-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
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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
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
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 13, 2008
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
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
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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.
Monday, October 6, 2008
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
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
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