English 420Y - Business Writing Online

After reading “Writing for business and the workplace” (TH, 217-238), I expect this course to be focused on writing appropriate documents when I am trying to get a job. Once I get a job, I should be able to create neat business documents to show my ideas and work as much as possible.
Page 221-222 focuses on the basic steps for job search. First you need to take inventory of your skills, experiences and goals which will help you decide what kind of job you want and to generate ideas for cover letter and resume. Second, by writing down your criteria for a job, you should answer to yourself what you want from a job. Then take plenty of time searching for job by using print, campus, and internet resources. After all the researching, you should analyze two or three jobs that interest you and respond to questions of why you are interested and how you are qualified.
Pages 223-227 provides sample job ad, sample response why I am interested and how I am qualified, sample job application cover letter, draft resume with instructor’s comments and revised resume. Through each example, it gives tips of what to focus on when you write, how the documents should be formatted and shows common mistakes you can make to be sure to watch out.
On pages 228-229 provides useful checklist describing general layout of writing resumes. It classifies what the requirements are for the resume.
On page 232, it discusses memorandums by starting with a sample format and again it provides checklist on page 233 to make sure to understand the key points of writing memos.
After going through our reading assignment discussing about resumes, memorandums, cover letters, white papers, recommendation reports and case analyses, first I expect to know the purpose and requirements for each material. Also after understanding what I need to know I expect to be able to create these documents effectively on my actual job researching.
In order to do so, I need to improve my English skill knowing more vocabularies and making less grammar mistakes. Once I am used to this basic English skill I will be able to make my documents neater and easier to read by shortening word phrases. Also I should practice and practice a lot so that I can be well prepared when I actually need to write these business documents.
I think writing skill is as important as having excellent knowledge and numerous work experiences. Because even though you have potential to be superior to others, if cannot explain and describe in documents, your work can be judged lower than you actually have. So from taking this course I want to learn how to express my work, myself and other works by using proper expressions and formatting right way.