The Writing Process

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The Writing Process

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Learning Objectives

• By the conclusion of this discussion, you should
• Understand the different components of the
  writing process.
• Be able to plan and compose an effective written
  communication.

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The Writing Process

• Planning
• Drafting
• Revising/Editing
• Formatting
• Proofreading

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Planning Communication Strategy

• What is Communication Strategy?
• Communicator
• Message
• Audience
• Channel choice
• Cultural context

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Communicator Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• What are your objectives?
• General, action, communication
• What communication style do you choose?
• Tell/sell
• Consult/join
• What is your credibility?
• Initial, acquired

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Audience Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• Who are they?
• What do they know?
• What do they feel?
• How can you motivate them?

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Message Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• How can you emphasize?
• Direct approach
• Indirect approach

Most
Direct
Audience Remembers
Indirect
Least
Beginning
End
Message
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Channel Choice Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• Ask the questions
• Should my communication be formal or not?
• Do I need an immediate response?
• Do I need audience participation?
• How rich should my communication be?
• What is the cultural expectation?
• Choose channel email, face-to-face, formal
  policy, voicemail, video conference, group
  meeting, formal speech, fax, etc.

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Culture Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• Rethink your communication strategy in terms of
  culture
• Cultural values
• Language of time
• Social behavior

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Losing Something in the Translation
American English The Electrolux is the
strongest vacuum available. British
English Nothing sucks like an
Electrolux. English Got milk? Spanish A
re you lactating? English Come alive with
Pepsi. Thai Bring your ancestors back from
the dead with Pepsi. English Im just
tickled to death to be here, Russian Scratch
me until I die.
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Cultural Strategy
Planning Communication Strategy

• Maintain formality
• Show respect
• Communicate clearly
• Value diversity
• Pay attention to all forms of diversity
• Age, gender, religion, education,
  socio-economics, disability, etc.

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Content
Planning Content

• Organize your thoughts
• Traditional outline
• Mind map
• Sideways idea chart
• Pyramid-shaped chart
• Index cards/sticky notes

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Organizing Guidelines
Planning Content

• Each top-level idea summarizes
• All same-level branches are equivalent
• Same-level branches are limited in number
• 5-7 main points

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Drafting
Drafting

• Begin composing the preliminary version of a
  message
• Compose in any order
• Avoid editing
• Draft on the computer
• Print draft and put it aside

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Drafting
Drafting
O
A
B
C
Opening
Agenda
Body
Conclusion
Insert example link to word document
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Revising/Editing and Formatting
Revising/Editing/Formatting

• Content/strategic issues
• Macro issues
• high skim value
• Signposts/transitions
• Paragraphs and sections
• Micro issues
• Brevity
• Style
• Correctness

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Proofreading
Proofreading

• Be Perfect!!! It is your reputation that is at
  stake.
• Content
• Typographical errors
• Word errors
• Format errors

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If 99.9 accuracy is acceptable to you, then
Every hour

• 18,300 pieces of mail will be mishandled.
• 22,000 checks will be credited to the wrong bank
  accounts.
• 72,000 phone calls will be misplaced by
  telecommunications services.

Every day

• 12 newborn babies will be given to the wrong
  parents.
• 107 incorrect medical procedures will be
  performed.

Every year

• 2.5 million books will be shipped with the wrong
  cover.
• 20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions will be
  written.

And 315 entries in Websters Third New
International Dictionary of the English Language
will be misspelled.
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Word wise
Student Bloopers
Finally, the colonists won the war and no longer
had to pay for taxis. I hadnt read the chapter
and was afraid the teacher would embrace me when
he called on me. My girlfriend liked the smell
of my new colon. Next, break the eggs into two
bowels. This book was so exciting that I
couldnt finish it until I put it down.
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Conclusion

• The writing process contains five steps
• Planning
• Drafting (OABC)
• Revising/Editing
• Formatting
• Proofreading
• All steps are needed in order to ensure your
  writing objectives are met.