Class Reflection

Throughout the course of this class I have learned much more than I thought I would in a technical writing class. Not only have I learned tips for creating effective documents like resumes and cover letters, I have learned about many different ethical perspectives and schools of thought. With the semester project, I have learned a great deal about how to make a website and how to make and edit videos. I have learned many things that I never thought I would, and I realized that I can learn to do things like making a website if I use the tools that are out there.

Dombrowski Ethics 5 p 152 - 233

Dombrowski – Ethics 5, p 152-233

Ch 6: Tobacco and Death- When Is a Cause Not a Cause?

Over 60 million people have died from smoking – tobacco industry has failed to acknowledge its ethical responsibilities

“sophistic” here is contrived contention where none is warranted, denying obvious realities and making the worse case seem better just to win an argument

The effects of smoking deaths are much harder to visualize and less likely to outrage people than the blatantly obvious Challenger disaster because they are slow, lonely, and not as widely publicized

Self-serving posturings were disguised as technical facts, knowledge was represented as “beliefs” in order to deliberately mislead the public

CAUSE

People tend to think only about themselves, not in terms of “populations” which is what is affected by smoking

Statistical causation is a probability of what will happen within a population, not to one individual

Sometimes it can take a long time to notice or confirm a cause-effect relationship

The tobacco industry has engaged in misinformation and denial, called the link of smoking to death a “controversy” when it is really a fact, no debate necessary

Concomitant variation- proposed by John Stuart Mill- an increase in independent variable causes an increase in a dependent variable, decrease makes decrease, even if mechanism is unknown

Tobacco-death correlation similar to restraint devices in cars and decrease in accident deaths

Even though we don’t know how smoking causes cancer, we know it does

Dr. John Snow, 1854 in London- realized cholera might be spread through water, shut down a water pump and cholera outbreak subsided- without knowing exactly what was causing the cholera

The question of what ‘cause’ means reflects the values of the communicators and is similar to the arguments of the sophists

Sophists were seen as charlatans, like used-car salesmen, used power of language to alter beliefs and persuade

Some newer thinking explains that the sophists were cast in a negative light simply because they “lost” against their critics, ‘to the victor goes the spoils’

Plato and Aristotle thought that rhetoric should be based on ethics, what is good and right, ethics comes before winning and rhetoric

Eristics- arguing for the sake of beating an opponent (rather than for the good of society)

Protagoras- there are two sides to every matter

Tobacco industry sought doctors and researchers who would oppose the smoking-death link as causal and distracted focus from cancer

In 1958, British American Tobacco company researchers realized that there is a link between smoking and lung cancer

Tobacco Industry Research Committee (TIRC) was created to discredit reports of smoking causing cancer and perform “research” to disprove it

Almost all scientists believed the causal relationship, some were focused on self-interest

Tobacco industry knowingly and willfully brought disease and death to a number of their customers

DOCUMENTS

1997- 350 billion dollar settlement with tobacco companies, but this settlement might prevent future lawsuits so some are opposed to parts of it

Tobacco industry had lots of money to defend themselves, plaintiffs didn’t, state governments supported tobacco due to tax revenues, out of court settlements prevented a legal precedent being set with a case decided against the industry

Many documents that could be used against the industry are confusingly worded to prevent use as evidence

The tobacco industry destroyed their own documents that could be used against them in court

1950’s

Hill and Knowlton pr firm was hired to help tobacco industry campaign against reports linking smoking and cancer- they were to complicate the matter and divert attention from smoking as the cause of cancer

“A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers” was released, claimed “cause” and “proof” can’t be used in the smoking debate, formation of the TIRC

The document uses misleading words (experiments, theory), casts doubt on reports, but is technically correct

It regards the tobacco industry as the ‘victim’ in a role reversal, similar to sophist arguments

1970- Helmut Wakeham, research director at Philip Morris, to company president- they TIRC (now CTR) is interested in disproving allegations, not finding the real truth

Tobacco industry tried to say:
1. there are many causes of lung cancer
2. there is no agreement among authorities
3. no proof cigarette smoking causes cancer
4. validity of the reports should be questioned

Tobacco industry released other ads thanking smokers for their support rather than supporting “medicine men”

1960’s

US Surgeon General appointed advisory committee to investigate the matter, many qualified voices overwhelmingly outweighed the few scientists still supporting the tobacco industry’s “not proven” claim

The industry acknowledged that nicotine is addictive even though the exact mechanism was unknown, yet refused to use this line of reasoning with smoking causing cancer

Industry admitted to itself that the TIRC couldn’t really conduct meaningful research

1970’s

Industry started making filtered cigarettes, not admitting they were necessary but only due to “public perception” that filters were needed and smoking was bad

They used euphemisms (biological activity for cancerous tumor), acknowledged a “controversy”

Potentially harmful research at the CTR was stopped or headed by lawyers so the company could claim ignorance of damaging data
1980’s

Reports on research were limited to “snippets” to control release of harmful information, info was misrepresented

Industry insiders told Frontline about the control of information within tobacco industry

1990’s

Many technical documents became publicly available, lawsuits began

A SINGLE WORD

Tobacco CEOs said under oath that they didn’t “believe” that nicotine was addictive, even though industry documents showed they knew it was, but people can’t be prosecuted for their ‘beliefs’

GRAPHICAL IMAGES

The exact meaning and intent of images is hard to pinpoint

Joe Camel was an image of coolness and happiness, distracting from the realities of cigarette smoking – the industry was sued with the claim that it was marketing to children

RJR realized they were losing customers, needed to replace them, marketed to teens with Joe Camel- just because it was self-preservation doesn’t make it ethical

Concern for technical excellence can dominate other values

Images of the Marlboro Man were also misleading, he actually died from lung cancer and his widow sued the tobacco industry

ETHICAL APPRAISAL

Aristotle- industry’s deliberate avoidance and suppression of knowledge shows they don’t wish to find the truth. They aren’t honest, avoid making tough decisions, and sacrifice millions of lives for personal gain

Kant- the tobacco industry opposed those who were working for the public good, did not treat the public as it would like to be treated

Utilitarian- tobacco industry tries to show benefits of jobs for tobacco workers and tax revenues, but these don’t outweigh the cost of millions of lives

Feminist and Ethics of Care- impersonal treatment of others by industry is bad, deliberate rejection of responsibility for the care of their customers is bad

CH 7: STAR WARS: HOPE VS. REALITY

The SDI program was unfounded on realistic technical possibilities, future hopes were confused with actual realities

Claims were exaggerated, misrepresented about what the program could really accomplish

CONTEXT

There are no real means for accomplishing the goals of the program, so money was wasted and program was terminated – technical communication that led to this was exaggerated, misleading

OVERVIEW OF SDI

Plan was enacted by President Reagan in 1983, based on “technological optimism”- that any problem could be solved by technology with enough time and money thrown at it

Scope of program was gradually reduced until it was only protecting a few cities from a few missiles- you have to make sure your goals are technically feasible

This example is not really unethical, just shows the powerful influence of values in shaping public discourse

A Complex System

The system is very complex and required a software system to integrate all the parts of the system, meaning very much was demanded of it

SDI was for intercepting and eliminating incoming ICBMs

Due to short time frame, the whole response would have to be computer automated

Enemies could use tactics that confuse the SDI system

Existing systems that aren’t nearly as complicated don’t work very well, computers wouldn’t do well in space

CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

The government knew of complications from the beginning

Four “misapprehensions” regarding the president’s plan:
1) individual, separate devices like lasers are not the same as the whole system they would be used in, which is really complex
2) SDI is unlike any prior program
3) hopes for entirely new technologies are not realistic
4) the system can’t be tested, it’s like nothing ever before

There is no guarantee that the system wouldn’t fail when actually needed

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

Congress concerned with possible unethical misrepresentation of technical feasibility

Lt. Gen. Abrahamson was director of SDI, his testimony made hopes seem feasible

Sen. John Glenn’s response basically said he didn’t think any of the technology has actually been invented yet, and it hadn’t

The numbers used, such as 5 layers and 85% effectiveness were basically made up and based on wished-for technologies that do not exist

SDI DOCUMENTS, PRO AND CON

Pro

Proponents of the system used arguments of values and how terrible nuclear war would be, didn’t really discuss how technically feasible it actually was

Keyworth, science advisor to the president, wrote articles defending the program with moral issues again, not technicalities

Defensive Technologies Study group, headed by NASA’s Fletcher, gave an optimistic view of it but only states that after a lot more research we could determine whether SDI is feasible

Parnas, a software engineer, resigned from the panel

Con

The hardware hasn’t been completely invented, the software is seemingly impossible to create, there are so many variables it isn’t realistic

MIT computer scientist Herbert Lin described the “unknown unknowns” and compared SDI to much less complicated software systems that didn’t work right

Union of Concerned Scientists wrote a book outlining how SDI software is impossible

Parnas

Parnas wrote a statement on SDI very clearly and ethically outlining his views on why SDI software is impossible

Parnas’ ethos is apparent, he had 20 years experience in software design and military experience, he had nothing to gain and lots to lose in resigning from the panel

He showed that the other members of the panel had almost no experience and much to gain from the panel, while he had all the experience and resigned

In utilitarianism, personal good will often differ from public good- it is often criticized as least “ethical” mode of thinking

Many of Parnas’ peers wished he wouldn’t have been so critical so that their funding wouldn’t dry up, but he didn’t want the government wasting taxpayers’ money

STAR WARS BOYCOTT PLEDGE

Many scientists signed a Star Wars boycott pledge, agreeing that it was technically infeasible and they wouldn’t support it

Patriot: Small-Scale SDI

Patriot system used to shoot down Iraqi SCUD missiles; the military touted it as highly successful, but later investigations showed it failed most of the time

Technical Claims about Air Operations

Claims that infrared systems could work in conditions of poor visibility, yet not including clouds and weather – the main source of poor visibility

ETHICAL APPRAISAL

Aristotle – SDI support unclear, ethical in preventing violence but unethical in masking the lack of technical feasibility

Kant – not sure, same as above- could be conditions we don’t know about that made them make these choices also

Utilitarianism – if the statements were really just to get funding, they’re unethical

Feminist Perspective and Ethic of Care – could be ethical in avoiding violence, could be unethical in seeming authoritarian and wasting so much money that could be spent on the poor, healthcare, etc.

CONCLUSION

Concern for basic security can cloud judgment, the program had good goals but it was unrealistic

Harty: Ethics, 347-381 and Dombrowski "Challenger"

Harty “A Word About Ethics” and Dombrowski “Challenger”

Dorothy Windsor- “Communication Failures Contributing to the Challenger Accident: An Example for Technical Communicators”

2 major contributions to the Challenger accident:
1) managers and engineers viewed the same facts from different perspectives
2) the general difficulty of sending or receiving bad news, particularly when sending to a superior

You must share not only information but your interpretation of it

Bad news is not passed on as often as good news, people are less likely to believe it

PHYSICAL CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT

Physical cause of the accident was the failure of a rubber seal on the solid rocket booster

Testing of the O-rings actually damaged them, causing them to malfunction

EARLY RESPONSES TO BAD NEWS: DISBELIEF AND FAILURE TO SEND UPWARD

Marshall treated O-ring problem as serious when communicating down to MTI but not serious when communicating up to NASA

Marshall only recognized it as serious when blame seemed to be on MTI

CONTINUED BAD NEWS REJECTION DESPITE CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE

MTI still believed in the backup O-ring despite contradictory evidence

A launch constraint was enacted, but focused on the wrong issue and was ultimately waived and disregarded

INTERNAL VS. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION OF CONCERN FROM MTI ENGINEERS

MTI engineer Boisjoly sent a critical warning memo to his management

MTI’s Russell sent a memo to Marshall, but it was simply the facts and did not sound very urgent or critical as it was sent to an outsider

THE SPLIT BETWEEN MANAGERS AND ENGINEERS

MTI engineers became increasingly against launch but didn’t communicate urgently enough, they recommended postponing the Challenger launch but by this time Marshall wouldn’t listen

Managers wanted to go ahead with the launch (mainly to please their superiors) while engineers were more realistic and resisted

CONCLUSION

Managers should establish an open atmosphere in which engineers feel comfortable relaying bad information

People should realize that they are probably erring on the side of optimism, don’t stick to intellectual inertia and take responsibility if they are wrong

Darrell Huff- “How To Lie With Statistics”

Samples can have built-in bias

Every piece of information in the group should have the same chance of being selected for the sample

Truncated graphs can make data appear more impressive and drastic

Changing the ordinates of graphs can also make them appear more impressive (zooming in)

Means and medians can vary greatly, especially when discussing income, as the vast majority earn a reasonable amount and a few millionaires drastically raise the mean

You must take error and deviance into consideration and not be misled by simply reading the data (ranges of 47-87 and 15-104 both have a mean of 61)

Altering two-dimensional data can imply a greater difference between two bars/icons if the reader interprets them three-dimensionally

Decimals can make data seem very accurate, more than just an approximation

Bias of sample’s opinions must be considered (prejudiced people)

Cause and effect relationships can be misconstrued and reversed if only a correlation is noted

Dan Jones- “Determining the Ethics of Style”

Doublespeak is intentionally misleading, not careless

WHAT IS ETHICS?

The study of right and wrong conduct
what is good and bad with moral duty and obligation
Theory or system of moral values

ETHICS AND TECHNICAL PROSE

It’s not always easy to determine what’s right and wrong, many situations have multiple variables

ETHICS AND THE PROFESSIONS

Computer Ethics Institute wrote 10 Commandments of Computer Ethics

Computers bring about many ethical issues regarding intellectual property, morality of copying programs/files, creation of viruses, hacking, creation of artificial intelligence

Codes of conduct are valuable because they establish ideals and help define the character of a profession, encourage employees to act ethically

Carolyn Rude- “Legal and Ethical Issues in Editing”

Laws and codes of ethics aim to protect the good of society and individual rights

Corporate policies should establish commitment to ethical behavior, products should be reviewed by a variety of people

LEGAL ISSUES IN EDITING

Editors insure that documents do not violate intellectual property, product safety, libel, and copyright laws

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY includes any information that is in some fixed form- patents, trade secretes, artwork, writing, pictures, music- encourages people to create things that will better the quality of life

COPYRIGHT LAW protects original works of authorship so others can’t reproduce or steal work

Copyrights often lie with employers for their employees’ works

US Government work is public domain, not copyrighted

Copyrights are automatic, don’t require registration; however you can register them for maximum security
Copyrights don’t necessarily translate into other countries

Fair use allows for copying for educational and noncommercial uses

Trademarks prevent copying and use of brand names, phrases and logos

It is illegal to share trade secrets with other companies

Product Safety And Liability

Companies are responsible for even the misuse of their products

Warning labels are necessary to inform customers of potential dangers, clear instructions are necessary

Libel is a defamatory statement about someone without basis in fact that lowers their public reputation, people can be sued for it if it is proven

Editors must insure factual accuracy of negative statements

DOMBROWSKI- Challenger Disaster- Information Vs. Meaning

Values play a powerful role in shaping technical discourse

Space shuttle missions are risky, but astronauts are under the assumption that all necessary precautions have been taken- not the case with Challenger

Unwarranted assumptions of the audience rendered the “smoking gun” memo ineffective

TWO GOVERNMENTAL REPORTS

The Presidential Report (Rogers Commission) is very long and discusses some things that aren’t critical to the matter of the Challenger explosion

A large amount of information doesn’t necessarily mean a report is thorough

The report focuses disproportionately on the braking system, which was not a main cause of the explosion

The inclusion of so much almost irrelevant information tries to make the event appear inevitable rather than being due to a series of judgment errors that could have easily been fixed, is misleading

Differences Between Reports

Presidential and congressional reports used same information but came to different results and recommendations

Presidential commission uses vague, contradictory language, fails to address ethical responsibilities

Distinction between personal responsibility and procedural decision making (just following procedures, not much choice/thought)

Congressional report states that Challenger was not a problem of technical communication but of personal decision making

TWO CRUCIAL SHIFTS IN MEANING

O-ring charring shifted from a cause of concern to a sign of safety, they became accustomed to it happening and no longer saw it as dangerous- this was a shift in perception, not actual data

Engineers argued against launch at the L-1 meeting but they were overruled by managers and NASA.. Dombrowksi thinks technical communication was fine here, Harty didn’t

The burden of proof shifted- now the engineers had to prove the launch shouldn’t occur rather than simply raising doubt about safety- unclear data “didn’t support a postponement” rather than “didn’t support a launch”

SMOKING GUN MEMO

Boisjoly’s memo is the smoking gun; it is technically well-written and the blame falls on the readers not heeding his warnings

Boisjoly used powerful emotional language to convey the seriousness of his subject

If you have communicated well it is up to your audience to act

GRAPHICAL IMAGES

Data in numbers can be almost irrelevant or beside the point sometimes

People determine the meaning of data, it doesn’t determine its own meaning

ETHICAL APPRAISAL

Aristotle would say that Boisjoly acted ethically, showing honesty and courage and working toward good for others. He would encourage open debate between the two reports, as the congressional committee’s clearer report would show itself as the better one

Kant would agree that Boisjoly acted with a sense of duty without regard for personal consequences. The presidential report shows confused language and misleading conclusions so it doesn’t seem ethical

Utilitarianism would weigh the benefits to the nation with the risk of the astronauts lives, they knew they were in a dangerous situation but didn’t know the extent of it. The presidential committee might have been doing the greater good by saving the reputation of NASA, but the congressional committee acted differently

Feminist and Ethics of Care: the management was authoritarian in overriding the opinions of the engineers at the L-1 meeting, and they did not have a caring attitude toward the astronauts when they ignored the risks to their safety, and therefore it was unethical to launch

CONCLUSION

This issue shows how values and ethical judgment play a role in communicating even highly technical information.

Harty p. 306-334, Cover Letters and E-Resumes

Steven Graber- “The Basics of a Cover Letter”

Effective cover letters attract an employer’s attention by highlighting the most attractive features of the product

FORMAT

Appearance of a cover letter shows organizational skills and attention to detail

The Parts of a Letter

2 styles for cover letters

Business style- all elements begin at the left margin
Personal style- return address and complimentary close begin at centerline, paragraphs are indented

Return address
Avoid abbreviations, though abbreviating the state is acceptable; include contact info

Date
Appears two lines below the address, write it out

Inside Address
Four lines down, give addressee’s full name, then title, company name, company address
Make sure the text of the letter is vertically centered

Salutation
Two lines underneath address, use “Dear Mr.___:” or “Dear Sir or Madam”

Length
3 or 4 short paragraphs on one page

Paper Size
Use standard 8.5 by 11” paper

Paper Color and Quality
Use matching paper and envelopes for your resume and cover letter, good paper with weight and texture

Typing and Printing
Use computer with letter-quality printer, serif font same typeface and size as resume

Envelope
Use standard business envelope, type the address and address it to the contact person

CONTENT

Personalize Each Letter
Try to address your letter to the most influential person who is appropriate

Mapping It Out
Cover letter should give an overview of your abilities and explain why you’re good for the job

Indicate why you want the job

First Paragraph: state the position for which you are applying
Second Paragraph: explain your abilities, why you’re a good fit for the job
Third Paragraph: show how you exceed requirements, include awards/accomplishments
Fourth Paragraph: close by saying you look forward to hearing from them

Complimentary Close
Sincerely, then print your name 3 lines down and sign above it- line up with return address and date

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COVER LETTERS

Use a polite, formal style with confidence and respect

A reserved, confident tone is good, similar to a job interview

Use concrete examples of skills and accomplishments

Use the fewest words possible, avoid jargon

Avoid catchphrases

Refrain offering salary information unless the advertisement requires it

Proofread very carefully; reprint it if there are mistakes

COVER LETTER BLUNDERS TO AVOID

Avoid including unrelated career goals as well as clichés and obvious comparisons

Don’t include irrelevant information

Don’t use mass mailing, inappropriate stationery, or anecdotes

Verify the accuracy of any company information you include, don’t bluff

Don’t appear desperate or admit shortcomings in the letter

Don’t misrepresent yourself or use demanding or presumptive statements

Don’t include irrelevant personal information

Carefully edit your letter for tone and typographical issues, always retype it if there are errors

COVER LETTERS FOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Use your strengths as selling points, regardless of their origin and your lack of job history

RESPONSE TO A BLIND ADVERTISEMENT

Tailor your response to any specific information given

COLD COVER LETTERS are used to directly contact an employer without previous correspondence

BROADCAST LETTERS are used by well-qualified individuals to advertise their ability to top-level professionals in a particular field

LETTERS TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES AND SEARCH FIRMS should highlight your skills and explain what kind of job you’re interested in and salary information

NETWORKING LETTERS refer to a mutual acquaintance to garner reader’s attention

Dikel and Roehm- “Your Resume On the Internet”

Don’t rely too heavily on the Internet at the expense of networking and actively searching for jobs

THE MYTH ABOUT THE INTERNET RESUME

You don’t need a completely different resume just for the Internet

Different formats for your resume:
Hard copy- nice looking with bullets
Scannable version- nice looking, no bullets just word processed
Plain-text version- plain for copy/pasting
Email version-plain, small size for emails

Don’t post your internet resume with other personal information that could be used to discriminate against you

RULES FOR RESPONDING ONLINE

Email your resume and cover letter to the person or company indicated in the job listing

Format the resume correctly for email; include it in the body rather than as an attachment unless otherwise instructed

Use the advertised job title in the subject line of the email, and read the application instructions included in the job announcement and follow them exactly

E-RESUMES ARE NOT JUST FOR EMAIL

Copy and paste your resume from a prepared copy you have already formatted to look great online

PREPARING A PERFECT PLAIN-TEXT RESUME

Email has more formatting restrictions than most online resume databases

Steps for creating plain-text resume:
Check keywords that define your job qualifications
Save your resume as a text-only document
Delete any page numbers
Use all CAPS for words that need special emphasis
Replace each bullet point with a standard keyboard symbol
Use straight quotes in place of curly quotes
Rearrange text if necessary
Limit line lengths
Save as Text Only with Line Breaks
Copy the entire text in your ResTextBreak.txt document that you’ve opened in Notepad, and paste it in the body of the email message.

WHERE SHOULD THAT RESUME GO?

Post your resume only on one or two of the large databases

Post it on one or two targeted resume databases specific to your industry or location

Protect Yourself Online

Make sure a site has a comprehensive privacy policy, allows you to limit access to your personal information, allows you to search the site before registering, and allows you to edit and/or delete it once it has been posted



Before You Post, Something to Think About

Do you want your resume public, and are you ready for the consequences?

RESUMER BLASTERS: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE OR A NEW FORM OF SPAM?

Wide distribution of your resume offers you little control of your personal information

Your resume may be sent to employers who aren’t interested or even looking to hire

Don’t waste money on a service like this that probably won’t benefit you much

ONLINE GUIDES AND GUIDANCE

Online Writing Lab, OWL, Purdue University

The Damn Good Resume, damngood.com

The Resume Place, resume-place.com

Susan Ireland, susanireland.com

Harty p.275: Resumes and Other Written Materials for a Job Search

-there is no one right way to write a resume

-managers look for a variety of skills including written and oral communication skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills, self reliance, and time management

John L. Munschauer- "Writing Resumes and Letters in the Language of Employers"

WHY USE A RESUME?

-Don't confuse customers by flaunting things that aren't relevant to their needs

GIVING YOUR MESSAGE

-Even if you are going to approach the employer in person, practice writing a letter

-Focus on the interviewer's needs, not your wants

The Importance of Knowing What the Job Is All About

-using prose can help you put into words the things you want to convey to the interviewer

LETTERS OF APPLICATION

- Resumes should be well organized, neat, professional-looking and free of grammatical errors

-Paragraphs should outline who you are and what you want, why you wrote to the employer and areas of mutual interest, special talents, and should suggest a course of action

Hard Work and Attention to Detail Make a Good Letter

-Editing and rewriting is very important

Don't Delegate the Job of Letter Writing

-Write your own letter, and use an outline

-The value of a resume is often in the practice more than the document itself

RESUME PREPARATION

-Using single spacing can draw less attention to less-than-impressive items

-Organize your qualifications into relevant groups and be sure to have a good reason for including a qualification or work experience

-Explain why you included less relevant work experience and how it contributes to your resume

Use words that fit the job in question and downplay terms that might lead the employer to think in terms other than the job

The Functional Resume

Design headlines to highlight and organize your work experience

The functional resume allows you to develop a different message for each job you apply for

“Career interest” can sound better than “job objective”- your resume should clearly show what kind of job you are looking for

If you can keep the resume to one page, do it; if not, make it two and keep white space and organization

Get your resume critiqued before you use it- get them to look at the format, then the information

Multimedia Aspect of Project

I think for the multimedia portion of my project I am going to do a series of instructional videos that will illustrate how to perform particular techniques and play certain songs. This visual aspect will allow the user to follow along easily and copy the motions that I am doing to learn how to play. I think a series of smaller videos would serve my project better than one large video and would help to explain more concepts better.

Ethics Chapter 4: Nazi Records

Chapter 4: Nazi Records – The Origin and Use of Information

Excessive emphasis on the values of scientific objectivity can mask vital ethical issues

ORIGINATION, DISSEMINATION, AND USE OF INFORMATION

Nazi Past

“Undesirables” were sent to concentration camps for slave labor and death in an attempt to “purify” the Aryan race and so “scientific” experiments could be carried out on them

In ethical considerations, one must consider how information was obtained and how it will likely be used

Controversy in the Present

Medical specimens derived from concentration camps and Nazi experimental data should not be used, according to many people. Much of the scientific data was actually unscientific and fabricated anyways

Science must deter unethical studies by refusing to use research from them

Values in Nazi Medical “Science”

Nazi medical “research” included abandonment of the Hippocratic oath and abandonment of the patient’s health as the most important factor

Doctors presided over the killings to make the killings appear legitimate medical issues and useful research rather than mass killing

Diffusion of responsibility between all the levels of what was carried out helped participants justify their own complacency

Euthanasia was distorted by the Nazis to include the killing of those they deemed ‘not worthy of life’ without the patients’ own wishes discussed

‘special treatment’ was taken to mean medical killing as a new and necessary tool

Doctors who participated did so out of either psychopathic cruelty, personal aggrandizement, or to attempt to support Nazi theories

Nazi antiscience

Objectivization- treating people as objects rather than humans equivalent to the researcher

Nazi scientists’ objectivity basically meant abandoning and rejecting human values, not something normal science does

Nazi science was opposite to normal science in many ways- a predominance of Jews in traditional medicine and science led Nazis to use opposite measures, to use science as a means to justify their political views and “better” their pure race rather than yielding boring, traditional results that come from normal science

Research in the US

Nazi research can be treated the same as evidence obtained in violation of Miranda rights, it is inadmissible and treated as if it does not exist

Tuskegee syphilis experiment occurred due to white doctors’ views toward African-American patients

Kant’s categorical imperative applied to all beings capable of reasoning, therefore even if Nazis viewed Jews as ‘nonhuman’ the fact that they could reason meant they should be protected

NAZI TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

Technical expediency and vague language mask what is really being discussed and the ethics behind it

People are referred to as “load”, “volume”, “cargo” to depersonalize it

“special vehicles” are vans used to murder people

One excuse given by a Nazi included that he thought the Jews killed weren’t really people

In Nazi Germany, means and ends became blurred, creating a cycle of self-justification where what could be done was done because it could be done

Hirt’s document about obtaining Jewish skulls was masked as furthering scientific knowledge but really furthered the mass killing of Jews

X-Ray paper follows all proper technical procedures but displays extreme emotional and ethical distance between the researcher and the subject, and it avoids concern for how the information was obtained and how it will be used

GRAPHICAL IMAGES

Social Darwinism was applied in Nazi Germany and used as justification for “purifying” the Aryan race

The goal of science was eugenics, to purify the Aryan gene pool

Politics and racism actually came before true science in their methods

Religion, faith, and culture were made to appear biologically determined

Charts allow technicians to remain detached from the values of the practice, they are just “following the charts”

Technology was used in determining whether someone was Jewish or not by measuring facial features, this made it impersonal and objective

ETHICAL APPRAISAL

Aristotelian ethics would condemn the actions of the Nazis but his praise of technical expedience might lend support for using data from Nazi studies for beneficial reasons today

Kantian ethics would condemn the Nazis also, “treat others as you want to be treated”, though the use of Nazi data depends on who you empathize with, victims or potentially benefitting people

Utilitarianism would say the great bad outweighed the unethical “good” of purifying the Aryan race, and that using Nazi data could only benefit people today if it is real data

Feminism and ethics of care would denounce the authoritarianism of the Nazis, they were uncaring and unethical in their treating of human beings as objects. Using the Nazi data would show care for the people who could benefit today

Project Draft

A Beginner’s Guide For Learning Guitar

Chapter 1: The Basics

Vocabulary



Guitar Anatomy
Body- The main structural piece of a guitar, usually made of wood and hollow on an acoustic guitar. It contains the bridge, pickups, volume and tone controls, tremolo bar, and the sound hole of an acoustic guitar.
Headstock- the end piece connected to the neck that contains the tuning pegs and the ends of the strings
Neck- the long, narrow board that connects the headstock to the body where the fingers are placed to fret the guitar
Fretboard- another name for the front face of the neck that contains the frets
Fret- a metal ridge on the fretboard that the string vibrates against when the fingers are placed behind it
Strings- usually metal (sometimes nylon) strings that are plucked or strummed to produce sound. Guitars usually have six strings of variable thickness, with thicker strings producing lower sounds.
Tuning pegs- metal pegs that hold the end of the string to the headstock and are turned to create or reduce tension in the string in order to tune it
Nut- the ridge at the head end of the fretboard that the strings pass over to get to the tuning pegs
Bridge- a strip of wood, plastic or metal that holds the strings in place above the body of the guitar
Bridge pins- round-headed pins that hold the strings in place in the body of the guitar
Saddle- plastic or ivory bar that holds the strings in place above the bridge
Pickguard- a piece of plastic on the body underneath the strings to protect the guitar from being scratched by the pick
Pickups- electronic devices that detect the vibration of the strings and send the information to an amplifier, located on the body underneath the strings
Tone/volume knobs- on an electric guitar, the knobs that control the volume and tone located on the body

Guitar Accessories
Pick- a small piece of hard material (usually plastic) held between the fingers and used to pick or strum the strings
Capo- a device that clamps down the strings when placed across the fretboard so that all the strings will be continuously fretted
Slide- a piece of metal or glass usually worn around a finger that is used to fret strings and slide up or down, producing a unique glissando sound



Musical terms and Techniques
Note- a sound with a distinct pitch, usually produced by a single vibrating string on a guitar
Chord- many notes played at the same time, produced by a particular combination of fretted strings
Hammer-on- quickly tapping a finger down to fret a string while the string is currently vibrating to a lower note.
Pull-off- pulling off the fretting finger while the string is still vibrating to the fretted note
Harmonic- a note produced at particular places on a string when the entire string is not vibrating but a fraction of the string is vibrating. Places where the string is lightly touched and separated into ratios of 1/4 – 3/4 (5th fret), 1/3 – 2/3 (7th fret), and 1/2 – 1/2 (12th fret) will produce harmonic notes that sound like a ringing bell while the string does not sound out the regular note produced when fully fretted at that position.


Introduction to Stringing and Tuning

The standard guitar has six strings, though seven-string and twelve-string models exist as well. These strings are labeled from 1-6 starting with the highest-pitched string, or from bottom to top when the guitar is viewed from the front. Each string is tuned to a specific pitch, and different guitar “tunings” are different combinations of string pitches. The most common tuning is called “standard” tuning, which a vast majority of popular songs use. Tunings are often stated from lowest pitch to highest pitch (strings 6-1), so standard tuning is EADGBe. Other popular tunings include:
- “Drop D” in which the low E string is lowered to a D, making it DADGBe.
-“Open” tuning, in which the strings are tuned up so that a particular chord is formed when the strings are strummed openly. Open E and open G are popular open tunings.
In standard tuning, each string is tuned five semitones (five frets) higher than the previous string except for the B string, which is only 4 semitones higher than the G string. This means that strings can be easily tuned relative to each other by fretting the above string at the fifth fret (fourth when tuning the B string) and matching this pitch to the open string below it. In summary, when tuning strings relative to each other the frets read 5-5-5-4-5 from the low E string to the B string.

Helpful tools for stringing and tuning include:
-Restringing tools, which combine a string cutter, bridge pin remover and tuning peg winder all in one. These tools are very helpful and combine everything you will need into one tool.
-Electronic tuners are the easiest way to tune your guitar. They have a microphone that will pick up the sound from a vibrating string and will usually have an LCD screen display with a needle that easily shows the desired pitch and whether the string is tuned too high or too low.



How to String the Guitar

1. Beginning with the low E string, pull the bridge pin out of the bridge and place the end of the string down into the hole.
2. Place the bridge pin down into the hole with the notch in the bridge pin facing the headstock so that the string can pass through the notch. Press it in place.
3. Place the string through its proper slits in the saddle and the nut and pass it through the hole in the tuning peg. The string should pass to the inside of the peg’s vertical post.
4. Pull the string sharply counterclockwise around the post and hold it in place. Then begin turning the tuning peg counterclockwise, tightening the string and wrapping it around the post until it has wrapped around 3 times.
5. Gently stretch the string upward away from the fretboard to ensure that it is tightly in place.
6. Turn the tuning peg counterclockwise until it is in tune. (Refer to “How to Tune the Guitar” for help with tuning.)
7. Cut the excess off the end of the string near the tuning peg post, leaving about a centimeter of string passing through the posthole.
8. Repeat this process for the A string and D string.
9. For the G, B, and high E strings, the same procedure will be followed with some minor differences. The string will still pass to the inside of the post, meaning it will be wrapping clockwise around the post when viewed from above. The tuning pegs will be turned clockwise to tighten the string when viewed from the traditional playing position (same view as when tuning the low E, A, and D strings). Finally, since these strings are thinner they may be wrapped 5-6 times around the post of the tuning peg.

How To Tune the Guitar with an Electric Tuner
1. Turn on the tuner.
2. Pluck the low E (thickest) string. If the string has just been put on the guitar and is being tuned for the first time, it will most likely be too low. Tune the string up (tighten it) until the tuner screen displays “6E”.
3. Once the correct note is displayed on the screen, adjust the string until the needle is vertical. If the needle is to the left, the string is too low. If the needle is to the right or if a higher note (i.e. 5A) is displayed, the string is too high.
4. Repeat for each of the remaining five strings and make sure the correct note is displayed for each string.
5. The strings can be checked against each other to make sure that each one is in tune.







Note Layout on the Fretboard

This diagram shows the position of each note on the fretboard, with the number at the top signifying the fret (zero meaning open) and the letter in the first column signifying the open string.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E
B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B
G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G
D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D
A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A
E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E


An Introduction to Guitar Tablature

Guitar tablature (or “tabs”) is a simplified form of notation for showing where the fingers are placed on the fretboard to play a particular note or chord. Tabs consist of six horizontal lines that represent the six strings on the guitar, with the top line representing the high E (thinnest) string and the bottom line representing the low E (thickest string). This orientation is how the guitar looks from the player’s perspective when it is held in the normal playing position.
Guitar tabs are read from left to right, with the notes represented by numbers that signify the fret at which the string is fretted. Each note in a vertical line is played simultaneously. In addition to the fret numbers, other symbols commonly used in tabs are outlined in the following table.


Symbol Meaning
0 String is played open
X String is muted or not played
h Hammer-on to the next note
p Pull-off to the next note
b Bend the note to a higher pitch
/ Slide up to the next note
\ Slide down to the next note
~ Vibrato, rapidly bend the note back and forth
+ A harmonic note





Chapter 2: Chords

Chords are the structural basis for all songs played on guitar. As stated earlier, chords are a combination of notes played simultaneously and produced by a particular combination of fretted strings. When a chord is fretted, a guitarist can either strum the strings together to sound the chord or pick individual strings or combinations of strings also. For a beginning guitarist, it’s not necessary to delve too deeply into music theory about chords so only the basics will be discussed here.
The most popular chords used for guitar are C, A, G, E, D, F, A minor, and E minor; knowing these chords will allow you to play very many songs. When combined with other basic chord types including major, minor, bar, power, and seventh chords, you will be able to play almost any song you wish. In the following section, the important chords and chord shapes will be explained and presented visually.



Basic Chords

(Diagrams for the following chords will be presented: A, A minor, C, D, E, E minor, F, G)

Other Standard Chords

These chords are not as common as the basics but are still used extensively.

(Diagrams for the following chords will be presented: B, B minor, C major 7, Cadd9, D minor, Dsus2, D7)

Bar Chords

These chords are referred to as “bar chords” because the index finger is used as a “bar” to hold down every string at the same fret, while the other fingers can fret strings higher up. Bar chords will have a particular shape to them depending on the type (major, minor, seventh) that can be moved up or down the neck to form different chords.

Major Bar Chord- (A diagram will show the major bar shape)

Minor Bar Chord- (A diagram will show the minor bar shape)

Seventh Bar Chord- (A diagram will show the seventh bar shape)




Power Chords

Power chords are the simplest chords in terms of structure. They consist of only two or three notes, and like bar chords the power chord shape can be moved anywhere along the fretboard to create a chord. (A diagram will show the power chord shape)


Transitioning Between Chords

Note that many of the popular basic chords involve fretting a string with the same finger at the same fret. When transitioning between two of these chords, it is helpful to keep that finger fretted and to use it as an anchor for your hand while the other fingers move to the new positions. For example, the chords A minor and C both involve using the index finger to fret the B string’s first fret and the middle finger to fret the D string’s second fret; when transitioning between these chords, keep those fingers stationary and only move your ring finger to the new position. Other examples of this include using the ring finger to fret the A string’s third fret for both C and F, and also using the ring finger to fret the B string’s third fret for both D and G. Using the common finger as a base while you move your other fingers will help you transition quickly and easily.
Many times there is no finger that is kept stationary between chord transitions and the whole hand must be moved. If the chord shape is relatively simple, you will probably be able to transition to it fairly easily. However, it is often helpful for more difficult chord shapes to fret one or two fingers first and then adjust the rest of your hand to complete the chord shape. This often means putting your pinky and/or ring fingers down first as an anchor and then moving your middle and index fingers to their positions.

Ethics Chapter 3: The Ethics Tradition

Chapter 3 The Ethics Tradition

Aristotle’s views are pragmatic and philosophical, actions are performed due to their inherent goodness

Kant- rational, not metaphysical, actions should be performed simply because they are the right thing to do without considering costs or benefits to us

Utilitarianism is impartial, impersonal, tries to be fair to everyone

Wicclair and Farkas discussed ethics in technical communication, classified schools of thought as goal-based (i.e. utilitarianism), duty-based (Kantian), and rights-based

Aristotle

Treated ethics generally without providing a specific set of concrete rules or practices

Medieval Christian thinkers relied on Plato’s and Aristotle’s works to help form their theories

Aristotle is much more practical than his teacher Plato but still relies on metaphysical truths

Ethics has to be very general, is about doing “the right thing” for its own sake

Man is a combination of animal instincts and divine reason

People are virtuous, not actions- they can have many motives

Everyone is responsible for their own character

You don’t have to understand the abstract concepts of virtue to become virtuous, just do what is right (unlike Plato)

Ethics is about a range of possibilities, not absolutes without a possibility of “otherwise”

Ethics should be reflected in law and politics but can’t be reduced to just that, ethics must correct these when law and politics are in error

Some ethical actions should be taken regardless of their personal consequences- whistle blowing laws

Aristotle thought that science was absolute and separate from ethics

Scientists are the philosophers of today, with a mystical aura as they pass on and translate new truths to laypeople

KANT

Based on duty, avoids circumstantial contingencies and competing interests

“categorical imperative”- act in such a way that the principle guiding your actions should become a universal law that everyone would have to follow always

The duty is a conscious recognition of one’s obligation

Free will bound by duty: everyone has a choice but since everyone has reason they all should come to the same right decision- negates the individual vs. society aspect

The author tries to say that everything is a paradox all the time

Kant’s views seem to be that there is always an absolute right answer and we are bound by duty to choose it, but it’s not always easy to figure out which choice is ‘right’ or more ethical

Utilitarianism

Accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Cost-benefit analysis usually plays a role

Often plays a role in medical ethics: whether or not a drug should be approved, which patients to give transplant organs to

Feminist and Care Perspectives

Includes postmodernism- reassesses things we take for granted as true, challenges authority

Some try to say that science is biased against women because it requires emotions to be disregarded and women are inherently more emotional than men- this perpetuates a stereotype in itself and in most cases, emotions really do need to be disregarded

This argument stereotypes science as focusing only on parts, not wholes- example is psychology, but they are ignoring the fact that sociology and anthropology are the sciences where interpersonal relationships are studied…

They try to say logic is a male characteristic, logical science is sexist.. male scientists conquering female “Mother Nature”.. this is ridiculous

Ethics of Care

Carol Gilligan- women value relationships and the other person in the relationship when making ethical decisions while men focus on justice and are more impersonal

Male attitudes are taken for granted as being the norm for all humankind and therefore women’s views are suppressed and ignored

Civic societies should try to be personal and caring and embrace egalitarian principles

Confucian Ethics

Focuses on reality rather than metaphysics, relationships rather than individuals, social harmony rather than personal egos

Learn by studying real examples of things like “virtue” rather than abstract logical arguments

Tao- “way” of something, i.e. virtue

li- principles of propriety, traditional rituals

yi- sense of justice

ren- humaneness, love of others

not egalitarian, everything depends on your position in society.. sons owe more to their parents than vice-versa

values tradition over innovation, can be seen as paternal and rigid

Levinas

Focuses on “the other”

Ethics shouldn’t be based on logic or abstract principles, it should be based on your feedback from the other people around you and how they want to be treated

Gert

Morality should minimize evil, involves action and social relations with others

Simple rules: don’t kill, don’t cause pain, don’t disable, don’t deprive of freedom or pleasure, don’t lie or cheat, keep promises, don’t commit adultery and don’t steal

Focused on avoiding evil rather than pursuing good

Avoid evil, promote good, punish and prevent actions that go against the moral rules

Project samples

Guitar Vocabulary

Body- The main structural piece of a guitar, usually made of wood and hollow on an acoustic guitar. It contains the bridge, pickups, volume and tone controls, tremolo bar, and the sound hole of an acoustic guitar.
Headstock- the end piece connected to the neck that contains the tuning pegs and the ends of the strings
Neck- the long, narrow board that connects the headstock to the body where the fingers are placed to fret the guitar
Fretboard- another name for the front face of the neck that contains the frets
Fret- a metal ridge on the fretboard that the string vibrates against when the fingers are placed behind it
Strings- usually metal (sometimes nylon) strings that are plucked or strummed to produce sound. Guitars usually have six strings of variable thickness, with thicker strings producing lower sounds.
Tuning pegs- metal pegs that hold the end of the string to the headstock and are turned to create or reduce tension in the string in order to tune it
Nut- the ridge at the head end of the fretboard that the strings pass over to get to the tuning pegs
Bridge- a strip of wood, plastic or metal that holds the strings in place above the body of the guitar
Bridge pins- round-headed pins that hold the strings in place in the body of the guitar
Saddle- plastic or ivory bar that holds the strings in place above the bridge
Pickguard- a piece of plastic on the body underneath the strings to protect the guitar from being scratched by the pick

Pickups- electronic devices that detect the vibration of the strings and send the information to an amplifier, located on the body underneath the strings
Tone/volume knobs- on an electric guitar, the knobs that control the volume and tone located on the body
Note- a sound with a distinct pitch, usually produced by a single vibrating string on a guitar
Chord- many notes played at the same time, produced by a particular combination of fretted strings

Introduction to Stringing and Tuning

The standard guitar has six strings, though seven-string and twelve-string models exist as well. These strings are labeled from 1-6 starting with the highest-pitched string, or from bottom to top when the guitar is viewed from the front. Each string is tuned to a specific pitch, and different guitar “tunings” are different combinations of string pitches. The most common tuning is called “standard” tuning, which a vast majority of popular songs use. Tunings are often stated from lowest pitch to highest pitch (strings 6-1), so standard tuning is EADGBe. Other popular tunings include:
-“Drop D” in which the low E string is lowered to a D, making it DADGBe.
-“Open” tuning, in which the strings are tuned up so that a particular chord is formed when the strings are strummed openly. Open E and open G are popular open tunings.

Helpful tools for stringing and tuning include:
-Restringing tools, which combine a string cutter, bridge pin remover and tuning peg winder all in one. These tools are very helpful and combine everything you will need into one tool.
-Electronic tuners are the easiest way to tune your guitar. They pick up the sound from a vibrating string and will usually have an LCD screen display with a needle


How to String the Guitar

1. Beginning with the low E string, pull the bridge pin out of the bridge and place the end of the string down into the hole.
2. Place the bridge pin down into the hole with the notch in the bridge pin facing the headstock so that the string can pass through the notch. Press it in place.
3. Place the string through its proper slits in the saddle and the nut and pass it through the hole in the tuning peg. The string should pass to the inside of the peg’s vertical post.
4. Pull the string sharply counterclockwise around the post and hold it in place. Then begin turning the tuning peg counterclockwise, tightening the string and wrapping it around the post until it has wrapped around 3 times.
5. Gently stretch the string upward away from the fretboard to ensure that it is tightly in place.
6. Turn the tuning peg counterclockwise until it is in tune. (Refer to “How to Tune the Guitar” for help with tuning.)
7. Cut the excess off the end of the string near the tuning peg post, leaving about a centimeter of string passing through the posthole.
8. Repeat this process for the A string and D string.
9. For the G, B, and high E strings, the same procedure will be followed with some minor differences. The string will still pass to the inside of the post, meaning it will be wrapping clockwise around the post when viewed from above. The tuning pegs will be turned clockwise to tighten the string when viewed from the traditional playing position (same view as when tuning the low E, A, and D strings). Finally, since these strings are thinner they may be wrapped 5-6 times around the post of the tuning peg.

Harty- Reports and Other Long Documents part 2, p. 207-275

Harty- Reports and Other Long Documents, p 207-275

Olieu, Brusaw, and Alred- “Creating Visuals”

Plan your visuals while you plan your writing, not later

Make sure figures are easily readable, appropriately labeled

Tables are useful for displaying large numbers of specific, related data in a brief space

Typical table elements: table number, table title, boxhead, stub, body, rules, source line, footnotes, continuing tables

Quote the source of any tables you reprint underneath it

Graphs (charts) present numerical data in visual form, showing trends, movements, distributions, and cycles- though they are less accurate than tables

Line graphs show relationship between two or more sets of figures, often an amount over time

Bar graphs can compare same information at different periods of time, different periods of information at the same time, and parts that make up a whole

Pie graphs represent part-to-whole relationships, but the pieces may need to be individually labeled or else another table that shows specific data will be needed

Picture graphs (pictograms) use picture symbols to make a bar graph but are only approximations and somewhat informal

Dimensional column graphs can be difficult to interpret, simpler is better

Drawings are the best option for illustrating simple objects or tasks that don’t require photography. They should be clearly organized and appropriately labeled to avoid confusion

Flowcharts are overview diagrams that show stages of a process from beginning to end. They typically flow left-to-right and top-to-bottom with arrows showing direction of flow between the blocks, and the blocks should not be crowded together

Maps show specific geographic features or information according to geographic distribution. They should have clearly outlined borders, a distance scale, and directions should be indicated

Photographs show the surface of an object or an event over a period of time. When printing, color can be more expensive than black and white, so know which would be more appropriate

David Ewing- “Strategies of Persuasion”

Good writers vary their approaches in response to their readings of different situations

Helpful tips for designing a persuasive argument:

1. Consider whether your views will make problems for readers
Deliver bad news carefully with empathy and tact

2. Don’t offer new ideas, directives, or recommendations for change until your readers are prepared for them
The more suprising or upsetting your results are, the longer you should take preparing your readers for the news

3. Your credibility with readers affects your strategy
Given credibility- stems from job title or reputation
Acquired credibility- is earned by thoughts and facts in the written message

Citing sources that support your views, identifying your goals as being in line with the audience’s goals will lend credibility

4. If your audience disagrees with your ideas or is uncertain about them, present both sides of the argument
Two-sided arguments show objectivity, will not offend the audience

5. Win respect by making your opinion or recommendation clear
Be clear in your writing that your side is the right one

6. Put your strongest points last if the audience is very interested in the argument, first if it is not so interested
Primacy-recency argument

7. Don’t count on changing attitudes by offering information alone

8. “Testimonials” are most likely to be persuasive if drawn from people with whom readers associate

9. Be wary of using extreme or “sensational” claims and facts
Observable, believable, realistic statements carry the most weight, don’t arouse distrust or suspicion

10. Tailor your presentation to the reasons for readers’ attitudes, if you know them
Appeal to the audiences main feelings, prejudices, reasons for their beliefs

11. Never mention other people without considering their possible effect on the reader

Philip Kolin- “Proposals”

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL

1. Approach writing a proposal as a problem-solving activity
Your goal is to solve a problem that affects the reader

2. Regard your audience as skeptical readers
Try to examine your proposal from the reader’s point of view

3. Research your proposal carefully
Hard evidence will support your argument best

4. Prove that your plan is workable
Test it in advance when possible

5. Be sure that your proposal is financially realistic
Is it worth the money?

6. Package your proposal attractively
Make sure it is easy to read, inviting

INTERNAL PROPOSALS

Primary purpose is to offer a realistic, constructive plan to help your company run more effectively

You are usually offering to save your audience time, money, or further trouble

Keep the needs and likes of your audience in mind

Consider the implications of your plan for those around you

Internal proposals usually have 4 parts:

The Introduction- defines the problem, emphasizes your plan will solve it
Background of the problem- prove it exists, show that it affects the reader, avoid vague generalizations
The Solution/Plan- describe your plan, give factual evidence, explain how it can happen
The Conclusion- short, remind reader the problem is serious, reinforce benefits of your plan
SALES PROPOSALS

Exeternal, purpose is to sell your company’s products or services

Readers will judge your report based on how well it meets their needs and how well it compares to your competitors’ proposals

Demonstrate how your product or service is tailored to the customer’s needs

Parts of a sales proposal:

Introduction- prepare readers for what follows in the proposal, statement of purpose and background

Description of the proposed product or service- heart of the proposal, describe service in great detail and stress advantages

Timetable- specific dates of when work will begin, how long it will take

Costs- complete, accurate, convincing budget

Qualifications of your company- emphasize your accomplishments and expertise

Conclusion- stress benefits, a call to action

Richard Johnson-Sheehan- “Writing Proposals with Style”

Style involves using good words and setting the appropriate tone to appeal to the reader’s emotions and values. It illustrates clear-headedness, quality, and willingness to communicate with readers

Guideline 1: The subject should be what the sentence is about

Guideline 2: Make the “doer” the subject.

Guideline 3: State the action in the verb

Guideline 4: Put the subject early in the sentence

Guideline 5: Eliminate nominalizations – using a word as an awkward part of speech

Guideline 6: Avoid excessive prepositional phrases

Guideline7: Eliminate redundancy

Guideline 8: Make sentences “breathing length”
Write out what you mean, then revise using these rules to make your point easily understood

Elements of a paragraph:

Transition sentences make smooth transitions to new paragraphs- most paragraphs don’t need one

Topic sentences state the claim that the rest of the paragraph is going to support. They are the most important sentence and are placed up front

Support sentences use reasoning and evidence in the form of facts and data to support the topic

Point sentences restate the topic sentence at the end

Line up the subjects so each sentence in a paragraph stresses the same things

The given/new method involves placing given information early in the sentence and building new information on this anchor

Sometimes passive voice is useful because it forms the sentence around the intended subject and avoids irrelevant “doers” that may obscure the focus of the writing

Harty, p 167 -207 Reports and Other Long Documents

1. report writing is a dynamic situation, and the reader often is not the anticipated audience; therefore reports must be explained well and easy to understand for people from all knowledge bases

2. though writers tend to focus mostly on the body, the abstract is the most important part of the report

3. you have to take the reader's time constraints into account and realize that they might not fully read your report and scrutinize it

Formal reports – longer, more detailed, may require a cover letter
Informal reports- shorter, less complex format

Possible audiences for reports:
the layperson
the executive
the expert
the technician
the operator

Mathes and Stevenson- “Audience Analysis: The Problem and a Solution”

Writers are often preoccupied with their own problems and ignore their audience

Writers often make false assumptions about their situation, usually with regard to the audience’s level of knowledge of the subject and the report’s importance

Efficiency is almost more important than being completely thorough, the report must be able to be read quickly

Three types of audiences: horizontal, vertical, and external

Horizontal audiences are often assumed to pose few challenges, but they often share only educational level and rank within the company- their backgrounds and needs may be very different

External audiences can judge the entire organization by a report, and concerns for tact and business relationships can complicate things

Egocentric organization charts identify potential readers as individual people, not company positions and classify them as ‘near’ or ‘far’ from the reader in proximity rather than using the hierarchical relationship

Systematic characterization of people in EOC

Operational characteristics- what is the person’s role and what are his/her needs?
Objective characteristics- specific, relevant background data about the person
Personal characteristics- information unique to the person that may be important

Classify audience based on how they will use the report

Primary audience acts on basis of information in the report
Secondary audience is affected by these decisions and actions
Immediate audiences transmit the information the report contains

Richard Dodge- “What To Report”

Report summary should include what the report is about, the implications of the work, and the action called for by the report

The summary, introduction and conclusion are often read more closely than the body itself

Write a report at a technical level suitable for readers without your level of background knowledge

Managers should meet with report writers at four stages of the project:
At the beginning of the project
At the completion of the investigation
After the report is outlined
After the report is written

Christian Arnold- “The Writing of Abstracts”

The abstract forms the first impression and is read most often by all readers

Abstract helps technician decide whether he could read the report with profit (descriptive) and provides administrator with most of the relevant information he needs (informative)

Abstracts should be short, self-contained and easy to read

Vincent Vinci- “Ten Report Writing Pitfalls: How To Avoid Them”

Keep the audience in mind
Writing to impress can hinder communication
Clearly define the purpose of your report
Be consistent with mechanics
Eliminate excessive modifiers
Define the terms you use
Introduce the subject, purpose, scope, and plan of your report
Remove excessive information
Highlight important information
Revise your finished report

Project Proposal

Though various people are interested in learning to play the guitar, the inconvenience of setting up private lessons and the anxiety of learning in front of others can prevent potential learners from pursuing this dream. To fix this problem, I am designing a simple self-teaching guide for learning the fundamentals of guitar that anyone can enjoy at their own pace at any time. This guide will establish the basic skills of guitar and enable the user to then continue to learn on their own or to pursue private instruction with a newfound confidence and a lifelong hobby.

Many people are interested in learning to play the guitar and are probably familiar with learning strategies like taking lessons from a personal instructor. However, these people may not realize the disadvantages of starting out with personal instruction: lessons cost money and involve arranging your learning schedule around a teacher’s availability. In addition to this, most people will find that they are somewhat uncomfortable learning a complex skill in front of someone else and may struggle to keep up with their instructor’s expectations of progress. Therefore, the most ideal medium for learning the basic skills of guitar would provide users with clear and relevant information that they can enjoy at any time they please, all in the comfort of their own homes.

The idea of learning how to play guitar may seem appealing to many different people regardless of their depth of knowledge about music. This instrument is widely popular in many different types of music and can be played both individually and in cooperation with other musicians. Learning any new skill can be a fulfilling accomplishment, but the guitar provides a unique sense of satisfaction for anyone who enjoys music. The ability to produce and perform music is rewarding experience that will last a lifetime and will appeal to people of all ages and interests, and the guitar itself is the most popular and accessible form of musical self-expression.

The guitar is self-contained and requires little other than the instrument itself to be able to produce music. While the piano and drums are also popular instruments to take up, the guitar is more portable and can be played in a variety of environments and living spaces; in addition to this, it encompasses a much larger breadth of musical styles than other instruments and holds the most potential for individual expression. A person interested in taking up guitar can easily find a beginner’s model for a relatively cheap price, and the durability of the instrument makes a used guitar a good starting point. Finally, the guitar allows musical newcomers to forget their fear of music theory and confusing sheet music because guitarists have developed a simplified format of sheet music unique to the guitar called tablature. This notation actually represents how the hands are placed on the guitar rather than forcing the user to interpret this from sheet music, and as a result it greatly simplifies the learning process.

While the guitar has some attributes that make it easier to learn than other instruments, it can still be intimidating for someone who has no experience. In order to remedy the problems brought about by personal instruction, a more effective learning tool might be a personal guide that people can use on their own time at their own pace and in the comfort of their own home, free of the anxiety that comes with struggling to learn in front of others. A clear, concise guide that covers the essentials of guitar in a self-teaching format will allow users to gain knowledge along with the satisfaction of teaching themselves.

Potential users might be interested in learning how to play the guitar but unsure of exactly how to begin the process. The wealth of knowledge that is available about playing guitar and music in general can be overwhelming and even discouraging, so interested learners need someone to condense the relevant information into an easy-to-use, informative medium that establishes the basics before introducing more difficult topics. Many people would feel apprehensive about struggling to learn a new skill in front of others, yet they still need the guidance of a more experienced player to help them understand the fundamentals of guitar. This project will provide the audience with a personal guide that explains the relevant information in a clear manner and effectively demonstrates the techniques that will lead to becoming a successful guitarist. The tutorial will allow the audience to easily and comfortably become familiar with the basic skills of playing guitar in a user-friendly format that removes the discomfort of putting their inexperience on display for a personal instructor. Once users have mastered the skills introduced in this guide, their knowledge of basic music tablature and terms will allow them to continue to teach themselves beyond the scope of this project and their mastery of the essential skills will give them confidence to learn more from a personal teacher.

The format for this self-teaching guitar manual will be a logical progression of information and teaching. It will start with establishing the basic helpful information that users will need to understand, including the parts of a guitar, basic vocabulary, where you actually place your fingers to fret a string, and how notes are laid out on the neck of the guitar. This section will consist of clearly written text, labeled pictures, and diagrams that help the user visualize the concepts. The introductory information will also address maintenance of the instrument, including how to string a guitar and how to tune it. Most importantly, this section will introduce users to guitar tablature. Tabs are the written sheet music for guitar that are necessary for presenting where the fingers are placed on the guitar to play chords and individual notes. A tab is the easiest and most effective visual representation of how to play the notes and chords that make up songs, and learners must be able to read this simple diagram to learn how to play. Once users are familiar with these techniques, they are ready to begin learning the main issue of chords.

The text will briefly explain what a chord is, and diagrams of each basic chord will be provided with instructions for exactly where each finger goes. General major, minor, and power chord shapes will be introduced so that the user can learn the shape and then move it up and down the neck to form different bar chords. As users learn the few individual chords that are used to play almost every song, they will be introduced to popular chord progressions and will be shown how to transition between chords easily and fluidly. Tips about which fingers to keep in the same position between chords will be introduced so that the easiest and most efficient playing techniques will be learned.

Once users learn the basic chords, they can begin to play some songs and will find that almost all songs are simply three or four chords repeated in different orders. Examples of simple songs and their tabs will be provided, and practicing these will give the user experience in chord transitions and satisfaction that they are actually playing songs at this point. Next, songs with individual note-picking mixed in with chords will be introduced and the techniques for picking and strumming will be explained. At this point, the user will be able to attempt to learn simple renditions of almost any popular song if they are provided with the song’s tablature.

The next level of difficulty will be learning to play by finger picking, a fun technique that allows users to play more difficult songs with intricate picking patterns. Diagrams of which strings are covered by which fingers will be presented, and after completing this section the users will be very competent and confident guitarists ready to tackle any song. Finally, the user will be introduced to musical scales on guitar, or series of notes that are used in soloing. The guide will only give an introduction to the most popular solo scales and encourage users to learn more about this complex subject from more advanced resources.

As I am essentially a self-taught guitarist, I know what it feels like to be a beginner and I will do my best to address the problems that I came across in learning to play guitar. I have been playing for a few years now and have enough experience to teach the basics to a beginner and at least point them in the right direction for learning the more difficult subjects. To enhance the quality and credibility of the guide I will include tips from guitar experts and respected sources of information who can give a broader perspective for learning how to play the guitar.

I plan to work on the guide in a fairly straightforward manner, completing the lessons in the order that they will appear in the guide and starting with the most basic elements. An introduction to the parts of a guitar, the basic vocabulary and maintenance techniques will be complete by the end of September. Chord lessons and basic transitions should be complete by the first two weeks of October, and the textual pieces for learning songs should be complete by mid-October. Work on multimedia possibly in the form of videos and the presentation medium will begin in mid-October, and the entire project should be complete by early November.

Learning a new instrument can be a daunting task, but with the helpful organization of this beginner’s guide to guitar anyone can become experienced with the basic skills. Users will discover the wide variety of musical possibilities that can be reached using the guitar and will learn a lifelong hobby that will bring them enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. The personal, user-friendly nature of this tutorial will allow the audience to learn guitar fundamentals comfortably in their own homes and at their own pace from someone who was once in their situation, avoiding the potential discomfort of struggling to learn in front of others and allowing the users to feel self-trained at a fun skill.

Business and Technical Correspondence, Harty p. 115-167

-traditionally letters were to people outside the company and memos were to people within the company

-the ease with which an email is sent can cause some to become sloppy with their email etiquette

-letters can determine how the public views a company, should highlight the reader’s interests, not the writers

highlight the benefits of the reader

use of personal pronouns is good

avoid a negative tone, say ‘no’ nicely and encouragingly

best way to deliver bad news is actually in person

indirect and direct methods to saying ‘no’, both are courteous

memos are used to :
inform people of a problem or situation
assess responsibility and action for it
establish a file record of decisions and policies

memos can skip background info, formalities

memos should be clear, concise, direct, and easy to read

memo format- to and from line, subject, distribution, text, paragraphs, line spacing, underlines and capitals, numbers of pages, figures and table

Email- use active, concise, specific language plain language to communicate clearly and accurately

write with correct grammar, use gender neutral language, and use correct punctuation
active language is good

avoid colloquialisms and inflated language

Use short, simple, focused sentences

it is never wrong to use a comma after an introductory clause

dashes tend to highlight information, while parentheses tend to minimize it or play it down

Two hyphens can be used to make a dash

problem statements

1. many people are interested in learning to play guitar and might be familiar with some learning resources, such as taking lessons from a personal instructor. However, these people may not realize the disadvantages of starting out with personal instruction; lessons cost money and involve meeting with an instructor at a specific time that may not be convenient for the student. In addition to this, many people will find that they are somewhat uncomfortable learning a complex skill in front of someone else, and may struggle with meeting the expectations of a teacher. Therefore, the most ideal medium for learning the basic skills of guitar would provide users with clear, relevant information that they can enjoy at any time they wish in the comfort of their own homes.
2. Many people are interested in learning to play an instrument, and guitar is one the the most popular forms of musical self-expression available. Due to the overwhelming amount of information available, however, a potential student might be interested in finding a personal instructor to guide them through this process. while a personal instructor might be very helpful in the learning process, many people do not realize the drawbacks of personal instruction. Lessons will cost money and involve arranging their learning schedule around a teacher’s availability; in addition to this, many people will feel uncomfortable trying to learn a difficult skill in front of someone else and trying to keep up with their instructor’s expectations of progress. Therefore, these potential guitar students would benefit from a personal resource that has all the benefits of personal instruction without the problems of cost and schedule flexibility as well as the added fear of social embarrassment. This self-teaching guide will provide users with detailed instruction that they can enjoy in the comfort of their own home, anytime, and without an unwanted audience.

Proposal Rough Draft

The idea of learning how to play guitar may seem appealing to many different people regardless of their depth of knowledge about music. This instrument is widely popular in many different types of music and can be played both individually and in cooperation with other musicians. Learning any new skill can be a fulfilling accomplishment, but the guitar provides a unique sense of satisfaction for anyone who enjoys music. The ability to produce and perform music is rewarding experience that will last a lifetime and will appeal to people of all ages and interests, and the guitar itself is the most popular and accessible form of musical self-expression.

The guitar is self-contained and requires little other than the instrument itself to be able to produce music. While the piano and drums are also popular instruments to take up, the guitar is more portable and can be played in a variety of environments and living spaces; in addition to this, it encompasses a much larger breadth of musical styles than other instruments and holds the most potential for individual expression. A person interested in taking up guitar can easily find a beginner’s model for a relatively cheap price, and the durability of the instrument makes a used guitar a good starting point. Finally, the guitar allows a musical newcomer to forget their fear of music theory and confusing sheet music because guitarists have developed a simplified format of sheet music unique to the guitar called tablature. This notation actually represents how to place your hands on the guitar rather than forcing the user to interpret this from the musical notes, and as a result greatly simplifies the learning process.

While the guitar has some attributes that make it easier to learn than other instruments, it can still be intimidating for someone who has no experience. Learning from a personal teacher is the probably the easiest way to quickly master the guitar, but this brings about some problematic issues. Looking inexperienced and clumsy in front of others can be uncomfortable for some people, and finding an instructor means scheduling time to meet them and possibly having to pay for lessons. Therefore in order to learn the basic fundamentals of guitar, a more effective learning tool might be a personal guide that people can use on their own time at their own pace and in the comfort of their own home, free of the anxiety that comes with struggling to learn in front of others. A clear, concise guide that covers the essentials of guitar in a self-teaching format will allow users to gain knowledge along with the satisfaction of teaching themselves.

Potential users might be interested in learning how to play the guitar but unsure of exactly how to begin the process. The wealth of knowledge that is available about playing guitar and music in general can be overwhelming and even discouraging, so interested learners need someone to condense the relevant information into an easy-to-use, informative medium that establishes the basics before introducing more difficult topics. Many people would feel apprehensive about struggling to learn a new skill in front of others, yet they still need the guidance of a more experienced player to help them understand the fundamentals of guitar. This project will provide the audience with a personal guide that explains the relevant information in a clear manner and effectively demonstrates the techniques that will lead to becoming a successful guitarist. The tutorial will allow the audience to easily and comfortably become familiar with the basic skills of playing guitar in a user-friendly format that removes the discomfort of putting their inexperience on display for a personal instructor. Once users have mastered the skills introduced in this guide, their knowledge of basic music tablature and terms will allow them to continue to teach themselves beyond the scope of this project and their mastery of the essential skills will give them confidence to learn more from a personal teacher.

The format for this self-teaching guitar manual will be a logical progression of information and teaching. It will start with establishing the basic helpful information that users will need to understand, including the parts of a guitar, basic vocabulary, where you actually place your fingers to fret a string, and how notes are laid out on the neck of the guitar. This section will consist of clearly written text, labeled pictures, and diagrams that help the user visualize the concepts. The introductory information will also address maintenance of the instrument, including how to string a guitar and how to tune it. Most importantly, this section will introduce users to guitar tablature. Tabs are the written sheet music for guitar that are necessary for presenting where the fingers are placed on the guitar to play chords and individual notes. A tab is the easiest and most effective visual representation of how to play the notes and chords that make up songs, and learners must be able to read this simple diagram to learn how to play. Once users are familiar with these techniques, they are ready to begin learning the main issue of chords.

The text will briefly explain what a chord is, and diagrams of each basic chord will be provided with instructions for exactly where each finger goes. General major, minor, and power chord shapes will be introduced so that the user can learn the shape and then move it up and down the neck to form different bar chords. As users learn the few individual chords that are used to play almost every song, they will be introduced to popular chord progressions and will be shown how to transition between chords easily and fluidly. Tips about which fingers to keep in the same position between chords will be introduced so that the easiest and most efficient playing techniques will be learned.

Once users learn the basic chords, they can begin to play some songs and will find that almost all songs are simply three or four chords repeated in different orders. Examples of simple songs and their tabs will be provided, and practicing these will give the user practice in chord transitions and satisfaction that they are actually playing songs at this point. Next, songs with individual note-picking mixed in with chords will be introduced and the techniques for picking and strumming will be explained. At this point, the user will be able to attempt to learn simple renditions of almost any popular song if they are provided with the song’s tablature.

The next level of difficulty will be learning to play by finger picking, a fun technique that allows users to play more difficult songs with intricate picking patterns. Diagrams of which strings are covered by which fingers will be presented, and after completing this section the users will be very competent and confident guitarists ready to tackle any song. Finally, the user will be introduced to musical scales on guitar, or series of notes that are used in soloing. The guide will only give an introduction to the most popular solo scales and encourage users to learn more about this complex subject from more advanced resources.

As I am essentially a self-taught guitarist, I know what it feels like to be a beginner and I will do my best to address the problems that I came across in learning to play guitar. I have been playing for a few years now and have enough experience to teach the basics to a beginner and at least point them in the right direction for learning the more difficult subjects. To enhance the quality and credibility of the guide I will include tips from guitar experts and respected sources of information.

I plan to work on the guide in a fairly straightforward manner, completing the lessons in the order that they will appear in the guide and starting with the most basic elements. An introduction to the parts of a guitar, the basic vocabulary and maintenance techniques will be complete by the end of September. Chord lessons and basic transitions should be complete by the first two weeks of October, and the textual pieces for learning songs should be complete by mid-October. Work on multimedia possibly in the form of videos and the presentation medium will begin in mid-October, and the entire project should be complete by early November.

Learning a new instrument can be a daunting task, but with the helpful organization of this beginner’s guide to guitar anyone can become experienced with the basic skills. Users will discover the wide variety of musical possibilities that can be reached using the guitar and will learn a lifelong hobby that will bring them enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. The personal, user-friendly nature of this tutorial will allow the audience to learn guitar fundamentals comfortably in their own homes and at their own pace from someone who was once in their situation, avoiding the potential discomfort of struggling to learn in front of others and allowing the users to feel self-trained at a fun skill.