Writing Week 1

WRITING!

Study/Learn:

1. Begin reading or listening to "Eragon" by Christopher Paoloni. It's a big book, but so fun! Read through page 122.  If you are listening to it, listen until the chapter called Thunder Roar and Lightning Crackle.

2. Write this paragraph from the book in your CP book.  Make sure you include all the punctuation.
Week One: Prologue

Eragon

By Christopher Paolini

Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world. A tall Shade lifted his head and sniffed the air. He looked human except for his crimson hair and maroon eyes.
He blinked in surprise. The message had been correct: they were here. Or was it a trap? He weighed the odds, then said icily, “Spread out; hide behind trees and bushes. Stop whoever is coming... or die.
(Prologue, opening two paragraphs) 

3. Penmanship:  Do the letter practice at the beginning of the book you chose to work in.  Each book is a little different, so just do a lesson, or 2 pages worth. Make sure you are writing the letters in the right direction.  For some of you it may feel backwards or wrong.  Please focus on doing it correctly.  Bring your books to class for a reward.

4. Study these spelling and vocabulary words from the book.  I've added some homonyms, just so we can be familiar with different spellings for different words.  There will be 20 words to study each week.  Make sure you know what the words mean.  Just for fun, I've added pictures to help you visualize the words.
howled   (a long, loud, mournful cry, that of a wolf or dog.)               

scent       (a distinctive smell, either pleasant or unpleasant)                   

sent         (past tense of send, to have ordered something to be delivered)                     

cent         (a penny)                       

accept     (consent to receive)

except     (not including)               

crimson   (a shade of red)                 

surprise    (an unexpected reaction)                    

message     (a verbal, written, or recorded communication)                   

massage     (the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body)

apprehensively   (anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen) 

amazement         (a feeling of great surprise or wonder)       

determined         (having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it)        

accumulated       (gathered together or acquired an increasing number or quantity of)           

tremendous        (very great in amount, scale, or intensity)

inaudibly            (unable to be heard) 

comfortable     (especially of clothes or furnishings) providing physical ease and relaxation      

amusement     (something that causes laughter or provides entertainment)     

disgust         (a feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval of something unpleasant or offensive)    injuries                (the fact of being injured; harm or damage)

 Howled         Scent   

Sent    Cent    

Accept  Crimson  

Except

Surprise  Message 

Massage  Apprehensively 

Amazement Determined

 Tremendous 

Accumulated

 Inaudibly  Comfortable 

Amusement   Disgust 

 

 Injuries 

*** 5. Start writing up your resume' and cover letter.  Look at these websites to help you get started.  The template websites listed below make it super, super easy.  You do not have to use the templates though.  Have fun with this and let's see how awesome you are.

I would guess that none of you are "trying" to get a job right now, but if you begin putting your profile together, it will be so easy when the time is right.  Create a pretend job, or a dream job that you want to do someday and pretend you are applying for that job. Write down all the skills you might have that will help you get the job.  

Bring your first draft to class typed and printed out and ready to be viewed by a friend.  We will make suggestions in class on how you can fix it up.
https://www.cover-letter-now.com/account/resumehome-h.aspx

https://resume.io/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6uT4BRD5ARIsADwJQ19E8DJp3D5oqq0dzqNlf4eODVyKU0zQ7J6FZ2YxdBCJndYlDvPp2JIaArWgEALw_wcB

Here are some steps to writing a Cover Letter.

Step 1: Figure out to whom you’re writing.

When I ask you to figure out your audience, I’m suggesting that you not only take your best guess at the individual who might actually read your cover letter (by browsing the company website and/or LinkedIn for the head of recruitment or potential hiring manager) but also that you get a sense of who your audience is more broadly. You’ll want to adjust your tone to mirror the job description; it can be just as jarring to receive a stuffy, formal letter at a laidback startup as it can to receive a conversational note at a place where etiquette demands a sober tone.

Step 2: Write an opening sentence.

So you’ve addressed a specific person and decided how you’re going to communicate. Now, you’ll state the position to which you’re applying and mention how you heard about it. Something like, “I’m writing with enthusiasm regarding the Marketing Associate position at Compass. I found the posting on AngelList and was immediately intrigued,” will do the trick. If you’ve decided to adopt a casual tone, a version like, “I’m reaching out to express my excitement about the Marketing Associate position at Compass. I’d like to think it was fate that brought this opportunity to my attention, but I found the posting on AngelList.”

Step 3: Mention some specifics to show you what this company is all about.

The next step is to show that you have the work ethic, savvy, and enthusiasm it takes to write a truly tailored cover letter. This will entail some background research; if you do it right, browsing the website (the About, Team, and Press sections can be particularly useful) for a few minutes is sufficient to sound impressively knowledgeable. You just mentioned in your opening sentence that you’re pumped about the opportunity, so tell the reader why this company is where you want to be.

Here’s an example of a brief, yet effective few sentences to do so:

First, I admire Compass. An innovative and values-driven startup dedicated to helping the small business owner craft a compelling digital presence, Compass represents an exciting next step for me. Your focus on transparency, simplicity, and efficiency speak to exactly the kind of customer-first mentality and operational excellence that I’m looking for, and I know it’s exactly the kind of environment in which I could contribute and learn a great deal.

Step 4: Explain why you’re qualified for the role in a few punchy bullets.

One way to avoid the potential for your cover letter to become a dry block of text (other than to make it personal and specific) is to break up the formatting. The bulk of the content will be your explanation of your qualifications, so why not keep it clear and powerful by pulling out 3 core competencies of yours that most closely relate to the demands of the role. To continue with the example we’ve been working on — a letter for the Marketing Associate role at Compass — you could whip up something akin to the below:

Second, I’d be a fantastic Marketing Associate because:

 

1. Writing is my strong suit. I’ve maintained blogs for two student organizations and the company I’ve interned for, producing 3 posts per week on average. My senior thesis is set to be published in a journal next fall, and I won a creative writing prize my sophomore year, so content creation is something I could practically (or maybe literally, if it’s the end of finals week) do in my sleep.

2. I know my way around Google Analytics and Adwords. From creating custom GA URLs and tracking down referral sites to building effective Adwords campaigns on a budget, the tools that are essential to generating and monitoring site traffic are squarely in my wheelhouse.

3. I’m fearless. I learned Photoshop in three days when a contractor at my last internship went MIA, I went to study abroad to Morocco armed with only a semester of elementary Arabic under my belt, and — true story — I once participated in a county fair pie eating contest; novelty excites me, though I have a strong foundation of skills and experience, I will do what it takes to adapt and deliver at a high level on even the most unfamiliar challenges this role poses.

Step 5: Summarize and plant the seed.

By keeping it personal and to-the-point, you’ve minimized the risk of the hiring manager merely skimming the letter, but it’s powerful to restate the most powerful parts of your “why me” argument nonetheless. Think of a synonym or word that captures the gist of each of your three competency bullet points. Then, figure out how to summarize the goals of the position. From there, simply put ’em together and tell your reader that your shining qualities will help you hit it out of the park as the newest member of their team.

For example:

To sum it up, my proclivity for written communication, experience with relevant tools and metrics, and my enthusiasm and comfort with new challenges make me an excellent candidate for your next Marketing Associate. I’m certain I have the skills and mindsets I’d need to help Compass reach more of the right people with your digital outreach, resulting in more customers for you (and more customers for them — what a beautiful thing!).

Again, it would be a privilege to join the Compass team. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to continue the conversation in person soon.

Now end it with an appropriate closing and your name, and — voila! — you’ve written a pretty awesome cover letter.**

Resume' Example