Below is a letter I was instructed to write to request some money for the event I'm planning. It's really sketchy, and I'm not sure it's exactly what my sponsor wanted. I'll find out when he gives me some input, and I will include the next draft on my blog. It's just the content of the letter, not in letter format.
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I am writing in regards to the International Innovation Grant: Increasing International Exposure and Collaborations for STEM Faculty and Students at West Virginia Schools.
The objective of the grant coincides with the objectives of WVNano to provide funding and research opportunities for students at West Virginia University, Marshall University, and West Virginia State College.
I am requesting $5,000 to be granted for the Multifunctional Nanomaterials International Symposium which will be held in April at Stonewall Resort in West Virginia. Overall, I would like to have 40-50 students from all over the state participate in the event. Currently, I have funding for half of them. The amount requested ($5,000) will help fund 20 students to participate in the symposium. Each student will cost $250 for the three days at the symposium.
This symposium will give students the opportunity to display their research to others on an international level. It will leave the faculty participants with a good impression of the work of West Virginia colleges in the world of science. Also, the event will contribute networking for students and faculty to interact, exchange ideas, and plan future collaborations with international scientists.
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I tried to use the direct method to conduct business in a professional manner. I have to get my message across as soon as possible, or there is a chance I will not get the end results I'm looking for - the money for student participation. I had to do some reading of what the grant includes and what the vision of the grant is. I wanted to keep the letter short in order not to lose my audience - grant committee members.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Maria's Learning
This is a response to Taking Stock #3 in Portfolio Keeping.
What kind of writer are you? When do you do your best work?
Mid-morning after a cup of coffee is the earliest I can concentrate to write. I usually do any writing after dinner hours since I’m out most of the day with classes and work. I work better in my room. I have a door to close and lock, so I can’t be bothered by my roommates. I have to have some noise in the background. I either put on the TV or some music just so I’m not in complete silence. For me, that’s more nerve-racking to be in a room where you can hear a pin drop. That’s possibly why I don’t do so well on in-class writing tests. I just can’t think when everyone else is silently thinking. I like to write a little bit and take a break, but with in-class writing tests, I can’t do that. It’s really relaxing to be able to listen to something other than my mind. I do my best work when I’m multi-tasking or have multiple projects on a to-do list.
I like to keep my style books near me for reference. Sometimes I have to write in my living room just to give my eyes a rest from the computer screen. I like to write with colorful pens (not red, though) to make the process seem bright, warm, and happy. I usually have a drink (root beer or vanilla cream soda) as a reward for completing a paragraph or finding the exact word I want to use. Sounds silly, but it keeps me motivated to do my best. These say that I like to give myself positive reinforcements to keep the writing process going. If I’m positive, I’m more confident about my writing and product.
What kind of writer are you? When do you do your best work?
Mid-morning after a cup of coffee is the earliest I can concentrate to write. I usually do any writing after dinner hours since I’m out most of the day with classes and work. I work better in my room. I have a door to close and lock, so I can’t be bothered by my roommates. I have to have some noise in the background. I either put on the TV or some music just so I’m not in complete silence. For me, that’s more nerve-racking to be in a room where you can hear a pin drop. That’s possibly why I don’t do so well on in-class writing tests. I just can’t think when everyone else is silently thinking. I like to write a little bit and take a break, but with in-class writing tests, I can’t do that. It’s really relaxing to be able to listen to something other than my mind. I do my best work when I’m multi-tasking or have multiple projects on a to-do list.
I like to keep my style books near me for reference. Sometimes I have to write in my living room just to give my eyes a rest from the computer screen. I like to write with colorful pens (not red, though) to make the process seem bright, warm, and happy. I usually have a drink (root beer or vanilla cream soda) as a reward for completing a paragraph or finding the exact word I want to use. Sounds silly, but it keeps me motivated to do my best. These say that I like to give myself positive reinforcements to keep the writing process going. If I’m positive, I’m more confident about my writing and product.
Page 9 Porfolio Keeping
I believe it’s important to show progress. Maturing as a writer and thinker shows my willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas and processes. One way to show this is to provide drafts with track changes and comments in my portfolio.
I think doing the portfolio shows persistence. Providing all the necessary papers with additional drafts and comments shows my willingness to complete a huge project like a portfolio. In order to show this in a different manner, I think writing a rhetorical analysis about a document will show my commitment to my work.
I would like to show my abilities as a designer of Web-based materials because we are living in a world where everything is electronic or Web-based. I don’t want to become outdated by not knowing how to producing Web-based documents or how to work the computer in a way that is expected of someone like me who grew up with the birth of the Information Superhighway.
I believe it is key to show variety. If I can produce a well-written business memo and turn around to produce an advertising pamphlet for a business, it shows my well-rounded knowledge of writing genres and their audiences’ needs.
I think each portfolio will show creativity through organization methods and personality traits in the writing. Each person has a different writing style, and I have more than one since I used to be a journalism major. I know what the press is looking for when they come to me for information, I know how to give handy and powerful quotes for their stories, but I also know how to conduct business writing to get my point across clearly and concisely. The subjects I choose will also display my individuality.
I would like to show independence; however, I find it difficult to see mistakes with my own writing or areas where it could be better or improved. This is something I feel every writer has problems with. I learned in my editing class that some of the best editors are not good writers and some of the best writers are not good editors. I feel I’m both, but when it comes to my own writing, I’m not a very good editor of my own work.
I think doing the portfolio shows persistence. Providing all the necessary papers with additional drafts and comments shows my willingness to complete a huge project like a portfolio. In order to show this in a different manner, I think writing a rhetorical analysis about a document will show my commitment to my work.
I would like to show my abilities as a designer of Web-based materials because we are living in a world where everything is electronic or Web-based. I don’t want to become outdated by not knowing how to producing Web-based documents or how to work the computer in a way that is expected of someone like me who grew up with the birth of the Information Superhighway.
I believe it is key to show variety. If I can produce a well-written business memo and turn around to produce an advertising pamphlet for a business, it shows my well-rounded knowledge of writing genres and their audiences’ needs.
I think each portfolio will show creativity through organization methods and personality traits in the writing. Each person has a different writing style, and I have more than one since I used to be a journalism major. I know what the press is looking for when they come to me for information, I know how to give handy and powerful quotes for their stories, but I also know how to conduct business writing to get my point across clearly and concisely. The subjects I choose will also display my individuality.
I would like to show independence; however, I find it difficult to see mistakes with my own writing or areas where it could be better or improved. This is something I feel every writer has problems with. I learned in my editing class that some of the best editors are not good writers and some of the best writers are not good editors. I feel I’m both, but when it comes to my own writing, I’m not a very good editor of my own work.
Pondering Portfolio Business
The following response is from Taking Stock #1 in Portfolio Keeping for English 305 (Technical Writing). Most of the response applies to overall professional writing.
With previous writing classes, portfolios were more or less the same idea. All my works with revisions were clumped into a three-ring binder with a reflective memo or letter regarding my performance in the class and my expectations of my grades. Until last semester, I deemed this concept as typical of what a portfolio is. The Business and Professional Writing course I took last semester changed my idea of what a portfolio is. It’s not just everything I completed; it’s the best works and most representative pieces of my personality and abilities, with my writing skills on display.
To me a portfolio is a professional scrapbook. Scrapbooks keep only the good memories. I will do my best in this course. My expectations are to maintain my grades to graduate with honors and have a presentable and impressive portfolio for graduate school as well as the workforce.
The assignments I expect to be easy for me are the ones I have previously completed or have some background knowledge regarding purposes and construction.
I don’t have the widest range of vocabulary or greatest spelling abilities, but I feel confident about my writing and reading skills if I have grasped the concept well enough. Working with international people has helped me catch English idioms in speech, and it has helped steer me away from creative, flowery language when it is not appropriate.
With previous writing classes, portfolios were more or less the same idea. All my works with revisions were clumped into a three-ring binder with a reflective memo or letter regarding my performance in the class and my expectations of my grades. Until last semester, I deemed this concept as typical of what a portfolio is. The Business and Professional Writing course I took last semester changed my idea of what a portfolio is. It’s not just everything I completed; it’s the best works and most representative pieces of my personality and abilities, with my writing skills on display.
To me a portfolio is a professional scrapbook. Scrapbooks keep only the good memories. I will do my best in this course. My expectations are to maintain my grades to graduate with honors and have a presentable and impressive portfolio for graduate school as well as the workforce.
The assignments I expect to be easy for me are the ones I have previously completed or have some background knowledge regarding purposes and construction.
I don’t have the widest range of vocabulary or greatest spelling abilities, but I feel confident about my writing and reading skills if I have grasped the concept well enough. Working with international people has helped me catch English idioms in speech, and it has helped steer me away from creative, flowery language when it is not appropriate.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Better Late Than Never
OK, so I know this is a little late, but here's the basic summary of what I'll be doing for my capstone.
I've been working in the Department of Physics under Dr. James Lewis since May 2007. He has this grant money specifically for hosting an international symposium here in West Virginia. As part of my capstone, I'm developing schedules, portfolios of curriculum vitas and abstracts, and other necessary documents for the event. Behind the scenes, I will be e-mailing the conference planners, group members, and participants daily. It's important for me to utilize my skills from English 304 (Business and Professional Writing) in the e-mails.
On top of that, I will edit any grant proposals for Dr. Lewis and maintain a website on his research group - The Lewis Group. The group consists of undergraduate researchers, graduate students seeking their doctorate, as well as post doctoral researchers. There is a large percentage of international people in the group. So as part of being an English major, I feel that communication with people whose native language is not English, will be an experience to build on. Any knowledge I have retained from English 221 (The English Language) will help me understand how non-English speakers develop our language and why sometimes it is difficult to understand them or vice versa. (In all honestly, I didn't think I would find any purpose for using what I learned in that class in real life.)
Of course English 302 (Editing) will be very useful in any writing or designing I do with the documents. I have practiced analyzing the audience, purpose, and message of documents, manuals, websites, even creation of all of these things. I know two major things about my audience: physics and other science related intellectuals and most of them are not from America. With this in mind, I must consider the word choice and design layouts of everything I do for the event itself. I have to watch for American-English idioms that might confuse or upset the participants.
Overall, this capstone will be fun. I get to be creative and use my previous classes to my advantage. Whoever asked "what do you do with a B.A. in English" never opened his eyes to the possibilities right in from of him. (P.S. Avenue Q is great, minus the opening line. Hint: It's directed at people like us.)
I've been working in the Department of Physics under Dr. James Lewis since May 2007. He has this grant money specifically for hosting an international symposium here in West Virginia. As part of my capstone, I'm developing schedules, portfolios of curriculum vitas and abstracts, and other necessary documents for the event. Behind the scenes, I will be e-mailing the conference planners, group members, and participants daily. It's important for me to utilize my skills from English 304 (Business and Professional Writing) in the e-mails.
On top of that, I will edit any grant proposals for Dr. Lewis and maintain a website on his research group - The Lewis Group. The group consists of undergraduate researchers, graduate students seeking their doctorate, as well as post doctoral researchers. There is a large percentage of international people in the group. So as part of being an English major, I feel that communication with people whose native language is not English, will be an experience to build on. Any knowledge I have retained from English 221 (The English Language) will help me understand how non-English speakers develop our language and why sometimes it is difficult to understand them or vice versa. (In all honestly, I didn't think I would find any purpose for using what I learned in that class in real life.)
Of course English 302 (Editing) will be very useful in any writing or designing I do with the documents. I have practiced analyzing the audience, purpose, and message of documents, manuals, websites, even creation of all of these things. I know two major things about my audience: physics and other science related intellectuals and most of them are not from America. With this in mind, I must consider the word choice and design layouts of everything I do for the event itself. I have to watch for American-English idioms that might confuse or upset the participants.
Overall, this capstone will be fun. I get to be creative and use my previous classes to my advantage. Whoever asked "what do you do with a B.A. in English" never opened his eyes to the possibilities right in from of him. (P.S. Avenue Q is great, minus the opening line. Hint: It's directed at people like us.)
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