KBQS (Knowledge Bound Quality Systems, Inc.) is a small, local technical writing firm. The Denver location employs about ten people, so it has no "personnel department." One of the two company presidents will probably be the one taking the applications in addition to accomplishing her other daily tasks. The firm is very busy, so the pressure is high, especially considering that another technical writer is needed but not yet hired. KBQS put a technical writer ad in the newspaper last Sunday and received ten responses this week.

Assignment Directions:

1. Study the draft of Lance's letter below, making specific notes on your copy (this might be easier if you print out the draft), in terms of Lance's primary audience and purpose, general professional writing goals, and how the letter's style complements or fights against these. Also make note of Lance's errors in formatting a formal letter.

1. Evaluate the original document's style in terms of the strategies and recommendations in our textbook. Tell me where the original fails to use good (appropriate) writing, why the inappropriate wording will have a negative effect on the document's success, and how the letter can be improved.

1. Thoroughly revise Lance's poorly written letter. Be sure to correctly and thoroughly apply all of the good style from the reading. You may change wording but be careful not to change the letter's central message.

KBSI Inc.

123 First Avenue

Denver, CO 55556 Sirs:

100 Pine Street

Denver, CO 55555 [date]

Technical writing is the sort of professional field into which not just anyone should venture. Certain requirements like attention to detail, knowledge of the subject matter at hand, and a calm, calculating approach are central to it. This means that you should interview me for the position advertised in Sunday's paper.

Prestigious pedagogy and a thoroughly contemporary curriculum have been combined to make the applicant before you a paramount choice for adoption. A review of my skills will reveal that I am not unskilled at composition for both knowledgeable and ignorant audiences. Techniques such as information mapping, audience profile matrixing, and state of the art, computer aided vocabulary proficiency ratings will all be put into practice as I take the helm in the writer's job.

You will be impressed once you are appropriately cognizant of how my greatly enhanced skills can be put to work to produce monolithically successful documents unparalleled in excellence. It is not uncommon for my first-revision results to be indicative of terminal document design!

A recently completed degree is a plus for me as a technical writing applicant. I have my course work fresh in my mind, and I am ready to face the world! School has taught me a plethora of prestidigitations, all of which I am ready to put to work for you. Beneficial results will dominate the future due to KBSI's choice in pursuing this application. As many fine organizations are currently within my perusal, I urge you to contact me soon to discuss application details.

Sincerely, (ink signature) Pat Lance