Ran across this article and thought it fit well with the theory of
AFWriting.com.
Whether writing an e-mail, a letter of appreciation or an official
memorandum, good writing skills are important tools for Airmen. When you send
any type of written communication, it represents you and your organization.
Something to keep in mind about writing is that it lacks certain aspects of
face-to-face communication, such as tone, inflection and body language.
Therefore, good grammar, proper spelling and appropriate word choice are
essential to communicating messages effectively. According to the Air Force
Professional Development Guide, there are seven steps for effective
communication:
- Analyze purpose and audience - know why you're writing and who
will see it
- Research your topic - from asking supervisors, to scanning the internet,
to reviewing technical orders, information you may need when writing is out
there. You just need to know where to look
- Support your ideas - any statement without citing a reference is
considered an opinion. Use statistics, definitions and facts to support your
claim
- Organize - there are several formats a writer can use, such as comparing
and contrasting, a chronological account of events, or presenting a problem
and following up with a solution.
- Organizing your writing will help your reader understand your point and
avoid confusion
- Draft - get your thoughts down, whether written on paper or typed on a
computer
- Edit - this is where you look for spelling, grammatical and
typographical errors
- Fight for feedback - get others to look over your work. Corrective
feedback is both positive and shouldn't be taken personally. What's most
important is getting your message across
The written word is a powerful tool and is used throughout your career. But
it's not necessarily easy. The sooner you learn how to write, and the more you
write, the better you'll get at it. Knowing about some of your resources -- such
as a dictionary, thesaurus or the Tongue and Quill writing guide (Air Force
Handbook 33-337) -- will help you succeed, improve your writing and communicate
effectively.