What Do People Need to Know About Writing in Order to Write in Their Jobs?

Abstract

This article considers the different kinds of learning that are appropriate for the rapidly expanding range of writing that constitutes an everyday part of most people's working lives. It discusses the importance and demands of everyday writing in work, and the role of formal education in preparing people for the localised learning about writing that is necessary upon entering work. It considers the issue of the transfer of knowledge, and argues that both metacognitive and conceptual understandings about writing are crucial elements in enabling people to transfer and adapt foundation literacy skills to the workplace.

Importance of Good Business Writing Skills

“…Technology has also changed the business writing dynamic. According to Davies & Birbili (2000), "Writing is becoming ever more central and crucial to the world of work, with computers on every desk, email and the internet adding to the world's written words in almost epidemic proportions" (p.2). With the evolution of technology and business today via e-mail, business writing skills have become even more important.…”

Job Focus: Revisiting Students’ Communicative Needs and Industrial Demands

“…These interpersonal communicational activities help to develop discursive empowerment among students to develop strategic skills in oral communication. As prospective employers are found to be dissatisfied with the written performance in writing emails and reports, Davies and Birbili (2000) explored that the employees are not sufficiently trained to develop their writing skills in their studies. In a research study conducted at Massey University, Gray et al (2005, p. 432) found "the ability to express ideas clearly in writing" is the first-ranked choice of employers and the students consider "the ability to present information accurately" as the top priority for developing written communication.…”

‘Practical’ English and the crisis of English studies

“…Davis and Birbili contend that one singular notion of prescribed standardized practices is no longer applicable when it comes to the teaching of practical writing, noting that: evidence of research suggests that we need to recognize that it really is not plausible any more to use a singular notion of prescribed standardized practices as the basis for learning to write in all the areas of life where writing matters. (Davis & Birbili, 2000: 430)…”

“…evidence of research suggests that we need to recognize that it really is not plausible any more to use a singular notion of prescribed standardized practices as the basis for learning to write in all the areas of life where writing matters. (Davis & Birbili, 2000: 430)…”