READING AND WRITING SKILLS 7. Writing a l.v.

involves higher-order thinking skills

8. L.v. analyzes scholarly articles, not literary texts
Literature Review 9. The quality of the review is not dependent on the
quality of the articles
Literature Review- a type of academic writing that 10. The scope of the review should be indicated
provides an overview of a specific topic, surveying
scholarly works. This writing critically analyzes the Research Report
relationship among different scholarly works and the
Research Report- an expanded paper that presents
current work. This combines both summary and
interpretations and analyses of a phenomenon based on
synthesis of articles.
experiments and previous information.
Functions of a Literature Review
Parts of a Research Report
 Justifies a part of a research
 Title page- describes the content of the paper
 Establishes the relevance of the topic
 Abstract- contains the summary of research findings
 Provides necessary information
and conclusions; ranges from 100 to 250 words
 Shows familiarity and mastery
 Introduction-explains the current state of the field and
 Establishes the niche
identifies research gaps
 Resolves conflict among contradictory studies
 Literature Review- contains summary and synthesis of
resources; Related concepts discuss fundamental
Structure of a Literature Review
concepts while Related studies discuss previously
Introduction conducted studies
 Methodology- describes how the experiments or tests
 Purpose for writing in the research were conducted; instrument presents
 Scope tools in gathering data, data gathering presents
 Criteria in selecting details on how data was collected, data analysis
 Organizational Pattern presents how data were analyzed
 Results- factually describes data gathered and the
Body tables and graphs that summarize the collected data
 Discussion- explanation of all the results in relation to
 Historical Background
the literature review
 Relevant Theories
 Conclusion-restates the major findings, limitations of
 Relationship between studies
the study, recommendations, and implications
 Strengths and Weaknesses
 References- contains sources used
 Various viewpoints
Guidelines in Writing a Research Report
Conclusion
1. 50-75% of the paper should be results and discussion
 Restatement of the thesis
2. Cite all sources
 Main agreements and disagreements
3. Use direct quotations sparingly
 Conclusions, implications, and direction
4. Strictly follow the required documentation style
 Sythesis
5. Topic should be relevant and current
 Overall perspective
6. Research questions should directly address the given
topic
Notes:

1. A literature review requires skills in summarizing and Notes:

synthesizing information
1. An abstract is written after writing the conclusions
2. A l.v. is an example of academic writing
2. Informative title is preferred
3. A l.v. is not limited to articles
3. Survey instruments should be aligned to the research
4. A l.v. requires skills in selecting sources
questions
5. A l.v. does not show a research gap
4. Title and thesis statements are written differently
6. Use direct quotations sparingly
 Resume and Application for Employment
5. One documentation style is required for one research
report Resume- a tool that summarizes your skills, educational
background, and other qualifications; also termed as
Position Paper curriculum vitae; considered as a sales tool

Position Paper- presents one’s stand or viewpoint on a Components of a Resume

particular issue; main objective is to take part in a larger
debate by stating your arguments and proposed course 1. Contact Information- name, address, contact number
of action e-mail address
2. Summary of Qualifications- needed if you have at
Parts of a Position Paper least five years of professional experience, written in
third person and in active voice
Introduction 3. Objective Statement- includes the job title, function,
industry and what can you offer to the company; best
 Use an attention-grabbing lead for fresh graduates
 Defines the issue and provides background 4. Employment History- begin with the most recent
 Provides general statement of position experience, do not state your past and present salary
5. Education- start with the most recent educational
Body
attainment, include the school’s name and address,
 States main arguments with evidence years attended, include GPA and list of academic
 Provides counterarguments honors, scholarships, and extracurricular activities
6. Skills- show skills through past events and include
Conclusion transferable skills (e.g. managerial skills)
7. Training- include trainings that have a bearing on the
 Restates the position job you are applying for
 Suggests a course of action 8. Organizations- include professional and civic
 Explains the position affiliations
 Ends with a powerful closing statement 9. Professional Licensure and Certification
10. Honors and Awards- list your recognized
Choosing an issue achievements, do not include those who have nothing
to do with work
 Debatable 11. References and Signature- state “References available
 Current and Relevant upon request”
 Written in question form answerable by yes or no
 Specific and manageable Types of Resume

Guidelines  Reverse Chronological- listed in reverse chronological

order, commonly favored by employers and
 Start writing with an in-depth research about the topic straightforward, best for applicants with steady career
 Be aware of the various positions on the issue progression
 Reflect on your position  Functional- consolidates skills and responsibilities that
 Establish credibility by citing sources are grouped according to different job expertise,
 Limit the paper to two pages focuses on skills and not job titles; best for job-
 Analyze your target readers hoppers, career changers, new graduates, people with
 Summarize the other side’s counterarguments minimal work experience
 Define unfamiliar terms at first mention  Targeted- contains career objective, best for those
 Use an active voice with one career pattern and multitrack job history
 Arrange your evidences logically  Combined Format- both reverse chronological and
 Check your paper for fallacies functional type
 Use ethical, logical, and emotional appeals (ethical-
credibility and competence; logical- rational approach;
emotional- pertain to feelings evoked
Notes Business Letters and Memos

1. A resume is a form of self-advertisement and a Business Letters- elicit the expected response from
persuasive document readers, used for sales efforts, complaints, information
2. A resume does not begin with references dissemination, relationship building, others
3. A summary of qualifications is best for those with
work experience Parts of a Business Letter
4. Employment history generally follows reverse
chronological order 1. Letterhead- writer, address, contact number
5. Do not include your GPA in the resume if it is low 2. Date
6. Weaknesses are not part of a resume 3. Inside Address- reader, position and company,
7. Elementary education is not an integral part of a address
resume 4. Attention Line
8. Use letter sized bond paper 5. Salutation
9. Use fonts lower than 16 points 6. Body
10. Do not include your desired salary 7. Complimentary Close- Respectfully yours,
11. Do not exaggerate Respectfully, and Very Respectfully are highly formal
12. Limit resume to 1-3 pages complimentary closes
13. Do not attach a scanned picture 8. Signature Block
14. Do not print the resume back-to-back 9. Identification Initials- indicated the typist’s initials
15. Eliminate all grammatical and typographical errors 10. Enclosure notation- attachments to the letter
16. Do not use designs in the resume 11. Copy notation- indicates secondary recipients, cc, or
carbon copy or courtesy copies
Job application letter- or cover letter is a type of personal
business correspondence which states your intention to Formats of Business Letter
work in a particular organization, enclosed with the
1. Full Block- all text is on the left side; most commonly-
resume, a response to a job advertisement used format
2. Modified Block- another widely-used format, date
Parts of a Cover Letter
and signature block is on the right
3. Semiblock- least-used style, paragraphs are indented
Introduction

 Introduce yourself and include the purpose Memorandum- comes from the Latin word memorare
 Indicate source of information which means “to remember”, meant to inform and
 Add an interesting statement persuade people within the organization, follows an
 Show enthusiasm inverted pyramid structure

Body MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION  SUPPORTING

DATA AND EXAMPLES  LEAST IMPORTANT
 Present your experience, qualifications, trainings, and
INFORMATION
some personal qualities
 Organize paragraphs accordingly
Parts of a Memo
 Explain the benefits to the employers
 Lead the reader to the part of our resume that 1. Letterhead- writer, address, contact number
presents the strong credentials 2. Date line
3. To Line
Conclusion 4. Attention Line
5. From Line
 Indicate interest for interview
6. Subject Line
 Indicate contact details
7. Body- not indented
 Express expectation of positive response
8. Identification Initials
 Thank the employer
9. Enclosure Notation
10. Copy Notation
Types of Memo

1. Instruction memo- provides information needed by

the readers to accurately perform directions
2. Request memo- asks to provide certain information or
certain actions
3. Announcement memo- provides information about an
event, person, or thing
4. Transmittal note- serves as a cover letter for a more
formal or lengthy document
5. Authorization memo- gives permission

Electronic-mail

E-mail- can be used for directives, transmittals,

documentations, confirmations, explanations of
procedure, recommendations, status reports, and
inquiries

Advantages

 Reaches the target reader fast

 Easy confirmation of acceptance
 Cheaper and easy
 Original messages can be attached
 Environment-friendly
 Notifies when the receiver will not be able to open
his/her email soon

Disadvantages

 May carry virus

 No all documents can be attached
 Tool for scamming
 Prone to technical glitches and dependent on internet
connection

Notes:

1. Written correspondences are more retrievable

compared to oral communication
2. Letterhead identifies the writer’s information
3. Dates should not be written in plain numerals
4. A memo does not use salutation
5. Regards is not a formal complimentary close
6. 3-5 blank space is needed for the signature
7. Enclosures are attachments
8. No need for identification line when the writer typed
the document
9. Semiblock uses indentions
10. Memo follows an inverted pyramid structure