WRT 304: Writing for Your Profession: Home

Savvy Search Strategies from Wolfie Writers on Vimeo.

The types of writing you will do will vary by discipline but might include:

• Advertisements
• Case Studies
• Consent Forms
• Contracts
• Directions/Instructions
• Emails
• FAQs
• Grant Proposals
• Lab Reports
• Magazine Articles
• Newsletters
• Reports
• Reviews (book or product)
• Pamphlets
• Patient Notes
• Presentations
• Press Releases
• Scholarly Articles
• Scripts
• Social Media "posts"
• Standards
• Technical Specifications
• Textbooks
• Use Cases
• User Manuals
• Website or Blog Content
• White Papers

When exploring writing in your subject area:

• Look for books and articles on writing for your profession.
• Check for relevant professional organizations. See if they publish a blog, magazine, or journal, or if they provide conferences or workshops. For example, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. 
• Check the Internet for templates, presentations, or videos aimed at writers in your discipline. 
• Become familiar with trade journals in your area.

Consider relevant synonyms for writing when trying to find material. 

Examples:

• Communications
• Documentation
• Artifacts

What additional keywords would be used in your discipline?

AND between words searches for BOTH words on document. 

EX: immigration and employment 

Returns results with both words. Fewer, but better, results.

QUOTATION MARKS around a phrase searches for that exact phrase. 

EX: “genetic engineering” "climate change"  "no child left behind"

Returns results with that exact phrase.  

ASTERISK (*) search looks for all the various words using the same root.

EX: comput* results in articles that have the words compute, computer, computing, etc. 

       educat* will search for educate, education, educator, educators, etc.

OR between words searches for at least one of the words. 

EX: fat OR obesity

Returns results with either word. Produces more results.   

(Parentheses) group multiple search terms together.

EX: debt and (teenagers or adolescents) 

Returns results for debt and teenagers and for debt and adolescents.