ENG201 Lesson 3 Reader-Centered Writing

LESSON 3: Reader-Centered Writing
1. What are the five steps for writing a resume and application letter outlined in Lesson 3?
Answer: The five steps are defining your objectives, planning, drafting, evaluating, and revising.
2. In the context of a resume, what is a “functional resume”?
Answer: A functional resume is a resume that is organized around the applicant’s accomplishments and abilities, emphasizing the functions and tasks they can perform, rather than a chronological work history.
3. What is the primary task of a reader reviewing a stack of resumes in the first stage of recruiting?
Answer: The primary task is to quickly sort the applications to identify the few that merit additional consideration, often by finding reasons to disqualify most applicants.
4. According to the lesson, what three qualities do employers generally look for in an applicant?
Answer: Employers look for applicants who are capable, responsible, and pleasant.
5. What two elements does a persuasive argument in a resume consist of?
Answer: It consists of a claim (e.g., “I am a capable, responsible, pleasant person”) and evidence to support that claim (e.g., education, work experience).
6. What is the conventional placement for the name and professional objective on a resume?
Answer: They are conventionally placed at the top of the resume to provide immediate prominence.
7. When describing education on a resume, what basic evidence should always be included?
Answer: The basic evidence includes the name of the college, the degree earned, and the date of graduation.
8. What does the term “revision” literally mean in the context of writing?
Answer: Revision literally means “to see again,” which involves looking at the writing from a fresh, critical perspective.
9. Explain why it is important to define your objectives before you begin writing your resume.
Answer: Defining objectives forms the basis for all other writing steps by clarifying what you want the communication to achieve and how you want it to affect the reader.
10. Explain the difference between the readers in the first and second stages of the recruiting process.
Answer: In the first stage, readers are often from a personnel office who screen many resumes quickly. In the second stage, readers are managers from the specific department who know precisely what qualifications they need.
11. How can stating your professional objective help a potential employer?
Answer: It answers the reader’s question, “What exactly do you want to do?” and shows that you have a sense of direction and an interest in the specific kind of job they have.
12. Why is it a challenge to write a professional objective that is neither too general nor too specific?
Answer: A balance is needed so the objective is general enough to be sent to several companies, yet specific enough for a reader to see that you are targeting a particular kind of organization or role.
13. Explain the strategy of ordering job experience in reverse chronological order on a resume.
Answer: This strategy enables busy readers to see the most recent and typically most impressive job first, which is often the most relevant to the position being applied for.
14. How does the concept of “altering your audience’s attitudes” apply to writing a resume?
Answer: It involves shifting the reader’s attitude from a neutral state to a positive one where they view you as a capable, responsible, and pleasant candidate worthy of an interview.
15. Why is it important to consider the conventions of your field when designing your resume?
Answer: Conventions vary by field; conservative fields expect traditional resumes, while creative fields may accept unconventional formats. Adhering to expectations shows professionalism and understanding of the industry.
16. Describe one way to make academic honors more prominent on a resume.
Answer: Academic honors can be made more prominent by listing them in a separate section with its own heading, rather than burying them within the “Education” section.
17. What should you consider when “evaluating” your draft resume?
Answer: You should consider whether it’s really worth saying, if it says what you wanted to say, and if a reader will understand what you are saying and be persuaded by it.
18. A recent graduate with little work experience is applying for an entry-level marketing position. What type of resume might be most effective for them, and why?
Answer: A functional resume might be most effective because it would allow them to emphasize their relevant skills, coursework, and abilities (like leadership in university clubs) rather than their limited work history.
19. You are drafting the “Work Experience” section of your resume. Based on the lesson, what is one question you should ask yourself for each job listed?
Answer: I should ask, “What responsibilities and achievements in this job demonstrate that I am trustworthy and learned things relevant to the position I want?”
20. An applicant has a 3.8 GPA and was on the Dean’s List. According to the lesson, how should this information be presented in the “Education” section?
Answer: This information should be explicitly mentioned under the “Education” section, and if the honors are significant, they could be further highlighted in a separate “Honors” section for greater prominence.
21. You are revising your resume and notice a long paragraph describing a past job. What should you do, based on the principles of conciseness and reader attention?
Answer: I should break the paragraph into a bulleted list of key responsibilities and achievements, making it easier for a hurried reader to scan and grasp the most important points quickly.
22. A job seeker is applying for two different types of positions: a systems analyst and a technical writer. What should they do regarding their resume’s professional objective?
Answer: They should create two different versions of their resume, each with a professional objective tailored specifically to the respective job they are applying for.
23. Analyze the following professional objective from a resume: “To obtain a challenging position in a dynamic company where I can use my skills.” Why is this objective weak?
Answer: This objective is too vague and general. It does not tell the reader what specific kind of position the applicant wants or what specific skills they intend to use, failing to answer the reader’s key question.
24. You are describing your role as a “Team Lead” on your resume. What is one piece of evidence you could provide to support the claim that you are “responsible”?
Answer: I could state that I was “trusted with training new employees” or “given responsibility for a $10,000 budget,” as these are specific examples that demonstrate trustworthiness.
25. After drafting your resume, you ask a friend to review it. What specific instruction, based on the evaluation step, should you give them?
Answer: I should ask them to identify any parts that are confusing, irrelevant, or that do not effectively convince them that I am a capable and qualified candidate for the specific job I want.