Ch. 17 Creativity and Visual Design mind map

Ch. 17 Creativity and Visual Design summary

Visual design is the process of generating and structuring messages using drawings, photos, and other graphics. Visual designs can be used effectively in oral presentations, training sessions, web pages, reports, and proposals. Before choosing a visual channel, consider all the information you want to share with your audience. There are several elements to consider when developing a visual message, such as contrast, balance, rhythm, and unity. The grid approach organizes the placement of visual elements on a page within a graphic design. Contrast is the varied level of difference and emphasis among symbols, shapes, colors, and tones. Balance is symmetry; rhythm refers to the positioning of the elements that allows the viewer’s eyes to gaze at certain aspects of the design before others. Unity is the use of visual elements that belong together or are similar. Infographics are graphic images that are informational or explanatory. When designing infographics it is important to determine the size, visibility, and the placement of your visual elements. Quantitive and qualitive are two examples of infographics. Quantitive infographics use numerical or statistical information in condensed visual formats such as tables, charts, and graphs. Qualitive infographics present text or narrative information in visual formats including flow charts, maps, and diagrams. I do have some experience in creating charts and graphs, and it will be of great use when I complete some of the other assignments do.

Ch. 16 Interviewing to Get the Job mind map

Ch. 16 Interviewing to Get the Job summary

An employment interview is the interpersonal communication between a potential employer and a job applicant. Employment interviews often make people nervous, anxious, and intimidated. Preparing for an interview and practicing role playing can make a big difference. One-on-one interviews occur when a single company hiring representative conducts the interview with you alone. Panel interviews occur when various people including managers, supervisors, and colleagues interview you at once. Behavioral interviews rely on actual performance or situation-based questioning and require specific examples of past performances. During an employment interview, there are goals the interviewer will have and there are goals you should have. The interviewer’s goals include gathering information to assess a match between your qualifications and the requirements for the position. They also evaluate your personality, attitude, disposition, and team skills. Your goals are to provide positive and relevant professional and skill-based experience, behave in a polite and professional manner, and determine whether the position will be enjoyable and rewarding. Prior to the interview it is wise to research information on the company. Gather information including the number of employees, company products and services, location of the home office and other branch offices, mission statements, company goals and philosophy. In preparation for the interview you should dress in professional attire, arrive early, and be polite to the receptionists and anyone else in the waiting room. Also bring at least two copies of your resume. Interview question styles include closed questions, open-ended questions, hypothetical questions, loaded questions, and behavioral-based questions. Questions that you will be asked will be based on your professional experiences, teamwork and leadership abilities, weakness and job hopping questions. Always give positive answers and explanations. Follow up with employers by writing thank you letters or placing phone calls. Salary and benefits should be discussed after you are offered the position, and finally when you are offered the position, make sure you get the offer in writing. I have been too many interviews in the past, some went well and some didn’t. The most important thing I learned from those interviews was to come prepared.

Ch. 15 Creating a Career and Designing Resumes mind map

Ch. 15 Creating a Career and Designing Resumes summary

Choosing a career path is one of life’s most important decisions. Before choosing a path you need to take into consideration your needs, skills, qualifications, and values. There are several ways to gain insight about the job market and find a field that interests you; such as visit a campus career center or placement office, searching job listing websites online, networking with professionals in fields that interest you, volunteering, becoming an intern or taking a part time job in the field. Once you have found a position that interests you, you can start assessing your most marketable skills. You can consider you oral and written communication skills; you’re interpersonal interactions, problem solving skills, management and supervision experience, leadership experience and computer literacy. After compiling a list of your skill you can then compare it to the requirements of the position you are interested in. If your skills don’t match, consider pursuing another position. A resume is a written marketing tool that briefly summarizes your skills, abilities, education history and professional experience. The primary purpose of a resume is to get you an interview with a potential employer. Employers will use your resumes to assess your overall professionalism and neatness. A quality resume is neat, well constructed, and error free. Your resume format will depend on your career goals and relevant experience. Some resume formats include chronological, functional, targeted, and integrated formats. In the past I used a combination of chronological and targeted resumes to apply for positions that appealed to me and that I had relevant experience in. A scannable resume is formatted in plain text for electronic scanning systems. A resume should include an identification, your education history, accomplishments, capabilities and professional experience. A cover letter is a brief and persuasive application document that accompanies your resume. Once you have designed a great resume you can begin job hunting. Creating a sold resume is very important, especially in these times when there is so much competition out there. In my past resumes I did use bullets and bold writing which apparently is something you shouldn’t do according to the author. I will redesign my resume following the guidelines of this chapter.

Journal entry for week of 04/23/2009

This chapter was pretty straight forward. I forgot to post and email it last night that is why im doing it now. I hope I get to class on time.

Ch. 14 the Business of Change and Conflict mind map

Ch. 14 the Business of Change and Conflict

Since the 1980’s, change has been a constant in American businesses. As time goes on customer interests and needs change. Due to the rapid changes in information technology, communication, and social cultures, businesses must change to stay competitive and with the times. Change occurs when an organization begins to transform the way work is accomplished-which means a breakdown of business as usual. Some examples of changes are, the introduction of new products, a changed in the way things are manufactured, new added services, or a change in policies and procedures. The CEO of the company along with a hand-picked selection of managers usually initiate the change within the organization. Though the orders for change come from the top, it is the middle level managers and employees that perform the procedural changes. Change makers are people who facilitate the coordination of a change effort. They plan, experiment, communicate, and coach others throughout the process. Besides trying to stay competitive, organizations have to change for other reasons to, such as corporate mergers and acquisitions, changing consumer demands, globalization, technology, government regulations and policies, and change of management. Sometimes it could be a crisis like diminishing market sales, or legislative actions that motivate an organization to implement change. However, change can also be implemented without an immediate crisis. Change often brings out insecurities and fear in employees. A high level of distress is experienced when employees perceive a communication vacuum. A communication vacuum occurs when employees perceive a void in which they are not given adequate information about what is happening in the organization. From personal experience closed door meetings between the higher ups are a bit nerve racking sometimes. Whenever there is a closed door meeting or things are being discussed in a hush hush manner, I along with three other employees take turns eves dropping sometimes. We all listen collect bits and pieces of the meetings or conversations, when we put the information together we figure out the topic of discussion. All most all of the time it has nothing to do with us but it does liven up our day. Companies sometimes send vague messages to the employees about change being imminent, but they often neglect to communicate clearly why the change is urgent and what it will mean for the employees. This results in rumors on the company grapevine, anxiety, and even resistance. Resistance occurs when employees when employees do nothing to enact the expected changes or actively resist and undermine the change effort. Fear, interruption of routine, loss of faith, trust, and personal investment, and feelings that past efforts are meaningless are some factors that lead to resistance. Fear and resistance can be reduced through productive change communication. Trouble can start when change makers ignore the importance of change communication and still expect employees to buy-in. An employee buy-in is acceptance of, and agreement to change. Change communication consists of multidirectional and multimedia communication. Multidirectional communication is the design of messages that can reach all employees throughout the organization. Multimedia communication is the use of many channels to transmit a message. Face-to-face dialogue during open meetings is the most effective channel for change communication. Employees can ask questions, exchange ideas, and make suggestions. In order for organizations to have their employees buy-in they must provide reasons detailing the purposes of the changes with and the advantages. Information about competitors, customers, and the consequences of not implementing change should also be provided. Timing is also important when delivering the message. Change could also occur when there is conflict in the workplace. Conflict is an event expressed through communication when individuals or groups behave in ways that indicate they have incompatible positions or goals. Not too long ago, a former co-worker of mine gradually became incompatible with the rest of us. After several failed attempts by our superior to resolve the conflict and for ask for an improvement in work related behavior from the employee, she was eventually fired. Disputants are the different parties involved in the conflict. An intragroup conflict is a problem that occurs within a single group of people. An intergroup conflict is a problem that arises between two or more groups. A position is a definitive goal or demand advanced by one or both parties that underscores an attitude or disposition. There are four main types of conflicts, communication conflicts, social view conflicts, fundamental interest conflicts, and business conflicts. Conflict communication skills include the listen and learn technique, verbal diplomacy, and flexible interpersonal style. Traditional conflict strategies are tailored to achieve a lasting resolution; they include positional bargaining, mediation, conflict management, and arbitration. Transformative communication is a dialogue process that puts emphasis on the parties’ interests and emotions, reframing conflict and the corresponding terms and concepts, and building relationships between parties to achieve conflict conversation. In the last six months my place of work has gone through several changes. Just as it was stated in this chapter the higher ups made the decisions and initiated the changes and we the employees were expected to buy-in. One thing we did not experience was a communication vacuum. Our superior kept us updated from what changes would be happening, the timing of the changes, and asked us for our suggestions and input, because of these reasons we the employees felt comfortable with the changes and did not resist the change.

Journal for week of 04/16/2009

I don't have much to say today other than I wish the school would kindly post a summer schedule already. I enjoyed doing the chapter, at first I was dreading it, but once I got started I was okay.

Ch. 13 Interpersonal and Collaborative Messages mind map

Ch. 13 Interpersonal and Collaborative Messages summary

Humans are social creatures, we spend 80% to 90% of our time interacting with others, and because of this reason interaction is the center of our personal and professional existence, states the author. Interpersonal communication is defined as verbal, nonverbal, and listening interaction between at least two people engaged in co-creation of a relationship. When two individuals interact, they send and receive verbal and nonverbal messages at the same time. Verbal messages convey content, and nonverbal messages imply status and emotional clues. A relationship is a dynamic system of interaction coordinated through communication between two or more people. Relationships are established through interpersonal interaction. Communication and relationships are interlaced. Communicators do affect on another through verbal and nonverbal behaviors, relationships do change due to the fact that people sometimes change. Business relationships are important because a positive relationship with co-workers, clients, and vendors could lead to increased productivity, better purchase and delivery of services, and greater customer satisfaction. Two types of relationships are, complementary relationships, and symmetrical relationships. A complementary relationship occurs when communicators engage in contrasting behavior in which one person controls and the other person relinquishes control. One person does most of the talking and the other person listens. A symmetrical relationship occurs when the communicators mirror each other’s behavior. Sometimes symmetrical relationships could degenerate into power struggles when the individuals compete for control. Relationships can be redesigned through the communicators engaging in dialogue about the unsettling aspects of the relationship, they can negotiate new rules and structure, changing the context, and changing reaction patterns. There are rules for business relationships. Communication rules are cultural because they are associated with norms that determine what behaviors are acceptable and which are not. The cultural rules for business groups are subdivided into three categories; interactive rules consist of participating in group discussions, taking turns in conversation, and not interrupting speakers. Standard rules relate to general conduct, such as punctuality and performance of required tasks. Role-related rules are connected to a given position or role. Broken rules may be overlooked sometimes or they may bring about negative responses. Nonverbal communication refers to body movements or vocal variations that communicate without words. This type of communication can happen continuously, it can happen unintentionally, and it is often more reliable than verbal communication. The author lists six types of nonverbal behavior. Kinesic behavior refers to body movements we use to communicate. Eye behavior refers to eye movements that communicate emotions, facilitate and regulate conversation, and monitor reactions. Paralanguage behavior involves vocal sounds other than words. Chronemics is the study of how people use and perceive time, proxemics is the study of how people use space and distance, and haptics involves touching behaviors. There are differences between the way men and women communicate nonverbally, such as women make eye contact more during conversations but they break contact earlier then men do. Men also use more gestures than women do, and women tend to have a tense posture while men usually have a relaxed one. A small group is composed of two or more interdependent people who are aware of their group membership and who communicate and accomplish common goals. In business groups and teams are need for a variety of purposes, such as planning, organizing, negotiating, and problem solving. The four C’s of effective small groups are, commitment, cohesion, collaboration, and conflict modification strategies. Agendas are guidelines for discussion topics and time frames for goal accomplishment during meetings. In a small group meeting, the leader is in charge of managing the collaborative process during meetings by creating agendas that include open dialogue and member participation. I work for a medical office with three doctors on staff, two sleep study technicians, four administrative assistants including me, a biller, and a manager. It is important for the staff to maintain a positive relationship because we are a small group of people. There are times when positive interpersonal communication failed and we got on each other’s nerves, things have gotten tense from time to time, but overall we try to work as harmoniously as possible with one another.

Journal entry for week of 04/08/2009

Today I had work on my mind more than school, but it was because of school. I work in San Jose, I live in Union City, and My school is in Oakland. So every day I take BART from Union City to Oakland for school, take BART back to Union City when I'm done and Drive to San Jose to go to work, and then commute back home during rush hour. I'm tired, the commuting is taking a toll on me. I want to be able to spend more time in school if I need to and not rush off to work across the Bay, but I have to work, it's not like I could just quit working. So, my only option is to find a job by the end of summer closer to school or home. Even in this crappy economy I will make it happen.

B-Comm mind map for C. 12, Culture: Inside & Out

B-Comm summary for C. 12, Culture: Inside & Out

Our class is composed up of people from several cultures around the world. A culture is “A communally produced and shared model of reality that communicates how people are expected to behave, think, and feel.” Our cultures characterize how we live and view the world as members of a society. “Culturally acceptable behaviors” are learned from the people around us, who are closest to us. We learn our cultures through socialization, which is learning from human interaction. When people work with or do business with individuals from other cultures they sometimes forget that not everyone communicates in the same style or gives value to the same things. In some cultures of Asia and the Middle East people prefer using an indirect style of communication. A direct style can be considered disrespectful, and pushy. However, in North America and some European countries people use a direct style of communication. When a professional does not use a direct style of communication in these countries it can be misinterpreted as being dishonest and indecisive. Multinational business is very prevalent in today’s world. Business professionals do spend some time communicating with businesspeople from other countries. You will most likely need to adjust your communication style and learn appropriate behavior in order to communicate effectively with people from other cultures. It is very important to communicate in a way that is clear and appropriate when it comes to speaking and writing. When conducting business with an individual from another country it is a good idea to read up on their culture and learn some basic words and phrases in their language. However it would be helpful to hire an interpreter also. English is the most commonly used language in international business. Most international business professionals know how to read and write at least some English. When communicating in writing make sure you address the person with as much respect as possible and write conservatively. Don’t use ambiguous language but do use concrete language. Diversity involves people from many backgrounds and perspectives. Worker diversity includes, race, ethnicity, age, economic level, gender, sexual orientation, and physical disability. It is important to have mutual respect and consideration for people and their differences, both inside and outside of the work place. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others. Attitudes such as this sabotage productive working relationships. A corporate culture is the way the organization operates, how it is structured, how members are expected to behave, and what the organization believes is important. Co-cultures like organizations, are smaller groups that exist within the larger culture and have their own values, beliefs, and codes for behavior. A deep culture is the organization’s identity or personality of what it believes, perceives, and considers important. Values represent a set of shared principles defining what is important to members of an organization. Beliefs are feelings or opinions about what is right and true. A perspective is a particular way of thinking about the world. I highly enjoy the fact that I have my own perspective of the world. I see the world for myself and I don’t let anyone else see it for me. Companies also have a vision, a set of norms, heroes and organizational lore, which are stories and legends that travel through the organization on the grapevine. Whether it is the culture of the work place or the culture we live in society that we speak of, culture is something that has to be learned. We are not born with our cultures imbedded into our memories. We learn “culturally accepted behavior” from the people we are closest to. Every time you are set to do business with an individual from a new culture, it is a wise idea to read up on their culture. For a business professional learning about different cultures should be a career life long process.

Journal entry for week of 04/02/2009

The last couple weeks have be a little rough. work has been busier, this week I've stayed almost an hour past the time I get off every day, My brother and sister both got very sick I had to take each one to doctor appointments on different days and drop off and pick up their medications. I feel like yelling at my parents, I told them a hundred times last fall to get the kids their flu shots but did they listen no of course they didn't. They should be the ones taking my brother and sister to the doctor. I don't mind it but it's hard when I have to stay overtime at work, come to school, and complete the homework, not to mention all the errands I have to run. My parents need to quit playing the stupidity card so much.

CH. 11 mind map - Writing Strategies for Reports & Proposals

CH. 11 summary - Writing Strategies for Reports & Proposals

Let us say your boss has given you the task of completing a report or proposal in one week. How and where would you start? The first thing you would consider before putting a report together is your audience. The content of your report or proposal should be based on the audience you are trying to reach. A direct strategy is best used when you are simply delivering information and you do not need a response from your audience. On the other hand, if your report or proposal needs a response, or you’re asking for money, or asking the audience to take action, then an indirect strategy is best to use. Sometimes a combination of the two strategies maybe needed, you may have to inform the audience and at the same time persuade them. This type of strategy is referred to as an analytical strategy. Regardless of which strategy you use, there are three important rules you should always follow when writing a document. One: write clearly, two: be concise and thorough, and three: organize and format your information. Bullets and headings are great to incorporate when you want to organize your facts and information. Task plans are important to incorporate in proposals and reports because they allow the reader to see what tasks have to be performed, the amount of personnel, equipment, resources, and time needed to complete a project. The task plan section will likely contain a lot of information; because of this it is a wise idea to break up the information into separate categories to ease the reading for your audience. When creating goals for a proposal make sure your reader will understand the primary and secondary goals of the proposal. Don’t assume they will know what the goals are just because you described the project in the introduction or executive summary of the proposal. State the goals clearly, your primary goal first followed by your secondary goals. An executive summary is a concise overview of a report. In an executive summary you: identify yourself, your company, the issue which you are addressing, your objectives, your proposed activities, analysis, and/or conclusion to your reader. Your executive summary has to be written after the entire report has been completed. Your introduction of your report or proposal sets the tone for the rest of your document. Based on your purpose and the audience you can decide to use a formal, informal, or conversational tone during your introduction. Your introduction should also hook your reader and be engaging and clear. In a direct strategy application you present your context, basic topic, suggested solutions, and responses right away. In an indirect strategy application you present your context, and basic topic, but you do not specifically indicate your suggestions or responses. The background of your report or proposal can be organized in a chronological approach, situational approach, or a statistical approach. The problem statement of the report or proposal must be clearly defined. The problem or purpose statement in your introduction only provides only the general concept for the reader, but the purpose statement you write after completing the background should include more detail and clarity. Your goals and objectives should be delivered with a direct strategy approach, they should be specific and direct. During the solutions and recommendations section you should also use a direct strategy approach and also touch on major points from the background and analytical sections. Finally and most importantly always end your report on a positive note. I personally have never written a report, but when the time comes for me to write one I think the author broke it down just right to help me the reader understand how reports and proposals are created. This chapter had a lot of valuable information.

Journal entry for week # 8

I am glad our mid-term is next week instead of this week. I've had a long day. The chapter was easy, I was just in a bad mood the whole day, because I woke up with a headache. I know I should go to sleep right now but an episode of King of Queens is about to start and I'm going to watch it. If you read this Naweed your gonig to be mad at me for staying up. Hehehe.

Chapter eight mind map-Business Writing Design

Chapter eight summary-Business Writing Design

In the business world excellent writing skills are highly desirable by prospective employers. Writing in business should be concise, precise, and clear. You should try to eliminate as much communication noise as possible; such as mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, vagueness, and unfamiliar language. There is a process one should follow when designing a business message. Start by asking yourself questions such as, what is it that I am trying to communicate? Who is my audience? What is the purpose of my message? These questions will help you generate ideas and develop a starting point for your writing. Next, you can move on to Freewriting. Freewriting is the process of writing all the message ideas that come into your mind nonstop without lifting your pen or pausing at the computer. This step should be worked on for at least 15 minutes. After completion, you should go back and highlight all the useful and important ideas. During the listing step, compose a list of all the things that need to go into the document you plan to write. Clustering involves determining the relationships among the ideas of a message, such as the mind maps we make for every chapter of our book. When you have generated all the ideas needed for your message you can go on and gather information to support and explain the goal of your message. You can research, conduct surveys, and hold interviews. Presenting your audience with actual data will help them understand the message and receive it much clearer. Remember to consider the purpose of your message. Again here you would ask yourself questions such as, what am I trying to communicate? What does my audience want to know? Or what do they need to know? Business writers have two strategies they can utilize to complete the task of strategy consideration. In a direct strategy, writers state their message goal first. Or a writer can use an indirect strategy to warm up the audience with information and goodwill before delivering the message goal. Once you have decided on a strategy you can go on to the outlining and drafting step. An outline is a structured list of the information to be included in the message. Your outline will help you organize your ideas and incorporate them with your gathered information.
Now you can write the first draft of your message. Drafting is getting the text down on paper or a computer screen in its first version. Include your main points and details for message clarity. You will refine it later on. Once your first draft is complete, you then have to revise it. Look at the document as if you haven’t seen it before. Make sure you included your message goal, its explanation and development, and included enough details to make it clear to your audience. If you are not satisfied with your draft you can re-outline it. Re-outlining involves writing a new outline based on the original document you wrote. Or you can use the slash and burn method, which is a total revision strategy in which you select certain points of a document and then rewrite it using only those points from the original work. When you have finally written a draft that you are satisfied with you can go on to edit and proofread it to create your final draft. When I proofread, I have to read out loud to hear myself. Examine the language and style you have chosen. Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases. Replace negative words when possible with positive expressions. There are several styles when it comes to writing business messages or documents. The “You” view style is focused on the interests of the readers. This is a good strategy to use when trying to create good public relations, if the information in your message is negative then this probably isn’t the strategy you want to use. Make sure your message emphasizes what you can do instead of the things you can’t do. Keep your reader interested by using active sentence constructions and vivid language. Make sure your message is free of grammatical errors. Errors make it difficult for your audience to grasp the meaning of your message, and it’s a big turn off. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the best speller. In grade school I was eliminated from a spelling B in the first round, so I always use spell check. Memos and letters usually have the same components. Memos are an internal written channel of communication. Letters are typically an external, written channel of communication. The introduction comes first; it should include any good news and your goals. The body of the message offers supporting data, and explains the reasons for the message. The closing of the document should include a call for action and a goodwill statement. An e-mail is an internal and external written channel of communication that transmits messages over the internet. E-mails are typically short. Use bias-free language in your messages. Bias language will offend your audience and show you in a bad light. It is very important to write clearly and use the tools and formats of business writing that are suitable for your audience. Sharpening your writing skills will significantly increase your chances of moving up in the business world.

Talking with Confidence video mind map

Journal entry for week # 7

While working on this chapter I thought what if the mid-term for this class was an oral presentation? It would only make sense to work on the chapter about oral presentations the week before, if we are going to be presenting next week. Then I though naah. The professor would have mentioned it by now, wouldn't she well anyway we'll find out tomorrow. I used the PRS technique to read this chapter and it helped, but I did forget to label so I was a little scattered, next time i'll get it just right.

Ch. 7 mind map- Designing Oral Presentations

Ch. 7 summary- Designing Oral Presentations

For most people in the business world, the day will come when they have to deliver an oral presentation in front of an audience. Delivering a good presentation is not a piece of cake; it requires a great deal of hard work. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. For example, if I had to make an oral presentation next week in front of my peers, then I would complete the following tasks to ensure I give the best presentation within my abilities. I would start by gathering information about the audience I will be presenting in front of. Using the information I gather I could create a customized presentation. A customized presentation is a carefully planned speech that is tailored to the specific needs, knowledge, perspectives, and background of an audience. You have to show interest in your topic. How can a presenter expect their audience to be interested in their presentation if they themselves don’t seem interested? If you deliver your presentation with confidence and enthusiasm then in turn your audience will likely pay more attention to what you have to say, because now you appeal to them. Other techniques that could help you gain the interest of the audience are: Try to relate to their situation, field, position, or experience, and provide them with tips, facts, and strategies they can utilize in their professional or personal lives. I would take into account of what the occasion is that I will be presenting at. Will the occasion be relaxed and festive, or is it strictly business? Will there be other presenters or am I the only one? At what time do I have to make my presentation? Audiences are usually more alert in the mornings. These are some of the questions I would ask myself in the days leading up to my scheduled presentation. Before I start writing my speech I have to determine what I want to write about, such as my interests, or skills and abilities. Sometimes you won’t have choice and the topic will be selected for you. Now I have to decide what my speech goal will be. What do I want from my audience and what do I want to communicate to them? There are four speech goals: informative, persuasive, requesting, and entertaining. Informative speeches can build audience awareness, knowledge, and memory about a subject. A persuasive speech intends to influence a change in an audience’s attitude, behavior, or belief. A requesting speech is a type of persuasive speech, but its aim is to gain funding or approval for a specific product, program, or proposal. Entertainment or special occasion speeches mark special occasions, and arouse emotions through celebration. My introduction has to gain the attention of my audience. I have to make a connection between myself, my listeners, and the occasion. I can gain their attention through creative speaking. Creative speaking is the art of gaining the audience’s interest by using entertaining speaking methods; such as: Anecdotes, catchy stories that draw from common experiences with which the audience can relate to. I could ask a question; this can draw them in by making them think of a potential answer. Examples, such as personal or topic related can illustrate ideas and establish credibility. Quotations can be helpful when you’re trying to open up ideas. Startling or surprising remarks such as facts, statistics, or events can arouse the attention of the audience, and finally humor if used correctly can break the ice and build a rapport with the audience. Your audience needs to have a reason to listen, you have to be creative, and you have to be the one to let them know your message is valuable and they may be able to benefit from it. If I take the time to prepare, if I am honest, if I research my topic, and speak with confidence than I will be able to demonstrate my credibility to my audience. Now I am ready to organize my speech. I would break it up into three parts. In the first part, the introduction, I have to present a positive impression of myself, establish my credibility, and the main idea. A main idea is a central point you want to make with your audience that will run through the entire message.
In the body section of my presentation I will present my main ideas and back them up with supporting details or secondary ideas. I will limit my main ideas to three or four main points, because most people usually only remember three to four main points from a presentation. I can arrange my material in five different organizational patterns to help my audience understand and achieve my own speech goals. I can use a Chronological, topic, spatial, cause and effect, or problem and solution pattern to transmit my message. In the conclusion of my speech I have to connect my main points, inspire the next step, and provide a strong sense of closure. I can make a powerful statement or use a quote that I want them to think about later. I also have to remember to use transitions. Transitions are key words or short sentences that bridge one idea to another, such as my introduction, body, and conclusion. Visual aids such as tables, charts, posters, and handouts can give a speech more strength. You can also use electronic presentation software such as power point to create slides. The use of visual aids will increase message clarity, visually demonstrate and explain more than words, increase the interest of the audience, and dramatically extend the audience recall of speech information. You can use the internet, books, magazines, periodicals, and financial or statistical reports to gather your information. Once I have practiced over and over again and I’m ready to present I can choose from four different delivery styles. Impromptu speeches are unexpected and off the cuff. A manuscript speech is written word for word and read out loud. Extemporaneous speaking is planned and rehearsed but not memorized, prepared notes only outline key ideas. Finally with a memorized speech text is written word for word and committed to memory. There is a great deal of work that goes on before a speech is ever presented. You have to research your audience, gather data about your main idea, and prepare your speech in three parts, introduction, body and conclusion. Your speech should be organized in a specific organizational pattern, have a clear goal and be delivered in one of four speech styles to ensure message clarity and to not lose your audience. The next time I deliver a speech I think I will deliver it the extemporaneous style. Keeping the audience interested is very important. If they are uninterested and they tune you out then what is the point? Finally to reduce anxiety by planning practicing and rehearsing your speech till you know it inside and out.

Journal entry for week # 6

This chapter has a lot of terms and definitions to be learned and remembered. It didn't make the summary any difficult but was a little annoying when I had to make the mind map. I did learn a new term that could describe me at times. Sometimes when I have to present in front of people I experience communication apprehension in the form of Introversion. In other words I rather listen than participate because I get shy at times.

Chapter 6 mind map- Designing Messages with Words

Chapter 6 summary- Designing Messages with Words

Muzlifa Amani
Eng. 93 B-Comm

Summary of chapter 6- Designing Messages with Words


Words have power. Words should be chosen carefully to ensure message clarity and avoid misunderstandings. Verbal messages contain both oral and written communication. Designing messages requires intrapersonal communication skills. Verbal communication is defined as, “The use of any linguistic symbols-spoken, sign, or written language to accomplish message goals. The author states, “A communicator’s effectiveness depends on the appropriate choice of words and their arrangement in a message.” This statement is very true. I have been to seminars where the speakers were not effective communicators and had poor verbal styles of communication, and almost one hundred percent of the time I tuned them out after a while. When designing a message, the sender should choose language that will allow the receiver to interpret the meaning of the message as close as possible to what they intended it to be. The choice of words, phrases, sentence arrangements, and formalities of expressions a person chooses to use in their message is referred to as their verbal style. Verbal styles reflect aspects of people’s individual personalities. There are nine primary verbal communication styles, and each one serves a different purpose. A person’s choice of style depends on the relationship they share with the people they are communicating with, the attentiveness and experience of the audience, and the context and purpose of the message. There are four rules for speaking, : Grammatical rules which include sentence construction, word arrangements, syntax, and language fluidity, talking and interaction rules include topic relevance, length of talking time, clarity, and silence, social rules include greetings, correct word usage, expression styles, and ambiguity, and finally semantic rules include denotative and connotative meanings. Physicians, attorneys, and engineers sometimes use a specialized language known as jargon. Jargon is defined as,: a specialized language used by members of a specific profession or field that denotes technical knowledge. Working in a medical office I hear jargon every day being spoken by the doctors. Although I understand what they, people who don’t work in the field most likely don’t. The word slang means: an informal set of terms used within a social group or culture. In my opinion, these days it sound like kids and teenagers speak more in slang than in proper English. Recognizing language limitations is very important. Language limitations can obscure your message, make it less powerful, and vague. By recognizing limitations people can design better and clearer messages that can have a greater impact. Some of these limitations include: Abstraction-is the use of complicated rather that concrete language, bypassing-when different meanings are associated with the same word symbol, or when different symbols are used to identify the same idea or object, fact inference- jumping to conclusions, misused words-can make a message meaningless because words are misused, overgeneralization- is the use of sweeping statements that do not provide enough information, extremism-to see the world simply in shades of black and white, rather than in shades of gray, and inflexibility- results from rigidity in our awareness of the world around us. When a person becomes self-conscious, nervous, and unwilling to communicate with other people then they are probably experiencing communication apprehension or CA for short. Stage freight is one example. I sometimes experience CA before I make presentations due to the fact that I’m naturally a shy person. Other factors that can contribute to CA include: Introversion-when people prefer to listen rather than participate, they appear timid, and shy even if they really aren’t, alienation-when common speech rules of communication are unknown to the individual, low self-esteem- when sense of self-worth is low, cultural divergence- styles of communication appropriate for one culture are not appropriate for another, poor communication skills-when people lack necessary skills to make their meaning clear, and finally communication incompetence-people doubt their ability to communicate clearly and may deliver inappropriate messages. When a speaker is trying to be persuasive, they are attempting to influence people’s behavior, attitudes, and or beliefs. An argument is a verbal technique that can be utilized by a communicator. It is a statement or series of statements aimed at influencing behavior, attitudes, and beliefs through reasoning. Business arguments are built by using 1.) Grounds-evidence to support the argument, 2.) Warrants- the relationship of the evidence to the claim including common sense, common knowledge, and traditions 3.) Claim- a statement of fact or opinion. Reasons are defined as: statements of evidence, support, or proof used in an argument. Reasoning is the ability to see connections between ideas and evidence and to use reasons as building blocks to support your conclusion. Deductive reasoning is the move from general principles to specific instances. Inductive reasoning is the move from specific instances to general conclusions. Appealing to your audience is important. Greek terms such as ethos-(ethics), pathos-(proof), and logos-(logic) used to describe different types of appeals can be used by communicators to persuade their listeners to agree with them. A one-sided argument involves the presentation of only one point of view or one side of an issue. On the other hand a two-sided argument presents both sides of an issue. The speaker’s position and opposing views are both presented, such as in a debate. The author was very thorough in writing this chapter. There is a lot of terminology to be learned and remembered. Some terms and text from chapter five were carried over in this chapter, but of course that would make sense because in order to be able to design messages with words you have to first know how the meanings of words are created and how their meanings are used. The lesson I’ve learned from this chapter is that a communicator’s word selection is very important; your choice of words can make or break your case depending on how your message is received.

Journal entry for week # 5

This chapter had a lot of information in it. I'va always been a detailed person. I try to shorten my summaries but its hard for me to do. Over the long weekend when I have time, I want to download the latest version of mind mapping. I want to play around with it and see if I could download pictures becuase I can't with the version I have right now.

Creating & Using Meaning-mind map

Chapter 5 summary-Creating & Using Meaning

In chapter five the author states the definition of meaning will not be found in this chapter, or in this book. The author asks me, the reader to come up with my own definition for the word. In my opinion the definition of meaning is the clearly marked limits of a word, and its intentions. The author was accurate to state, “Meaning is a difficult concept to define or describe.” It did take me a while to come up with my definition. The author then goes on to say, understanding the way we acquire and interpret meaning can help people communicate more effectively. Differences in meaning can often lead to miscommunication. We assume when we create and transmit messages to others our meanings are always understood. We forget that other people see the world through their own eyes, just as we see it through our own eyes. My understanding of a meaning might completely different from someone else’s understanding of the same meaning. Conveyor-belt flaw is what this flaw is called. We assume when we transmit a message to another person they will automatically understand our message. They will physically get our message but that doesn’t guarantee our meaning will be accepted the way we intended it to be. In addition to containing words, sentences, and visual images, messages also contain intended and interpreted meanings. Intended meaning is the meaning the sender has in mind when creating a message. Interpreted meaning is the meaning that the receiver interprets upon receiving the message. Perception is the act of becoming aware through our senses. Perception starts when we receive and mentally record sensory information. Organization is the ordering and categorizing of information you receive, and then associating it with knowledge already known to you about people, ideas, and objects. Once you have received sensory information and then organized it you begin to interpret what the experience may mean to you. When we interpret, we are actually analyzing what we are experiencing and associating it with past experiences that share similarities. Perception, organization, and interpretation can take place in no time at all. Meaning is an internal process that is created and interpreted by people. Although people don’t always agree on meanings they do agree on the interpretations of signs and symbols. A sign is something that people can agree represents something else. Symbols are types of signs that have no natural link to what it represents, although they can have an indirect association. For example, when kids see a picture of Ronald McDonald, they automatically think of the restaurant McDonalds. Context is one layer of several that is involved in the creation of meaning. It is the physical, social, and psychological situation in which a event of communication occurs in. Intrapersonal context is the act of thinking and communicating with ourselves, internally. During at which time we are decoding and encoding internal and external stimuli. Intrapersonal decoding is the process of receiving data that can originate inside or outside ourselves, interpreting it, and assigning meaning to the data. Intrapersonal encoding is the process of organizing data and translating thoughts into a controlled internal response. For example, during my math class I practice intrapersonal encoding. I organize the data I receive, and my thoughts always translate into the same internal response. How irrelevant math is for me, how much I dislike it, and how I can’t wait till class is over. A personal history context is our remembrance of past experiences, which we then use to make meaning and sense of new experiences. Cultural context is the connection people share through their collective experience in social life. This experience is a sociocultural perception. It provides the assumptions for how we should behave, think, and feel as members of society. Interpersonal context interaction helps people shape verbal and non verbal messages transmitted to them by the people around them, such as family members and friends. In a business context setting, people use their skills to interpret their professional experiences from their business perspectives. In business, context messages are framed differently than they are in interpersonal context. They are more structured and formal in design. Semantics is the relationship between words and the meanings people attach to them. Words don’t contain independent meanings; rather People attach symbols and create connections between those symbols to generate ideas and meaningful concepts. Concrete words are words that are associated with objects or events that people experience through their senses. Abstract words symbolize ideas and concepts that people can not directly experience through their senses. For example, words such as absolute, and interest are abstract words. Business message meanings can be specific or they can be vague. A specific business message is straightforward, and to the point. Intentions are clearly expressed and disclose what the sender wants, feels, and needs. Specific messages are devised to simplify the reader’s understanding of meaning. Vague business messages state the sender’s intentions in ambiguous language. Meanings are not always clear. These messages are uses sometimes when the sender is unsure of the receiver’s reaction. When messages are not interpreted correctly, the way the sender wants then to be, then they might put the blame on the receiver for the misunderstanding. It is up to the sender to send clear messages so that the receiver will have less difficulty understanding the intended meaning of the message. The lesson of this chapter is just because you physically send a message does not guarantee it will be received the way you intended it to be received. Meaning is a process of perception and interpretation. The notion of the various contexts of meanings was new to me. I learned what a context is and all the different contexts that create conditions for different interpretations of meanings.

Journal Entry # 2

Well I am beat. It's late and I've had a long day. Even so I did enjoy reading chapter four. I also enjoy doing the mind maps now. They are very easy once you get the hang of them. I wish I had the time to make them more elaborate. Hopefully as the weeks pass on I will. Bye.

Mind map/ Listening: A silent hero

Chapter 4 summary, Listening: A silent hero

Listening: A silent hero


In the world of business, the listening skill is used more frequently than any other skills. It is used more than speaking, reading and writing. Listening is needed for more than just learning and remembering. It is also needed to make important decisions and to understand your fellow employee and client needs. Poor listening skills can wreak havoc in a company. It could cost money, valuable time, errors in shipping and receiving, and can ruin customer relationships the company has built over time. Hearing is defined as, the involuntary physiological process of receiving sound waves through receptors in the ear that transmit them to the brain. Hearing is not the same as listening. You can hear sounds without actually listening to them. When you listen, you are hearing, selecting, attending, interpreting, and remembering sounds. There are several different types of listening processes. Active listening is intrapersonal and interactive. You actively focus on, interpret, and respond verbally and nonverbally to messages. Critical listening requires the listener to comprehend information, make assessments, and decisions about the information they are hearing. Sensitive listening is a supportive process. The listener demonstrates empathy towards the speaker, when the speaker is sharing their thoughts and feelings. This process requires full attention from the listener, and judgment making towards the speaker is out of the question. You must allow the speaker to vent and pay attention to their point of view. When a group discussion is taking place, and people are sharing, identifying, and exploring each other’s meanings and perspectives, it is called dialogue listening. Listening to the sound of waves, or leaves rustling in the wind is called pleasure listening. The sounds are enjoyable, comforting, and relaxing. Casual listening is an informal process of listening. During conversational casual listening, the listener has to listen and speak, but they don’t listen effectively and they don’t concentrate on all the messages or respond to all of them. Polite casual listening is applied when an uninterested listener has to listen to a speaker. The listener appears to be paying attention but is really not, they are just doing it to be polite. It is important to hone one’s listening skills since it’s used more frequently than any other skill in the business world. Hearing a person talk is not the same as listening to them speak. Being a good listener is highly beneficial in the business world.

Journal entry # 1

January 28, 2009


Well I just started my blog tonight. I had a chance to upload my introduction letter and my mind map. Unfortunately the book just arrived today, so I haven't had a chance to read any of the chapters. I spent the most of the night drilling equations into my brain, as my math professor likes to put it. I will spend the majority of my weekend: Reading, summarizing, mind mapping, emailing and then blogging it all. This is my first time blogging, it's kind of weird for me, but I guess I have to get use to it. Well that's all for now.

Mind map on mind mapping

Introduction Letter

January 20, 2009

Dear Dr. Schoemaker-Rippel,




Hello my name is Muzlifa Amani. I am enrolled in your Business Communication class which is in session Thursday mornings. I reside in Union City, CA with my family. My parents immigrated to the states from Afghanistan over twenty years ago. I've spent almost my entire life in the Bay Area. I come from a large family, which includes my parents, three brothers, and two sisters. I have a large extended family as well.

I currently work in the medical field, as an authorizations clerk and health insurance specialist. In my spare time I like to spend time with my boyfriend, browse and read books and magazines at Borders, and go hiking.

I chose to attend Lincoln university because of the Diagnostic Sonography program. I will graduate in approximately two years. After graduating I plan on having a career as a OBGYN sonographer, as well as getting married, and starting a family. Ultimately I would like to continue my studies for a very long time, and hope to get my Master's Degree and maybe a PHD if I find a way to juggle family, work, and studies.

I don't have much experience in business communication but I do have experience in patient and client services. I am a confident person, but when it comes to speaking in front of more than a few people, people I don't know, such as speaking in front of a class I tend to tense up, get red in the face, and become very nervous and shy. From this class I hope to gain skills that will allow me to become comfortable when speaking in front of the class and to speak with confidence. I hope to gain much knowledge from your class and look forward to the rest of the semester.

With Regards,
Muzlifa Amani (Lisa)