Advice

Future business writers:
This has been a very productive semester in business writing. We have done a lot of work and learned a lot of skills that will be useful once we graduate and go off into the business world. I have enjoyed this class and my project group, and I hope you will have as pleasant an experience as I have had this semester.
To give you some advice, I would like to advise you to stay on top of your work. There are a lot of small assignments that don't take long, but make sure you don't let them pile up or they can become overwhelming. Check the class Web site every week so that you don't miss any assignments and lose easy participation points off your grade. Be sure to choose a project group you enjoy, because that makes the work much more bearable and even fun at times. Come to class and participate and you are sure to succeed in business writing.
Good luck and have a great semester!

Ethics Research

Recently in class, we have discussed the significance, weight, and consequences of unethical business writing. Although we all grew up learning right from wrong and that it wasn't nice to lie, oftentimes people slip into such temptations as adults trying to survive in the business world. However, just because people feel like they need to lie to get ahead or be successful or avoid serious issues, the truth is always the best choice.
We have been doing research to find examples of ethical lapses in communication in the real world. My group chose to focus on the true story about which the movie "Erin Brockovich" is based. This story is about a California company that decided to illegally dump chemicals into ponds in Hinkley, California. It didn't seem to be a big deal at first, but after a few decades, the chemicals began to have negative effects on people. Many people and animals who lived in the vicinity of this company died, so people began to wonder if there was a connection to the company. After investigation, it was discovered that the chemicals being dumped into the pond were known to be cancer-causing. In efforts to cover up this incident, the company published and distributed flyers about the chemical, claiming that it was not harmless, but on the contrary, actually beneficial in small doses. These flyers, however, were misleading and inaccurate, both skewing and omitting important information. This situation turned into a huge lawsuit, due in part to the unethical, incorrect flyers and information provided, and it cost many lives as a result.

Ethical Lapses

This article was rather informative and enlightening about the issue of ethical lapses in the business world. The statistics related to these lapses in the workplace were much higher than I expected. I was surprised to discover the number of lapses business people claim to have encountered and the frequency of such lapses in the work world. I agreed with the words of Paul Robert, an associate director of some part of United Technologies Corporation, when he stated his belief that ethical lapses hurt the view and expectations people have of the business world in America. I also agreed with him when he commented that "questionable behavior by one employee can demotivate others, and an accumulation of small incidents detracts from productivity and job satisfaction." This is a very true statement. If employees observe their coworkers practicing bad or inappropriate behavior and getting away with it, they will probably be either frustrated by this and lose their motivation, or see the behavior that they, too, can get away with and lose their motivation. So it seems ethical lapses are an all-around negative situation for businesses that need to be addressed, or we will likely see further deterioration of the integrity of the corporate world.

Different Styles of Writing

Writing on the Web and writing on paper have both similar and contrasting features. In both of these forms of writing, brevity is important, especially in the business world. In today's busy world, it is necessary for writing to be concise. Writers must say everything they need to say as succinctly as possible. This is true for all business writing, whether on paper or on the Web. It is also important in all forms of writing for the writer to determine a purpose and audience. This helps focus the writer so that it will be concise and appropriate for whoever will read the writing. One contrast between Web writing and paper writing is that paper writing is generally more formal than Web writing. For example, it is acceptable for me to be somewhat more informal on this blog entry than it would be if I was writing a class paper on the same topic. If I was transferring a piece of writing from paper to the Web, I would want to make sure it was concise and make sure I cited the source from which I retrieved it. I would also want to make sure it was in PDF format (like Angie suggested for our portfolios) so that the document could not be modified or changed.

I left my heart in New Orleans...

Last week for spring break I had the opportunity to go down to New Orleans for a few days with nearly 400 other Clemson students from FCA to do various forms of mission work around the city. We departed from Clemson in the wee hours of Saturday morning and arrived in the Big Easy around 5:00 that night. Saturday night and Sunday found us exploring and experiencing the unique cuisine and abundant culture of the city. On Monday morning, my group of thirteen students set out for the New Orleans Mission, our work site for the week. When we arrived, we were given a list of projects that the mission needed done. The New Orleans Mission is a homeless shelter for the people of New Orleans. They house approximately 150 men each night and a smaller number of women and children. I learned that the homeless population of New Orleans, which was about 6,000 before Hurricane Katrina, is thought to have doubled or tripled since the storm, to a number between 12,000 and 18,000. The mission can only help a tiny percentage of those who are still without homes, but the impact they have in the community is making a difference nonetheless. We originally thought we were going to have direct contact with homeless people, but we ended up doing odd jobs around the shelter. We built cubicles so that social workers can come in to the mission and have a place to meet with the shelter's clients and help them find jobs. We built shelves in a linen closet, patched a hole in the wall of the new addition to the shelter, and organized their warehouse and clothing donations they have received to make things easier to find and access. Overall, we had a very productive week at the mission. We were all sad to see the week end and come back home, but it was a very good learning experience for us all. This was my third trip to New Orleans, and I have learned more and more with each visit. I hope to continue going down there to help out because, although a lot of progress has been made to rebuild, there is still a long way to go.

Article Reflection

This was an interesting article to read. I strive to be honest in all I do and say, so the idea of lying on a resume has not really occurred to me. The article made some valid points. I agree with its statement: "You jeopardize your future when you lie about your past." This makes perfect sense to me, because I have learned over the years, both from personal experience and the mistakes of others, that a lie cannot continue forever. The truth will eventually be discovered. So it seems to me that the best path to take is to be honest. Dishonesty is unfair to everyone. Lying may seem worth it temporarily, but the consequences to which it will lead are far worse than just telling the truth all along.

Presentation Reflection

Recently in class we spent time giving and listening to presentations on a wide variety of topics. Overall, the presentations were very interesting to hear. Our class members shared things about which they were interested and/or knowledgeable, which ranged across a broad spectrum. My personal favorite presentation was done by Michael Wade. He talked about Clemson football, and since he is a football player, he was able to tell our class a lot of interesting information that I did not know before he spoke. He talked about the team schedule during the "off-season," although there really isn't an off-season for football players. They always have practice or weight training or mat drills or meetings or something going on, even when they are not playing games on sunny Saturdays in the fall. I thought it was neat to hear about the football program from a inside perspective. Michael did a good job with his presentation. It taught me something new about something I enjoy.

Mock Interview Reflection

I had my mock interview on Wednesday morning. I thought it went fairly well, but there were definitely things I could improve with practice. I have not had many "real" formal interviews so I have not had very much experience. I was just a little bit nervous but not really because I knew it was not real. I didn't really know what to expect in the way of questions. I was "interviewing" for a teaching position at an elementary school in Greenville. I was asked questions about different aspects of education, No Child Left Behind, and why I would be a good or qualified teacher, among other things. Some of the questions were a little bit difficult because I am just now getting into my education classes since I am only a sophomore. I think because I have this class as a sophomore, I can begin to build on what I have already learned and what I will continue to learn in this class about the work world.

All You Need Is Love...

I think The Beatles got it right when they penned this bit of philosophical wisdom. This concept, the idea of love, is something that has lately been on my mind. If people lived by the Golden Rule and truly loved, the world would be a different place. I don't mean the superficial, constantly changing love that depends on the occurrence of particular variables. I'm talking about real, deep, genuine love that cannot be shaken. What if we decided to really live out of love? We would radically change the world. If people understood the bigger picture, the idea that we are all one, all brothers and sisters on this planet of ours, I think we could learn to see past our petty differences and selfishness and just love one another. My faith is very important to me, and this is a topic that we have lately been really been pondering and discussing within FCA. We believe that if we as Christians, as children of the one true God, a God of mercy and grace and love, were to live by the example of Jesus, this campus would be revolutionized. This is much easier said than done, however. It is our human nature to look out for ourselves first and foremost and then to consider others if we have time or money or desire. The list of excuses runs long, but if we really want to change the world with the love of Christ, we have to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and start to love people. And I mean we have to love people for who they are, not for what we can get from them or for who we think they can be. We have to love them as they are, right where they are, for who they are. And if this love is genuine, if it is real and steady and deep, we will be reflections of the Savior who we claim to follow. What a better example of faith than to live as the One who first loved us with a pure, unconditional love and love everyone as genuinely as we can? John 15: 12 sums it up when Jesus says, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." I for one, can't really argue with that. I think I'm going to give love a try.

Cover Letter Information

I have never written a cover letter so I did not know anything about them before reading these articles. There were several pieces of good advice in them that I will keep in mind when I write my cover letter. I think it is a good idea like the article "Sample Cover Letter" says to take the time to make the letter personal and specific to the strengths I have to offer and how they will benefit the company to which I am applying. I also liked the advice to be proactive in a job search. The articles said that companies will remember an applicant much more clearly if the applicant makes an effort to contact the company. I thought the idea in "The Postscript Technique" was odd; to add a note at the end seems slightly boastful to me, and not as effective as they claim, but I guess that is how you get what you want in the business world. I don't know that I would try that. I liked the advice to not use a cover letter as an excuse to sit back and be lazy, but instead to use it as directed marketing targeted at a specific audience. That seems much more effective than just making a very broad, general letter. Using a testimonial sounds like a good idea as well, if you can creatively work that into the body of the letter. The checklist will definitely be useful in the future when I am writing a cover letter. I think the majority of the information in these articles was helpful and I will most likely use it for my personal cover letter.

Response to Articles

As I read through several of the articles on the website given, I came across many interesting ideas and hints about the interview process. The two articles I chose to focus my blog on were "Four Questions to Ask a Potential Manager" and "How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions." These two articles addressed some of the things that I think I would be worried about at an interview.
Sometimes, when I am put on the spot with a tough question, I freeze and my mind goes blank and I cannot think of anything to say, or I do not give the best answer I could. The article about answering tough questions gave some good tips for that. It said to not be too specific when answering questions about your future but to answer very generally, referring to your personal values and broad professional goals. If asked about salary, the article suggested to first try to deflect the question by asking another question, such as the general salary for the job being sought. If the interviewer is persistent, the article suggests giving a range, but not backing down too much. This is one question for which it is very important to be prepared. I thought it was interesting that the article suggested practicing in front of a mirror and talking about your strengths and why you should be hired. This is a good idea because I personally would feel like I was boasting when answering this question, so practice would definitely be good. Lastly, when asked a seemingly silly question, the key is to not freeze but think quickly and rationally and then be able to reasonably why you picked what you did. I think these were all good tips to prepare for questions likely to come up during an interview.
The other article I read discussed some potential questions to ask the interviewer or potential manager. When I am in a situation and someone asks if I have questions, I usually say no because I cannot think of anything to ask. This article gave me an idea of questions that I could plan to ask ahead of time. Asking these would help me seem prepared and well-informed and sincerely interested in the position. The questions mentioned in this article would also help me to get a good idea of how my personality and goals and beliefs would mesh with those of my potential manager.
Reading these and other articles gave me some good insight into the interview process and provided several ideas for both questions and answers that will definitely benefit me when I interview for jobs in the future and when I do my mock interview for this class. I think I will be better prepared to both answer and ask questions that will help me be a better potential employee and hopefully get the job I want.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2010400,00.html#
article_continue

I think the link got cut off in my last post.

Persuasive Communication

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2010400,00.html#article_continue

With election season fast approaching, examples of persuasive communication are not hard to find. Many presidential candidates have visited Clemson's campus recently, and I went to see two of them speak. One of my roommates and I went to Mike Huckabee's rally when he came to Clemson. The week after that, I went with another one of my roommates to hear Barack Obama speak. Political opinions aside, I was much more impressed with Obama than I was with Huckabee. Obama's eloquence alone made him a much more appealing and persuasive speaker than Huckabee. He immediately connected with his audience because of his strong ethos. He told stories that really helped people feel like they had a connection with him. He made several arguments that boosted his ethos and his ideas just made sense, which appealed to logos. One example that sticks out in my mind is the story he told of how he went to work and live with the people in the slums of Chicago (I think) when he graduated. He came across as a humble and down-to-earth candidate who actually cared about people and not just about pushing his own agenda. Granted, I think it is a general truth that politicians say things to intentionally gain credibility with their audience (ethos), appeal to people's emotions (pathos), and come across as logical and reasonable (logos), but Obama did an excellent job of incorporating these three aspects into his talk. He even alluded to Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, arguably one of the very best examples of persuasive communication in history. King used many of the same tactics in his rhetoric to appeal to emotions and logic and gain credibility with the church officials to whom he was writing. His writing was passionate yet he wisely chose his words to be incredibly effective. We also had guest speakers in class last week who spoke on the art of persuasiveness. They themselves were not as persuasive as I expected them to be, especially since their jobs were to persuade people of the benefits of joining the Army. I did not find them very persuasive at all. They did several of the things they told us not to do, and they did not seem to try very hard to appeal to the ethos, pathos, and logos of their audience (our class). Overall, I was very impressed with both Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter and Obama's speech but not with the guest speakers we had in class.

Ten Years from Now

I like to think about the future. I enjoy thinking about how my life will be in the years to come, what will have changed and what will still be true about me.
Ten years from now, I will be approaching my thirtieth birthday. I hope that between now and then I will find an amazing man who shares my passions and who can love me as I will love him. I hope that I will be married and have started to create a life with my husband. I want to have children by the time I am thirty, probably two or three. I hope that we will have a happy, content family and be able to enjoy and appreciate each other. I want to make faith a priority in my family, because if we do not have our faith to hold us together, we have nothing to live for. I want to live somewhere in the southern part of the United States so I can be close to my family and my kids can know their grandparents and spend time with them. In addition to being close to my family, I really love the weather and the distinct seasons here.
Professionally, I do not know where I will be. I am currently studying elementary education, so it is possible that I will be in a second or third grade classroom teaching children every day. However, if my kids are young, I really hope that my family situation will allow me to be at home with them. I was never in daycare as a child, so I hope to raise my children the same way. I do not want to miss spending time with them and seeing them grow up because I am too busy helping other people's children grow up. If my kids are school-aged, I would like to go back to teaching because I enjoy being around kids and helping them discover a desire within them to learn. I just do not want my career to ever become more important to me than my family.
This is just a glimpse into my dream for the future. Even if my life does not happen exactly the way I have imagined it, I really just want to be happy and not take any day for granted.

Response to Video

This video is very interesting and brings up many good points about the Internet today. I think the title of the video wants to convey the message that the Web is constantly changing and that it has totally been reconfigured to be more flexible and and fitting to today's lifestyle. People who are entering the workforce during this time, the age of technology, really need to be competent in many areas of technology because it greatly transforming both the business world and the everyday world. The changing times may be harder for people who already have established careers in the workforce to accept because they do not want to have to relearn every aspect of the jobs they have already mastered. The way the Internet and technology are changing does mean that we as citizens in this highly advanced country will very likely have to rethink many things. This is an easier task for the younger generations to accomplish because they have grown up in a time where technology has been part of their lives. Older people really will have to rethink many things if they want to be able to thrive in this society that is becoming increasingly fast-paced and technologically driven. I do not think the "old way of life" will ever be completely replaced by technology but it is becoming less and less prevalent as time continues to pass.

Who I Am

My name is Larkin Shaw. I am a sophomore at Clemson majoring in elementary education.
My life is made up of a variety of activities and interests, but before I tell you about that, I want to mention the most important part of my life. Accepting the saving grace, forgiveness, and love of my Savior Jesus Christ was the most important decision I ever made. I became a Christian when I was seven, and my life has been a constant journey to become a better reflection of His love on this world ever since. I am human and I fail at that goal daily but I know I am covered by His grace and mercy. I would love to share more about this great love I have found to anyone who is curious because my Jesus wants you to know it too.
I am involved in various activities at Clemson. I am part of FCA here at Clemson. My roommate and I lead a Bible study of freshmen and sophomore girls. I am also involved in Central Spirit. We support our student athletes and try to promote all different types of athletic events to the students on campus.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading (although that doesn't happen much during the school year), running (I ran cross country in high school and I'm trying to get back into it), painting, and spending time hanging out with my roommates and friends. I also enjoy sports, especially playing and watching basketball and watching college football. Go Tigers!
My family is also very important to me. I am blessed to have parents who love me and love each other. I also have a younger brother who is seventeen and plays football for our high school team. I enjoy hanging out with him.
This is just a little about me. Get to know me to find out more!