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Do not include height, weight, age.
Only mention personal interests and hobbies if they’re relevant to the position.
DO NOT let there be ANY errors.
DO NOT
Resumes are typically sent with a cover letter.
The purpose of the cover letter is to persuade your reader that you are a qualified candidate for employment and to introduce your resume.
Job application letters (cover letter)
For most college students and graduates, your cover letter consists of four paragraphs:
1. Identify the position you’re applying for.
2. Briefly describe your education – including achievements, projects, relevant coursework
3. Briefly describe work experience – including relevant responsibilities and accomplishments.
4. Express willingness to provide additional information and be interviewed at employer convenience.
College students/graduates
