Technical Writing 2013Technical Writing 2013► Unit #5Unit #5

This week…This week…►Letters, Memos & Emails ►Social Media & web 2.0 apps►Plain and Persuasive style

LETTERS, EMAILS, & LETTERS, EMAILS, & SOCIAL MEDIASOCIAL MEDIA

Basic overview of...Basic overview of...

Traditional vs. NewTraditional vs. New►Currently, workplace communication Currently, workplace communication

forms include the letter, the forms include the letter, the memorandum, and the email. memorandum, and the email.

►The word The word EmailEmail , a shortened version for , a shortened version for electronic electronic mail, is often used for both mail, is often used for both formal and informal communication. formal and informal communication.

►Many email clients (such as Gmail) blend Many email clients (such as Gmail) blend the formatting of traditional letters and the formatting of traditional letters and memos.memos.

Organizational PatternOrganizational Pattern► If written correctly, all three follow a If written correctly, all three follow a

similar organizational pattern of ...similar organizational pattern of ...

Social media & Web 2.0 appsSocial media & Web 2.0 apps►By contrast social media (web 2.0 By contrast social media (web 2.0

applications) can be either in long-form applications) can be either in long-form blog sites such as Wordpress, Blog.com blog sites such as Wordpress, Blog.com or Google Blogger or short-form or Google Blogger or short-form microblogging apps such as Facebook, microblogging apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Twitter, and Instagram.

►Web 2.0 applications blend capabilities Web 2.0 applications blend capabilities of text, audio, and video features such of text, audio, and video features such as Gchat and Skype.as Gchat and Skype.

Popular or Not PopularPopular or Not Popular►Social media has both benefits and Social media has both benefits and

drawbacks.drawbacks. Benefits include creating an ambient Benefits include creating an ambient

awareness and social presence amongst awareness and social presence amongst colleagues and acquaintances.colleagues and acquaintances.

Drawbacks include loss of privacy and Drawbacks include loss of privacy and potential surveillance.potential surveillance.

[Ambient] Awareness[Ambient] Awareness“A new form of peripheral social awareness....propagated from relatively constant contact with one's friends and colleagues via social networking platforms on the Internet” that gives users a “sort of omnipresent knowledge...that allow[s] a constant connection with one's social circle.”

Wikipedia contributors. "Ambient awareness." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 6 May. 2013. Web.

[Social] Presence[Social] Presence“A framework building block [social] presence represents the extent to which users can know if other users are accessible.” “It includes knowing where others are, in the virtual world and/or in the real world, and whether they are available.”

J.H. Kietzmann et al., Social media? Get serious! Understanding he functional building blocks of social media. (245).

Making sense of it allMaking sense of it all►Social media has allowed corporate Social media has allowed corporate

communication to be democratized. communication to be democratized. ►““The power has been taken from those The power has been taken from those

in marketing and public relations by in marketing and public relations by the individuals and communities that the individuals and communities that create, share, and consume blogs, create, share, and consume blogs, tweets, Facebook entries, movies, tweets, Facebook entries, movies, pictures” etc.pictures” etc.

J.H. Kietzmann et al., Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. (242).

Functional Building Blocks of Social Functional Building Blocks of Social MediaMedia

Figure 1: J.H. Kietzmann et al., Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. (243).

Real vs. Virtual worldsReal vs. Virtual worlds►Electronic communication provides a Electronic communication provides a

relatively quick method to disseminate relatively quick method to disseminate information either to one person or many. information either to one person or many.

►Now more than ever, it is important to Now more than ever, it is important to consider the image that you want to consider the image that you want to project in both the real and virtual worlds. project in both the real and virtual worlds.

► Image can be carefully crafted through Image can be carefully crafted through your use of both tone and style. your use of both tone and style.

Emotional colorEmotional color►Tone is an important aspect to written Tone is an important aspect to written

communication because the receiver communication because the receiver of the message does not have the of the message does not have the luxury of hearing you speak the words luxury of hearing you speak the words nor the ability to immediately ask nor the ability to immediately ask questions of clarification. questions of clarification.

Adjusting ToneAdjusting Tone►Your tone should sound professional Your tone should sound professional

but not bureaucratic. but not bureaucratic. ►When necessary, your tone should be When necessary, your tone should be

firm but never shrill or harsh. firm but never shrill or harsh. ►Avoid coarse language, slang or Avoid coarse language, slang or

euphemisms that would be unfamiliar euphemisms that would be unfamiliar or inappropriate to your audience. or inappropriate to your audience.

Plain StylePlain Style►Along with the tone of the letter, style Along with the tone of the letter, style

is also important. is also important. ►Business correspondence is typically Business correspondence is typically

written in a plain style. written in a plain style. Be clear and concise. Be clear and concise. Consider your audience when crafting the Consider your audience when crafting the

letter/email/memo. letter/email/memo.