Networking Packet Instructions PDF document

WRD 202x-401 | Marta Shcherbakova | Autumn 2019

Networking Packet

Writing a Networking Email and a Follow-up Thank you Email Overview: In this assignment you need to craft two separate documents:

1. writing a networking email contacting an internship program 2. writing a follow-up Thank You email

Please study the scenarios provided below to determine the audience, style, tone, and structure of each document. Background Knowledge: Carefully read Chapter 3 “E-Communications at Work” from Successful Writing at Work (pp. 76-84). Also, review the Networking Power Point (available in Week 1 –Unit 1 module on our D2L page).

Learning Outcomes Transferable Skills

 Craft documents that address specific audiences

 Compose documents that use appropriate style choices for the genre (and/or rhetorical situation)

 Produce documents that use standard conventions of business genres

 Compose documents that are grammatically and mechanically sound

 Plan/ organize/ prioritize

 Ethical reasoning and judgment

 Professionalism

 Information Technology Application

 Written Communication

Writing a Networking Email Instructions: Find an internship program in the field of your interest. Research about the program: overview, requirements, person(s) to contact regarding the application. Then following the guidelines below, compose your networking email. Don’t forget to format your email appropriately – with to/from/subject. Guidelines for writing a Networking Email:

 (1)Your first few sentences need to compel the person to read on. To introduce yourself, provide relevant information that connects you to the person and their career field. Such information may include: your interests (career, personal, or academic), a person you know in common, your Hamilton connection, etc. For example, you might say that you became interested in their career field as a result of a specific course or extra-curricular activity.

WRD 202x-401 | Marta Shcherbakova | Autumn 2019

 “As a result of economics courses I’ve taken at Hamilton, I’ve become interested in “microfinancing”. I’d like to explore how I could use that interest within a nonprofit organization.” Don’t start off by saying "My name is..." because it’s not necessary - they'll see your signature at the end of the letter.

 (2) Explain your motivation for contacting them - what you want to accomplish by speaking with them. Communicate to them what you already know about their career field or organization and what kind of information you are seeking. While it may feel more comfortable to ask generally for “any help you can provide,” don’t be vague about what you need. This puts too much pressure on the reader to figure out what you want.

 (3) Request either a face-to-face meeting or a scheduled phone conversation to conduct your informational interview. Give specifics about your availability - days or times of the week that you are generally available (during business hours). If no dates are provided, the reader is more likely to put the email/letter aside.

 (4) Mention that you are attaching a copy of your resume so that the contact can get a sense of your background. Once you have drafted an email/letter, review it by putting yourself in the shoes of the reader; imagine how you would respond. If you don’t feel compelled to reply, then you need to rewrite.

Writing a Follow-Up Thank You Email After the representative of your chosen internship met with you or had a phone conversation with you (hypothetically), you need to send him a Thank You email. For this email to be successful you need to invent details appropriate for your chosen internship – the more specific your invented details, the better. Review the Networking Power Point for examples. Guidelines for writing a Thank You Email:

 Creative Subject

 Opening statement which announces the purpose of your email

 In a few sentences highlight what stood out to you from the conversation and how you can contribute/help to that person or the company as a whole

 Create an additional connection (either in relation to the company or something personal that the person mention to you)

 Finish you email politely and forward-looking. IMPORTANT: Once you finish writing both documents, in a separate word document complete the self-check by answering the following questions (these questions are my detailed rubric):

WRD 202x-401 | Marta Shcherbakova | Autumn 2019

Networking Email:

1. Look over the entire email. Did you include the Basics of an Email? (From:/To:/Subject:/Closing/Name)

2. In the first couple of sentences, did you introduce yourself and provide relevant information that connects you to the person and his/her career field?

3. In the next paragraph, did you explain your motivation for contacting the chosen person saying what you want to accomplish by speaking with that person?

4. In the next paragraph, did you request either a face-to-face meeting or a scheduled phone conversation to conduct your informational interview?

5. Did you give specifics about your availability - days or times of the week you are generally available (during business hours)? (Remember, If no dates are provided, the reader is more likely to put the email/letter aside.)

6. Did you conclude your email politely and forward-looking?

Thank You Email:

1. Look over the entire email. Did you include the Basics of an Email? (From:/To:/Subject:/Closing/Name)

2. Did you create a creative Subject?

3. Did you put an opening statement which announces the purpose of your email?

4. In a few sentences, did you highlight what stood out to you from the conversation and how you can contribute/help to that person or the company as a whole?

5. Did you create an additional connection (either in relation to the company or something personal that the person mention to you)?

6. Did you conclude your email politely and forward-looking? ***Final Draft is due Sunday, April 5, midnight*** Upload your two emails along with the self-check via HW due Sunday, April 5, midnight submission link.

WRD 202x-401 | Marta Shcherbakova | Autumn 2019

Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent Good Inconsistent Below Average Poor

Clarity 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points 2 points /10

Conciseness 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points 2 points /10

Comprehensiveness 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points 2 points /10

Honesty/Accuracy 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point /5

Document Specific Concerns 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point /5

Rhetorical Awareness 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points 2 points /10

Total /50