Reflection on Project Completion

Audience Questions

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

I take pride in the fact that I was able to come up with an original way to make the introduction to my paper entertaining. I did this by likening business presentations to court proceedings.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

I was stumped with how I would make my introduction anything more than perfunctory, but I worked it out with the solution detailed above.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

New project, new starts. It'll go as smoothly as it always goes.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

A little less confident than after Project One: I've always written essays, but with the QRG, I mastered a new program in Adobe InDesign by learning how to use graphics. There's less accomplishment here.

Editorial Report B

Audience Questions

• How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

I added an effective intro to my draft: Now I have a slightly entertaining parallel that might hook the audience.

• How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

The essay is now more conventional since I have (bothered to!) add a proper introduction.

Selection from Rough Cut

Most conducive to researching was my interview with Eller faculty Rich Boulger. Receiving his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan, Boulger boasts twenty-five years of experience as a partner at Accenture, a large-scale “mega” IT consulting firm. Currently, Professor Boulger is a lecturer for Business Communications, where he primarily instructs international students on the construction of business-related texts and media.

    Boulger emphasizes that clarity is paramount in personal text-based communication, further breaking down the medium into two core elements: the language used and the formatting. Making references to what is essentially equivalent to the context of a piece of writing, Boulger advises his students to be aware that their audience likely has dozens of papers crossing their desk every day. Citing a benchmark of a “thirty second rule”, writers have less than half a minute to hook their text’s intended audience before they move on to the next document.

Edited Selection

As with any outstanding investigation, an intrepid inquirer can learn most by starting at the source. Most conducive to researching was my interview with Eller faculty Rich Boulger. Receiving his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan, Boulger boasts twenty-five years of experience as a partner at Accenture, a large-scale “mega” IT consulting firm. Currently, Professor Boulger is a lecturer for Business Communications, where he primarily instructs international students on the construction of business-related texts and media.

    Boulger emphasizes that clarity is paramount in personal text-based communication, further breaking down the medium into two core elements: the language used and the formatting. Making references to what is essentially equivalent to the context of a piece of writing, Boulger advises his students to be aware that their audience likely has dozens of papers crossing their desk every day. Citing a benchmark of a “thirty second rule”, writers have less than half a minute to hook their text’s intended audience before they move on to the next document.

Editorial Report

Audience Questions

• How did the content change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the content is being communicated more effectively in the re-edited version?

When I edited my draft, I added a unifying parallel to the court case metaphor that I set up in the middle of my essay.

• How did the form change (even slightly - details matter!) when you re-edited it? Why do you think the form is presenting the content more effectively in the re-edited version?

Now I have a linking conclusion, which I had not yet written when I first wrote my draft.

Author Response

Make a short selection from the “Rough Cut” of your project. If it’s text-based, limit the selection to a page or less of content. It it’s audio or video-based, limit the selection to two minutes or less.

Selection from Rough Cut

Just as in the interpersonal text-based media, the text on the slides was brief and formatted for maximum clarity: it is expected that the presenter would be able to expand on the information discussed in this bulleted text. While the actual content of the presentation would likely be too esoteric for the layman to understand, it was well-tailored for an initiated audience.

Re-edited section

Just as in the interpersonal text-based media, the text on the slides was brief and formatted for maximum clarity: it is expected that the presenter would be able to expand on the information discussed in this bulleted text. While the actual content of the presentation would likely be too esoteric for the layman to understand, it was well-tailored for an initiated audience.

        Given the opportunity to conclude this investigation with any single takeaway, I would chose this one: succinctness is key. The business world moves quickly. You make decisions on the margin. There is no time to waste. Especially not on formalities. Focus on your primary goal: to inform. Stick to the facts. And in a career where an endless march of concise reports and brief presentation slides start to add up, to the point where fatigued eyes blend them all together: slow down, take advantage of formatting. Make your texts pop. Make them stick with your reader. I rest my case.

Peer Review for Nick Hernandez

For this exercise, I reviewed Nick Hernandez's essay, titled Genres of Finance

The peer review activity I chose was to make a copy-editing suggestion. In Nick's essay, I noticed a large amount of redundant, repetitive writing that did not add clarity to the piece, but rather served to add length. By suggesting that he cut out any information that had already been introduced or could be inferred, I believe his essay's purpose became more pointed.

One aspect of Nick's project that I appreciated was his straightforward presentation of his topic's conventions.

Peer Review for Leah Crowder

For this exercise, I reviewed Leah Crowder's essay, titled The Internet Age of Academia.

In Leah's case, I chose to make a content suggestion. I wanted to address the development of Leah's essay: I greatly enjoyed and admired the way Leah explained visual/interactive media such as the refugee simulation, as well as how she connected it to various appeals, but I felt as if this section of the paper was too lengthy. Additionally, the somber mood became weighty with its duration. I suggested that adding breaks of levity between various sections (Such as the email quip at the end of the essay.) would improve flow. Using the list of rhetorical devices we used in class helped to track the devices Leah used in her paper.

Open Post to Peer Reviewers

Read my essay here. It covers business communications.

Audience Question: What are you anticipating the post-production process to be like, based on what you accomplished during the production phase?

I expect that my post-production phase will be spent adding voice to my current draft: as is, it may come across as a dry read. I have the information I wish to share, I just need to make it an attractive sell.

Author Response

Explain, with some specificity, your thoughts and feelings about the following:

• Key information about your particular project that you would like anyone who peer reviews your draft to know

Currently, my draft lacks a conclusion and introduction: I will add those later.

• Major issues or weaknesses in the “Rough Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those weaknesses)

Any help on how to make my essay more interesting would be appreciated.

• Major virtues or strengths in the “Rough Cut” that you’re already aware of (as well as anything you’d like to know from your editors about those strengths)

I'd like to think that the writing of the essay itself is sound.

Production Report 8B

Outline Item

3.3.   The format

·                Take advantage of bolding

·                Succinct text, easily glanced at…

·                …But what is emphasized should make reader want to read more in depth

3.4.   Visually point out these traits in internship application at Microsoft by Mr. Nadim.

Adaptation of Outline Item

            Business writers can tool their documents to be more attractive by making them easy to read. Simple language and streamlined formatting is best for this purpose. “A writer’s purpose is to exchange thoughts, the goal is not to entertain or impress with your language” Boulger flatly states. This mindset stands in stark contrast to other genres, such as creative writing, and can be difficult for beginners in business to wrap their heads around. The words chosen for interpersonal text-based business communication should not be picked for self-congratulation. Boulger continues by saying that “more specifically, your goal is to tell, ask questions, or request something”.

            The above elements of effective business communication appeared in various interpersonal text-based mediums I examined. One text that was analyzed was an application for a Graduate Marketing Internship at the Intel Corporation. Written by University of Iowa graduate Nedim Barut, Barut pinpoints their audience in the header, specifically addressing the application to Patricia Murray, the Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources. Through the simple inclusion of the name of her application’s evaluator, Barut heightens their application’s appeal by making it appear personal to the reader.

            The first sentence of the e-mail reads that “this letter is to express [Barut’s] keen interest in Intel’s Graduate Marketing Internship.” Concise and defining the purpose of the communication in the opening line, Barut’s e-mail seems to fall in line with Professor Boulger’s call for clarity. Taking advantage of formatting by utilizing bullet points, Barut lists credibility-building characteristics in bold. Skills and experiences such as “consulting experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers” and “a comprehensive grasp of business processes” are among the qualities listed. Barut describes them in greater detail with small, unbolded paragraphs. 

Audience Questions

1. How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

As my project is a standardized college essay, I reproduced the important points along with connecting transitions here.

1. How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process?

While it was difficult to get motivated due to the seemingly large scope of my project, once I narrowed my focus and explored ideas my classmates were having, I was able to begin synthesizing my interviews and materials into textual analysis.

Production Report 8A

Outline Item

2.2.1. Visual

·                Logos component

·                “Direct and indirect methods” – Professor Boulger

Adaption of Outline Item

Professor Boulger likens the construction of a business presentation to the arc of a story plot: it consists of what actions were taken, what was discovered, and the conclusions drawn from the study. There are two major methods of presentation that can be utilized: the direct approach and the indirect approach.

Each approach is suited for different audiences, taking their mindsets and levels of resistance into account. The direct approach delivers the presentation’s conclusion first and then shows the evidence and studies that support its premise. The indirect approach is suited for skeptical audiences; Rather than first presenting a conclusion to what is possibly a guarded audience, instead the presenter builds the case before their very eyes, leading up to a conclusion.

Logical and ethical appeals are obviously at work here, with yet again, a lack of emphasis on emotional appeals. The indirect approach heavily favors logic building and connections, this employment of logos easing skeptics into the presentation’s conclusion. The direct approach may emphasize ethos just as much: a certain level of trust in the presenter’s credibility and trustworthiness must be established in order to sell a conclusion at the beginning of a report.

Audience Questions

1. How did you decide to use form to present your content in the raw material you’ve shared here? How did the conventions of your chosen genre influence your choices?

As my project is a standardized college essay, I reproduced the important points along with connecting transitions here.

1. How did the production of this raw material go? What kinds of any hiccups, challenges, successes, creative epiphanies, etc. occurred during the process?

While it was difficult to get motivated due to the seemingly large scope of my project, once I narrowed my focus and explored ideas my classmates were having, I was able to begin synthesizing my interviews and materials into textual analysis.

Reflection

Below I will document my reaction to the project thus far.

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

My interview with Richard Boulger was a huge success. In his position, he teaches business students how to communicate in the field, and is very accustomed to using a variety of genres. His consulting work at Accenture and the work process that went along with it was very illuminating, and will be a pillar of my project.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

My interview with Doctor Ota kept being postponed due to her being out of the office during our appointments. In the end I emailed her my questions.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

This will be an uphill struggle to finish by the time spring break begins. My main goal is to focus on materials I won't have access to at home: This means obtaining my audio and scanning relevant visual media so that I may organize it one my computer at home.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

Somewhat tepid. I must find a way to make this project engaging to myself so that my enthusiasm will radiate to my audience.

Production Schedule

Below I have developed a schedule of production for the next few days. The most important tasks include recording audio in a soundproofed room and using university scanners to digitally reproduce visuals for my video essay.

Link to schedule here.

Content Outline

The following post details the outline of my video essay for my rhetorical investigation in business.

1.      Opening segment:

1.1.   Humorous/Engaging hook (Allude/lampshade to constrictions of medium/genre of project)

1.2.   Introduction and explanation of project: “Here I will explain how professionals in business communicate information”, etc.

1.3.   Hit on each genre that will be covered

1.4.   Make analogy to the scientific method

2.      The traditional business presentation

2.1.   Exigence: Being tasked to come up with a solution/proof (Indirect/direct case building)

2.2.   Explain importance of visual and textual components

2.2.1. Visual

·                Logos component

·                “Direct and indirect methods” – Professor Boulger

2.2.2. Textual

·                Audience appeal

·                Not an essay, not a speech – Doctor Ota

2.3.   Mention that reports are usually done in teams, how teams work together

2.4.   Examples

3.      Written interpersonal communication

3.1.   Purpose: To inform, to request, NOT to entertain.

3.2.   Context: Realize your audience could be reading hundreds of documents per day…

3.3.   The format

·                Take advantage of bolding

·                Succinct text, easily glanced at…

·                …But what is emphasized should make reader want to read more in depth

3.4.   Visually point out these traits in internship application at Microsoft by Mr. Nadim.

4.      The business-related report

4.1.   Make parallels with how the purpose of this aligns with the presentation and written texts

·                You’re informing, you’re testing, finding a result a reporting it. Perhaps giving a solution.

4.2.   Walk through the research process via analogy to Patti Ota’s work on Commission on Minorities and Women, Sex Discrimination Law in Higher Education: The Lessons of the Past Decade

·                Return later to add a documentation of Dr. Ota’s specific research process

4.3.   Compare this with the testing parameters detailed in The Academy of Management Journal’s Reputation and Status: The Expanding Role of Social Evaluations in Management Reseach.

5.      Conclusion

5.1.   All the genres share a specific purpose, and are not concerned with impressing with scholarly language

5.2.   Informing is paramount.

5.3.   Hammer in how succinctness is the key to effective business communication.

Reflection on Production

• What were some of the successes (or, things that went right) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

I was easily able to synthesize my interview with Richard Boulger into content: playing off his guidelines and comparing them to examples in each section was a good direction, I believe.

• What were some of the challenges (or, things that went wrong) during this week’s process work? Explain, with evidence.

I changed the genre of my second project from a video essay to a standard college essay. I chose to do so because my plan for recording audio components at the KAMP student radio station fell apart due to the production booth assistant leaving early for Spring Break.

• How do you think next week will go, based on your experiences this week?

I'm planning to do a good amount of revising to make my essay more exciting to read.

• How are you feeling about the project overall at this point?

Slightly nervous: I feel like it won't be as good as my first project. Both the visual and writing were strong for Project 1, and now I must rely solely on stellar writing.