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September 24, 2003
Study Time
I've several tests coming up so I'll be spending most of my free time studying over the next week or so. This week's test is in my stupid, worthless Business Communications class. The book appears to be written on about an 8th grade level, and has been most instructive on the root cause of the poorly written business communications I've received over the years. For example, the section on getting supporting information for the main topic of your message contains such gems as "Turn off the analytical function of your brain. Encourage the creative function of your brain." and "No judgments allowed during idea-generating activities!"
The section on converting "sexist" sentences into "gender-free" ones was a hoot, though. So are the "cultural tips" scattered throughout....though I'm still wondering what possible relationship feng shui has to faxes.
At any rate, I'll be spending most of the day memorizing the first 4 chapters of this utter crap interesting information in hopes that I can regurgitate enough of it tomorrow to ace the test. But I'll think I'll stick to my Strunk & White as my primary writing reference.
I'm jus' old school like dat.
Posted by Rita at September 24, 2003 09:52 AM
Comments
Oh, god, I love Strunk and White.
Praise them from whom all grammar flows.
Praise them all writers as we go.
Praise They who show us where the comma goes. Praise Strunk and White and (gropes for a rhyme...) Caeser's Ghost.
Amen.
D
Posted by: David Strain at September 24, 2003 12:52 PM
"The evil that men do live after them,
And the good are oft interred with their bones."
The book for this class is one of the former. Its basic theme is that formal writing has no place in business communications. I think that has to be one of the more asinine statements I've read in my 8 years of "higher" education.
Fo'shizzle.
Posted by: Rita at September 24, 2003 04:18 PM
"Business communications?" Far too many business people "communicate" in grunts, bullet points, and incomplete sentences. Their idea of public speaking is to put up three dozen overheads (complete with badly worded bullet points), and read the damned things.
I think we need a consultant and a mission statement. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Posted by: Jim - Parkway Rest Stop at September 24, 2003 10:34 PM
Jim, don't give my instructor any bright ideas. I already have to give a 4-10 minute presentation later in the semester, for which she banned Power Point. Thank God.
My topic will be the proper use of "Netiquette" in a business setting....which will include several pointed references to the importance of using an email spell checker. My instructor apparently doesn't know that technology exists.
Posted by: Rita at September 25, 2003 06:14 AM
I can't agree more with both Jim and Rita about business "communications." I made it through a meeting yesterday where a Power Point presentation was given, complete with ridiculous sound effects. The "speakers" read off the bullet points word-for-word, using the same emphasis and inflections as Ferris Bueller's teacher. "Beuller? Bueller?" It was one of the most painful times I've had in a long time and that's before factoring in that I'd been up half of the previous three nights (gotta love on-call weeks).
Spelling is also one of the things people just don't seem to get. Damn, is hitting F7 in Outlook or clicking the spellcheck button in Netscape such a difficult thing? I konw taht a new sduty has siad taht olny the frsit and lsat lttrees are nedeed to raed a snetnece, but msut pleope try to povre it dlaiy? Another of my personal favorite's is where author's of message's put apostrophe's where they don't belong.
Posted by: Bob at September 26, 2003 06:37 AM