To me, the word revision evokes memories and visions of meticulously going over each line in a composition, looking at it, checking it for grammar and competency, and then moving on to the next one. For many writers, revision can beocme a dreaded porcess, especially when you've arrived to the point where you've come to believe that it can never be good enough. There is a point where writing is fine, but it only arrives after you've gotten the rievisions done first. I think of revisions as a sometimes-painful experience, but one that is necessary. As with actual writing, the hardest part of revising is just before the act itself, when you have to force yourself to jump in and get to work. When I think of revision, I see a chance to improve something, though this usually doesn't go without a serious investment of energy and attention.
My revision technique is simple: I meticulously go over EACH line in my composition, sometimes two or even three times per line, and I correct any grammatical mistakes or irregularities in tone that I see. While this method is extremely effective, it takes a lot of time to go through each sentence, but it works well, usually leaving me with a paper free of spelling errors and almost free of tonal or contextual errors. It can take me a few hours to revise a paper, but when it's done, my meticulous edits have left it as perfect as I as a human writer can get it to be. This method, again, is very effective, but I'm not sure how time-efficient it is. Regardless, it leaves me with much better work, so I can't complain. I'm also always lookng for new ways to edit and revise my stuff, though. This form of editing also requires commitments in the form of scheduling; one or two hours to edit is a long time.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Peer Reviews
I've never had a positive peer review experience before. They've always been a pain in the ass, for various reasons. Two experiences in particular come to mind:
When I was in high school, I had to have a peer review my paper on the Great Gatsby. The tragedy of this exercise lay not in its format but in that this was a subjective review. We weren't grading each other on grammar and flow of writing, but our own opinions (our teacher seemed to suffer from a lack of common sense, and as a consequence, so did we). Our discussion on the opinions of the book quickly became a heated argument. I think I could have made this experience better by trying to keep the conversation positive, but the exercise was such a bad idea from the start that even this seems a distant solution.
Now, let's talk about something more recent. I think that the number-one fear in peer reviews is that your partner for the review is either incompetent or not truly listening. Two years ago I wrote a research paper on the Mammoth, and had to have it peer-reviewed with a girl in the class. This experience was negative because my peer was not engaged or interested in the paper. She skimmed it, took breaks to talk to a friend or text on her phone, and gave me the most generic advice a writer can hear: "It's good, but you need to put more of your opinion in it." Naturally I hated her on the spot, but I think I could have made the experience better by asking her more direct questions about the paper (ex: how do you think such a sentence flows in conjunction with this sentence) as opposed to "does it have nice flow?" so, the experience was partially my fault, but the exercise went badly. A peer review can only work if both peers are actually engaged and caring about the review. This experience was a bad one because she was neither engaged nor caring.
When I was in high school, I had to have a peer review my paper on the Great Gatsby. The tragedy of this exercise lay not in its format but in that this was a subjective review. We weren't grading each other on grammar and flow of writing, but our own opinions (our teacher seemed to suffer from a lack of common sense, and as a consequence, so did we). Our discussion on the opinions of the book quickly became a heated argument. I think I could have made this experience better by trying to keep the conversation positive, but the exercise was such a bad idea from the start that even this seems a distant solution.
Now, let's talk about something more recent. I think that the number-one fear in peer reviews is that your partner for the review is either incompetent or not truly listening. Two years ago I wrote a research paper on the Mammoth, and had to have it peer-reviewed with a girl in the class. This experience was negative because my peer was not engaged or interested in the paper. She skimmed it, took breaks to talk to a friend or text on her phone, and gave me the most generic advice a writer can hear: "It's good, but you need to put more of your opinion in it." Naturally I hated her on the spot, but I think I could have made the experience better by asking her more direct questions about the paper (ex: how do you think such a sentence flows in conjunction with this sentence) as opposed to "does it have nice flow?" so, the experience was partially my fault, but the exercise went badly. A peer review can only work if both peers are actually engaged and caring about the review. This experience was a bad one because she was neither engaged nor caring.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Ideas for the CWC
Ian Coppock
CWC: Ideas
Organization One: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
1: What is the name of a potential organization contact?
NAMI is a nationwide group that advocates for those who live with mental illnesses, such as depression, severe anxiety, and bi-polar disorder. They are a nonprofit, grassroots group seeking to improve awareness of and outreach for this community, and educate a broad audience on these topics. Amber Watkins is the foremost representative of the organization’s operations in Utah, and would likely be my first contact for the CWC.
2: Who are the potential audiences of documents you may create for the project? (this is likely one or two of the target audiences of the organization)
The largest group of people that NAMI reaches out to is those in need of treatment, who, for various reasons, are unable or unwilling to attain it. This is a surprisingly large audience; a few months ago I learned that they reach out to dozens, sometimes hundreds of people in the greater Salt Lake area on a monthly basis. NAMI also reaches out to relatives of those in need of treatment; both groups actually comprise a larger, linked audience, as these problems affect more than just one person. Their ultimate goal, one that I share, is reaching out to people who need help.
3: What kind of responses do you want from the audiences after they have read your documents?
I struggle with mental illness myself, so I have an innate interest in spreading awareness of these issues to those who might need treatment. I know that reaching out for help can seem foreign and scary, but I want to inspire my audience to take action. I want people who may have these problems to become inspired to action after reading my documents, and I want their friends and relatives to become impassioned about helping. My chief goal is to inspire those in need to seek help, but when you reach out to everyday people, those free of mental illness, their outreach and support to people in need can become as invaluable a factor in their recovery as medicine and therapy.
4: What research have you done so far?
NAMI advocates for many mental health issues but focus especially on depression and anxiety. I discovered this group when I was a patient in a psychiatric ward a few months ago, and have been interested in their activities ever since. NAMI is spread across Utah and they put together a variety of events meant to advocate for this sort of thing. They have surprising resources, considering that they are a nonprofit, and they are very committed to spreading their views and advocacy everywhere they can.
5: Why did you choose this idea/organization?
As I’ve said, I struggle with mental illness too. NAMI appealed to me because a worker of theirs helped me in my time of need, reaching out on a personal level by asking me how I was feeling. NAMI is rare because they are a grassroots organization dedicated to help on a personal level, and not just a medical one. This appeals to me because both kinds of help are equally effective. These diseases cause enough pain and trouble on their own, but to live in a society where these things go largely unexamined can produce an excruciating feeling of isolation. I want to bridge that gap of understanding, bringing the people who can help to those who feel that no help is coming. I’ve accomplished this myself in the past, reaching out to other people, and they’ve been happy to break the feeling of isolation that stems from these afflictions. I chose to write for these organizations because the gap can be bridged; I know it can be done.
6: What questions would you ask your potential contact in an interview? (you need to list at least 10 questions for each contact—they may repeat as appropriate but should be customized for the
individuals).
Questions for Amber Watkins:
Tell me about yourself and this organization?
Does NAMI still advocate primarily for treatment of anxiety and depression, or do they seek to spread their resources evenly across multiple fields?
What resources does NAMI have? Where do you find you hit the most roadblocks in advocating for mental health patients and illness victims?
How active is NAMI here in Salt Lake? What activities do they put on to advocate for mental health?
How much outreach does NAMI conduct? How do you spread your agenda to people who need help or these individuals’ relatives?
Are there other resources and organizations that you ally yourself with to have better outreach? What are these other resources?
How effective would you say your outreach to people with mental illness has been in the past?
How effective would you say your outreach to the relatives of mental illness victims has been in the past?
What sorts of media and writing do you want? What have you found to be most effective?
How can I help you? What kind of writing can I produce to help your organization reach its goals?
Organization Two: Utah Mental Health Counselors Association
1: What is the name of a potential organization contact?
The UMHCA is an association of professional mental health counselors who partner with grassroots workers and families to provide support and advocacy for mental illness awareness, especially treatment of anxiety and depression. These individuals command impressive resources but have stated that help is always accepted. Paul Carver, the organization’s president, is the gatekeeper of UMHCA, and has stated his willingness to accept help for his organization’s cause.
2: Who are the potential audiences of documents you may create for the project? (this is likely one or two of the target audiences of the organization)
UMHCA’s primary audience is people who have just accepted or are thinking of accepting treatment. The organization typically assumes that those who approach it, be they potential patients or newly-minted patients, have at least admitted their problems, but will gladly compensate for individuals who may not know exactly where to begin. These detached people, either just on the road to recovery or close to it, are the target audience of this organization. I feel an attachment to this group, having been there before. It is a target audience I would enjoy writing for.
3: What kind of responses do you want from the audiences after they have read your documents?
I struggle with mental illness myself, so I have an innate interest in spreading awareness of treatment initiatives to the public. The beginning of treatment can be a directionless and confusing time, and I want to generate a response of hope and determination from those who read my documents. I think that if I can give people a sense of hope in that treatment is a good thing, and not as scary as it may first appear, that’s the most I can ask and strive towards in my documents.
4: What research have you done so far?
This association has a lot of credentials, but they seemed to be strapped for media; even I, who have spent plenty of time in psychology and mental health circles, hadn’t heard of them until my therapist mentioned them a few weeks ago (he’s a member). What I know is that they are a two-part organization, comprising professionals and volunteers, but the former vastly outweighs the latter. They want to spread advocacy of their cause, which is to ensure mental health in any capacity for any person, but lack publicity. This is one of the reasons I became attracted to this organization; I want to help them.
5: Why did you choose this idea/organization?
People who decide to enter treatment are making the right decision, but starting on this brave new road can be confusing and disorienting. I chose this organization because I see value in providing direction for these people. I didn’t receive any direction when I was first treated for depression; I had to discover these things for myself. I want to let people know that setting a path to a brighter future, while certainly labor-intensive, is by far the best way to assure a better tomorrow. I chose this organization because they accept those who have just begun on this high road, and I want to contribute to their cause in any way I can.
6: Questions for Paul Carver:
Tell me about yourself and this organization?
Are there specific causes and illnesses that UMHCA advocates for, or do they seek to spread their resources evenly across multiple fields?
What resources does UMHCA have? Where do you find you hit the most roadblocks in advocating for mental health patients and people who have just entered treatment?
How active is UMHCA here in Salt Lake? What activities do they put on to advocate for mental health and provide direction for new patients?
How much outreach does UMHCA conduct? How do you spread your agenda to new patients and their families?
Are there other resources and organizations that you ally yourself with to have better outreach? What are these other resources?
How effective would you say your outreach to people who have just entered treatment been in the past?
How effective would you say your outreach to the friends and relatives of new patients has been in the past?
What sorts of media and writing do you want? What have you found to be most effective?
How can I help you? What kind of writing can I produce to help your organization reach its goals?
Organization Three: University Neuropsychiatric Institute
1: What is the name of a potential organization contact?
UNI is a neuropsychiatric hospital responsible for much of the mental medical care throughout Salt Lake City. Based in the University of Utah, it is a publically-chartered institution with a full medical facility, numerous academic opportunities, and, of course, a growing need for advocacy for mental health patients. The best place to start for my purposes would be their volunteering office. No specific name was given.
2: Who are the potential audiences of documents you may create for the project? (this is likely one or two of the target audiences of the organization)
UNI’s largest audience is people who have severe mental health problems that should seek immediate treatment to prevent severe injury or even death. While admittedly small, I learned during my time in this audience that the number of people with dangerous mental illnesses is growing across the United States, including here in Salt Lake City. Many of these people have faced trauma in their daily lives, and may be mistrustful of or unable to reach out for themselves. UNI seeks to help them along the road to recovery.
3: What kind of responses do you want from the audiences after they have read your documents?
I’ve been in UNI’s target audience. I know that approaching a large hospital for aid can be extremely intimidating, but, for my own sake, it was absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the people who need the most help are usually the ones who will not or cannot reach out to this organization for aid. I want people to want to get the help they need by reading my documents. I have credibility, in that I’ve occupied their position in the not-so-distant past, and I know every step of every emotion coursing through them when they’re weighing these decisions. That’s why I want to write documents for UNI. I want to tell people it’s okay to get treatment, but most of all, I want them to respond with acknowledgement and the courage to make the decision on their own.
4: What research have you done so far?
I stayed at UNI for an extensive period of time not so long ago, and the visit was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. This organization is extremely committed to treating patients who are severely mentally ill, and provides them with extensive comfort and counseling along the way. UNI has a healthy supply of volunteers, but they’re largely unknown outside medical students or the families of admitted patients. There’s a lot of good that could be done by writing for UNI and spreading their information to those who need their services. I think that, by spreading their goals and advocacy (as well as their services) to other people, there could be a mutual gain of publicity on their side and life-changing care on the patient’s side.
5: Why did you choose this idea/organization?
I chose this organization because I received the information I used to realize that treatment was necessary. The person who provided the information to me was a doctor of mine, and the man I credit for helping me turn my life around. I chose this organization because, through them, I was able to get my own life back on track, and befriend a few other people who had displayed the courage and strength of character to accept help from another person. I chose this organization because I want to contribute to this mission in any way I can, by encouraging people who occupy the position I was once in to accept the tools necessary to rebuild their lives.
6: Questions for UNI Volunteering Coordinator
Tell me about yourself and this organization’s outreach?
How is it that UNI advocates for victims of severe mental illness? How strongly do you focus on anxiety and depression?
What resources does UNI have? Where do you find you hit the most roadblocks in reaching out to those in need of help from you?
How active is UNI here in Salt Lake? What activities do they put on to advocate for mental health?
How much outreach does NAMI conduct? How do you reach out to victims of severe mental illness?
Are there other resources and organizations that you ally yourself with to have better outreaches? What are these other resources?
How effective would you say your outreach to people with mental illness has been in the past?
How effective would you say your outreach to everyday people and relatives of the mentally ill has been in the past?
What sorts of media and writing do you want? What have you found to be most effective?
How can I help you? What kind of writing can I produce to help your organization reach its goals?
Changing the World
There are a lot of ideas that I want to share with other people, ideas that I've been developing and writing about for over a decade. My book, if it can be called that at this point, is Azarren, a fictional story about five sapient species of creatures living together on a distant planet in a faraway galaxy. These creatures have pioneered amazing technologies, from solar-powered airships to seismic weaponry and computers powered by motoplasm, a gelatinous substance manipulated and molded like DNA. These five Azarren species live together in an Empire that's over 10,000 years old, and for those ten millennia they have overcome every challenge imaginable and emerged stronger because of it. I want to share these ideas because I think they reflect creativity, and I want to share them to make people's minds move and use their own perspectives. But this is the trivial part of the story.
The book is set in the Azarren year 10402. The protagonist is Sehla Arallis, the middle child of the Azarren Emperor, who must embark on a dangerous mission with his two brothers Arzeo and Jiaki to stop their great-uncle, who is attempting the gain the means to re-create history in his own image. In the story, he seeks to re-imagine and re-invent the entire Azarren time line as perfect, paradise-like even, without any of the tragedies that have inflicted pain upon Azarren society. And Sehla is out to stop him from doing this.
I want to share this idea in particular; it is the most important message in my book. I believe strongly in finding and confronting our fears, which is something I've had to learn for years as a sufferer of severe depression and chronic anxiety. I also believe that mistakes and tragedies, while unfortunate, are what cause us to grow up as people, and, hopefully, as a society. We should never omit our own history because it is unpleasant, nor ignore the boons that might be gained for taking time to reflect on our mistakes and what we can derive from them. Sehla, who suffers from depression as I do, sets out on his mission for this reason alone. What gives him pause is that he was very close to his mother, who passed away, as is his antagonistic uncle, who wants to re-write history as much to bring her back to life as for his goal of societal perfection. This will cause a powerful element of inner conflict within the story, but the idea of accepting mistakes and pain, and what we can glean from them, is the central theme of the book and potentially the series.
I want to share this idea through writing simply because it is my greatest tool. It is the thing I am the best at and it is something from which I can derive an infinite measure of new learning. I can share this idea through writing because the written word gives us the most pause for thinking. Spoken words can be moving too, but the image of the page, the searing of those words into our brain, are what we remember the longest, because we alone have interpreted its meaning and spoken it softly to ourselves.
Right now, the book is stalled. I haven't done any serious work on it in over a year, because I've been busy overcoming my own illnesses and doubts to return to the page. Some days I feel fine writing, other days are difficult. That's another reason why I want to write this, how I can spread my ideas; I need to write this story as much for my own sake as anyone else's. Perhaps I need to do this to validate these ideas for other people, but I can share these ideas through writing because, when I want to, I can communicate in ways that move emotions. The trick lies in summoning the belief and the willpower that I can still move emotions, but I'm beginning to believe, once again, that it's possible.
The book is set in the Azarren year 10402. The protagonist is Sehla Arallis, the middle child of the Azarren Emperor, who must embark on a dangerous mission with his two brothers Arzeo and Jiaki to stop their great-uncle, who is attempting the gain the means to re-create history in his own image. In the story, he seeks to re-imagine and re-invent the entire Azarren time line as perfect, paradise-like even, without any of the tragedies that have inflicted pain upon Azarren society. And Sehla is out to stop him from doing this.
I want to share this idea in particular; it is the most important message in my book. I believe strongly in finding and confronting our fears, which is something I've had to learn for years as a sufferer of severe depression and chronic anxiety. I also believe that mistakes and tragedies, while unfortunate, are what cause us to grow up as people, and, hopefully, as a society. We should never omit our own history because it is unpleasant, nor ignore the boons that might be gained for taking time to reflect on our mistakes and what we can derive from them. Sehla, who suffers from depression as I do, sets out on his mission for this reason alone. What gives him pause is that he was very close to his mother, who passed away, as is his antagonistic uncle, who wants to re-write history as much to bring her back to life as for his goal of societal perfection. This will cause a powerful element of inner conflict within the story, but the idea of accepting mistakes and pain, and what we can glean from them, is the central theme of the book and potentially the series.
I want to share this idea through writing simply because it is my greatest tool. It is the thing I am the best at and it is something from which I can derive an infinite measure of new learning. I can share this idea through writing because the written word gives us the most pause for thinking. Spoken words can be moving too, but the image of the page, the searing of those words into our brain, are what we remember the longest, because we alone have interpreted its meaning and spoken it softly to ourselves.
Right now, the book is stalled. I haven't done any serious work on it in over a year, because I've been busy overcoming my own illnesses and doubts to return to the page. Some days I feel fine writing, other days are difficult. That's another reason why I want to write this, how I can spread my ideas; I need to write this story as much for my own sake as anyone else's. Perhaps I need to do this to validate these ideas for other people, but I can share these ideas through writing because, when I want to, I can communicate in ways that move emotions. The trick lies in summoning the belief and the willpower that I can still move emotions, but I'm beginning to believe, once again, that it's possible.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Analysis: President Obama's Speech on the American Jobs Act
President Obama gave an effective speech to the nation, but it could have been made better had he devoted more time to creating a true scope. He gave an excellent description of the problem, especially in stating how weary Americans are of politics. This part of the speech was excellently done, and it highlighted issues that both sides of the aisle were concerned with (taxes, infrastructure, eduction, etc). He gave some background on the issue but most members of Congress are well-versed enough on it that extensive detail was unnecessary.
The details of the American Jobs Act are where Obama began to lose his scope. He spent plenty of time describing the benefits and methods of such a deal, but, as he's been known to do in the past, he proposed how to take care of the solution's shortfalls without specifically listing them. He noted that he'd created a method by which the Jobs Act would be paid in full, but neglected to mention how much money and resources were to be poured into it. He wasn't quite detailed enough; he gave plenty of statistics about this public works project and that many laid-off teachers, but didn't give Congress a walk-through on how Point A, the creation plan, would lead to Point B, hired workers, insisting that this act was a relatively simple matter when such things rarely are. Had Obama been more specific about the costs and logistics of his proposal, it is true that, while certain Republicans would cast aside his plan, he'd probably gain more support overall because of inserted logic. He based too much of his argument on urgency and suffering, which, while valid, constitute two key pillars of the emotional argument, and can overwhelm when they are overdone.
Despite a lack of detail (and therefore the lack of definite scope boundaries) and a relative lack of logical, step-by-step logistics, Obama knew his audience extremely well. I give him props for acknowledging that many Americans are sickened by politics and deserve better from our government. I also give him props for acknowledging Republican concerns and using those to portray his Act as bipartisan. In the end, he came off as someone who, while a little lacking on logistics, understands the problems of the American people and the challenges we face in these difficult times. Overall, his speech was more than adequately effective, if not extremely effective. He may win over those who are skeptical about his knowledge of our nation's woes, but those of us who need more hard detail, such as myself, are still wary of whether this proposal will work as well as he claims. However, despite its drawbacks, I will concede that the speech was effective for the point he was trying to make.
The details of the American Jobs Act are where Obama began to lose his scope. He spent plenty of time describing the benefits and methods of such a deal, but, as he's been known to do in the past, he proposed how to take care of the solution's shortfalls without specifically listing them. He noted that he'd created a method by which the Jobs Act would be paid in full, but neglected to mention how much money and resources were to be poured into it. He wasn't quite detailed enough; he gave plenty of statistics about this public works project and that many laid-off teachers, but didn't give Congress a walk-through on how Point A, the creation plan, would lead to Point B, hired workers, insisting that this act was a relatively simple matter when such things rarely are. Had Obama been more specific about the costs and logistics of his proposal, it is true that, while certain Republicans would cast aside his plan, he'd probably gain more support overall because of inserted logic. He based too much of his argument on urgency and suffering, which, while valid, constitute two key pillars of the emotional argument, and can overwhelm when they are overdone.
Despite a lack of detail (and therefore the lack of definite scope boundaries) and a relative lack of logical, step-by-step logistics, Obama knew his audience extremely well. I give him props for acknowledging that many Americans are sickened by politics and deserve better from our government. I also give him props for acknowledging Republican concerns and using those to portray his Act as bipartisan. In the end, he came off as someone who, while a little lacking on logistics, understands the problems of the American people and the challenges we face in these difficult times. Overall, his speech was more than adequately effective, if not extremely effective. He may win over those who are skeptical about his knowledge of our nation's woes, but those of us who need more hard detail, such as myself, are still wary of whether this proposal will work as well as he claims. However, despite its drawbacks, I will concede that the speech was effective for the point he was trying to make.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Research Methods: Drafting Quesitonnaires
Questionnaires can reveal surprising data about a given group of people. Most people take solace in knowing that their opinions become anonymous (at least, that's how most questionnaires work). One advantage of a questionnaire, therefore, is that people are typically brutally honest. This is because questionnaires are usually procured for an event or routine that is in need of change, so people that are somehow linked to said event or routine are only too happy to comment on it. Questionnaires can also harbor a wide variety of questions in a relatively short space, allowing for an efficient gleaning of information from a given group of individuals.
Another advantage of questionnaires is that they are a relatively quick method of data-gathering. Most questionnaires are short, simple and to the point, and can be done quickly, allowing for the accelerated gathering of a lot of information in a short time. Because of their shortness and simplicity, questionnaires are a perfectly valid and, should efficiency be called for, excellent method of information gathering, perfect for someone who needs to gather a lot of information in relatively short order, quickly dissect it, and disseminate its contents into a research endeavor.
Another advantage of questionnaires is that they are a relatively quick method of data-gathering. Most questionnaires are short, simple and to the point, and can be done quickly, allowing for the accelerated gathering of a lot of information in a short time. Because of their shortness and simplicity, questionnaires are a perfectly valid and, should efficiency be called for, excellent method of information gathering, perfect for someone who needs to gather a lot of information in relatively short order, quickly dissect it, and disseminate its contents into a research endeavor.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Business Letter, Final Draft
September 9th, 2011
Mr. Richard Brockmeyer
1840 South 1300 East
Dear Mr. Brockmeyer:
My name is Ian Coppock and I’m a mail sorter in the campus post office. An urgent situation has arisen here and my coworkers and I need your expertise.
At 7:00 last night, one of our industrial copiers broke down. Jessica Lind, my coworker, looked the machine over and believes that an internal mechanical failure is responsible. The copier’s maximum output is about 200 copies per hour, or 1/3 of our total copying capacity. Without this copier, our ability to print efficiently will suffer, and will cause a marked reduction in communication, office and education efficiency campus-wide.
After talking with my coworkers and a Xerox rep, I have a potential solution. These machines last about seven years before breaking down; ours is six years old. They tend to suffer more problems as they age, and this copier would probably break down not long after fixing it, which would cost $300.
I suggest that we purchase a new industrial copier. While its $4,000 price tag is admittedly high, we’d save a lot of money on maintenance costs over time. I also believe that this is our best solution because newer copiers can produce about 300 copies in an hour, which would improve our printing capacity, and therefore the campus’s communications efficiency, by about 30%. Newer copiers also last about 10 years. This morning I suggested this idea to Karen Thurber and Dixie Egan, our maintenance managers. Both agreed that this is a long-term, cost-efficient solution.
I appreciate your taking the time to read my message. Please respond to it quickly and we will make all efforts to run this department of plant operations at top efficiency once again. Thanks again for your time.
Sincerely,
Ian Coppock
P.S. I corresponded with the Xerox representative by email. I’ve attached the transcript for your convenience.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Working in Teams
Working in a team radically changes the environment in which we work and complete assignments. The benefits of working in a team are many: there is collectively more time to complete an assignment, more ideas from a diverse palette of sources, and, with luck, team members will be honest when it comes to constructive criticism. Because there’s a greater immediacy of your writing’s impact on multiple students, you tend to write better, knowing that on your venture rides more than just your grade. There are also disadvantages to working on a team. it can take a great deal of time to procure a team dynamic that works well for everyone, and, if concerns are left unaddressed, dissatisfaction and rivalry can foment among teammates. Of course, the largest and most powerful obstacle to teamwork is labor equality. Unless everyone does their share of the work, the team’s dynamic will never be united or strong.
The two concepts I've experienced previously are a lack of equal teamwork but a greater palette of ideas. I had more resources from which I could draw concepts and create a better project, but not everyone did their share of work. It created an awkward balance, one I hope to never again experience. It's better for everyone to do their part than anything else; this, above all else, is essential to forming a good team. When people have great ideas but no motivation, you're left with an awkward vacuum.. and ever less time to finish what the team started.
The two concepts I've experienced previously are a lack of equal teamwork but a greater palette of ideas. I had more resources from which I could draw concepts and create a better project, but not everyone did their share of work. It created an awkward balance, one I hope to never again experience. It's better for everyone to do their part than anything else; this, above all else, is essential to forming a good team. When people have great ideas but no motivation, you're left with an awkward vacuum.. and ever less time to finish what the team started.
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