Qingcen Dai Fiona 1003 W Aaron Drive Apt 2, State College, P

Qingcen Dai Fiona1003 W Aaron Drive Apt 2astate College Pa 16803

Qingcen Dai (Fiona) 1003 W. Aaron Drive, Apt 2A State College, PA, 16803 Section 031 Email: [email protected] Ms. McDonald 136 Ritenour Building State College, PA, 16801 Dear Ms. McDonald, As an international student, I’m not good at writing at all. Sometimes, I used very confusing words in my speech and writing because I can hardly find out the most appropriate words I should use.

Those awkward words always make my essays difficult for others to understand. With 4-month learning experience in ENGL 202D, I grasp many skills which can be used in business. In this class, I learned how to write memos as a business leader and how to complete a good resume to leave a good impression to the interviewer. These skills are really helpful in my future business life. There are also improvements of word choice and article structure.

Those improvements are really a big leap in my writing life. With a retrospect of this semester, we learned different types of business writing. In class, we learned concepts of business writing first and then extended those concepts into our assignments. Nearly every week, we completed essays on different topics. These assignments keep us improving and developing our skills. Also, the peer review in class is really helpful. Many of grammar mistakes can be identified by our classmates. Different thoughts and opinions can be shared during peer review, which helps us produce better final drafts. In my view, the process of creating a rough draft followed by a final draft provides a valuable opportunity to develop our papers thoroughly.

At the beginning of this semester, we learned how to write a memo. We watched a movie and identified communication skills demonstrated in it. Then, we summarized each part of the movie into small stories and added our own opinions with professional explanations of those communication skills. This assignment increased my summarization skills and taught me what concise messaging is. In an essay, reducing story length clarifies the main topic. As we prepared for the career fair in September, we learned how to enhance our resumes. We brought our resumes to class and received feedback from peers, which helped us refine our resumes to attract interviewers’ attention. This was a highly valuable experience that improved my resume’s effectiveness.

We learned how to make our resumes stand out among hundreds. We organized content by placing the most important information at the beginning and end of bullet points. These skills are crucial for making a memorable impression during interviews. During the course, I learned two concepts particularly useful: parallel structure and the correct use of pronouns. Before learning about parallel structure, I rarely paid attention to its use in my writing. Our class practice involved correcting mistakes in sentences, which clarified how parallel structure enhances the professionalism and clarity of writing. Similarly, we practiced identifying and fixing pronoun mistakes, which can significantly change the meaning of sentences. These lessons underscored the importance of using appropriate pronouns and structures to improve overall writing quality.

The skills acquired in class are not only useful professionally but also helped me understand the importance of teamwork. Our final assignment was a group project, providing practical experience in collaborative work. Each member was responsible for their part, demonstrating how individual responsibilities contribute to the success of the whole team. Sharing ideas and opinions, listening to others, and coordinating efforts increased our communication skills and fostered a positive group atmosphere. The presentation component further enhanced our public speaking and confidence, helping us manage nervousness and respond effectively in emergencies.

Personally, I participated less actively in class due to my difficulty understanding concepts quickly and my shyness. I often listen more than speak, which limited my involvement initially. However, through group activities and discussions, I gradually became more outgoing and confident in communicating with classmates. These experiences have helped improve my participation and interaction skills significantly. I have also learned many concepts and practical skills that were not explicitly mentioned in my letter.

Having taken this class with you has been a valuable opportunity. I have gained a wide range of professional writing skills essential for future business endeavors. These skills have increased my confidence in academic writing and equipped me with practical techniques applicable in professional environments. Overall, I am grateful for this experience, which has enriched my understanding of business communication and enhanced my personal development. I look forward to applying these skills in my future career and appreciate the support provided during the course.

Paper For Above instruction

Participating in a business writing course like ENGL 202D has profoundly impacted my academic and professional development, especially as an international student navigating the complexities of English communication. My journey through this course has transformed my writing ability, introduced me to vital professional skills, and fostered personal growth through teamwork and active participation. This essay explores how the course's content and activities have benefited me and how I plan to utilize these skills in future business contexts.

Initially, my proficiency in English limited my ability to communicate effectively in writing. I often struggled with expression clarity, choosing unfamiliar or confusing words that hindered the reader's understanding. Recognizing these challenges, I was eager to improve through the structured curriculum of ENGL 202D. The course's focus on business communication provided practical skills, such as memo writing and resume creation, which are crucial in the professional world. Learning how to craft concise, clear messages in memos helped me understand the importance of quick, effective communication, essential for business leaders. Additionally, developing a well-structured resume taught me how to highlight my strengths and organize information compellingly, increasing my chances of making a good impression during career fairs and interviews.

The coursework, assignments, and peer review sessions significantly contributed to my progress. Assignments on different topics encouraged continuous practice and reflection. The peer reviews offered constructive feedback, helping me identify and correct grammatical mistakes and improve sentence clarity. This collaborative process bonded me with classmates and taught me the value of different perspectives in refining my work. Moreover, revisions through rough and final drafts demonstrated the importance of iteration in producing high-quality writing, mirroring real-world professional editing processes.

One pivotal lesson was understanding the concept of parallel structure. Before the course, I rarely paid attention to sentence balance or grammatical symmetry. The practice exercises clarified how parallelism enhances readability and professionalism. For example, unbalanced sentences sound awkward and diminish the credibility of the writer. Correcting mistakes, I realized, made my writing smoother and more persuasive. Similarly, correct pronoun use is critical to avoid ambiguity. Misinformed pronouns can lead to misunderstandings, which I learned through class exercises. These technical skills are practical and immediately applicable in composing professional emails, reports, and proposals, ensuring clarity and accuracy.

Furthermore, the course emphasized teamwork's importance in business environments. Our final group project simulated real-world collaboration, requiring responsibilities sharing and collective effort. Working closely with teammates, communicating ideas, and listening to feedback fostered my interpersonal skills. The group presentation, in particular, improved my public speaking and confidence. I learned how to organize thoughts clearly under pressure, manage nervousness, and handle unexpected questions, valuable skills for future leadership roles.

Despite my initial hesitations, participating in team activities gradually made me more outgoing. My shyness reduced as I engaged more actively in discussions and group tasks. This personal growth is an essential gain from the class, alongside the technical skills acquired. I now better understand my strengths and areas for improvement, especially regarding effective communication and collaboration.

In conclusion, ENGL 202D has been instrumental in preparing me for future business pursuits. The course has equipped me with essential writing skills, such as memo writing, resume optimization, proper grammatical structure, and teamwork. These competencies are vital for professional success and personal development. I am grateful for this learning experience, which has boosted my confidence and capability in business communication. Moving forward, I am eager to apply these skills in internships, jobs, and future career endeavors, ensuring I leave a positive, lasting impression in the professional world.

References

• Guffey, M. E., & Loewy, D. (2018). Business communication: Process and production (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills. University of Michigan Press.
• Locker, K. O., & Kaczmarek, S. K. (2018). Business and administrative communication (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2008). The craft of research (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
• Alred, G. J., Brusaw, C. T., & Oliu, W. E. (2018). The business writer's companion (8th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Baron, N. S. (2018). Language and gender in the workplace. Routledge.
• Hoffman, L., & Vogt, K. (2019). Professional communication skills for business success. Sage Publications.
• Hughes, R., & Haynes, J. (2019). Resume magic: Trade secrets of a top-Level resume writer. Impact Publications.
• Truss, L. (2003). Eats, shoots & leaves: The zero tolerance approach to punctuation. Gotham Books.
• Higham, T. (2014). Communicating in the workplace. Oxford University Press.