Professional Secrets

1
Professional Secrets
2
Tell a Story
3
Stories
4
Writing Prompt

• Think of a story you can use to present on one of
  these topics
• Wearing seatbelts
• The importance of class participation
• Staying sober

5
Formula-Based Rules

1. State the rule or principle formally.
2. Supply the relevant mathematical formula.
3. State the rule or principle casually.
4. Provide an example showing rule in action.
5. Describe special cases or limitations of the
   formula.
6. Provide succession of examples using formula.

6
Great Explications

• Help readers visualize what youre talking about.
• Non-Metaphorical Examples
• Metaphorical Examples
• QA Formatted Answers
• Illustrations

7
Examples by Metaphor

• Always connect unfamiliar or new concepts to
  those already familiar to your audience.
• Search for metaphors that really illustrate the
  concept well.

8
Conjunctions
9
Text Example

• Concept
• Use a semicolon with items in a list that are
  already separated by commas.
• Non-metaphorical Example
• We visited New Orleans, Louisiana Austin, Texas
  and St. Cloud, Minnesota.
• Metaphorical Example
• Think of this type of semicolon as the
  Supercomma. When ordinary commas arent enough,
  bring out the caped commander.

10
Ideas for Examples

• Fictional material
• Aesops fables, popular stories, movies,
  religious, etc.)
• Concrete or Applied examples
• How can you apply this concept?
• Personal examples/Anecdotes
• How have you personally used or related to this
  info?
• Children/Animals
• Can a story about kids or pets illustrate the
  point?

11
Writing Prompt

• Write a metaphorical example to illustrate one or
  more of the following concepts
• Poor Managers
• Excellent Teachers
• Shy presenters

12
Question Answer
13
QA Example

• Why do I need to get my code from an adviser
  before registering for classes?
• Because your adviser is there to discuss your
  options and make sure you take the right classes
  you need in order to graduate.
• But what if I have no idea know what I want to
  major in?
• Your adviser can talk with you about possible
  careers, graduate education, or majoring in
  general studies.

14
Writing Prompt

• Write 3 questions and answers to help people
  understand one of the following concepts
• Preparing for a formal job interview.
• Preparing for an important final exam.

15
Illustrations

• Illustrations support text, not substitute for
  it.
• Provide caption.
• Keep labels consistent.
• Consider eye movement across page.

16
Right click on Image in Word INSERT -gt REFERENCE
-gt CAPTION
17
In Other Words

• Explain complicated concepts in different ways.
• A comma splice occurs when two independent
  clauses are joined with a comma without a
  coordinating conjunction.
• In other words, youve got two complete sentences
  separated only by a comma. Just add a conjunction
  like and to fix the problem.

18
Writing Prompt

• Add in other words to help break down one of
  these ideas
• When preparing for a formal job interview or a
  first date, dress for success. In other words
• Students who are tardy to more than three class
  sessions may be marked as absent by their
  instructors. In other words

19
Tone
20
Dearest Sweetheart

• Over the past few months, it has come to my
  attention that due to certain emotions I have
  been experiencing in your presence, I have become
  obliged to request your company for a romantic
  outing to the local cinema establishment and
  perhaps a hamburger afterwards.

21
Checklist

• Have you used enough examples?
• Are your examples appropriate?
• Did you explain difficult concepts in a variety
  of ways?
• Did you pick the right tone?
• Is your document varied, or just big clunks of
  text?