module 25

Module 25 is all about Using Visuals. Visuals can be a great way to get and keep your audience’s attention through your whole presentation. There are many different ways to communicate with people and visuals are a way for people to see what you are talking about instead of just listening to the talk. Using visuals can help people understand your topic in a multitude of different ways.

I found out by reading this module that what kind of visuals is just as important as your topic. Choosing one type of visual over another can make or break your whole presentation. Tables should be used when you are using exact values. Pie charts should be used when comparing a group of ideas. Bar charts and line graphs can both be used when comparing two things.

I have always thought that by adding different colors to a visual would help the reader be able to differentiate between topics. The book says that you can use a few colors but they aren’t always useful. Sometimes simple is better because each part is important. When you add colors you create a sense that some aspects are more important than another. If you feel like one part is more important that only put that on your visual.

module 3

Module 3 is specifically directed to communicating across cultures. This is a very important part of business communication. With all of the diversity that surrounds us being able to communicate across cultures is very important. This module shows you exactly how to communicate in a way that everyone that you talk to will understand what you are trying to say.

I know that whenever you talk face to face that the body language that you use is very important. The book talks about the best way to use your body language positively. I knew that having your arms crossed was a sign of closed body position. One thing that I didn’t know was that crossed legs or legs being close together is a closed body position as well. I sit with my legs crossed all the time and I never knew that that was a sign of closed body position.

Something that I as found interesting that I didn’t know about before was that there are two kinds of cultures. Monochronic culture uses time as a resource, and polychromic cultures use relationships more. I had no idea that people were so different based on what they see as most important were in two separate groups.

module 24

Module 24 is called Long Reports. Long reports have many parts to them which make the very complex. The most important things to remember are organization, strategies, format, and style. Time management should also be something that is kept in mind so that you complete tasks on time and have a great finished product. Long reports need to include a cover, title page, letter of transmittal, table of contents, list of illustrations, executive summary, and report body.

The thing that I found most interesting in this module was how many parts of a long report that there is in a long report. In the previous chapter the short report was two pages long and in the long report the example are fourteen pages. The long reports have a lot of information in them but they also have a cover, title page, and table of contents.

Another important idea that I found out in module 24 was that the body of the long report has many separate categories within it as well. Each category has its own way of being organized. The categories also have a certain structure that should be followed. Every part that is in the report you have to cite individually.

module 23

Module 23 is titled Short Reports. This module shows you how to write short reports correctly. This module talks about the patterns, strategies, principles, and questions to use. In this module exactly how the report should look and read. This module also shows an actual report so that you can use it for an example when you write your own report.

One thing that I found interesting in this module was that the different types of reports are completely different. Each report has its own types of organization. The organization differs from each paragraph to the specific content of each report. Informative and closure reports shows the work that was finished or the research that was done on a certain topic. Feasibility reports tell you what would be the best choose to make based on the results that were found. Justification reports talk about why you should so something.

I also found out that reports should be written like business documents. I would have thought that they would have been completely different. While there are three differences most of the concepts are the same. The only things would be to make sure you choose the correct words, make writing short and concise, and to use different techniques to highlight certain information.

module 27 & 28

Module 27 & 28 are about Resumes and Job Application Letters. Module 27 talks about how to make sure that employers actually look at your resume. This module also goes into detail about the different categories in a resume. Module 28 is all about how to prepare your application letters. Each employer needs a different type of application letter. Depending on what the job is and what it details would alter your job application. For each job there are certain skills that are a must but may not be needed for another job.

Something that I found out interesting in module 27 was that there are different types of resumes besides just a paper resume. I found out that there is an online resume and a video resume. I had always thought that there was only a paper resume. I feel like a video and a paper resume are very helpful to employers looking for employees.

Module 28 talked about T-letters. Before I read this module I had no clue that there was such a thing as a T-letter. This letter helps employers be able to look through many resumes and job applications at one time. This way the employer can look more closely at people and their strengths.

module 22

Module 22 is about Finding, Analyzing, and Documenting information. This module talks about how to write questions correctly to get the most detailed and helpful answers. Deciding who to give the survey or interview that you have prepared is just as important. The reason is because if you are interviewing for a certain job there are certain questions for that particular job that you should answer. Analyzing the information that you have collected from the interview or survey is also an important step. When the report is written from you findings from personal interviews or from information you found on your own needs to be cited. The citations need to be in APA or MLA format.

Something interesting that I found out was that there is a certain way to search for information. I had always thought that you just put what you want into a search engine and it found the information. To my surprise I learned that by using articles you can narrow your information. When you use words such as “and” and “or”.

I knew that when you collected data that you had to analyze everything that you have found. The things that I didn’t know were four different ways to do that. There is understanding the source, analyzing the numbers, analyzing the words and checking the logic. I feel like this information will help me sort through the entire information hat I find for the next paper I have to write.

module 21

Module 21 is called Proposals and Progress Reports. This module talks about the different types of reports. This module also shows you how to write a proposal. There are many types of proposals that the module talks about. There are proposals for class research projects, sales proposals, proposals for funding and Figuring the budget and costs. This module also explains the types of progress reports. The types of progress reports are chronological, task and recommendation progress reports.

The interesting thing that I found in this module was the three levels of reports. I thought that it was interesting to know that there are levels to reports. I thought that all reports were written exactly the same was. Each different kind built on each other. The first was simple with only information. The next level added analysis. The last level had information, analysis and recommendations.

Time is a very important thing these days. As I was reading this module I saw a chart that explained just how long it takes to write a proposal. The total time was 30 hours that completely shocked me. The book explains that 15 hours is spent planning, 5 hours writing and 10 hours revising. In the previous chapter I read about how much money it took for a single hour. When I realized how much money just one proposal cost it showed me just how important proposals are to a company.