W
RITING IN THE PROFESSIONSIssues for organisational writers
Identify a corporate/organisational/workplace writer. It could be you! Ask them to respond to the
following questions, either in writing or in an interview with you. Use the information/insights you
gain to write a publishable article (for your portfolio) about the writing practices in a
particularprofession
or the writing practices of a particular professional in the Australian workplace.Write for a specific publication, such as
Business Review Weekly or The Courier-Mail. An exemplaris available on the WebCT site for WRIT6030.
1. What is your job title?
2. What are your key job roles & responsibilities?
3. Do you regard yourself as a ‘working writer’ or a ‘writing worker’?
4. What percentage of your working day do you spend writing?
5. Who reads the organisational documents/publications that you produce?
6. List the kinds of organisational documents/publications that you write.
7. What are the main kinds of documents required in your working environment?
8. What kinds of documents were required in your university courses (if you went to university)?
9. How adequately do you believe your university degree (if you have one) prepared you for
workplace writing?
10. What do you remember about the first document you wrote in the workplace?
11. What is the most difficult writing you do? Why?
12. What is the most interesting writing you do? Why?
13. Do you have any problems with writing, for example, researching material, getting started,
knowing the appropriate format for a document, knowing what your reader really wants,
achieving the appropriate tone, writing concisely, writing directly, achieving credibility, editing
your work?
14. Do you do your own keyboarding? Why? Why not?
15. What value is placed on writing/editing by your organisation?
16. What effect do you think the ability to write well will have/has had on your advancement within
your organisation?
17. Does your organisation use freelance writing consultants/editors? If it does, are there
guidelines for hiring a writing consultant/an inhouse editor?
18. Does your organisation use a style guide? If it does, what does it contain?
WRIT6030 1/2004
Issues for organisational writers—page 2 of 219. Does your organisation provide any writing training for staff?
20. Do staff in your organisation use reference books and/or online grammar checkers to help
with their writing?
21. How extensive is the use of e-mail within your organisation?
22. What advantages and disadvantages does your organisation see in the use of e-mail?
23. What ethical considerations do you as a writer/editor most commonly encounter?
24. How well is the
management of writing and the production of documents handled in yourorganisation?
25. How well are writers briefed in your organisation?
26. Describe how you learnt to write in the way your organisation requires.
27. To what extent is collaborative writing practised in your organisation?
28. What is your biggest writing challenge?
29. If you had to give one piece of advice about workplace writing to an entry-level employee in
your organisation, what would it be?
30. What do you see as the most crucial problem in Australian organisational writing?
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