Unit - 4

Writing Practices

Q1) Define Resume. What is the purpose of a Resume?

A1) A resume is a short document used to summarize the job search and qualifications of the prospective employer. The resume includes contact details for the job seeker, work experience, education, and the appropriate skills to support the job application.

Your renegotiation is a critical part of today's job application process. Writing a good resume is more important than ever now that online job posts tend to attract hundreds if not thousands of applicants. A refurbished, ready-to-start application will increase your chances of getting an interview while poorly written resumes may be lost at sea of ​​applicant

The “spelling of resume ” actually originates from French, and means “summary.” To this day, the purpose of a resume is still to provide employers with a summary of your relevant qualifications.

If you’re applying for a job, you need at least a resume to be considered for the position.

On a base level, a resume is made up of the following five parts:

• Contact details
• Introduction
• Educational background
• Work history
• Relevant skills

THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME

Many job seekers assume that the purpose of a resume is to provide a full overview of their professional history.

Instead, the goal of your resume is to convince employers you’re worth interviewing. To that end, your resume is a valuable tool you can use to highlight your experience to prospective employers.

If your resume provides a concise summary of your relevant qualifications and skills in a format that makes your ability to handle the work as clear as possible, you will get more interviews.

Resume vs. CV

Sometimes you will see the words go on and the CV is used interchangeably. They are not the same. The resume is a short documentary designed to market your professional skills while the cv contains an informative list of your expertise, of your courses, and other information.

C.V stands for curriculum ("course of life"). CVS are separate by design. Think of them as an encyclopaedia version of your professional life, taking your career history, education, credentials, relationships, publication and professionalism. They can extend well over three or four pages.
In the United States, CV’s are usually limited to professions with general positions where deep expertise is critical, such as academics, science and medicine. These CV’s are filled with extended education categories, work history, internships, gigs talk, teaching appointments, magazine publishing and other information that establishes trust.

Re-use across many industries and very short on just one or two pages. That's because the resume is not intended to capture all the details of your previous experience. Your resume should be designed and updated based on the details of each activity you use. Negative jobs in past jobs can be eliminated to save space and attract more attention to your used and accessible skills.

Q2) How should you write the Resume? What are the contents of a good Resume?

A2) We should write the Resume in the following ways-

1. Select the resume format and the categories you need

2. Always include contact details, work experience, and education

3. Use traditional topics for high compliance

4. Apply practical skills directly to the job description

5. Replace basic tasks with impactful performance

6. Do not include an old goal statement or reference section

7. Preview and double-check what you wrote

8. Save as docx file (optional) or pdf.

If you think you are done, ask someone else to take care of you. Alternatively, take it to job scan for a quick answer.

At the very least, your start-up should include your contact details, work experience, and education. Additional job summary sections, skills, volunteer work, and additional qualifications can be added when related to the job you work for.
The work ethic here is "worth it." remember that your resume is intended to quickly highlight the reasons why you are well prepared for the job. It is not intended to explain all the tasks you have done. Instead of simply listing your daily obligations from past activities, read the job listing and try to find the answer to each of the requirements listed. This is likely to get the attention of an employer who can only look at your return for a few seconds. It also broadens your application tracking system to apply to algorithms that help companies identify top candidates.
Below you will find out which parts of the restart to include in your start-up and how to adapt to the job you are looking for.

Q3) Explain the elements of a Resume.

A3) The elements of a Resume are-

Contact information

The title of your start-up should include the following information:

• Name
• Phone number
• Location (city, country, zip code)
• Email address
• Linked profile URL

It may seem obvious, but job seekers sometimes forget an important piece of contact information in this section. Double check and make it as easy as possible for employers to contact you for job interviews.

Phone number:

Enter a personal phone number, not a work number. Enter your city, state, and zip code (e.g. “Seattle, WA 98104”). This is important as other applicant tracking systems allow employers to filter the candidates based on location. Employers will always start with local selectors first. If you are traveling from somewhere, write down your current location and your future location.

Email address:

Use a valid email address. An email address based around your name is correct, such as jackieromano12@email.com. Your "happy" email address may work well in your life, but the terms "beersnob88" or "biebersuperfan" may not be so clear. Even using a seemingly outdated email client - such as AOL or Hotmail - can harm your prospects. Consider creating a free Gmail account for your search.

Linked Profile url:

If the employer is surprised by your qualifications, they will look at your online profiles. All job seekers should create a strong LinkedIn profile and include a url in their resume. This will make the life of the employer a little easier and help them to cross-check the claims on your resume.

Work experience:

Part of the work experience is the heart of your resume. Separate this category from a clear, existing topic, such as "work experience," "work experience," or "employment history." this will help guide employers towards your resume and ensure that the applicant tracking system (ats) is well defined.

Under the main heading, list each activity in chronological order. Each function should have its own sub-heading that includes the following information:

• Company
• Workplace
• Your job tittle
• Start and end dates

For example:

ABC corporation, settle

Distribution manager (01/2017-present)

The first things an employer looks for in your resume are the topics of the work you hold and the number of companies you've worked with. This format not only makes it easy for them to access that information, but our research has found that this sequence also provides greater ats compatibility.

Under each subheading, include responsibilities and measurable outputs that are relevant to the job you are working on. Remember, you don't have to include all the activities that were part of your daily routine. Use your available space to highlight the skills and knowledge requested in the job description. Job scan helps you decide exactly what skills are requested and whether or not you have highlighted them.

Education:
When you have a few years into your career, your education level may also be reduced under your resume. Unless you're using a profession that places more emphasis on education (such as academics, law, or medicine), most job seekers can escape by simply providing the following information on their resume:

• Agency name

• Stem

• School location

• Years visited

If you have just graduated from college, your education level surpasses your professional experience and includes many details. Skills developed in school are real skills that are important in the professional world. Recent rooms can include appropriate coursework, communities, organizations, and extracurriculars that strengthen their identity.

Activities:

98% of fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems (ats) to filter, filter, and enter applicants. Other ats, such as taleo, can automatically add your own content to the job description, allowing employers to focus only on the best "applicants". Employers are also looking at their application site to find keywords, such as "customer service," "accounts available," or "adobe photoshop."

Overloading or coming up as a search result is about adding complex skills and keywords to your resume. A good way to identify key skills in a list and search algorithms is to identify which skills are most prominent in the job description. Aligning these skills to your resume, where applicable, increases your chances of being selected for an interview

Strong skills should apply to all your resume capabilities. Entering the skills category for your start-up is not a prerequisite, but it can help you have a natural place to list the essential skills in the job you work for. The dedicated skills section also makes your resume much easier for employers trying to quickly find out if you meet their needs.

If you are using the skills section, remember that the list of skills and keywords is not enough. Add context to these skills to your full potential so employers can believe. This includes factors such as projects you have used in skills, the number of years of experience in a given skill, or the level of your expertise.

Historical and free:

Some restart forms allow space for some optional components. Only use the category of awards or honours in your resume if it makes sense for the job you work for. Active reputations will improve your credibility while poor prizes simply distract you from your best titles. For example, decide to get a monthly career or get a great customer satisfaction rating for your department, but maybe not if you are a kart race expert in your free time.

Volunteer work and study:

The work you do as an active volunteer can add to your qualifications and skill set as all paid experience. Also, the word "works." highlight the volunteer work of your start-up that uses the skills that apply to the job you work for. Carefully list voluntary organizations or affiliated organizations, such as political or religious organizations.

Q4) What you can leave from your view?

A4) The statement of intent has been used as a standard for the restart and appears in other implementation templates. Traditionally, the purposeful statements were a brief introduction to the resume which explains why the submission is returned. For example, "purpose: to secure a position as a communications manager at a leading sales centre."

Including a purpose that you can restart these days can make you appear later. The job summary statement replaced the purpose of today's reboot. Any other information can serve as a cover letter.

While a statement of objectives describes your goals, a concise statement outlines how you can add value to the company.

• Examinations:

It is not necessary to write your directions in your resume unless otherwise stated in the job description. In addition, it is assumed that you have references, so there is no need to include "references available on request" either. Use the space you save to add additional skills and achievements.

• Soft skills:

When it comes to your resume, soft skills are not nearly as important as technical skills. That is because it is difficult to demonstrate within the context of a restart. For example, an employer will not take your name from you if you say "you work hard" or "you solve a problem." in fact, it looks like it's short.

Instead of simply writing soft skills, find opportunities to show off your interpersonal and behavioural skills. Achievements and measurable results are a great way to do this. For example, instead of saying "hard work," indicate in writing that you have completed x projects that are more than your department average.

• GPA:

Only list your GPA as part of your continuing education program if you have recently graduated from college and have a good GPA, similar to a 3.5 or better with a 4.0 rating. There are a few exceptions. Some industries, as professionals, are waiting to see your GPA.

Q5) What should be the length of your resume?

A5) While a one-page start-up is sometimes considered to be the best, a two-page resume may be required after five or ten years of staffing, especially if all of your experience is relevant to the job you are pursuing. Managers sometimes have three or more pages running.

That said, your resume should not be longer than it should. Short, step-by-step resumes will easily be digested and highlight your most important skills. After writing your resume, try removing the excess fluff and inappropriate content to reduce your page count and draw your attention to your best titles. No matter how many pages you start, try putting your most impressive titles at the top of the first page with a summary or category of skills.

There are several different ways to format your resume. Choosing the right format will make the writing process easier. When choosing a format, consider the function you are using for it. The chronological, compositional, and functional styles of each work serve a specific purpose.

Q6) What are the basic structure of a technical report?

A6) A technical report is comprised of the following sections:

A. Title Page

The title page includes the main title of the report, it must be short and concise. You can also include the word counts of your summary and main body.

B.  Table of Contents

Help your reader quickly and easily find what they are looking for by using informative headings and careful numbering of your sections and sub-sections.

For example:

C. Introduction

The introductory part of the report comprises of statement of the objectives of the report and how the report should be treated by the readers. It should indicate towards the problem that is going to be addressed in the main body. It should be catchy and interesting to grasp the attention of the reader from the very start.

D. The Body

The main body consists of the central theme or the main idea of the report. It can be divided into a number of sections and subsections to separate your research and subsequent findings in a logical order.

E. Figures, Graphs, Formulae and Tables

This section consists of the statistical representation of the data you have collected. Ideas should be conveyed in the form which is most suitable to the reader and easily understandable by the reader. Excessive use of these tools should be avoided.

F. Conclusion

The conclusion is a kind of summing up of all the points you have stated in the main text. It should be a definite solution to the problem introduced during the introductory part of the report. The conclusion must be short and to the point.

G. Summary

Summarize all the key points stated in the report including your research, your findings and your conclusion. The summary should feel like a brief overview of your investigations and outcomes. The summary should be constructed in such a way that it can be called a stand-alone document on its own.

H. References

References must include detailed information of all your citations and the sources of material quoted in your texts. It can also include bibliography for further reading.

I. Appendices

This is the last element of a report. It refers to any material which can be useful in the detailed understanding of your subject. It is not meant for the casual reader but for readers who are highly interested in the subject.

Q7) What are the types of technical report writing?

A7) The types of technical report writing are-

MEMO REPORT-A memo report or memorandum is an internal and informal form of communication which is written to inform and to call to action. It is normally used for communicating policies, procedures or other information within the organisation.

Unlike Interpersonal communication a memo report is presented to a large number of people. A memo has to be concise and concrete in terms of providing information.

One of the instances where you could be asked to write a memo report is in a lab. Here the audience for your memo report is your professor who has asked you to conduct an experiment and supply him with appropriate results.

PROGRESS REPORT- A progress report is a type of report which is written in order to inform a supervisor, associate, or customer about progress you’ve made on a project over a certain period of time.

A progress report must answer the following questions:

• What percentage of the work is complete?
• Which part of the work is currently being performed?
• Which sections of the work are yet to be completed?
• What unexpected problems have arisen in the project?
• What is the overall status of the project?
• How much more time will be required to complete the work?

STATUS REPORT- A status report is an informative piece of writing which keeps the clients, project managers, supervisors and team members up to date regarding a certain project.

It comprises of the efforts, progress and risk associated with a project. A project status report can be a weekly, monthly or quarterly formulated report.

A project status report may be used to:

• Streamline communication efforts across the organization and stakeholders
• Make it easier to gather and disseminate information about key elements of the project
• Ensure stakeholders have all necessary information for decision-making
• Amplify key messages and goals around the project
• Act as a logbook for past key events and actions

SURVEY REPORT-   A survey report is a document which elaborates the findings of a survey in an objective manner. Survey reports usually consist of detailed statistical analysis of the surveyed data divided into various sections. A survey report has no specific format and is curated as per the requirements of the surveyor.

Surveys can be conducted by means of questionnaires, door to door information gathering or by using internet surveying facilities. A survey report may be presented in factual form (numbers, percentages and proportions) along with its implications.

TRIP REPORT- A trip report is an informative document provided to one’s supervisor after their business travel. It includes the collection of events during the trip, the expenditure accrued during the trip and information regarding the purpose of the trip.

COMPLAINT REPORT- Many companies encourage the use of complaint reports as the proper method of formally stating a complaint. These reports are usually used to address unsatisfactory transactions or conditions concerning a company. Writing a complaint report properly is key to getting your concern heard and the problem remedied.

JOINING REPORT-   A joining report is a report written to the immediate supervisor or manager in the event of returning to work after a leave or vacation. These reports are the shortest kinds of report only intimating the supervisor of one’s return to the job. A joining letter on the other hand refers to a letter written by an individual to confirm his position where he is newly appointed to work at an organisation.

LABORATORY REPORT- A laboratory report is a formal, analytical and concise record of an experiment. The discussion of the experiment, the various procedures and the subsequent results obtained should be clear and specific enough that a reader could easily replicate the experiment. One of the main purposes of writing a laboratory report is to communicate the work done in the laboratory to the management on a regular basis. Another reason for writing a laboratory report is to record an experiment for the future and archive it.

Q8) What is data collection in technical writing? What are its sources?

A8)

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established systematic fashion, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. The data collection component of research is common to all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities and business.

While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that then translates to rich data analysis and allows the building of a convincing and credible answer to questions that have been posed.
Before going into the details, this was the two methods our group used to obtain the data on our research titled "Adjustment Challenges Faced by International Students Of UTHM".

SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION

Primary source

- your own data from own investigation

- very important especially when solving a problem or investigating an issue

METHOD of collecting primary data

Questionnaire 

Systematic compilation of questions that are distributed to an identified group of people through survey, mail phone or email. People who answered are called respondents

INTERVIEW

An interview is a conversation between two or more people where questions are asked by the interviewer to elicit facts or statements from the interviewee. Interviews are a standard part of qualitative research. They are also used in journalism and media reporting and in various employment-related contexts.

The qualitative research interview seeks to describe and the meanings of central themes in the life world of the subjects. The main task in interviewing is to understand the meaning of what the interviewees say. Interviewing, when considered as a method for conducting qualitative research, is a technique used to understand the experiences of others.

OBSERVATION AND EXPERIMENT

Informal observation by using eyes and ears based on the researcher visiting a facility or observe operations. A specific observation is done with a checklist on what to look out for. We can also run a few experiments on our test subject to see how they respond. It is very useful when studying objects physical activities the environment or human behaviour.

SAMPLING

In statistics, quality assurance, and survey methodology, sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate characteristics of the whole population. Each observation measures one or more properties (such as weight, location, color) of observable bodies distinguished as independent objects or individuals. 

n survey sampling, weights can be applied to the data to adjust for the sample design, particularly stratified sampling. Results from probability theory and statistical theory are employed to guide practice. In business and medical research, sampling is widely used for gathering information about a population.

Hence the randomness of a sample is important. Selecting respondents that would be represent the population of interests so that every member of the population has an equal probability to be chosen to participate in the research brings about a better, more accurate result of the study carried out.

Secondary source

As is the case in primary research, secondary data can be obtained from different research strands:

Prior documentation such as Census, housing, social security as well as electoral statistics and other related databases. Internet searches, libraries; progress reports; etc. It does not include interviews as this collect primary data for analysis to generate information

A clear benefit of using secondary data is that much of the background work needed has already been carried out, for example: literature reviews, case studies might have been carried out, published texts and statistics could have been already used elsewhere, media promotion and personal contacts have also been utilized.

This wealth of background work means that secondary data generally have a pre-established degree of validity and reliability which need not be re-examined by the researcher who is re-using such data.

Furthermore, secondary data can also be helpful in the research design of subsequent primary research and can provide a baseline with which the collected primary data results can be compared to. Therefore, it is always wise to begin any research activity with a review of the secondary data.

Q9) What is the need for clear and concise technical writing?

A9) Technical writing is the ability to simplify complex concepts for a specific audience. Great technical writing does more than just get the message across — it helps engage readers and motivate them to learn more about a subject.

Clear and concise technical writing is needed for Producing content that’s easily readable, engaging and logically segmented to draw reader interest. This is no simple task.

   Attributes of Technical Writing- Technical writing, just as any other form of writing, has certain characteristics which distinguish it from other types of writing. It is very different from writing opinion pieces, essays, prose, non-fiction or fiction.

   It is clear and straight forward. If you are interested in technical writing for professional purposes, it is very important to know that this type of writing requires that the writer stick to the subject matter and relay information in a clear and concise manner. 

   The language is very direct and straight to the point. The writing will avoid words that people do not understand and will avoid an eloquent writing style. 

   It is very detailed and informative. The perfect example of technical writing is   a textbook. The written content of most textbooks is geared to providing information by describing the subject matter as fully as possible. 

   It is very structured. This type of writing has a very obvious composition that makes it easy for the reader to follow along. Solid structure is needed with technical writing as it allows the audience to easily access the information as needed.

Q10) What are the benefits of technical writing?

A10) The benefits of technical writing are-

1. Clearer Communication-

A high-quality, well-versed documentation and manuals reflect well on your organization.  Readers will translate the level of competency revealed through the documentation onto your brand.  Contract technical writers help clarify complicated concepts through translating developer jargon into simpler language, helping your organization meet the needs of your target audience.

2. Awareness-

Technical writers consider content from the user’s perspective.  Technical writers are aware and know how to connect to your audience, and they have the special talent of understanding complex content from both the viewpoint of industry-experts and the average consumer.  They are capable of understanding the unique needs of your audience, which will allow them to create effective technical communications that will resonate well.

3. Reduced Costs

Professional technical writers have the skill and knowledge necessary to complete a coherent end-product faster with the specific needs of the product market in mind.  Eventually, well written and understood manuals will result into a reduction of service calls to your technical-support department.

4. Professional Formatting & Presentation

From the document layout and font to the appropriate size for charts, a technical writer is able to make your content look professional.  Your documentation is one element of many that complete your company brand.  It is just as much part of your product as its other features and should complement it accordingly.  Colours, styles, and logos can go a long way to making the documentation look like your documentation.

Q11) What is a precis writing? What a precis is not?

A11) A precise is like a miniature portrait of the passage: it retains the absolute essential points accompanied with the mood and tone of the author of the passage. The one aspect that needs to be taken care of is that one should not add one’s subjective interpretation or comments to the précis and should try to retain the original author’s voice and opinions. As far as the writing style is concerned, the writing should be clear with effective sentences (no rambling) and diction should be flawless. Ultimately, it is the coherence of the views presented in the précis that matters, and this can be achieved by making sure that one is concise and to the point. Unnecessarily long sentences should be avoided and the transition from one point to another should be smooth and consistent. Finally, the précis should make sense and be logical in its content and presentation. 

Precis Writing is a summary. It is an exercise of compression. A precis writing is a gist of any passage in as few words as possible. A precis should mention all important details of the original paragraph so that anyone who is reading it is able to understand the idea of the original passage.

While keeping the above in mind, you need to keep in mind what a precis is not. The following are some of things that should 'not' be a part of or a reflection of the precis:

• Simply a summary of a passage.
• Simply an abstract of a passage.
• An outline of a passage.
• a mere selection of a few important sentences from a passage.

Q12) What are the features of a good precis? What are the rules of precis writing?

A12) The features of a good precis are-

• Is marked by clarity, brevity and precision.
• Is not just lifting of the sentences from the original. It should be written in the precis writer's own words.
• Is a miniature version of the original passage.
• Must have a logical order and be well-knit and well connected.
• Must have coherence.
• Must use linking devices such as so, therefore, and, because further etc.
• Must follow the order of ideas of the original extract.
• Must have a title.
• Is written in reported speech.
• Must not contain any details not found in the original.

To avoid making any errors in writing a precis, follow a set of rules as mentioned below:

1. Read the comprehension carefully
2. Note down the important points
3. Make a rough draft of the precis
4. Make use of simple and precise language, as much as possible
5. Draft the final precis once all the points have been included 

Every year lakhs of candidates appear for the competitive exams conducted in our country. Out of those only a few are able to crack the exam and get appointed. Since most competitive exams have now become computer-based, the descriptive test is still checked offline.

Candidates must know that with thousands of entries that need to be checked, there are certain quick points which the examiner looks for and which may get the maximum marks for your precis writing. 

Q13) What are the Dos and Don’ts for precis writing?

A13) The Dos for precis writing are-

• Begin with the basic idea of the passage to make the precis convenient to read.
• Give a clear idea pertaining to what the reader is about to read.
• While reading the passage, make a note of all the important points and include them in the precis.
• Follow the main idea of the passage with the facts/points of improvement/ methods, etc. as mentioned in the comprehension.
• Include all the important keywords and terms which are used in the passage.
• Keep a track of the tenses you use. Data related to historical events of the past must be described in the past tense only.
• There must be a relation between the data you are writing in the precis. It should have some common links.

The Don’ts for precis writing are-

• The length of the precis must be shorter than the length of the passage.
• Do not overcomplicate the precis and use easy vocabulary.
• Do not make assumptions or add information in the precis as per your own imagination.
• Do not give your own opinion or criticism over the comprehension.
• Avoid using abbreviations.
• Do not enter statements in the question format in the precis.
• Don’t focus on any one point for very long. Keep the information as precise as possible.