pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu (dr. funk) (01/26/89)
I know you're not out to get me, Dan :-)
My World War III briefings are usually delivered with a lot of humor.
Students are there to be educated and especially, to educate themselves.
Insults are inappropriate and reduce educational effectiveness to zip.
I compressed the message to keep everyone's phone bills down!
A few things are apparent from student feedback.
1. The folks who have worked in industry (co-op, summer interns, or
re-entry students) typically nod and agree that good communication
skills are important. They know how real engineers spend their
time. (Good thing that the MBA management types DON'T know :-)
2. Students who have not yet worked at engineering really appreciate
advice about the game of engineering -- all that stuff that ain't
in books.
3. This is a quote, "I want rich alumni to buy me an endowed chair.
And I want all of you to be rich." It takes gamesmanship and street
sense to be rich. (Luck doesn't hurt.)
4. The ultimate goal of technical writing and speaking is clear,
unambiguous communication. But, your business communications say
a lot about you, the person.
The authoritarian mind is everywhere and breeds especially well in
academia. Sister Gertrude sought to teach self-discipline and pride
in your work. Last time I checked, these aren't bad qualities. After
dealing with strict grammarians, however, it helps to take a few
creative writing courses to wash away the aftertaste and lossen up.
What would Sister Gertrude say about "smileys," I wonder :-)
paul j. drongowski usenet: {decvax,sun,att}!cwjcc!pjd!pjd
case western reserve university csnet: pjd@alpha.ces.cwru.edu