W3 (19 Mar. 2020)

Lab - Paragraph

• 好的 paragraph
  • Topic sentence
    
  • Supporting ideas (examples)
    • 舉例要有強度（能夠查證的實例，而非虛構的例證）
      
  • Concluding sentence

Lecture - Cover Letter (I) Letters of Inquiry

• What is cover letter?
  • 請求別人打開相關文件的信件
    
    
• Letter as a genre
  • 讀者的對象很限定
    
  • 篇幅精短
    
  • 語言不會過於正式、學術 \(\rightarrow\) 語氣較為輕鬆
    
    
• Letter
  • 特定格式
    
  • 要能夠一口氣讀完
    
  • 語氣不要過於正式、學術
    
    
• Cover
  • 作為所有申請文件的封面/門面
    
  • 引導讀者應該要注意的「重點」(切勿流水帳)
    
    
• Where to place the cover letter?
  1. Cover letter/Motivation letter
     
  2. Resume
     
  3. Autobiography
     
  4. Diploma
     
  5. Transcript
     
  6. Certificates (通過特定考試的執照/證照)
     
  7. References (推薦函)
     
  8. Appendix (所有敘述都應該附上證明文件)

• Cover letter 的重要性
  • Popular in the US/UK/EU context
    
  • A mark of professionalism
    
  • To save/steal time
    
  • A signal of zeal
    
  • To address in a personal tone (可能是在整份申請文件中，唯一最能有自己聲音、口吻的文件)
    
    
• Cover letter 格式
  • 3-4 paragraphs (opening + 2 body paragraphs + closing)
    
  • Short + sweet

1. Opening
   1. Self-identification
      
   2. Motivation
      
2. Body paragraphs
   1. Establish strong ties
      
   2. STAR (Situation - Task - Action - Result)
      
3. Closing
   1. To be polite and firm (neither humble nor arrogant)

Letter of Inquiry

• To ask about possible opportunities rather than respond to a specific announcement
  
• To offer an incentive for reply
  
• Self-positioning
  • NO LONGER a full-time student
    
  • Propose a win-win scenario

Example One

• 過多冗雜資訊
  
• 語氣高傲

Example Two

• 指出明確的人 \(\rightarrow\) 增加他/她回信的責任感
  
• 不要使用浮誇口吻
  
• <句法>
  • S1 + V1, so S2 + V2
    
  • S1 + V1, hence + noun phrase
    
• 在學生身份下，仍然要透露自我情報
  
• 信件中，偏好列點式的呈現（便於對方回應）
  
• <句法> Enclosed/Attached is/are + N

Example Three

• 提供 incentives
  
• Comprehension and Apprehension (理解後的憂慮、考量)
  
• 「逗號」可以拉近與讀者的關係/距離
  
• 思考如何提供 incentives?
  • 排除 ethnic diversity 這個選項