CM501 Professional Development

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CM501 Professional Development

• Communicating with your audience.
• http//computing.unn.ac.uk/staff/cgdm5/CM501/CM501
  .htm
• David Miller

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Topics

• Language
• Context
• Interpretation, meaning
• Common ground
• Empathy
• Active dialogue
• Curiosity
• Rationale
• Spontaneity, planning and rehearsal
• Also try to get your spelling and grammar right.

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You need to use an appropriate language for the
situation.
A new form of written language has evolved with
the coming of text message technology, on-line
chat etc. This language only works among some
social groups and within some social contexts.
Some abbreviations
http//www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbr
eviations.asp
Same technology, different social context
http//www.fareham.gov.uk/general/texting.asp
Our records show that your car is ready for a
service on 31st October. Please contact us so
that we can book you in at a time that is
convenient for you
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-----Original Message----- From Kurt.Briefly
Sent 06 October 2005 1314 To David
Miller Subject Wots url 4 asinement
Hello Kurt, Which assignment for which module are
you referring to? Please take a few lessons in
email etiquette before you reply to this or you
may find you dont get another reply. dm
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Hey, I went to http//computing.unn.ac.uk/staff/c
gdm5/cm501/Week 20025CLecture5Capplication201
20resources.htm to get the briefing notes and
job descriptions as I couldn't make it to
tuesdays lecture, and none of the links are
working, I managed to get to them eventually,
but I thought I would let you know in case anyone
else can't find them.
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-----Original Message----- Subject Possible
final year supervisor Hi david I am interested in
discussing the possibilities of doing my final
year project based around a HCI subject as I
enjoyed the hci module I undertook last
year. Many thanks Stephen Qwerty
Stephen, Next Tuesday 039. For 30 mins. between
12-2pm, 230-6pm Suggest a time. Bring two or
three ideas - and your project booklet. dm
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Jargon uses and abuses
Estate agents
http//www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/lifestyle/2005
/property/blurb.shtml
IT jargon
http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4272382.stm
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Plain English
Bus driver training manual translated into plain
English Guy Gibson of Derbyshire changed lines
such as Ensure awareness and anticipation of
other road users in the vicinity of the manoeuvre
is maintained" to Look where you're going".
(Source BBC)
http//www.plainenglishawards.com/
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Context
A.I.
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Interpretation
Let him have it! Derek Bentley, the last man
to be hanged in Britain,1952
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Context
(Two Ronnies sketch) Fork Handles, won a poll to
find the nation's favourite sketch. It consists
of multiplying misunderstandings in which
Corbett, as a shop assistant, struggles to
ascertain whether Barker's stubborn shopper
requires "four candles" or "fork handles", "hoes"
or a "hose". http//www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/
story/0,11711,1585100,00.html
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Common Ground (or lack of in this case)

• Miss Dimple Where can I get hold of you?
• Chico Marx I dunno lady, Im very ticklish
• Miss Dimple I mean, where do you live?
• Chico Marx I live with my brother.

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Empathy (or lack of in this case)
Diner scene from Five Easy Pieces.
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What have you got in common to talk about?
Talking to strangers
http//www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/improving_your_
confidence/exercise_conversation.shtml
If you are talking or writing to someone in
connection with a job
one thing you have in common is interest in who
will be doing that job But thats not enough
each party needs to think about how the other is
likely to be looking at the issue
-what is the other person looking for?
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Dialogue
Dialogue works by turn-taking. Turn-taking
involves not saying too much in one turn. A job
application can start a dialogue that gets
continued in an interview.
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Stimulating interest
Stories should not just be about what you have
done, they are also about why you did it, how
you felt, and what you learned from the
experience.
I learned to roll a kayak.
I enjoy kayaking, but I used to panic at the
slightest thought of being trapped under water.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle
the situation.
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Casual and formal conversations
Some people are brilliant conversationalist with
their friends but cant handle formal
conversations. The secret is to recognise that
one is spontaneous And the other needs to be
planned and rehearsed. This is true for written
applications and for interviews.