Harty: Pages 207-275

Walter E. Oliu, Charles T. Brusaw, and Gerald J. Alred: Creating Visuals
1) Why include your visual?
2) Is the information in your visual accurate?
3) Are terms and symbols in your visual defined and consistent?
4) Does your visual specify measurements and distances?
5) Is the lettering readable?
6) Is the caption clear?
7) Is there a figure or table number?
8) Is a list of figures or tables needed?
9) Are figure or table numbers referred to in your text?
10) Are visuals appropriately placed?
11) Do visuals stand out from surrounding text?

Tables-useful for showing large numbers of specific, related data in a brief space, the data may be numerical or verbal
Graphs- "charts," present numerical data in visual form, showing trends, movements, distributions, and cycles more readily than tables do
Line graph- shows the relationship between two or more sets of figures
Bar graph- consist of horizontal or vertical bars of equal width but scaled in length or height to represent some quantity
-different types of information during different periods of time
-quantities of the same kind of information at different periods of time time
-quantities of different information during a fixed period of time
-quantities of the different parts that make up a whole
Pie graph- presents data as wedge-shaped sections of a circle, the circle equals 100 percent, or the whole, of some quantity with the wedges representing the various parts into which the whole is divided
Picture graph- modified bar graphs that use picture symbols to represent the item for which data are presented
Dimensional Column graph-
Drawings- useful when reader needs an impression of an object's general appearance or an overview of a series of steps or directions
Flowcharts- diagram that shows the stages of a process from beginning to end; it presents an overview that allows readers to grasp essential steps quickly and easily
Organizational chart- shows how the various components of an organization are related to one another
Maps- used to show specific geographic features of an area or to show information according to geographic distribution
Photographs- show the surface appearance of an object or to record an event or the development of a phenomenon over a period of time

David W. Ewing: Strategies of Persuasion
1) Consider whether your views will make problems for readers
2) Don't offer new ideas, directives, or recommendation for change until your readers are prepared for them
3) your credibility with readers affects your strategy
4) if your audience disagrees with your ideas or is uncertain about them, present both sides of the argument
5) win respect by making your opinion or recommendation clear
6) put your strongest points last if the audience is very interested in the argument, first if it is not so interested
7) don't count on changing attitudes by offering information alone
8) testimonials are most likely to be persuasive if drawn from people with whom readers associate
9) be wary of using extreme or "sensational" claims and facts
10) tailor your presentation to the reasons for readers' attitudes, if you know them
11) never mention other people without considering their possible effect on the reader

Philip C. Kolin: Proposals
Guidlines for writing a successful proposal
1) approach writing a proposal as a problem-solving activity
2) regard your audience as skeptical readers
3) research your proposal carefully
4) prove that your proposal is workable
5) be sure that your proposal is financially realistic
6) package your proposal attractively

Internal proposals-offer a realistic and constructive plan to help your cmpany run its business more efficiently and economically
Introduction
Background of the Problem
Solution or Plan
1) how the new procedure will work
2) how many employees or costumers will be affected
3) when it will go into operation
4) how much it will cost the employer to change it
5) what delays or losses in business might result during the change
6) what employees, equipment, or locations are available to accomplish
Conclusion

Sales Proposals-most common type of external proposal, purpose is to sell your company's products or services for a set fee
-the audience and its needs
does the writer's firm understand our problem?
can the writer's firm deliver what it promises?
can the job be completed on time?
what assurances does the writer offer that the job will be done as proposed?
-organizing a sales proposal
Introduction
1) statement of purpose and subject of proposal
2) background of the problem you propose to solve
Description of proposed product or service
1) carefully show your customers that you are right for them
2) describe your work in suitable detail
3) stress any special features, advantages, warranties or services
Timetable
Costs
Qualifications of your company
Conclusions

Richard Johnson-Sheehan: Writing Proposals with Style
style- does more than make the content easier to read and more persuasive, in many ways, it illustrates your clear-headedness, your emphasis on quality, and your willingness to communicate and work with the readers
Plain Senetences- tends to be used when the writers need to instruct the readers about a situation or process, specifically the plain style is used mostly in the situation section, where you are describing a problem or opportunity for the readers, and the qualifications section where you are describing your background and experience
1) the subject should be what the sentence is about
2) make the "doer" the subject
3) state the action in the verb
4) out the subject early in the sentence
5) eliminate nominalizations
6) avoid excessive prepositional phrases
7) eliminate redundancy
8) make sentences "breathing length"
Plain paragraphs
1) transition sentence- makes a smooth bridge from the previous paragraph to the present paragraph
2) topic sentence- claim or statement that the rest of the paragraph is going to prove or support
3) support sentences- can come in many forms
4) point sentences- usually restate the topic sentence at the end of the paragraph

Talking Points
1) Never thought to provide visuals in many of my texts. Usually the only place for visuals is when you are writing a science lab report which includes tables. Besides that the general feeling is that you must explain everything in words and that visuals are out of the norm. Makes sense though. I like to see visuals because it is less reading and more interesting. (207)
2) Rarely think to cite visuals that I include in technical reports. Also, do not know how to accurately cite these if I were to attempt to do so. (210)
3) The many different strategies of persuasion all still seem to work. You can take many different and creative approaches to persuading a company or group to accept your idea or proposal. No one is rightyou just must know your audience to a certain level that will allow you to make these different choices or approaches. (231)