Conclusion

Overall, this class has exposed me to many forms of writing that I would not have otherwise seen. As a future SLP, I will be doing a lot of paperwork and advocating on behalf of my clients to insurance companies so I will be doing my fair share of professional writing. I think one of the biggest things I learned that I can take away is writing for the audience. I can talk until I’m blue in the face about why I think I’m right, or why something has to happen, but unless I address the audience’s concerns, they are going to feel unheard and therefore less likely to listen to what I have to say. It’s very important to have positive interactions when at all possible, even in the context of a bad news letter. Additionally, the formal report required me to be able to give a presentation that was filled with facts and the powerpoints were relatively scarce. I had to memorize the bulk of the information and the manner in which I wanted to present it. In my case, I had uploaded videos of what my website looked like, but the videos failed for some reason during the presentation. It required me to be flexible and roll with the punches. I couldn’t stop the presentation, but the visuals were vital, so I went to the website and had to give my presentation largely without the use of the powerpoint as a guideline. It required me to be proactive and to carry on even when things didn’t go to plan. I’m sure there are going to be situations in the future where an unforeseen issue arises, and it will be my reaction to it that either impresses or concerns my boss. I’m glad I took this class in my final semester before starting grad school, I’m sure this knowledge will greatly aid me.