Writing a Critique

Objectives
Students will be able to
a) summarize the most important ideas from the assigned article.
b) identify the required elements of a summary.

I. Now that you have read the article Would Soda Taxes really Yield Health Benefits, it's time to work on summarizing the most important ideas presented in the article.

1. Choose a partner to work with and try to answer the following questions without looking at the article:

a) What is the article about?
b) What is the author(s)' main argument?
c) What evidence do the authors use to support this argument?

2. Based on what you discussed with your partner, write a summary of the article. Again, do not look at the article; write based on what your remember from your reading.

3. Now that you have a short summary, go back to the article and check on the information you have forgotten or were confused about.

4. Finally, we'll go through the Do's and Dont's of a summary together. Check your work and make corrections as needed.

The Dos of Summary Writing

• the first sentence contains the title, the name of the author and sometimes, background information about the author and/or source.
•  A summary should begin with a thesis statement (usually one sentence)that sums up the main point of the source.
• A summary should include the main ideas of the text and one or more examples to illustrate the author's points.
• It should be written in your OWN words. 

The Don'ts of Summary Writing

• The summary should not include your own ideas or opinions of the text.
• It should NOT summarize minor details.

Sources
Original ideas and format for this class were taken and adapted from Stacy's Defibaugh's Lesson on Summary Writing and Introduction to Critique. Retrieved from:  
http://esl505n2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/summary-writing-and-critique.html

Negotiation (Cont.)

Objectives:
Students will be able to
a) reflect on the importance of learning about one's own and others' personality traits.  
b) Understand the characteristics of effective negotiators.
c) Become aware of the "win-win" attitude necessary for successful negotiation.
d) Use diplomatic language to perform various negotiation functions.  
 
I. Personality (cont.)
Website/Personalities

 II. Negotiation
ppp
*Characteristics of Effective Negotiators
*Negotiation Strategies 
*Language functions/Vocabulary
*Practice Negotiation in a business context  
 

Reflection:
1. What did you learn from today’s activity, from planning to negotiation?
2. What are some difficulties you encountered during the planning stage as well as the negotiating stage?
3. What would you do differently when it is time for your “real” employment negotiation?

Negotiation

Objectives:
Students will be able to
a) review and finish memo before turning it in.
b) finish the personality test.
c) review important principles involved in negotiation: Characteristics of effective negotiators, the win-win attitude, diplomatic language, etc.

I. Memo
Check this memo sent by Phyllis Wise, VicePresident of UIUC.
What elements do you see in this memo that reminds you of what we have discussed in class? What's new about it?
Dateline for turning in Memo is Saturday, October 27, 2012, midnight.

II. Our next assignment is Writing a CRITIQUE. To start preparing for this you need to read this article for next class. It is very important to do so since you need to write a summary of the main ideas and discuss the ideas presented. Please come prepared for next class.

III.  Personality Test (cont.)
authors' personality
PPP 
survey
images
text
Color/personality characteristics
website

 Applying to the business world.
In the business world, work is often done in groups. Ask students which colors will complement each other and which will clash. For example, Gold and Orange may have trouble working together; Golds are well organized and good at planning while Oranges are quite impulsive and risk taking. Present the color clash or coordinate slide. Discuss what you should do when you work with people who possess different characteristics.

• color clash or coordinate slide.

IV. Negotiation
1. Think back about your negotiation experience (personal life, professional life-asking for a raise, buying a house, a car, renting an apartment). What is your personal strategy to get what you want. Share with a partner.

2.  Can you give a definition of "negotiation"?
Definition: Negotiation is the process through which two or more people decide what each will get in an exchange.
Purpose: We negotiate to satisfy our interests.The art of negotiating involves finding a balance between achieving the best possible result, while at the same time establishing a mutually beneficial working relationship with your counterpart.
article.


3. Characteristics of effective negotiators
PPP

article
characteristics

Working with Different Personalities in the Business World

Objectives:
Students will be able to
1. peer review their memos.
2. learn about giving and receiving feedback in the workplace.
3. experience a personality test.

I. Mini-Presentation:  Giving and Receiving Feedback in the Workplace

II. Peer Review - Memo
Use rubric here.

III. Personality Test (day 1)
Today we will be doing the color personality test. This experience will help you know more about yourself and others. There are three steps to this test:
1. First, students will rank images that best describe them.
2. Second, they will rank the text that is closest to their character.
3. Students will fill out a survey.

Sources:
Adapted from Min-Kyung Kim, and HeeJeoung Jeong ESL 505 summer 2010

Memo Writing (3)

Objectives:
Students will be able to
a. finish the first draft of their memos in class.
b. use what they learn about tone to revise their memo in that area.
c. use the rubric provided to revise their memo.

I. Please finish your memo. [15 min]
   If you already have, please use the rubric provided to start revising this first draft.

II. Revise your first draft. Use the rubric provided. [15 min]

II. A lesson on TONE
Tone in writing is not really any different than the tone of your voice. You know that sometimes it is not “what” you say, but “how” you say it.

Ask students to say this phrase using the different tones of voice indicated in parenthesis:

It’s a beautiful day.     (happy)

It’s a beautiful day.     (exciting)

It’s a beautiful day.     (serious)

It’s a beautiful day.     (sad)

It’s a beautiful day.     (sarcastic)

What determines tone?  a. vocabulary      b. sentence structure     
                                              c. level of formality

Tone: What is it? Why is it important?

  PPP

Take a look at this memorandum. Discuss with a partner:

a. What's the problem?

b. What kind of reaction this memorandum will trigger in the readers. 

c. How would you improve it. 

Here is an improved copy.

Cultural Preferences: Culture may have a role to play in the tone that is used for memoranda. While some cultures prefer a conversational, more reader-friendly tone, other cultures opt for a more business-like, formal approach, and yet others would prefer the authoritarian tone of "I'm the boss, you do as I say."  Discuss the following:

a. What is the tone generally used in memos in the company, or companies, you have worked for in your country?  Do you now if it is different from the tone used in memos in American companies?

b) Have you ever felt angry, disappointed, or intimidated by a memo you received?  

c) Have you ever had to write a memo you didn't feel comfortable sending because of what it said?

Recomendations for U.S. business environments

PPP

Revise your memo for tone. 

Homework:  Write a second draft of your memo and have it ready for next class. We will do peer review next class.

Sources:

Ahmed, S. Course Overview. UIUC ESL TA Writing Resources.

Britt Roebuck, D. Improving Business Communication Skills. 4^th ed. P. 484.

Author Stream. Writing Business Messages (PPP). Retrieved from http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest31215-270698-PPT68-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/

George Mason University. The Writing Center. Adapted from the following SOM 301 materials:

Scott, N. (2010, Spring). Business Writing Basics, SOM 301.

Owl Writing Lab. Tone in Business Writing. Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/652/1/

Memo Writing (2)-Workshop

Objectives
Students will be able to
1. analyze the purpose and audience for their memo.
2. Write the first draft of their memos.

You have the choice of writing this memo individually or in pairs. Please, review all the materials we discussed last class (especially the article on business casual dress code) and go over the resources below before you start writing your memo.

Goal: By the end of the class, you should be able to present a rough first draft of you memo.

Resources:
For audience analysis, purpose, establishing common ground, and you orientation:

here

Source

http://www.educationplanner.org/education_planner/deciding_article.asp?sponsor=2859&articleName=Admissions_and_Acceptance_Letters

“Establishing common ground” and “You orientation” materials were adapted from Young-Kyung Min in ESL 505 TA Archives 
 Article on new dress code policy:

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/aug2007/bs20070828_027119.htm

Writing a Memo (1)

Objectives: Students will be able to

• identify the structure and requirements of memo.
• identify different types and purposes of memos.
• analyze a sample memo in terms of its purpose, intended audience, content, and format.   

I. Prompt and article for Assignment # 2 here
    The rubric here

II. Writing a Memo
 video on how to write a memo

Here are some tips when writing memoranda:

• Write short but specific subject lines that accurately describe the content of the memo. For example, "Tips to Use the New E-mail System" is better subject line than the too vague, "Recommendations" or "E-mail System."
•  It is desirable to break information into smaller rather than larger paragraphs; aim for paragraphs 3-6 sentences long.   
• More sample memos 

III. Types of Memos 
handout

IV. Parts of a Memo
handout

Sources
This class is an adaptation of Young-Kyung Min and Jin Kim's lesson plan Memo 1 ESL 505 TA Resources. 
UpWrite Press (2009, March 9). The Key Forms of Business Writing: Basic Memo [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Zyn9y_MDs
Sample Memos, types of memo, parts of memo were adapted from ESL 505 TA Resources Archives