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. Great Explications • Help readers visualize what you’re talking about. • Non-Metaphorical Examples • Metaphorical Examples • Q&A Formatted Answers • Illustrations

6. 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.

7. Conjunctions

8. 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 aren’t enough, bring out the caped commander.

9. Ideas for Examples • Fictional material • Aesop’s 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?

10. Writing Prompt • Write a metaphorical example to illustrate one or more of the following concepts: • Poor Managers… • Excellent Teachers… • Shy presenters…

11. Question & Answer

12. Q&A 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.

13. 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.

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

15. Right click on Image in Word INSERT -> REFERENCE -> CAPTION

16. 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, you’ve got two complete sentences separated only by a comma. Just add a conjunction like “and” to fix the problem.

17. 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…

18. Tone

19. 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.

20. 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?