MEMORANDOM
To: Professor Benninghoff
From: Kimberly Collins
Date: June 26, 2007
RE: Why Tech. Comm. Matters Proposal v.Final
CC: 324 Classmates
Overview: Why Tech Comm Matters to Me
My proposed project for the Why Tech Comm. Matters presentation is the writing process, particularly with a focus on essays. I'm interested in explaining not only the importance of making several revisions of a draft in order to make it your best, but to display how clear technical communication is vital when attempting to teach the writing process to peers and high school students.
Background: My Written Experience
As an English major, I’ve received A’s in courses with focus on the process of essay revisions, such as English 225 and English 417(Argumentative Writing). I have also been developing my writing craft since the age of 11, studying several helpful books on the craft of writing over the years. I have assisted my peers as well as high school students with the writing process before, helping college students prepare final drafts for mandatory writing courses and high school students to prepare essays for college applications.
Problem: Bridging the Gap
One consequence of not having clear communication while peers and high school students attempt to learn about the writing process is lower grades when drafts aren't completed correctly. Also completing written drafts correctly is essential for college entrance essays, job applications, and almost any career.
Audience: Why Tech Comm Matters to Tech Comm
My audience is college students in my Technical Communication class. Understanding this audience is essential to communicating the written process because revising is not something that everyone necessarily enjoys doing, so it's important to communicate this information in a way that students can understand and maintain interest in.
Attitude: Boring Revisions
Many students don't find revising drafts very interesting; they may be more focused on the results of their final drafts: higher grades, college acceptances, desired jobs, etc. And revising can be frustrating in general. Many students who are not majoring in English (and even many who are) do not recall different grammatical and proofreading rules easily, so this could cause a communication barrier as well.
Plan: What I want to do
In my presentation, I'll review the information that the class may or may not already know about drafting essays, as well as how my experience has assisted me in teaching the process of drafting essays. Next, I'll go over two prior situations where I had the opportunity to assist students in revising essays. I'll analyze these students as an audience and the different situations and goals that could help or hinder in teaching this process. I'll explain how I've used my experience, as well as three special tactics, to maintain the audience's interest. And finally, I'll go over the results of using these strategies to communicate the process of drafting essays to students.
Expected Results
English 324 will know something about the process of drafting essays, how I've attempted to communicate that to others and why communication matters in drafting essays. I believe that clear communication that explains the writing process would result in higher grades, college acceptance and job employment. Through teaching the vital importance in understanding the revision process and the consequences of not polishing it, I think that students will maintain more interest in it.
Thank you for reading this proposal.
To: Professor Benninghoff
From: Kimberly Collins
Date: June 17, 2007
RE: Why Tech. Comm. Matters Proposal.v1
Overview
My proposed project for the Why Tech Comm. Matters presentation is the writing process, particularly with a focus on essays. I'm interested in explaining not only the importance of making several revisions of a draft in order to make it your best, but to display how clear technical communication is vital when attempting to teach the writing process to peers and high school students.
Background
As an English major, I’ve received A’s in courses with focus on the process of essay revisions, such as English 225 and English 417(Argumentative Writing). I have also been developing my writing craft since the age of 11, studying several helpful books on the craft of writing over the years. I have assisted my peers as well as high school students with the writing process before, helping college students prepare final drafts for mandatory writing courses and high school students to prepare essays for college applications.
Analysis of Problem
One consequence of not having clear communication while peers and high school students attempt to learn about the writing process is lower grades when drafts aren't completed correctly. Also completing written drafts correctly is essential for college entrance essays, job applications, and almost any career.
Audience
My audience is high school and college students. Understanding this audience is essential to communicating the written process because revising is not something that everyone necessarily enjoys doing, so it's important to communicate this information in a way that students can understand and maintain interest in.
Attitude
Many students don't find revising drafts very interesting; they may be more focused on the results of their final drafts: higher grades, college acceptances, desired jobs, etc. And revising can be frustrating in general. Many students who are not majoring in English (and even many who are) do not recall different grammatical and proofreading rules easily, so this could cause a communication barrier as well.
Expected Results
I believe that clear communication that explains the writing process would result in higher grades, college acceptance and job employment. Through teaching the vital importance in understanding the revision process and the consequences of not polishing it, I think that students will maintain more interest in it.
Thank you for reading this proposal.
WTCM Drafted notes
Topic3: Drafting an essay The Writing Process (Revisions)
My Knowledge: - I have been writing since the age of 11
- I’ve received A’s in essay courses like English 225 and English 417(Argumentative Writing)
- I’ve taught other students how to draft and revise essays
Consequences: -Important to grades
-Writing is essential to every job (may affect the type of job you get)
-Affects the college that high school students get into
Audience: -High school students preparing to apply to college
-College students preparing to hunt for jobs
Challenge: -Writing is complicated for generations who read less (statistics?)
-Revising can be frustrating (unknown grammar rules, proofreading)
Specific Examples:
- Teaching students to write
- Revising peers essays
- Teaching peers about writing essays
