Raign, K: Write and Communicate Like a Professional

Write and Communicate Like a Professional is for the introductory technical writing student seeking to improve their writing and communication. The book covers how to improve professional style and tone, develop professional documents, work in teams, and plan and execute multiweek projects. It also includes various types of professional writing-such as letters, texts, handbooks, reports, agendas, press releases, and newsletters-while focusing on those communication forms used most often: emails, memos, and short reports.

Professional writing is typically divided into three categories. First, instructional writing seeks to tell someone how to do something via, for example, employee handbooks, videos, infographics, and memos outlining new office procedures. Second, informational writing provides information about a specific subject, such as in reports, financial statements, meeting minutes, or a memo outlining changes in management. Lastly, persuasive writing seeks to convince someone to take a desired action through proposals, press releases, advertisements, and memos requesting cooperation.

Authors Kathryn Raign and Jake VanderVaate also cover such important communications skills as collaborative writing in a chapter on sharing and giving feedback-especially if the feedback is a difficult message to deliver-in a chapter on responding. With clear graphics, clever problem-solution rubrics, and the latest coverage of informal technical writing delivered through social media formats of email and text, Write and Communicate Like a Professional is essential reading for your professional success.