Web Links
Explore these annotated web links (organized by chapter) to learn even more about topics covered in Successful Writing at Work.
Chapter 1: Getting Started: Writing and Your CareerGuide to Grammar and Writing
Award-winning site from Capital Community College, Hartford. Includes detailed tutorials on grammar and writing at the sentence, paragraph, and essay level; PowerPoint presentations and interactive quizzes; extensive links to writing-related sites; and an "Ask Grammar" feature where you can get answers to questions on grammar.
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm English as a Second Language Site
This site by Rong-Chang Li contains general information on writing and grammar as well as an extensive list of links relating specifically to Business English.
http://www.rong-chang.com/Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
This excellent site includes instructional handouts, extensive links to writing-related sites, help for ESL students, professional writing resources, and much more.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Online Technical Writing
Austin Community College
This comprehensive site includes information on many of the topics discussed in your textbook, including document design, business correspondence and resumes, proposals, instructions, oral presentations, the writing process, audience analysis, and team writing.
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/acctoc.html
Writing User-Friendly Documents
The Plain Language Action and Information Network
A guide to clear writing, originally produced by the National Partnership for Reinventing Government.
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/handbook/index.htm
Chapter 2: The Writing Process at Work
Wild Ideas Generator
Try using this tool to get your creative juices flowing before a brainstorming session. The generator creates random phrases consisting of an action word, a description, and an object name, such as "answer retail voices," "stop cellular workstations," "anticipate foreign forecasts," and so on.
http://www.brainstormingatwork.com/wildideas/index.html
MindGenius
Ygnius
This commercial software is designed to help both writers and business managers brainstorm and organize their ideas. Easily create mind maps and export them to Microsoft Word and other programs in map and/or outline form. You can download a full-featured evaluation copy that is good for twenty uses before a site license must be purchased.
http://www.mindgenius.com/
Collaborative Editing of Electronic Documents
University of Pittsburgh
This document provides a brief and accessible tutorial on using the Track Changes and Comments features of Microsoft Word for collaborative editing. This is an MS Word document.
http://training.cssd.pitt.edu/downloads/WordTrackChanges.doc
Track Changes to a Microsoft Word Document
Swarthmore College
Another easy tutorial on the Track Changes and Comments features of Microsoft Word--this one with instructions for the Macintosh version of Word. This is a pdf file and requires Acrobat® Reader to view.
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/wa/WA_Program/OWL/Tracking_Changes.pdf
Chapter 3: Writing Memos, Faxes, and E-Mail
Harness E-Mail
LearnTheNet.com
Articles and tutorials on how e-mail works, how to attach and open files, how to remove header information before forwarding an e-mail, e-mail netiquette, e-mail privacy, and more.
http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/email.html
Everything E-Mail
E-mail tips, glossary, services, software, and more.
http://everythingemail.net/
How Computer Viruses Work
A detailed discussion of traditional and e-mail computer viruses, with tips on protecting yourself (and the people in your address book!) from their damaging effects.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm
Fight Spam on the Internet
Anyone with an e-mail address is a target for unsolicited commercial e-mail, or "spam." This site details ways to avoid spam and various scams that may arrive in your e-mail inbox.
http://spam.abuse.net/
The International PGP Home Page
This site offers free downloads of the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software for use in encrypting e-mail.
http://www.pgpi.org/
Chapter 4: Writing Letters
Business Letters: Accentuating the Positive
Purdue University OWL
Tips for making business letters more effective by using positive language, even when you must present negative information.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_subnegmess.html
Interactive Business Letter Generator
Merit Software
A javascript interface takes users through a step-by-step letter writing process.
http://www.businessletterpunch.com/index.html
Chapter 5: How to Get a Job: Résumé, Letters, Applications, and Interviews
Resume Generator and TheRezWiz
Australia's Careers Online
The resume generator builds a basic resume with the essential elements and minimal formatting. The resume wizard (RezWiz) provides more options and (for a fee) a place to publish your resume online. The generator is free; a trial version of the RezWiz is available free for seven days.
Resume Generator:
http://www.careersonline.com.au/smartmoves/resume.html
The RezWiz:
http://www.therezwiz.com/
Internet Resumes
Instructions for producing ASCII and HTML resumes, protecting your privacy, and maximizing your exposure online. See also the "Dirty Dozen Online Job Search Mistakes" and other tips for using the Internet to find a job.
http://www.job-hunt.org/internetresume.shtml
Monster.com Resume Center
Resume samples, resume writing tips and quizzes, and more, targeted by industry.
http://resume.monster.com/
Video Resume Creator
Malli Software
This site lets you upload and store a video resume together with an MS Word version. All you need is a webcam. A free version is available for demonstration purposes.
http://www.videoresume.biz
Using the Internet to Get a Job
Oakton Community College
Tutorials on researching companies online, formatting and posting electronic resumes, evaluating Internet job sites, and more.
http://www.oakton.edu/resource/stuserv/netjobs/index.htmlCollege Gradhttp://www.collegegrad.com/
This site bills itself as the No. 1 entry-level job site. Includes job and resume postings as well as information on preparing for a job search, writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing, and negotiating salary.
Chapter 6: Designing Successful Documents and Visuals
Bizart.com
Free business clip art and photos.
http://www.bizart.com/
DesktopPublishing.com
Clip art, extensive links to graphics sites, and more.
http://www.desktoppublishing.com/open.html
Creating Good Web Sites
Samuel Marshall
The companion Web site to the author's Web design course. The site concentrates on design than technical details. Good introduction to the many skills required to successfully design Web sites.
http://www.leafdigital.com/class/
A List Apart
An invaluable Web design resource.
http://alistapart.com/index.html
Online Technical Writing
Austin Community College
This comprehensive site includes information on many of the topics discussed in your textbook, including document design, business correspondence and resumes, proposals, instructions, oral presentations, the writing process, audience analysis (with an interactive "audience planner"), and team writing.
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/acctoc.html Netscape's Resources for Creating Web Siteshttp://home.netscape.com/browsers/createsites/index.html
A great place for beginning Web designers. This site lets you download the Netscape HTML editor for free.
Getting Startedhttp://www.gettingstarted.net/
Tutorials and information for new Web designers.
WebReference Web Authoring Linkshttp://webreference.com/authoring/collections.html
List of links relating to Web design and development.
TechPubs Web Design Linkshttp://www.techpubs.com/resources.html#Tech_Writing
More design and development links, including professional associations, e-zines, and more.
Contentious
An e-zine for people who write for and publish online media.
http://www.contentious.comHiveware Enkoder Form 4.1
Use this encoder to generate code for your Web page that will mask your e-mail address from spambots.
http://www.hiveware.com/enkoder_form.php
Chapter 7: Writing Instructions and Procedures
No web links.
Chapter 8: Writing Effective Short Reports and Proposals
Business.com Business Research Links
Links to numerous sources of business information, such as market and industry studies and statistics, that could be used in short reports.
http://www.business.com/directory/management/strategic_planning/business_research/
Short Reports
Engineering Communication Centre at the University of Toronto
A site describing a general format for short reports of the type used in business and academia, which may be modified to suit specific needs.
http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~writing/handbook-shrtrept.html
Online Technical Writing: Progress Reports
Online tutorial with example progress reports.
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/progrep.html
Proposal Writing
The Foundation Center
A short online course in proposal writing, directed at grant seekers but with helpful information for anyone writing a proposal.
http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html
Grant-Writing Tutorial
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Purdue University
A comprehensive interactive tutorial on writing EPA grant proposals. Although aimed at a relatively narrow audience, the tutorial provides general information of use to all proposal writers (see especially the Mock Grant Writing Activity).
http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/grant.htm
Chapter 9: Writing Careful Long ReportsPurdue University Writing Lab
Examples of MLA and APA style, plus a very useful section on documenting electronic sources.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/Colorado State Documentation Tutorials
Particularly well laid out, easy-to-navigate site, with examples of MLA, APA, Chicago, and CBE styles.
http://writing.colostate.edu/references/sources/document/
Chapter 10: Making Successful Presentations at Work
Get Your Message Across: Proven Methods for Effective Business Presentations
Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University
Tips on providing information, gathering information, and persuading someone to make a decision or take an action.
http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/993/present.html
Presenters University
InFocus Corporation
Numerous free, informative articles ("Courses") and PowerPoint tutorials on content, delivery, and the use of visual aids in presentations. Free downloadable PowerPoint templates for use in designing presentations.
http://www.presentersuniversity.com
Designing Effective Oral Presentations
Rice University OWL
This tutorial examines the similarities between writing and speaking and offers tips on choosing a delivery style, using visual aids, enhancing audience comprehension, speaking to a multicultural audience, and more.
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~riceowl/oralpres.html
