The “Other” Parts of Munter: Those we have not focused on. Lecture 8

“Other” subjects Email Active/Passive voice Headings and Subheadings Editing (修改) Commas(,) and quotation marks (“xxx”)

Email Email skills ESSENTIAL Know how formal to be Be clear and efficient Use skills we have talked about before even for short emails Do as others in your company do Always be polite

Bad Business Emails Don’t show reader proper respect Are not clear Use poor English Say things they should not Destroy your credibility (信用度)

Good Business Emails Make the point clear Leave reader without doubts Use proper English Do not contain extra information Do as others in your company do

Always Be Polite (emails) Think of how your words might be misunderstood (jokes etc.) Use words like -please, thanks Consider offering limited emotional support -I know you have been working hard recently, but…..

Active/Passive Voice Passive Voice: “The report was completed yesterday.” “The report was completed yesterday by me.” “A mistake was made.” Active Voice: “I completed the report yesterday.” “I made a mistake.”

Passive Voice Used to: -avoid responsibility -transition -when responsibility is unclear Frequent Problems: -more difficult to read -less clear

Active Voice Uses: -make writing more engaging -make writing less formal -makes responsibility clear -saves time and energy Possible problems: -not always important to know who did what… -sometimes formality is important

Headings and Subheadings For reports/proposals To help organize info When reader might just read parts When frequent reviews are needed Should be clear and consistent

Editing (修改) Focus on writing first Edit for: - audience - credibility - organization - proper English - ease of reading - efficiency of content Don’t forget anything we have talked about.

It helps too… Revise several times -looking for different problems each time Ask others for opinions Wait a while before editing Be well-organized to begin with

Commas Commas create a pause and often prevent misunderstanding. To put two sentences together (connected by and, or, yet, not, but, so, however…): - I don’t like computers, but he likes them. 2) For somewhat extra information: - Jerry, the oldest brother, is there now.

Commas 3) To introduce people - Mr. Miller, our company secretary, is here. 4) For a list -I like grapes, pumpkin pie, barbequed chicken, and hamburgers. 5) For information that creates context (especially when followed by a noun) Furthermore, I don’t have time.

Quotation Marks To quote from a book, person, etc.: -In reply, he said, “I don’t eat meat.” To emphasize special meaning of a word: -It always seems like she is too “busy” to help. -Five hundred years ago we “knew” that dragons existed.

For more info. For more info. (information): Munter: Appendix (附录) D