Module 25

Module 25 discusses using visuals.  In the module, the reasons for using visuals is listed.  These include seeing that ideas are presented completely, to find relationships, to make points vivid, to emphasize material, to present material more compactly and with less repetition, and to focus on information that decision makers need.  Visuals can help greatly with getting the exact point that you are trying to make across to your audience.  The module also discusses that using a title for your visual should explain a story, instead of just listing what you are looking at.  Instead of saying what the chart or graph is showing, you should say what it is explaining, as in an increase or decrease of some kind, or to display the type of difference or change that the graph shows.  The module explains how to find stories, and that would be through focusing on a topic, simplifying the data, as well as looking for relationships and changes between the data.  The module also explains the different types of visuals, those being tables, pie charts, bar charts, or line graphs.  Tables are used when the reader needs to be able to focus on relationships.  Pie charts are used when you are comparing a part to a whole, and bar charts and line graphs are used to compare one item to another item or items over time.  The module also talks about six key components of a graph, including a title that tells a story, a clear indication of what the data are, clearly labeled units, labels or legends identifying axes, colors, etc., the source of the data, as well as the source of the visual if it was taken from somewhere else. 

The most important thing that I learned from the module was about telling a story in the title of your visual.  It is a lot more eye catching when something extreme is said than just saying what the chart or graph shows.  When explaining to in depth, you can sometimes lose your audience's attention.  It is very important to keep their attention and using visuals is a great way to do so.

Module 20

Module 20 was on oral presentations.  There were three different types of oral presentations that were talked about.  The first being informational, which would be like a training session to teach the audience about something.  The second is persuasive, such as that of a business meeting where the audience is trying to be sold something.  The third is goodwill, which would be like an after dinner speech.  The speaker would be trying to make themselves look better to their audience, or to boost their audience's ego.  Before writing a speech for an oral presentation, you must figure out three things, those being the main point, the kind of presentation, and the ways to involve the audience.  The main point must be determined first so that the speaker will know what they are looking for.  The kind of presentation can be monologue (speaker only), guided (presenter and audience questions), and sales (presenter speaks to audience, but audience participates with questions).  The organization needs to be established as well, so that the audience can easily follow the format of the presentation.  there are five different types of formats that can be used, including chronological, problem-cause-solution, excluding alternatives, pro-con, and 1-2-3.  The module also discusses controlling fear, as well as using hand gestures, etc.

The most important thing that I learned from this module was about fear. It gave a lot of different suggestions on how to make fear go away, and how to not make it worse than it already is.  For example, it suggested not drinking any alcohol beforehand, as well as instead of saying that your nervous, saying that your adrenaline is up because adrenaline makes you more sharp and focused.

Modules 27 & 28

Modules 27 and 28 discussed resumes and job application letters.  The first thing that module 27 talks about is making your resume stand out from others so that the employer will be sure to look at it.  This means showing how your qualifications will fit the job that you are applying for.  Also, this module says to use jargon that fits the job that you are applying for, and to show how you positively improved things at jobs in the past.  Module 27 also talks about different types of resumes.  There are logival resumes, which summarize what you did in a timeline in reverse chronological order, or there are skills resumes, which emphasize skills you've used.  The module also gives plenty of good examples of the two different types of resumes that can be used, and also how they handle explaining jobs and skills from the past differently.  Module 27 talks about different parts of resumes and what they should consist of, such as the career objective section, the summary of qualifications section, education, honors and rewards, and references.  Module 28 talks about job application letters, and the different things that they should consist of.  There are also different types of letters that are explained in the module, including solicited letters, and prospecting letters, and how these differ in terms of the first paragraph, summary sentence, etc.  The module also talks about how showing knowledge about the company and also seperating yourself from other applicants are very important aspects of job application letters.  Using the right tone with positive emphasis and a you-attitude are explained in this module as well. 

One of the most importnat things that I have learned from these modules is about making yourself stand out from other applicants, as well as showing that you know about the company.  Since I am beginning the job search process for full-time employment, I feel that one of the most important things in an interview is knowing something about the company you are applying for, so it doesn't look like you just picked one at random.  This information will be very beneficial in getting the job after the interview.

Module 22

Module 22 is about finding, analyzing, and documenting information.  This module gives great tips on how to search for the information that you need first.  Using keywords is the first thing that the module lists.  This can cause the search to look for exactly what you are looking for, and lead you to other terms or information that can lead you to other search materials.  It is important to skim the resources that you may find to get the information you may need quickly to make sure that the resource is what you were looking for.  The module also talks about the difference between surveys, which are for large groups of people, and interviews, which are structured conversations between two people.  It is important to make questions clear and not vague or in a way that seems you are making assumptions about a person.  Closed questions are more for surveys, as they require a direct answer, that can be chosen from different options.  For an interview, it is important for open ended questions to be used, because you want to get a in depth answer from the person.  Module 22 also talks about the importance of sampling from a large population for any surveys.  It also talks about different types of samples, such as random, convenient, and judgement.  The book also goes in to great detail about the analyzing process of the data, and how it is very important to understand what you have found so that you can reproduce the data accurately. 

The most helpful thing that I have learned from this module is about the skimming of the information that you have found.  I usually skim to find important pieces of information, and this module helped to see that this is okay to do.

Module 21

Module 21 talks about proposals and progress reports.  The module talks about different types of reports, such as formal, informal, informational, analytical, and recommendation reports.  The book suggests that before writing any kind of report, you should plan and do all of your research first.  The proposal or progress report should start with a very good purpose statement, telling the person the organizational problem or conflict, the specific technical questions that must be answered to solve the problem, and also the rhetorical purpose the report is designed to achieve.  The module also talks about different typed of proposals, including sales proppsals, proposals for funding,  and figuring the budget and cost.  The module also talks about what should go in a progress report, and that they can do more than just report progress.  They can enhance your image, float trial balloons, and minimize potential problems.  Module 21 also explains that progress reports should be put in chronological order.  There are two different types of progress reports, including task progress reports, and recommendation progress reports. 

The most important thing that I learned from this module was about the purpose statement.  Just like in the business letters, it is the one chance for the writer to catch and keep the attention of the reader. 

Modules 17 & 18

Modules 17 and 18 were about listening working and writing in teams.  Module 17 give great advice about listening and what makes a good listener.  The first thing it lists is to pay attention.  A speaker can tell whether or not a listener is actively listening and getting what they should out of the message.  The second thing is to listen to the speaker generously.  That is, really get the message they are trying to convey, and spend time listening to them, and not planning what you are going to say in response.  Also, avoid making assumptions.  Any confusion should be cleared up after with questions.  The fourth part of being a good listener is to look at feelings and not just words.  It is important to pick up on emotional cues from the speaker, not just listen to the words they are speaking.  Working and writing in teams was the topic in module 18.  The steps that groups take to create a presentation are all listed at the beginning of the module.  These, in order, are orientation, where every one meets, formation, where they beging drafting and figuring out what to do, coordination, which is where the group works on the project, and must maintain friendliness, and formalization, which is when the group reaches a consensus.  The most important factor that goes into a succesful group, according to the book, is one that listens to criticism, and also comes to conclusions together.  The best way, also according to the book, to handle disagreements between group members is to address that there is actually a problem, and then to listen to what other people need to resolve the problem and make corrections.

The most important thing that I learned from these two modules is that taking a group project step by step is very important to the overall success of the group project.  Usually when doing something with a group, you jump right into the actual project without planning and listening to the ideas and concerns of other group members. 

Modules 15 & 16

Modules 15 and 16 talk about using the right words and revising sentences and paragraphs.  Module 15 explains how using the right words is very important for conveying the right message to your reader.  There are three different definitions at the beginning of the chapter: accurate words, which are the appropriate words, appropriate words, which convery the attitudes you want, and familiar words, which are easy to read and understand.  Making sure that all of these fit together is very important for giving the right message, and what you really mean to say.  The book also mentions denotation, which is the actual dictionary meaning of the word, and connotation, which is the emotional part of the word.  It is crucial that both parts match when using any words because if it does not make sense, the person will not get the message.  It is also important that any jargon that is used is understood by the reader, or they will not get the message that you are trying to convey either.  Module 16 talks about revising sentences and paragraphs.  The module gives different pieces of advice.  The first is to use active verbs most of the time.  This means use verbs at the beginning of sentences, instead of who the action what done by or for.  The second goes along with that to say that verbs should carry your sentences.  The third says to tighten your writing, as in the be less "wordy" and get straight to the point in sentences and paragraphs.  Also, it says to vary sentence lengths.  In paragraphs it says to let your reader know the point of the writing in the intro sentences, as well as to use transitions in the paragraphs and when going to a new one.

The most important thing I think that I learned in these modules was about using verbs before the person who did them or who they were done for.  This will make the reader think that the action was taken quickly and that it was actually done.