Blog IV: Developing Final Text

The writer did a good job of incorporating the comments and revisions given to her during the whole process of writing which culminated in the final text of the cover letter. The construction and rhetoric of the first and third paragraphs in the cover letter changed significantly from the draft to the final text. The writer started out with a mediocre introduction to why she was a great candidate for the position and what skills she possessed that would prove so. From the comments that were provided by Professor Wible, the writer was able to elaborate on what made her an attractive and desirable candidate. In the draft of the cover letter, an almost pedestrian and vague tone announced that the writer had been an undergraduate studying civil engineering at WVU and had held several jobs. This part of the document was greatly improved in the final draft. The writer was specific about the internship he or she had held at Mylan Pharmaceutical Co. and the more assertive tone and rhetoric establishes the writer as being able to bring experience as an intern that Thrasher desires. In the final text the writer follows the criteria for the introduction found in the Peer Review Cover Letters handout (pg 11). The reader is informed of why the letter was written, what job position is being seeked, and reasons why the writer wants to work for that company. When piecing together the final text, it is evident that the writer took Professor Wible's comments into consideration and revised her work to better fit what he'd described.
The third paragraph also went through a considerable amount of change and I believe it was because the writer looked at, again, comments made on her draft by Professor Wible about what should be included in the paragraph to make a stronger impression. The writer obviously did her research and found that Thrasher, being a small and versatile company, was looking for an equally versatile intern. In describing her role as intern at the Mylan Pharmaceutical Company she is able to highlight those attributes that would benefit Thrasher if she was to get the position. This body paragraph closely resembles the format shown in the Example Cover Letter (p 27) which I think worked out great for the goal this cover letter had. In her final text the writer includes specific evidence, such as X,Y, and Z. This was a point provided both by point 5 in the Peer Review Questions and Professor Wible's comments on the draft of the cover letter.
The writer kept in mind the notes both from her brainstorming and also the Writer's Job Skills Freewrite (p 21). She clearly followed instructions on how to successfully complete those assignments and because her notes were clear and straightforward, she was able to revise her draft cover letter and produce an excellent cover letter.

Blog III : Faigley

Lester Faigley suggests that by taking a social perspective on the writing process, it is clear that it’s not an isolated linear process that begins with “pre writing” and ends with “revising.” A work written in a workplace setting is part of a grander scheme and the document itself is but “a moment in the continuous process of communication.” For a writer to effectively take part in this process of communication it is imperative that they first realize and understand the impact of the document they are writing. What and how the document is written can affect other people’s decisions and thoughts on the subject not just at the time it is written but in the future as well. Writers must be able to identify what the best way to approach the writing project based on either previous documents or past experience and also take into consideration the reader. As each workplace setting varies, the professional writer should know what the format is for different types of document and why it is the formats are there in the first place. To be able to see the structure of the social world in which you are writing and possibly writing about is also undoubtedly a key element in order to successfully participate in the process.

Blog II : Selzer

Jack Selzer persuades the reader that his analysis of Kenneth E. Nelson’s writing is based on careful observation by giving specific evidence and detail regarding Nelson’s writing process and the procedures he used to gather the information. For example, Selzer informs the reader of the methods he used such as looking over Nelson’s notes, plans, revisions, etc. Selzer also notes that he had Nelson answer a series of questions on a tape recorder, but there were also meetings in which Selzer’s observations were discussed. The specificity found throughout the article regarding Nelson’s writing practices could only have come through extensive research and observations. Selzer provides information such as the fact that Nelson spends up to 80% of his time coming up with and assembling proposals and reports. Throughout the research article, Selzer follows how Nelson handles and composes writing projects for Waukegan Airport. There are many references to Nelson's work and attention is paid to all the stages of his writing process. We are informed that Nelson takes into consideration what format the client would prefer and that he usually uses previously written material on a project and combine it all to compose a final report. Selzer provides information about the way Nelson brainstorms or uses phone conversations with clients and discussions with colleagues to shape his writing. I think Jack Selzer does a good job of providing an in depth description of how the writing process in a work setting takes place for an individual engineer, that is Nelson.

Blog I

There is a myriad of job titles held by different kinds of professional writers and the type of writing they do varies greatly. Medical communicators can write things such as pamphlets, books, or web content that is patient educational. Their job may also entail writing grant proposals for hospitals or scientists. They may also write journal articles or regulatory documents for different government agencies. A medical communicator should definitely have knowledge of health care, ethical standards and of course, good communication skills. Technical writers are in charge of transforming what may be complicated language into a comprehensible document. They write such things as assembly instructions, maintenance/operation manuals, and catalogs. A technical writer should be familiar with the technology that he or she is writing about and be able to simplify and make clear what might have seem complicated before. There are also freelance writers and they can choose to write and sell their work to different agencies such as magazines, advertising agencies, or publication enterprises. Freelance writers should have a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject they are writing about and be able to make it inventive and informational enough to sell their work. An editor can do their own writing but a big part of their job is to review, edit, and maybe even rewrite the works of other writers. There are many types of editors such as managing editor, assistant editors, and copy editors. It is a key skill for writers and editors to be able to communicate and express a thought. Being able to put different ideas into words requires that you be knowledgeable about different things and creative too. Political scientists, lawyers, researchers, analysts, and translation coordinator are other kinds of job titles that would also require the ability to be a professional writer. It is important to be familiar with technology that would help your work achieve its goal, possess good rhetorical skills, as well as the ever essential problem solving skills.
Personally I would definitely like to be able to incorporate more rhetoric in my writing and help it evolve. Exploring different technological resources, such as Adobe Photoshop, that I could use to make my work more professional and interesting is key. I like the versatility that can be found in professional writing; there are many options when it comes to exactly what kind of writing to focus on. Freelance writing and editing have always interested me. Being able to write a piece of work and communicate your thoughts to other people in a clear, creative, and smart manner is what lures me to professional writing.