Mami Kuwahara

1101 17th Ave N #115

Fargo, ND 58102
November 28, 2016
Department of English
North Dakota State University
NDSU, Dept. 2320
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Dear Assessment Committee,
This semester I have learned how to write professionally in the business field. An electronic
portfolio is required to display our writing assignments that we have completed through English
320: Business and Professional Writing for Fall 2016. The writing assignments included
professional emails, a memo, resume, cover letter, professional blog, group work activity report,
and a group proposal. I will explain how the work in this portfolio shows that I have written in
variety of genres and contexts, and how I have integrated the knowledge and ideas in the
documents.
Our assignments included writing four kinds of papers using a variety of genres and contexts that
we covered through the class. The first assignment was to compose two professional emails as
both sender and responder. We were required to write as a professional to communicate clearly
and efficiently through formal writing. In this assignment, it was important to negotiate as a
business owner. In addition, it was essential to find a balance in apologizing for mistakes in order
to keep up image of the business. It was also important to keep the business partners happy as to
continue future business with them. For the third assignment, the required writing is almost
similar to the first assignment. In the third assignment, I wrote professional blogs while
controlling the tone of the writing so that the blog readers will enjoy. This required demonstrating
my understanding of the values, interests and ongoing discussion in my field. Since it is a blog,
we were to write informally and used APA style to cite. I added some interesting photos to attract
people, while using techniques such as changing formats and hyperlinks to make it more
attractive and useful for reader to know what the writer is emphasizing.
The second assignment was to produce a job packet that consists of a memo, a resume, and a
cover letter. I learned how to write an American resume because every country has different tips
and styles of writing it due to cultural contexts. For an example, the resume doesn't include photo
pictures in the United States. From the guest speakers presentation, I learned that knowing how
to write a resume in a different country is important. This job packet required writing formally
and professionally as a student looking for a job or an internship in United States.
The fourth assignment was a group proposal, which consisted of a group activity report, group
marketing proposal, and individual evaluation memo in a formal writing style. The purpose of the
group work activity was to provide detailed self-evaluation and reflection for the supervisors.
Also, it allowed professionals to influence the decisions of their supervisors. To write a formal
proposal, we followed the proposal format and analyzed the surveys we collected. To explain
benefits, we learned the difference of hard and soft benefits. We made each of the sections clear
for the proposal to make it easy to understand for the readers. Individual evaluation of the group-

marketing proposal is required to follow professional memo form.

I have integrated knowledge and ideas through various writings from each of the assignments.
Professional business email required ideas to expand the content for the email to make it easier
for the reader to understand. The job packet required research about the companies for the memo.
The memo required analysis and made it easier to understand for the readers. We also made a
table to compare what the mission statements reveal about company values. The professional blog
required the most research among all the assignments. We had 4 topics such as an explanation of
your field, a news analysis, an ethical reflection, and a description of intercultural communication
matters in your field. Each topic required background information for the reader to understand
and use of tone and style that is appropriate for the audience was very important. I gathered
information from online sources and used the knowledge that I learned throughout the search.
Also, responding to the readers comments required me to search for facts to support the blog. For
the group proposal, I was in charge of the survey, benefits, and cost. Analyzing the result from
surveys we have collected made it easier to understand what we need to modify in the marketing
proposal. Furthermore, for the benefits and cost section, I did many searches online to support
both statements.
For overall assignments, the textbook Technical Communication Today guided me to write
professionally. The textbook made it easy to synthesize the information that I have found through
the web searches.
As you will see, my writing skills have improved and become more professional from unit one to
unit four. Throughout the semester I was able to learn skills that I am able to utilize long after I
graduate from college. Not only did I learn skills and grow as a writer, I was also able to build
skills that I already have obtained and make them stronger.
Sincerely,
Mami Kuwahara