Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Section I The writing process 3
Chapter 1 You can write anything 5
Chapter 2 Finding your process 7
Understand Your Purpose 7
Understand Your Reader 9
Brainstorm Your Content 11
Organize 14
Draft 16
Revise 17
Speed and the Spinner 21
Section II E-Writing and the technology revolution 23
Chapter 3 Choose your weapon 25
To Write or Not to Write 25
If You Write 27
What about the Future? 30
Chapter 4 The process of e-writing 32
Is Your Purpose Clear to You and Your Reader? 33
Is Your Message Tailored to Your Reader? 34
Revise, Revise, Revise 35
Make It a Habit 43
Section III The entries 45
Writing in your personal life 45
The Basics 47
Announcement 47
Invitation 56
Congratulations 65
Thank-You Note 70
Apology 78
Holiday Family Newsletter 83
Love Letter 87
Fan Letter 91
Personal Journal 94
Get-Well Note 96
Obituary 101
Condolence Letter 105
Eulogy 112
Weddings and Births 117
Engagement Announcement 117
Wedding Invitation 120
Wedding Toast 129
Wedding Vows 131
Wedding Announcement 135
Wedding Congratulations 135
Wedding Thank-You 136
Birth Announcement 141
Baby Shower Invitation 144
Baby Gift Thank-You 145
Personal Business 149
Complaint 149
Letter to a Neighbor 156
Letter about Jury Duty 161
Letter to Fight a Parking Ticket 164
Note to Your Child's Teacher 168
Note on the Windshield 172
Note to Recover Lost Property 174
Classified Ad and Online Auction Listing 176
Receipt 180
Community Life 183
Editorial 183
Letter to the Editor 187
Fund-raising Letter 190
Appeal for Volunteers 194
Instructions 198
Note to a House Sitter, Babysitter, or Pet Sitter 198
Recipe 203
Social Media 210
Personal Blog 210
Online Review 213
Facebook Status Update 218
Twitter 219
Writing at school 223
The Basics 225
Note Taking 225
Outline 229
Summary 237
Annotated Bibliography 240
Research Paper 243
Presentation 254
Exam Essay Question 257
Core Writing Assignments 261
Personal Essay 266
Process Description Essay 273
Compare and Contrast Essay 277
Argumentative Essay 282
Interpretive Essay 292
Writing in the Sciences and Social Sciences 300
Science Project Logbook or journal 300
Lab Report 304
Literature Review 309
History Essay 312
Writing in the Arts 322
Art Review 322
Performance Review 327
Book Review 332
Other Forms of Academic Writing 337
College or Scholarship Application Essay 337
Request for Recommendation 347
E-mail to Teacher or Professor 351
Academic Rèsumè 356
Recruiting Letter 361
Athletic Rèsumè/Athletic Profile
Internship Letter 370
School Newspaper 373
Writing at work 379
The Basics 381
Business E-mail 381
Request/Inquiry 386
Instant Message 389
Business Letter 391
Memo 394
Business Apology 397
Business Bio 403
Speech 408
PowerPoint Presentation 412
Questionnaire 418
Message of Introduction 423
Message of Commendation 425
Letter of Recommendation 428
Agenda 432
Business Meeting Announcement 435
Minutes 437
The Job Search and Human Resources 442
Job Description 442
Job Advertisement 446
Cover Letter for Résumé 449
Resume 454
Interview Follow-Up 464
Job Candidate Rejection Letter 468
Job Offer Letter 471
Letter Accepting a job Offer 476
Letter Declining a job Offer 478
Letter Withdrawing from the Job Search 481
Performance Review 483
Resignation Letter 490
Termination Letter 494
Promotion and Public Relations 498
Brochure 498
Newsletter Article 504
Press Release 507
Testimonial 511
Website Copy 515
Business Blog 520
Facebook Status Update 524
Twitter 529
Reports 533
Basic Report Format 533
Transmittal 535
Executive Summary 537
Incident Report 539
Sales and Billing 542
Sales Letter 542
Sales Proposals 548
Invoice 552
Collection Letters 556
Acknowledgments 561
About the author 563
Contributors 564
Index 573