COLLEGE OF ARTS &

SCIENCES
BS-BIOLOGY
COURSE MODULE IN

PURPOSIVE
COMMUNICATIO
N
COURSE FACILITATOR: SHEFHANNIE G. CABANUS,
LPT, MAED

3
FB/MESSENGER: Shefhannie Cabanus
Email: cabanusshefhannie@gmail.com
Phone No: 09298734929

MODULE
 LESSON

7
O112LE 2
COMMUNICATION FOR
WORK PURPOSES

Communication plays a crucial role in whatever work situation. From job hunting to actual job
performance it is essential for a worker to know the acceptable form and manner of communication.

1. Identify the steps involved in the job application process;

2. Apply the conventions and some tips in writing application letter and resumè;
3. Demonstrate communication skills in a mock job interview;
4. Analyze different communication and related materials in the workplace like minutes of the meeting
and memos;
5. Answer exercise on communication materials for the workplace;
6. Present samples of business letters;
7. Critique classmates response in a Mock Job Interview; and
8. Reflect on the importance of familiarization of communications for work purposes.
ODULE 2 ODULE 2

How do you imagine yourself writing an application letter, resumè and CV? Perhaps, sitting in a
panel interview? In the scale of ten, how do you think will you cope?

An effective business letter elicits the expected response from the reader. This can be achieved
through concise, tactful and accurate writing style. A business letter serves several purposes: for sales
efforts, for complaints, for information dissemination, for relationship building, and for problem-solving.

PARTS OF BUSINESS LETTER

Business letters are a common form of writing in any organization. The traditional parts of a
business letter are:

Letterhead – It identifies the writer, his/her address, and contact numbers.

Date – It is placed between the letterhead and the inside address. It should never use plain numerals for
dates as it may create confusion. Instead of using 02-02-16, February 2,2016 or 2 February 2016 can be
used.

Inside Address- it identifies the reader’s name, position, and company, and address. It should be placed
immediately below the date.

Attention Line – it is used when the writer wishes to address the whole company but wants to bring it to
the attention of a particular person in the company. It can be written in two formats:
Attention Peter Burkin
Attention: Peter Burkin

Situation – it refers to the writer’s greeting to the reader. It can appear in different formats:
 Dear Sir:
Sir:
Dear Mr. Burkin:

Body – It contains the message of the letter. Paragraphs are single-spaced internally but double-spaced to
separate paragraphs. If the letter is too short, the body can be double-spaced or triple-spaced to separate
the paragraphs.

Complimentary Close- It is an expression used to end a letter. Below is the level of formality of the
complimentary close.

Highly formal:
Respectfully yours,
Respectfully,

Polite and formal:

Very truly yours,
Yours very truly,
Yours truly,

Less formal:
Sincerely yours,
Yours,
Cordially yours,

Informal and friendly

As ever, Best regards, Kindest regards, Regards

Signature Block- includes the signature and the typed of the sender the typed name can be in all caps. The
space for the signature should be three to five lines.
Identification Initials – it indicates the typist’s initials if the sender is not the one who personally typed the
document.

Enclosure Notation- it indicates the attachments to the letter. It can be written in the following formats:
Enclosures (2)
Enclosure
Enc. /encl.

Copy notation – it indicates the name of the secondary recipients of the letter. It is indicated by the cc:
which means carbon copy or courtesy copies.

Three formats of a Business Letter

- Full block
- Modified Block
- Semiblock

Writing a Memorandum
Memorandum is a business correspondence which aims to inform and persuade target readers within the
organization. It follows an inverted pyramid structure. This means that the most important information
comes first.
  Most Important
Information
 Supporting data and
examples

 Least important
information

In the workplace in particular, Dapat, et. al. (2018) pointed out that written communication have
the following characteristics:

 The purpose is getting something done within an organization

 The writer’s knowledge of topic is usually more than the reader’s knowledge
 The audience often composed of several people with differing professional backgrounds
 The communication should have clear-content organization, appropriate to the needs of busy
readers
 Graphic elements are frequently used to help readers find information and understand ideas

Another common form of written communication in the workplace is the memorandum.

Five types of a Memo

1. Instruction memo – provides information that the readers need to perform accurately. A notice
directing the employers to undergo physical check-up is an example of this kind of memo.
2. Request memo – readers provide certain information or take certain actions. An example of this memo
is when requesting a fund or seminar.
3. Announcement memo – provides information about an event, person, or thing. An example of this
memo is when announcing a meeting.
4. Transmittal memo- serves as a cover note for a formal or lengthy document. An example of this memo is
when transmitting an annual report to the members of the board of directors.
5. Authorization memo – gives permission. An example of this memo is when allowing an employee to
study on Saturdays.

Advantages of a memo

1. It reaches a large number of readers at the same time.

2. It provides a written record that can be accessed any time.
3. It allows a detailed and accurate delivery of message.

Disadvantages of a memo

1. It is not ideal to convey complex topics since memos are generally used for short texts.
2. It takes time to reach distant branches and offices.
3. It is more expensive than e-mail.
Parts of memo

Letterhead – It identifies the writer, his/her address, and contact numbers.

Date – It is placed between the letterhead and the inside address. It should never use plain numerals for
dates as it may create confusion. Instead of using 02-02-16, February 2,2016 or 2 February 2016 can be
used

“To” line- indicates the title of the receiver.

Attention Line – it is used when the writer wishes to address the whole company but wants to bring it to
the attention of a particular person in the company. It can be written in two formats:
Attention Peter Burkin
Attention: Peter Burkin

“From” line – indicates the name of the sender.

Subject line- it announces the main content or topic of the memo. Subject is more preffered than the old
term, Re.

Body – It contains the message of the memo. Paragraphs are single-spaced internally but double-spaced to
separate paragraphs. If the letter is too short, the body can be double-spaced or triple-spaced to separate
the paragraphs. Paragraph in the memo is not intended.

Identification Initials – it indicates the typist’s initials if the sender is not the one who personally typed the
document.

Enclosure Notation- it indicates the attachments to the letter. It can be written in the following formats:
Enclosures (2)
Enclosure
Enc. /encl.

Copy notation – it indicates the name of the secondary recipients of the letter. It is indicated by the cc:
which means carbon copy or courtesy copies.

Do What You’ve Learned!

Learning Check 7.1

A. Assume that you already a graduate of your chosen course/degree. Write your own application letter
(full-blocked style), Resume, and Curriculum Vitae addressed to your dreamed company.
B. Watching a downloaded videos of panel job interview, write five (5) usually asked questions and five (5)
ideas on how interviewees successfully answered the questions.

RESEARCH CONNECTION
Compile at least 5 samples of application letter. Send to your teacher as hardcopy or attached docs
in messenger account.

LESSON
COMMUNICATION FOR
8 ACADEMIC AND WORK
PURPOSES
12
HOURS

In your college education journey, there are various academic discourses that you ought to master. We
will tackle communication for academic and various purposes in this lesson.

1. Prepare note-cards for information accessed from various sources;

2. Use appropriate in-text citation for information in a written discourse/research paper;
3. Organize a seminar-workshop on the parts of a research paper and the rudiments of research; and
 4. Produce a research Literature Review on the topic related to Purposive Communication.

Do you agree that the usual dilemma in communication is what to say and say it right? Why do you
think?

How do you like to know how to organize your thoughts and put them on paper properly and intelligently?

Research-Based Argumentative Essay

From Research to Argument: Producing a Research-based Argumentative Essay

Study the table below

Explanation Essay Blog/Vlog Research-Based Argumentative
Essay
What is it? An essay that A personal An essay that presents a writer’s
answers the journal/diary/video position with support from
question “Why” entry that is posted research studies.
online.
ING What is the To inform readers Any of the following: To persuade readers to accept
purpose of writing about why To entertain the writer’s position
the project? something To instruct
happens To inform
To persuade
 Does it require Research may be Research may be used Research must be used to
research? used but is not but is not required support the writer’s claim or
required position

As shown in the table above, research is one element that distinguishes the argumentative essay from the
explanation essay and log/vlog. The research-based argumentative essay is the end product of a research
process that you must undertake. The process includes the pre-writing tasks.

Formulating the Research-based Question

The essay you are wring is argumentative. This means you are expected you are expected to present a
clear stand on an issue that has at least two different or opposing sides. Some of contentious issues include
legalizing divorce and legalizing same-sex marriage in the Philippines. For these issues, one position favors
the passing of the law allowing divorce or same sex marriage; another position rejects the passing of such
laws.

Many good examples of contentious issues for your paper include those do not deal with legalizing
practices in the Philippines. You may choose topics that concern your school, province, city, town,
barangay or even those that relate to the environment in general, and other nations and regions.

Finding the answers to the research question

After formulating the research question, plan the next steps for finding answers to your questions. This
requires the preparation of an annotated research bibliography, which is a list of sources with a brief
description of the content of each source. Your sources must be acceptable. Is the source relevant? Does it
provide the latest facts and figures? Is it reliable? Given these criteria on deciding on the acceptability of
sources, the following are usually not considered:
 Any holy book(e.g., Bible) or Inspirational Writing (e.g., self-help books)
 Any work of literature (e.g., novels, short stories, plays, poems)
 The dictionary
 Personal logs/vlogs or journal/diary entries
 Wikipedia

This activity can help you in preparing the annotated research bibliography.

RESEARCH QUESTION

(STATE YOUR RESEACH QUESTION)

ANNOTATED RESEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHY

(LIST THE SOURCES YOU WILL USE TO ANSWER YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION.
INCLUDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION
SOURCES OF THE CONTENT OF EACH SO URCE.)
DESCRIPTION
(THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS
ANNOTATION)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
 RESEARCH QUESTION

(STATE YOUR RESEACH QUESTION)

Note: You can’t give a brief description if you haven’t read the content of the source.

DOING RESEARCH

It is now time to do research. This means that you will read each of the sources you indentified
above and take research-notes. If you do not find the answers you need from the sources you indentified,
you may have to look for other sources.
There are three types of notes, namely paraphrase, summaries, and direct quotations. Paraphrasing is
done when you use your own words in taking down notes. If the information provided in the source is long,
it is best to summarize. You may also copy the note verbatim or exactly as it is presented in the source. For
whatever type of note you make, it is expected that you cite the source. This means that you must jot
down the complete bibliographical information of your source.

NOTES TYPE
(indicate if
the note is
summary,
paraphrase
or direct
quotation)

SOURCES
Preparing to Write the Paper

The Thesis Statement

1. At this point in the pre-writing stage, you should be ready to formulate the thesis statement
2. for your essay. The thesis statement is the main point or central argument of your paper. It
3. expresses your stand on the issue you chose to do research on. In order to formulate a good
4.
5.
 thesis statement, make sure that it does the following: presents a strong position that is supported by
convincing evidence and suggests a frame work for organizing the essay.

Consider the thesis statement below

: Despite the growing member of broken families in the country, divorce should not be legalized in the
Philippines.

What are the characteristics of the thesis statement above? First, it clearly argues that the divorce law in
the Philippines is not desirable. Second, with the use of the word ‘despite’, it can be predicted that the
writer of the essay will present contrasting scenarios for a country with divorce law on the one hand, and a
country without divorce law on the other hand.

Here is another example of a thesis statement.

: Because of the economic and environmental benefits it brings, eco-tourism should be promoted in my
community.

What are the characteristics of the second thesis statement? First, it clearly argues that eco-tourism is
more desirable than traditional tourism because of the benefits the former brings. Second, with the use of
the word ‘because’, it can be predicted that the writer will introduce a cause-and-effect dimension to the
essay.

The Outline

After having done research about your topic, choose one side that you agree with. This side is your
argument for your position. Then, list all the factual support for your argument. Do the same for the other
side, which is the opposing position. List all the factual support you have gathered for that position. When
all these are complete, you are ready to write an outline for your essay. This outline gives your paper a
general shape. It is some sort of a written plan for your essay. If the outline is well-done, then half the work
of writing the paper is also done.

Your outline must be complete. It must contain all the main points of you researched-based argumentative
paper. This means that the outline should have the following parts:

 Your thesis statement

 Your argument and specific support for this argument
 The opposing argument and specific support for this argument
 A list of source for all the support that will be used in the paper.

The Essay

- After you have completed all the pre-writing tasks, you are ready to write your essay. in writing the paper,
observe citations and make sure that you practice intellectual honesty y acknowledging all your sources.
Any fact, idea or concept that is not yours must be acknowledged. Otherwise, you will be accused of
plagiarism.
Note: I will not call the attention for those who will be caught in plagiarism check. Know your
consequences.

Learning Activity 8.1

Name:_____________________________________________________Score:_____________
Name of Professor:___________________________________________________Date:_____________
Course/Year/Section____________________________

Follow the steps or the process on how to do an Argumentative Essay. It will only be a minimum of3- 5
paragraphs and a maximum of 10. Write your answers on a separate sheet of short-sized paper or submit
an MS word document, whichever is applicable.

Learning Check 8.1

Name:_____________________________________________________Score:_____________
Name of Professor:___________________________________________________Date:_____________
Course/Year/Section____________________________

Issues:
Why should the practice of proper waste segregation be instituted in my barangay?
Why should eco-tourism be promoted in my community?
Why computer literacy be mastered by all college students nowadays?

Pick from the given issue listed above that you want to work on. Then, read about this issue (both the
positive and negative side) by preparing note-cards for information accessed from various sources. Use
research question similar to the examples that you learned as your guide in the development of your
research-based argumentative essay. Be sure to use appropriate in-text citation of your sources for
information that you put in your essay.

Write your essay (about 500-700 words) in short-sized paper or submit it as MS word document,
whichever is applicable. (This is your final paper in this course).
This Rubric will be strictly observed in rating your argumentative essay.

RUBRIC FOR ESSAY TYPE ACTIVITY

Indicators 1= Fail 2 = Pass with Condition 4 = High Pass
3= Pass
Clarity of Essay exhibits Essay exhibits adequate Essay uses Essay uses
thought and inadequate and but inconsistent facility appropriate very precise,
Organization inconsistent facility in in the use of the language/vocabulary. skillful
the use of the language. Moderate to strong language.
language. Demonstrate adequate connections are Strong
Demonstrates connections. made. connections
connections that are Insights are noted but Insights are noted are made.
few to none. sometimes weak. and moderately Insights are
Insights are weak. Some key points are clear. noted and
Key points are few, demonstrated but some Most key points are clear.
and unfocused. lapses in coherence or made. Several key
Critical ideas are progression of ideas are Critical ideas are points are
poorly developed. noted. included. made.
Questions not Critical ideas are vague All parts of the Outstanding
answered or or limited. question are fully demonstrati
incorrectly answered. Not all parts of the answered. on of critical
question are answered. thinking.
Strong thesis
present.
All parts of
the question
are fully
answered.
Professional Essay contains an Essay contains an Essay is free of most Essay is free
Presentation abundance of errors in accumulation of errors in errors in grammar, of most
and grammar, usage and grammar, usage, and usage and errors in
Functional mechanics and it mechanics. mechanics. grammar,
Skills causes meaning to be Essay is limited in Essay is well usage and
obscured. organization or focus. organized and. mechanics.
Essay demonstrate A lapse in using a Focused. Clear
little to no scholarly voice is evident. A scholarly voice is organization
organization. used throughout the is obvious.
No scholarly voice is entire essay. A scholarly
evident. thoughtful
voice is used
throughout
the entire
essay.
At least two
citations are
used.

Evidence of Essay provides none to Essay provides some Essay provides Essay
background very few links to evidence. evidence. Integration provides a
information, theory and practice. Integration of theory and of theory and variety
and Essay does not provide practice is present, yet practice is present. evidence
Integration of citations. sometimes weak. Best practices are Integration
theory and Best practices are connected to theory. of theory
Practice sometimes connected to Impact and and practice
theory. Impact and relationship of theory is strong.
relationship of theory is is clear Best
evident, but also practices are
sometimes weak. demonstrate
d and
connected to
theory.
Impact and
relationship
of theory is
detailed and
clear.
Extent to Essay demonstrates Essay demonstrates Essay clearly Essay
which the irrelevant ideas and moderately appropriate demonstrates strongly and
discussion is concepts, unrelated ideas and concepts. appropriate, relevant clearly
directed to most of the time. No Student demonstrates us and timely ideas. demonstrate
knowledge of connections are clear. of only one perspective. Concepts and s
essential; Student demonstrates dispositions are appropriate,
points in the one limited evident, student uses relevant and
subject area perspective. more than one timely ideas,
perspective. concepts,
and
dispositions
from a
variety of
perspectives.

FINAL EXAMINATION TO FOLLOW

Congratulations for completing the Purposive Communication module