Workplace Communications : The Basics

by Searles, George J.

• ISBN13: 9780205828098
• ISBN10: 0205828094
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-11-03
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Workplace Communicationsis the first brief, less theory-intensive text that focuses on the fundamentals of workplace communication specifically intended for applied writing courses in community colleges and similar settings. Written in a conversational style and featuring a clean, uncluttered page layout,Workplace Communicationsis designed to be accessible. The high quantity of examples, illustrations, and exercises emphasize practical applications to ensure the text is user-friendly. Workplace Communicationsis an ideal text to bridge business communication and technical communication courses.

Author Biography

George J. Searles is a Professor of Arts & Humanities at Mohawk Valley Community College, specializing in journalism, business/technical writing, contemporary poetry, and Latin. He has also taught at Green Haven State Prison, Binghamton University (where he earned his Ph.D.), New York Institute of Technology, St. Elizabeth’s College of Nursing, Utica College of Syracuse University, and SUNY College of Technology, and on the graduate level for New School University. Currently he is an adjunct instructor of creative writing at Pratt Institute’s upstate campus at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica. He has served on the governing boards of both the Modern Language Association and the North East Modern Language Association, presenting scholarly papers at the annual conventions of those and other such professional organizations. In addition, he has served as a communications consultant to many corporate clients and social services agencies, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation. Along with numerous articles, reviews, and poems in a broad range of popular and academic periodicals, he has published three volumes of literary criticism from university presses and five editions of Workplace Communications: The Basics, a Pearson textbook used on over 200 campuses here and abroad. The recipient of two SUNY Chancellor’s medals for excellence, he was named the Carnegie Foundation’s “New York State Professor of the Year” in 2002, and the New York State United Teachers’ “Higher Education Member of the Year” in 2003.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

 

Chapter 1 The Keys to Successful Communication: Purpose, Audience, and Tone

Purpose

Audience

Tone

Exercises

 

Chapter 2 Memos and E-mail

Memos

E-mail

Exercises

    Checklist: Evaluating a Memo or E-mail

 

Chapter 3 Business Letters

Letters

    Format

    Checklist: Evaluating a Letter

Exercises

 

Chapter 4 Effective Visuals: Tables, Graphs, Charts, and Illustrations

Principles of Effective Visuals

Tables

Graphs

    Line Graphs

    Bar Graphs

Charts

    Flowcharts

    Organizational Charts

    Gantt Charts

    Circle Charts

Illustrations

    Photographs

    Drawings

    Diagrams

    Checklist: Evaluating a Visual

Exercises

 

Chapter 5 Short Reports: Page Design, Formats, and Types

Page Design

Report Formats: Memo, Letter, and Booklet

Types of Reports

    Incident Report

    Progress Report

    Recommendation Report

    Travel Report

Exercises

    Checklist: Evaluating a Memo Report

    Checklist: Evaluating a Letter Report

    Checklist: Evaluating a Booklet Report

 

Chapter 6 Summaries

Types of Summaries: Descriptive, Informative, and Evaluative

    Summarizing Print Sources

    Summarizing Nonprint Sources

    Checklist: Evaluating a Summary

Exercises

 

Chapter 7 Fliers, Brochures, and Newsletters

Fliers

    Checklist: Evaluating a Flier

Brochures

    Checklist: Evaluating a Brochure

Newsletters

    Checklist: Evaluating a Newsletter

Exercises

 

Chapter 8 Instructions and Procedure Description

Instructions

Procedure Description

     Avoiding Liability

    Checklist: Evaluating Instructions and Procedure Description

Exercises

 

Chapter 9 Job Application Process: Letter, Résumé, Interview, and Follow-Up

Application Letter

Résumé

    Traditional Résumé

    Scannable Résumé

Interview

Follow-up

    Checklist: Evaluating an Application Letter, Résumé, and Follow-Up

Exercises

 

Chapter 10 Oral Presentations: Preparation and Delivery

Preparation

    Preliminaries

    Rehearsal

Delivery

    Introductions and Conclusions

    Vocal Factors

    Physical Factors

    Eye Contact

    Presentation Aids

    Enthusiasm

    Checklist: Evaluating a Public Speaker

Exercises

 

Chapter 11 Proposals

Solicited Proposals

Unsolicited Proposals

Internal and External Proposals

Formats of Proposals

Objectives of Proposals

    Checklist: Evaluating Proposal

Exercises

 

Chapter 12 Long Reports: Format, Collaboration, and Documentation

Format

    Transmittal Document

    Title Page

    Abstract

    Table of Contents

    List of Illustrations

    Glossary

    Text

    Visuals

    Pagination

Collaboration

Documentation

    Bibliography

    Parenthetical Citations

    Checklist: Evaluating a Long Report

Exercises

 

Appendix A: Ten Strategies to Improve Style

Appendix B: Review of Mechanics: Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar

 

Index