Question: Task: Reply to this topic

Everyone wants to be understood when communicating with others. In an effective communication situation, "the message is perceived in the way it was intended" (Hybels & Weaver, 2012, p. 23). Unfortunately, individuals may not always translate their thoughts successfully into the written or spoken word, which may result in conflict or confusion.

This unit's Learning Activities include helpful tips about honing word choice, determining whether formal or informal writing suits the occasion, and crafting the appropriate tone and voice. After completing the unit's Activities, respond to the following questions in at least two well-developed paragraphs:

Use this discussion to help develop your learning community by introducing yourself and including information about your writing experiences and concerns. You may want to include details about your academic and professional goals and your experiences with online learning as well.

Describe an example of effective writing that you have encountered either in a personal, professional, or academic setting. How does that example illustrate the qualities described in this unit's Learning Activities?

To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers' initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. These responses should stay on topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant examples, and referencing concepts from the unit's Learning Activities.

All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard American English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.

When you refer to concepts from the unit's Learning Activities, be sure to use a signal phrase like "According to [name of reading]." If you are directly quoting the Learning Activities or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The Writing Center has resources on APA citation formatting.