Portfolio Transmittal Memo
To: Instructor name From: Student Name Date: May 2, 1999 Subject: Evaluating the growth of my writer's tool kit Introduction
The purpose of this memo is to examine the various skills that have been acquired during the course of this semester. This semester’s work began by launching a needs analysis project for (Client name) Car-Rentals. Initially, I had come to the realization that (Client name) is in need of an improved agenda for workplace learning. Because of this, I began an evaluation of various approaches toward improving the training curriculum and promoting more workplace learning. Finally, appropriate recommendations for implementing an improved learning agenda based upon (Client name)' capabilities to use these recommendations has been established. This semester’s work has allowed me to suggest to Avis that the implementation of various methods for improving their current workplace learning agenda is indeed a viable and cost-efficient solution. With the accomplishing of this project, my writer’s tool kit has expanded dramatically in areas such as researching, analytical reasoning, and networking. Ultimately, the skills learned during this semester have culminated to form this portfolio, and the documents that follow exemplify my growth. Ways in which my writer’s tool kit has grown specifically from this course and my project are defined below.
Researching Tools
Researching skills have been essential in completing the projects of this semester. In order to understand the situation I was trying to better at Avis Car-Rentals, I had to research the problem of workplace learning on the national level. Doing so allowed me to use expert opinion in making my recommendations to Avis, which made my recommendations seem well thought of and highly credible. An annotated bibliography was created citing 10 sources that could be used for information on workplace learning, customer service, and employee satisfaction. These sources have proved to be invaluable to my project and the skills learned to aid in researching will prove to be invaluable to me in my career as a student. During the class, I was orientated to many resources previously unknown to me, including electronic journals and electronic libraries, as well as tips in creating Boolean searches. Because of this, I am confident my future researching processes will be more efficient, producing a higher quality of findings.
Analytical Reasoning
This semester’s work was dependent on the use of analytical reasoning. While researching expert opinion to use for the Avis Car-Rental project, I encountered numerous sources that could have been used one way or another in the project. Using analytical reasoning, I was able to narrow the scope of the project and incorporate only the sources that were precise enough to benefit the refined scope. Additionally, analytical reasoning played a major factor in the evaluating of data used to make appropriate recommendations for the project. At one point, critical thinking was paramount in creating surveys that specifically addressed the issues my project focused on, as well as ways to improve these issues. Without focusing on improving my critical thinking skills, many of the documents produced during this semester would have been diluted, or simply incomprehensible.
Networking
The ability to develop rapport with other members of the class has been essential in researching and fine-tuning many of the documents I created in this class. Early in the semester, classmates communicated via Oncourse exchanging idea and resources. Two of the sources used in my annotated bibliography were sources first found by a classmate. Not having established a communicative relationship with my classmate, my annotated bibliography would not have met the course requirements. In evaluating each other’s documents during periods of peer revision, I was able to effectively communicate idea that not only helped classmates’ documents, but also allowed me to rethink structures in my own documents. By speaking about writing my thinking about writing was greatly increased. In addition, this course gave me the opportunity to interview two professionals and use their information in creating my documents. I have learned that conducting an interview is an extremely helpful form of networking, as both professionals urged me to contact them again if there is anything they can help me with.
Learning Formats
Because professional writing is highly structured it was essential to learn the format for memos, business letters, reports, and APA bibliographies. The knowledge of these formats will benefit me greatly, allowing me to express myself through words more effectively. I am especially grateful to know the format for the business letter as this was used in thanking my two professionals for their help in providing me with information. I see myself using all of these formats to a greater extent as I enter into the professional world.
Conclusion
The purpose of this course was to broaden each student’s writer’s tool kit. My own writer’s tool kit has been broadened dramatically. I now feel that I have developed a set of marketable skills including but not limited to, the ability to effectively use traditional and electronic resources, the ability to network with peers and experts, the ability to problem solve and refine problem scopes, the ability to create surveys and analyze data, the ability to conduct and partake in an interview, and the ability to write in effective and appropriate manners using various types of formats. I will carry these new found tools with me in my writer’s tool kit wherever I am, whatever I am doing. These skills will benefit me all of my life. In this respect, IUPUI’s professional writing course has been successful, and the documents that follow are a representation of that success.
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