- http://guffey.swlearning.com
Guffey's Home Page and Connections are also found in the textbook foreword as well as my dedication and foreword page in the Syllabus. However, she and George, her husband and webmaster, have recently updated the pages, and this link proves more fruitful to reach immediately exercises and other activities associated with each chapter. Guffey's Xtra transports students to PowerPoint slides, online bonus chapters, and special supplements, such as Personal Language Trainer, Speak Right, Spell Right!, and Sentence Competency Exercises. Click on the "arrow button" provided you.
When you want to do the chapter review quizzes for the latest edition of her text, you should first scroll down and find Chapter Review Quizzes at the bottom of the screen. Click on that and then select the chapter number that pertains to the quiz you want. Find that chapter with the pull-down menu of chapter quizzes. Then, click to the left on the displayed menu with Chapter Review Quizzes. Read the Guffey instructions carefully before beginning. When you have finished the quiz, submit your original quiz (one shot) to me on an attached e-mail. Make sure you include the score earned. Click the Review Button when you are ready to send your e-mail. Remember, at that point, you cannot go back and change any answers.
All these links are from the Learning Resource Center and help you in numerous ways. - http://www.csun.edu:80/~hflrc006/ep2.html
This site allows you to check for resources for grammar and usage.
- http://www.csun.edu:80/~hflrc006/ep19d.html
- http://www.csun.edu:80/~hrlrc006/ep2ad.html
- http://www.csun.edu:80/~hflrc006/ep2xe.html
English as a second language greets you on this site.
You want to find out how to use a bibliographical entry for an article from the Internet. When you use this link, please adapt to the Turabian format. This link from Purdue University will help you solve this problem, especially "Citing Electronic Sources." You will also find the MLA and APA styles.
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/by-topic.html#research
OWLs (online writing laboratories) always interest us in business communication. You probably already know about one of the oldest and best OWL at Purdue University. In addition, many universities are creating their own OWLs with their students and in conjunction with current writing courses. One such OWL, I would recommend, is the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, a branch of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Professor Barry Ousley, Writing Center Tutor Coordinator, has given permission to provide this link. On this site the writing authors include a grammar hotline as well as helpful hints on many phrases of grammar and punctuation. You will find how to solve parallelism, troublesome pronouns, danging modifiers, and sections on punctuation. Visit this excellent grammar and punctuation site for more assistance. Certain writing books are also referred to on this web site.
The Language Always Needs Attention
This site allows you to express slang around the world (Australia, for example).
- http://www.slanguage.com
Look on these pages for evidences of Word Watch
ABC Helps Students Win Writing Prizes
About the Year 2002 the Association for Business Communication, a professional organization composed of professors, teachers, trainers, and practitioners of that subject started a competition for college students with a case study. In the early years, only one first-place student was invited to the convention of the Association. Within the last year, three cash prizes have been awarded to the first place ($300), second place ($200), and third place ($100). Usually, students are asked to react to a case problem requiring special memos and letters. For the year 2004 entries dealt with a customer service issue. The cases are submitted by professors who are interested in causing students to think clearly and write persuasively about solving communication problems. Within the last two years (2003 and 2004) Cal State Northridge has placed two finalists.
Please check the website and look for Student Award Winners and link by scrolling to Finalists for ABC Writing Contest. You can also look back on previous finalists from Northridge. The competition continues to breathe life about the importance of business writing into our college and throughout the nation. Your instructor will select two entries from each class of outstanding students who will be pemitted to enter the competition (Announcement around November). Please consider this competition worthy of your efforts during the semester.
Verbivores Are Here to Stay
Richard Lederer, the famous writer of Anguished English and Fractured English books, has given permission to visit his web site and enjoy the English language at http://www.verbivore.com. Richard Lederer is the originator of the word, verbivore. You may also want to check Google or an appropriate search engine for Pun of the Day. Many sources also contain Richard Lederer's books.
You may remember one of my sites is called "Becoming a Verbivore." Richard Lederer has given you that opportunity to devour the English language. Don't forget he wrote a periodic column in Writer's Digest that always addressed issues in the language. You are in for a real treat by visiting his web site.
These sites allow you to think about writing clearly. Also, look for logical fallacies and how to overcome them.
Experience In Flow for Yourself
Do you want to capture that inspiration that will so absorb you that you can't stop writing? Then, you should visit the link about In Flow and see the many service Dr. Susan Perry and her husband offer the writing public. If you ever have a chance to hear Dr. Perry and her keys to enhanced creativity, go and listen to her ideas that help artists, writers, musicians, and anyone with a creative bent.
Grammar Snobs Represent Real Meanies
June Casagrande, a columnist on "A Word, Please" for weekly papers of the Los Angeles Times, (such as Glendale and Thousand Oaks)has recently written a superb book on the in's and out's of grammar. June originally worked for Newport Beach, California community paper associated with the Los Angeles Times. Her book entitled Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun & Spite already has made a major impact on my thinking about
You will enjoy finding June's Web site and seeing her "smart-alecky" but sharp analysis of the English language, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You may be so entranced with her thoughts that you consider purchasing her book.
Jon's Home School Reveals Writing Resources
Don't be surprised if you find excellent sources in the most unusual places Check out Jon's Home School Resources for hints on logical fallacies and other thoughts about writing.
You May Want to Know about Bad Writing Contest
As you would expect, I have discovered additional sources that make the knowledge of writing enjoyable. In Dutton's web page, Professor Dutton, a professor of art and philosophy from New Zealand, provides column after column of useful information about writing and philosophy. Professor Denis Dutton has graciously given permission to link his excellent pages with my Hotlinks. He even includes a link under Amusements about his famous Bad Writing Contest. Here a correspondent submits an opening example of bad writing from a professional journal or magazine. The entries are judged once a year, and the best(worst) examples are placed on the Web. The contest is sponsored by the scholarly journal, Philosophy and Literature.
Definitely check out this link for up-to-date columns and just humorous tidbits about how people use and misuse the language.CDI Makes Timely Appearance
Within the time span of about Year 2000, a new and potent organization started to help resume services, resume writing professionals, trainers and educators as well as government agencies. This organization took the name Professional Resume Writing and Research Association (PRWRA), now called Career Directors International (CDI).. You may see their website at www.careerdirectors.com. However, we may be especially interested in branches of their website, Career Research and Ethics & Standards. This organization has just formed its own Research Committee and plans to complete major projects in the future. You should be aware of the impact of CDI.
Government Links Aid Understanding of Plain Language
The Federal Government is continuing its push for plain language in all documents sent to the public. This effort started with the Carter Administration, and the Al Gore Gobbledygook Award (during the Clinton Administration) was given to that federal agency that exhibited the best use of plain language in its documents. Are you aware President Clinton, when he was president, hired a plain language specialist who checked the documents issued from the Executive Branch? Your first link for finding more about plain language takes you to a government link with Plain Language Guidelines and the Plain Language Network (PLAN. In the next instance, you need to check the Securities and Exchange Commission for its plain language efforts. These efforts involve insisting that publicly traded companies write their prospectuses and other investment reports in plain language for the average investment reader. As I understand it, the SEC took about two years to revise its plain language guidelines. You may also take a look at the handbook on the SEC publications link. I encourage you to think about how far the Plain English Movement has progressed and how far it still needs to go.
- http://www.jobhuntersbible.com
Sara Cormeny, Online Producer for the well-known newspaper, Washington Post, and Jamie Hammond, Parachute area editor, have given permission for this link to discussion group about career searches and ideas from Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, one of the definitive studies of career and job search.Adams Publishing Company and Martin Yate have given permission to link their site with our material. You may know Mr. Yate as the inventor of the Knock 'Em Dead concept of employment communications. His books, Knock 'Em Dead Resumes, Knock 'Em Dead Cover Letters, and Knock 'Em Dead(about job interviewing and the questions), have received wide circulation. I always recommend to my students to own at least one interviewing book, preferably Knock 'Em Dead, in its various editions. Please check out the following site for more help with resumes, application/cover letters, and job interviewing: http://www.knockemdead.com
Martin Yate has given us outstanding help in the previous three categories.
Check this site for formats of application/cover letters, resumes, and theses, for examples.
Check That Inspiration Software
- www.inspiration.com
Home page for Inspiration Software with Frequently Asked Questions and Downloading Demo is now available.
Try the Miscellaneous: Humor, Writers' Guild, and Pac Bell
- http://www.kn.pacbell.com
Pac Bell's site now exists that costs $100,000,000 as a conservative estimate for the Education First Initiative. Also, you may note all kinds of library links.
- http://www.roker.com
Also, you will find an enjoyable time with Al Roker (the famous weather person from NBC) and his home page. He even features a cartoon that often has business communication implications.
- http://www.wga.org
Discoveries continue to be made on the Web. Lately, I found a fun home page on the Writers' Guild of America. You recognize that organization as working with screenwriters and other folks. For those of you interested, you will find research links, craft of writing, and tools of the trade.
Readability and Graphics Help the Format
Sometimes you may want to check out a readability link, such as the one for the Fog Index. At the moment, we are lucky enough to have been granted permission from one major source for two different links. Please refer to the following link from the Bonneville Power Administration. This agency has created its own on-line employee house organ, Circuit, that recently devoted a considerable portion of the issue to the Plain Language Action Network. You should look for the link and article, "Write to Reach Your Readers." In addition to this fascinating discussion, several points were made about the Gunning Fog Index. Scroll down and Find 4. The Fog Index for much more discussion. You should definitely read this link when you are doing your readability indexes.
- http://www.will-harris.com
Graphic design considerably affects the makeup of any page of business communication. I have secured permission from Daniel Will-Harris to check out fonts and desktop publishing on his excellent pages.
- http://www.razorfish.com/bluedot/typo
Sometimes you just want to become adventuresome on the Web. Try out the typographic link. It will introduce you to the history of typography and what those fonts mean. Check the glossary and the bibliography, too.
Help with the Proficiency Exam Exists
- http://www.csun.edu/~udwpe1
Each semester students are warned about taking the one-hour writing proficiency exam before graduating. Because our 105 no longer emphasizes the tryout exam, I would like to share a university website that gives you suggested exam writing and the requirements.
You Asked about Learning HTML
Students continue to ask me for sites about learning HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Cnet, a part of the television program, TV.com, has created a web site by Donald St. John that explains the basics of HTML in understandable language:Don't forget Guffey has added new material about HTML, and she may have a site on HTML learning. Please check out.
Technologist Alan Levine from Maricopa College has given permission to link his excellent HTML tutoring site for you to quickly learn some HTML. You will find the most helpful hints under "Writing HTML" and "How to be a Webhound." I have been particularly impressed with the lessons under "Writing HTML" about blockquote, frames, and tables.Ignore Etiquette and Fashion at Your Peril
Mrs. Letitia Baldrige, the guru of executive manners, has graciously given permission to use her link on these pages. I think you will enjoy looking at Mrs. Baldrige's home page where she details in one segment how to properly act at a cocktail party. You may enjoy reading this link as you go to Meet the Firms night and similar events:Letitia Baldrige also details her books and other archives for improving one's etiquette in any social or business situation.
- http://mainfloor.com
Tying a Tie Has to be Learned
Suppose you want to check out the latest collegiate fashions or find out what is appropriate to wear to a job interview as a uniform. You want to know the latest fashions. Please check out this link.
Just when I thought most of the links on fashion had been exhausted, I found a link on tying one's tie for the men or the ladies in your life. Do you know what a four-in-hand tie is? Do you know what a windsor knot is? Do you know what kind of knot the 40th President, Ronald Reagan, used for his ties? Go to the tie link and learn how to tie a tie by Johann-Caspar Isemer. - http://www.jobhuntersbible.com
The following hot links should assist your efforts to improve writing skills:
Guffey Needs First Attention
Send me an e-mail at jay.christensen@csun.edu
Please refer back to my home page for further help with assignments and other hyperlinks.
(c)Ideas copyright, All Rights Reserved, G. Jay Christensen
Last updated May 25, 2006