Writing is important to employers so they spend millions of dollars annually on writing instructions for employees.

Your ability to write well can significantly increase your success at work ie increase your promotability.
Communication expertise is important.

[1] POLITICAL PURPOSE As a student writing is for educational purposes As an employee writing is for practical purposes [1] Your information & ideas are needed in order for others to pursue their own practical goals [2] The different purposes greatly affect the kind of communication you need to produce.

[3] You need to develop skills at determining exactly what your readers need ie acquire expertise.

[2] ADDRESSES COMPLEX AUDIENCES At work you may have to create a single communication that addresses a wide variety of people who differ in many ways.

Need expertise to construct one communication that simultaneously satisfies an array of individuals. Each needs it with a different set of concerns & goals in mind. [3] ADDRESSSES INTERNATIONAL & MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES

[4] USES DISTINCTIVE TYPES OF COMMUNICATION Job related communication that arent usually prepared at school :Memos, fax, proposal Each has its own convention.

[5] EMPLOYS GRAPHICS & VISUAL DESIGN TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS

Some works [long documents] require a number of co workers. Some you work alone but need to consult co workers, boss or others. Sometimes you need to submit drafts for review by managers & others who have the power to demand changes. Some drafts go through many reviews & revision before final approval.

Deadlines must be met. It is better to be 80% complete than 100% late.

Every communication has social dimensions Work has a wide variety of relationships with the readers :- manager & subordinate customer & supplier co worker & co worker Some relationships are co operative & have goodwill while others could be Competitive as people strive for recognition, power, money etc.

All communication [ tone, style & overall approach ] should be attuned to these social & political considerations.

Each organisation has a style that reflects the way it perceives itself & presents itself to others ie formal, conservative, informal Innovative. Individual departments may have their own style. Understand it & employ it in your writing.

You must be sensitive to legal & ethical issues. Writing in the workplace depends on variables such as purpose, readers, convention & culture therefore it is important to think of the readers. Think of what the reader wants from you & how they will respond to your writing.

Effective Writing is usable & persuasive USABILITY refers to a communications ability to help its readers. Highly usable communication enables its readers to [1] locate [2] understand & [3] use the information to complete their task with minimum effort

A communications persuasiveness is its ability to influence its readers attitude & actions.

This is very important in proposal & report writing.

To write effectively you must keep your readers needs & goals feelings & situations preferences & responsibilities

foremost in mind throughout your work on each communication

[1] Help readers find key information quickly [a] put main points at the beginning [b] use headings, topic sentences , lists [3] eliminate irrelevant information [2] Use an easy to- read writing style [a] use active voice rather than passive [b] trim away unnecessary words.

[3] Highlight the points that your readers will find to be persuasive. [a] present persuasive information before less persuasive [b] use credible & compelling items to support your argument [c] show them how taking the action you advocate will enable them to achieve their goals

TALK WITH YOUR READERS