Principles of Research Writing

 ESSENTIALS OF RESEARCH WRITING 

 Research is essential in the academe, industry, governance, or in any organization. One who is
an expert in this area plays a more functional role in a situation in which his/her research
knowledge or experience is applied. A teacher, for example, can easily adjust his/her teaching
practices and style to specific student types because of his/her active involvement in
relevant research. 
 
Research writing a may be a struggle at first especially for novices, but readability (i.e. clear and
concise writing) can be taught and learned. 
 
But what is research? Research is a systematic and scientific way of investigating and gathering
information to answer particular problem, establish facts, and reach conclusion. Conducting
research can be done in any fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences,
technology, health sciences. Any research begins with a topic. For most student researchers,
clarifying a topic through a question form is especially useful. 

 QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE RESEARCHERS 

 The success of a research paper depends on the ability of researchers who write it. Below are
some of the qualities researchers must possess: 
 1. They must be organized especially with time.
2.  They must be highly motivated and creative.
3. They must read often to get new ideas and identify knowledge gaps.
4.  They must be effective communicators.
5.  They must be participative and collaborative.
6. They must be analytical and critical about matters relevant to them, to others, or to the society. 
7.  They must be open-minded and good listeners. 
Parts of a Research Paper
 Generally, a research report includes the following sections: title page, abstract, introduction,
literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references. 

1. Title page — informative title (i.e., describes the content of the paper), name of
author/s with their addresses or affiliation, and date submitted. Below are examples of informative
titles: 
 a. Effects of Facebook on the Academic Achievement of First Year Students 
 b. Development and Validation of a Software for Detecting Plagiarism 
 There are different types of titles according to Derntl (2014). These are descriptive,
declarative, interrogative, and compound. 

Types Description

1. Descriptive  Describes what the paper is about

2. Declarative  States the results of the research

3. Interrogative Poses a question

 Combines two titles and separate them 

4. Compound
 with a colon

2. Abstract — contains the summary of the findings and conclusions. It briefly presents
the context of the study, research questions or objectives, methodology, major findings,
conclusions, and sometimes implications. An abstract does not contain any citation and a great
deal of statistical results. Its length ranges from 100 to 250 words. 
 - Background/Motivation: Why was the research conducted? (30%) 
 - Aim/Purpose/Problem Statement: What is the purpose of your research? (10%) 
 - Methods: What methods or techniques did you use? (10%) 
 - Results: What are your most important findings? (40%) 
 - Conclusion: What are your conclusions? (20%) 
 Your abstract should not include references, slang words, abbreviations, and non-essential
numbers and statistics. Ideally, your abstract should not exceed 250 words. 
 

Sample Abstract
 Background (30%) 
 There is a considerable progress in the development of electronic portfolios (e-Portfolio) via
Facebook (FB) in several universities in America, Europe, and some parts of Asia. As one form of
innovation in classroom practices, e-portfolio is both a reflective medium for learning and a tool for
improving assessment of that learning. In the Philippines, a number of teachers are now attracted
to use e-portfolio as an alternative assessment. 

 Purpose (10%) 
 In this study, the level of impact of e-portfolio via Facebook on the students from the students'
perspective and teacher's perspective was determined as well as the significant difference
between the scores assigned by the teacher and by the students from De La Salle University, 
 Method (10%) 
 Data were collected through a retrospective self- report questionnaire. Descriptive (mean and
standard deviation) and inferential (t-test) statistics were used for data analysis.. 

 Results (40%) 
 Results showed there was a high level of impact of e-Portfolio via FB on students based on the
perspectives of teachers and students. However, it can be seen from their various responses that
both groups valued certain items over the others. These items that obtained very high percentages
can be considered as standard values or objectives associated with e-portfolio. On the other hand,
the scores assigned 
 by the students and teachers were not significantly different. 

 Conclusion (10%) 
 These findings suggest that e-portfolio is essential to student learning and opens an opportunity to
explore the role of other digital platforms in reinventing the image of pedagogy in the Philippines. 

3. Introduction — explains the current state of field and identifies research gaps. It
also presents your research focus in a way that it addresses the identified gaps and puts the
research topic in context. Its length usually ranges from three to five paragraphs. 
General -------------------------------to ---------------------Specific
Current State of the Topic
Knowledge Gaps/ Problems relevant to the topic
Purpose/Problem Statement

Sample Introduction

 • Current State of the Topic 

 Education in the Philippines took a dramatic turn when the landmark educational reform known as
the K to 12 Basic Education Program was finally signed into law. Teachers, specifically public
school teachers in basic education, find themselves thrust into what the Department of Education
(DepEd) claims as the "most comprehensive basic education reform initiative" since the beginning
of public educational system in the country. The K to 12 (or K-12), its shorter and popular term,
was established as a revolutionary learning framework that engages learners in the 21st century
learning paradigm and promises to propel them towards international standards.
Contiguous to this definition of the 21st century teacher are different frameworks designed to meet
21st century learning demands. Such frameworks include The Teacher Education Model for the
21st Century designed by the National Institute of Education in Singapore. In language education,
specifically, The National Council for Teachers of English articulation the Definition of 21st Century
Literacies as updated in February this year by its executive committee. Darling, Hammond (2006)
identifies three critical components of the 21st century teacher education program coherence and
integration among courses, extensive and 'intensive practical experience, and closer, proactive
relationships with schools. 
 
The Philippines, meanwhile, has -adopted the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 21st century
learning is spelled out as demonstrating "certain core" competencies such as collaboration, digital
literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that school need to teach to help students thrive in
today's world" (Hermosa, 2012).DepEd has not been remiss on the imperative of providing for
teachers' upgrading of skills aligned with 21st century demands, In the last two years alone,
DepEd endorsed a number of national-level seminar workshops, conferences, and courses
involving educators and focusing on 21st century assessment, information and communication
technology (ICT teaching strategies, and skills and competencies different parts of the country. 

 In addition, DepEd also put in place a mechanism to sustain such efforts by creating the Media
Literacy Task Force through DepEd Order No. 6 Series 2010. Its function, among others, is to
formulate the DepEd National Media Literacy Education Plan or Framework to guide curriculum
development/integration in basic education, including capability-building and policy formulation. 

  • Knowledge gaps 

 Notwithstanding these developments in the curricular reform of the country, particularly the effort
expended by the national government, educational institutions, and partner agencies, there
remains a seeming lack of training among teachers to meet these expectations head on. There is
an apparent gap between what the 21st century learning framework envisions to fulfill and what
teachers actually can do at 
 present or are prepared to do in the classroom to fulfill them. 
 

  • Context of the Study/Problem Statement

 As suggested by the literature, there occurs a variable match between teachers' consciousness of
and attitudes to 21st century learning and teaching and how they carry out these domains in actual
classroom teaching. This study seeks to determine the state of affairs in the Philippine public basic
education context. 
 Specifically, this study will involve two phases: 
 Phase I: Instrument development and validation, and 
 Phase 2: Assessment of the 21st century skills of basic education teachers in the Philippines.
Second phase 
 will address the following questions: 
 1. What is the level of the teachers' 21st century skills? 
 2. To what extent do teachers integrate 21st century skills in classroom teaching? 
 3. Is there a relationship between the teachers' 21st century skills and the integration of
these skills in teaching?

4.  Literature Review — contains the summary and synthesis of all available

sources directly related to your study. It is divided into two sections: related concepts and related
studies. Related concepts explain some of the fundamental concepts needed by readers to better
understand the study. In this section, some concepts and theories are defined, explained, and
elaborated. Unlike related concepts, related studies are based on previously conducted studies
directly related to the paper. Both the related concepts and studies will help the writer explain the
phenomena that may arise in the study. This section ends with a paragraph that synthesizes all of
the studies presented and puts the study in context. Hence, the last paragraph may include the
topic and specific research problems. Its length may range from two to three pages. Note that in
some cases, the literature review is integrated into the introduction section. 

 5. Methodology — contains how you proceeded with the conduct of your research.
This section contains the context and participants, instruments used, data- gathering procedure,
and data analysis. The context and participants section explains the number and demographic
profile of participants involved as well as the place where the study was conducted. The
Instrument section presents tools used in gathering data. These may include questionnaires,
interviews, focus group discussions, and tests among others. All of the instruments used should be
described in detail and on how they are validated. Finally, the data- gathering section presents the
details on how the 
 data were collected whereas the data analysis section presents how the data were analyzed,
qualitatively (coding scheme) or quantitatively (statistical tools). 

 6. Results - factually describes the data gathered. It usually contains tables and graphs
that summarize the collected data. Along with the tables and graphs are their respective
interpretations. The flow of the results section should follow the flow of the research
questions/problems/objectives. It is expected that for each research problem or objective,
corresponding results are presented. 
 

7. Discussion — presents the why's of the results. This section provides an

explanation of all the results in relation to the previous studies presented in the literature review. In
this section, you need to restate your research problems or objectives in the first paragraph as well
as the major findings. The succeeding paragraphs should explain whether your study supports or
rejects previous findings and explain the reason for this claim. You should also state the new
findings that you have uncovered. Similar to the flow of the results, this section follows the flow of
your research problems or objectives. 

 8. Conclusion — contains the restatement of major findings, limitations of the study,
recommendations, and implications. Note that in some cases, the conclusion is integrated into the
discussion section. 
 

9. References — contains the different sources you used in your study. These may
be academic books, journals, and other online sources. Its format depends on the school, teacher,
or field of study. 
Steps in Writing a Research
Paper
 
 The following are the steps in research writing: 

1. Preparation 
 a. Identify the context. 
 b. Identify the purpose. 
 c. Identify the audience. 

 2. Generating and Focusing Ideas 

 a. Choose a topic. Specify it. 
 b. Check your library or online catalog for relevant resources and/or references. 
 c. Prepare a preliminary bibliography.
Modeling (when necessary) 
 a. Get samples of a published paper. 
 b. Learn paper structure, style, 
 argument structure, among others. 

3.  Outlining and Thesis Statement Writing 

a. Construct a tentative thesis statement. 
b.  Construct a tentative outline. 
c.  Continue generating ideas through reading and discussing with colleagues. 
 d. Finalize the thesis statement. 
 e. Finalize the outline. 

4.  Drafting 
a. Write the first draft of the body. 
 b. Write the first draft of the conclusion. 
 c. Write the first draft of the introduction. 
 d. Write the first draft of the abstract. 
 e. Prepare a draft of a reference list. 
 f. Put together all parts, 
 g. Continue generating ideas through reading and discussing with colleagues. 

5.  Providing Feedback 
 a. Provide self-feedback. 
 b. Seek feedback from your peers (at least two). 
 c. Seek feedback from your teacher/s. 

6.  Revising 
 Consider your own feedback and your peers' and teacher's as well.

7. Editing/Proofreading
Correct the diction or word choice, run-ons and fragments, subject-verb agreement, pronoun
usage, prepositions, dangling and misplaced modifiers, transitions, verb tense, spelling,
punctuation, capitalization and other grammatical and typographical errors. 

8.  Finalizing 
 Finalize all parts of the paper. 

9.  Publishing 
 a. Submit the paper to your teacher. 
 b. Seek advice from your teacher on how you can publish your work online or better still, to a
reputable journal. 
 

POWER TIPS FOR WRITING A RESEARCH

REPORT 
1.  Fifty (50) to seventy five (75) percent of the paper should be devoted to results and discussion. 
2.  Be sure to cite all your sources whether they are paraphrased or directly quoted. 
3, Use direct quotation sparingly. Paraphrase as much as possible. 
 4. Strictly follow the required documentation and citation style. 
 5. Topics should be relevant, interesting, current, and manageable in terms of resources, skills
needed, and time. 
 6. They should not be too sensitive and controversial as well. 
7.  Research questions should directly address the given topic or thesis statement. 

APA 6th and 7th Edition

Proper documentation of all borrowed ideas, information, concepts, arguments, or information for
your research and other academic writings is very important. This is done through citations which
serve the following purposes:
1. To avoid plagiarism
2. To make your paper more scholarly
3. To help your target audience identify your original source
 

2 Forms of Citations:
1. In-text citation
-This is citing the last name/s of the author's or the name of the organization,
the year of publication and page number (for direct quotation) of the original
source depending on the citation style or format being followed. In-text
citations appear in the text. 
2. Reference Citation
-This is citing the complete bibliographic entries (author's last name/s, year of publication, title of
publication, and name of publisher, among others). Reference citations appear in the reference list
found at the last part of the paper. 
A source that is cited in-text should also appear in the reference list. 
 

Different Style Guides

Citations are governed by rules of styles and structures, - they are called Style guides. Some of
the widely used style guides are:
1. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)
2. The Modern Language Association Style Guide (MLA)
3. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
4. American Medical Association Manual of Style (AMA) 
5. The Chicago Manual Style
-For us in UC, we use the APA format. It depends on the instructor, but for my class I would like
you to use the APA 6th or 7th Edition. 

Style Guide Discipline

1. APA psychology, education, nursing, hotel and restaurant management, business, econom
2. MLA literature, arts, and the humanities
3. IEEE engineering
4. AMA medicine, health, sciences, and other natural sciences
5. Chicago Manual Style reference books, non-academic periodicals (ex. newspapers, magazines, and journal

The following videos and links are provided for you. It is a guide about the how's of writing citations
in the APA 6th Edition format. 

How to write IN-TEXT CITATIONS (APA 6th

Edition)
For those who want to read instead of watching the
video, you can check out this link:
In-Text Citation APA 6th Ed.Links to an external
site.
For writing your reference list, here is a link. The
link provides the overall format for APA 6th edition
so just scroll down to the Reference List. 
https://www.scribbr.com/category/apa-style/6th-
edition/Links to an external site.
https://www.scribbr.com/category/apa-style/ Links
to an external site.-7th edition
Selecting a Topic
Selecting a topic can be a daunting task because it must be an informed choice, which is very
crucial especially to students. However, it can be easy because any topic will serve your purpose
depending on your interest; usefulness, value/impact, and relevance of the topic; availability of
resources; and most importantly, your ability to write about it and finish it within a given time. You
may consider the following questions in choosing an appropriate topic for research:
1. Am I really interested in the topic? Is it useful to my field of interest?
2. Is it relevant? Will it impact me, others, or the society? Will it benefit my target audience?
3. Are sources available and accessible?
4. Will there be enough time to write about it? 
 
Today you will be brainstorming your research topic as a group. Watch the video on "How to
Develop a Strong Research Question" to give you an idea of what you need to do. 
 

Essentials of Oral
Communication
There are a lot of people who are more comfortable communicating by sending messages through
electronic mail, social media, or cellular phones than in person. One reason probably is that
speaking on a one-to-one basis, or in either small or big group is intimidating and even terrifying.
However, you should know that having excellent communication skills can practically help you
express yourself clearly and confidently, gain the respect of other people, achieve your goals, and
succeed in life. 
 
Competence in oral communication is also important because it makes you become an effective
leader: one who is able to
(1) listen attentively to identify the conveyed meaning, 
(2) collaborate with others,
(3) use critical thinking and problem-solving skills,
(4) give appropriate feedback, and
(5) converse with others of different backgrounds.
 
These are qualities that are relevant in the present 21st century world. 

 As the name implies, public speaking is speaking in public. Your early exposures to it can either
be in school through hosting a program, reciting the loyalty pledge, reading the mechanics of
contests or games, campaigning during a campus 
 election, or joining in declamation, oratorical, impromptu and storytelling contests, or outside
school such as giving a birthday wish to a celebrator, reading verses in public during religious
activities, or making public announcements. Now, use these experiences to jumpstart your
becoming an effective public speaker. 
 
You may have heard from your teachers, coaches, or even from your family, friends and
classmates, or read from oral communication reference and self-help books about some of the
time-tested principles of effective public speaking which can be categorized into Four M's
(Material, Message, Methods of 
 Delivery, and Manners in Speech). 

Principles of Effective Public

Speaking
1. MATERIAL 
 Material refers to your topic which can be about your experiences, observations, inspiration, or
anything you are interested to talk about. For example, if you are into social media like Facebook,
Twitter, or Instagram, you may be 
 interested to talk about these topics: 
-How social media helped me find my one true love 
 -My grandmother's experience in social media 
 -Cyberbullying in social media 
 -Using social media to change the world 

 Or, if you are into sports, your speech topics may be about the following: 
-Why I love playing basketball 
 -My inspiration in becoming an athlete 
 -How can the Philippine team get gold medals in the Olympics 
 
If you can't think of any idea about your topic, one best strategy is to get a pen and paper and write
down everything that is in your mind. Then, circle or underline the one that you are interested in
and really knowledgeable about. Once you 
have identified your topic, it is important to know more about it. 
 

2. MESSAGE 
 Message refers to the content or the main point of your speech, which can be supported by
personal stories or anecdotes—humorous or inspiring—and relevant statistics or ideas from
newspapers and academic journals, among others. 
Take, for example your topic is cyberbullying in social media. You can begin your speech by
sharing that you read 
 through Twitter how your friend was bashed by his/her followers because of his/her use of English
language. You can describe the situation, make your own interpretation and/ or analysis which can
be supported by research, then build a message that can be valuable and relevant to your
audience. 
Or, let us say your topic is the ways by which the Philippines can bag top prizes in the Olympics.
You can begin your speech by sharing your sentiments on the performance of the Philippine teams
in the recent Olympics, or by presenting a graph showing the Philippine standing in the medal tally
for the past years in that international major sports event. Then, provide some ways on how to
improve the performance of the team.
When you are developing your message, it is very important to know the needs, beliefs, and
values of your audience so that you can engage them easily in your speech. Once you have
connected with your audience, it will be easy for you to convey your message according to your
goal or purpose:  to inform, to entertain, or to persuade. 

 a. Speech to inform seeks to provide the audience with a clear understanding of the
concept or idea presented 
 by the speaker. The lectures of your teachers are best examples of this type. 

b. Speech to entertain seeks to provide the audience with entertainment. The humorous

speeches of your favorite speakers are best examples of this type.

c. Speech to persuade seeks to provide the audience with favorable or acceptable ideas

that can influence their 
 own ideas and decisions. The campaign speeches of the candidates for government posts are
best examples of this type.
 

3. METHODS OF DELIVERY 
 Methods of delivery refer to the style of delivery. These methods are manuscript, memorized,
impromptu, and extemporaneous. 
 

a. Manuscript speech- is delivered by speakers who intend to read aloud their speech
word for word to their audience. One example is writing and/or reading a proclamation paper,
public announcement, or court decision. Since this is literally reading to the audience, manuscript
speakers will have difficulty in grabbing the attention of and connecting with their audience. 
 

b. Memorized speech- is delivered by speakers who intend to memorize their speech

word for word. This occurs when one delivers a declamation or oratorical piece for a contest or
during a gathering. Also, this method is usually written by or for speakers who are inexperienced or
uncomfortable in public speaking; thus, memorizing the speech written by them or for them can be
a good option. Some common problems that you can encounter using this method are time and
commitment to memorize, memory lapses, awkward or unnatural delivery, eye contact, and
audience rapport, among others. 
 

c. Impromptu speech- is delivered by speakers who are suddenly asked or requested by

someone or a group of people to say a few words about something. As an illustration, you are
asked by your teacher to share with the class about your holiday vacation, or you are unexpectedly
requested by an emcee to give your birthday wishes for your friend who is celebrating his/ her
birthday. Since you have little time to gather your thoughts in this method, you may have trouble in
organizing and finding the appropriate words for your thoughts. 
 
d. Extemporaneous speech is delivered by speakers who intend to present a well-
crafted speech. That speech is fully prepared and perfectly rehearsed ahead of time. As an
example, you accepted an invitation of your former school to give an inspirational talk to the
graduates. So, you give yourself enough time to deliver a speech that can motivate and inspire
your audience to do and think good deeds at all times. During your delivery, you may need some
notes, not for you to read but for you to be guided. This method can usually be a bit nerve-
wracking for the inexperienced or beginners. But, that can be a good step towards mastering the
art of speaking extemporaneously. 
 

4.  MANNERS IN SPEECH 
 Manners in speech refer to the ethical standards in delivering a speech in public. Lucas (2011)
specified some of them.

 a. Observe ethically sound goals. Avoid criticizing your family, friends, and other
people or teachers, promoting mass destruction, for instance, hacking. 

b. Prepare all the time. You have a full responsibility to yourself and to your audience
when you are asked to deliver a speech. So, in order to fulfill it, you have to be prepared.

c. Tell the truth. Be accurate with your sources and data. Acknowledge the author of your
borrowed ideas including quotes, songs, phrases, and statistics, among others. Simply observe,
"honesty is the best policy. "

d. Be sensible and sensitive. Your audience come from different backgrounds, so as

much as possible, respect their identity, affiliation, religion, beliefs, values, preferences, and
orientation through your language and gestures. 

Components of a Speech
 I. Introduction 
 a. Attention getter 
 b. Initial summary 
 c. Speaker's credibility (telling the audience why you are the right person to talk about the
subject) 
 d. Relevance of the topic to the audience (stating what's in it for the audience) 
 e. Self-introduction (optional) 
 f. Thesis statement
 

II. Body 
Main idea I 
 » Supporting detail 1 
 »Supporting detail 2 
Main idea 2 
 »Supporting detail I 
 » Supporting detail 2 
Main idea 3 
 » Supporting detail 1 
 » Supporting detail 2 
 

III.  Conclusion 
 a. Closure (letting your audience know that you are about to end your speech) 
 b. Summary 
c. Call to action 
 d. Powerful closing statement 

Power Tips for Beginning and

Ending a Speech
Your speech opening and closing should be related. The basic rule is that if you begin your speech
with a question, you refer to that question when you close your speech. Here are some
techniques: 

Techniques Examples

 Opening: Think of your life as driving a car. You must always keep your attention on the road and focus
 where you are heading to. At times, you need to look behind but you have you keep looking ahead bec
 has to go on. 
1. Analogy

Closing: Drive your car safely, so you 

 will have a happy life.

 Opening: I was 20 years old when I experienced depression. It was the time when a series of unfortuna

2. Anecdote
Closing: I would not have overcome my depression if not for the people who value me. Now, I live a nor
 life, and it's my chance to pay forward what those great people did to me.

3. Humor
Opening: My seven-year old nephew told me to avoid giving advice in my speech. That is because I mig
 be like Socrates who according to him, after walking around and giving advice to people, he died becau
 same people poisoned him. 

Closing: I'm sure after my speech you won't poison me because you know in your heart that you learn 
  something significant today.

 Opening: Why are some people able to achieve things that seem impossible? 
4. Provocative
Rhetorical
Question Closing: So, why do some people achieve things that seem impossible? That's because of hard work an
 attitude.

Opening: I have decided to live by Abraham Lincoln's words: "Most people are about as happy as they 
 make their minds up to be." 
5. Quotation
Closing: Lincoln's words are such an 
 uplifting phrase.

 Opening: One out of every three 

 children in the Philippines suffers 
 from human trafficking. 
6. Startling
Statistics
Closing: We can no longer afford to let 
 more children to suffer from human 
 trafficking. It's about time to put a 
 stop to this horror.

Speech and Non-verbal

Communication
 MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF NON-VERBAL
COMMUNICATION 
 
Non-verbal communication is a behavior that conveys and represents meanings. All kinds of
human responses that are not 
 expressed in words are classified as non-verbal communication. 
 Examples are your stares, smiles, tone, movements, manners of walking, standing and sitting,
appearance, style of attire, attitude towards punctuality and space, and personality. There is a long
list why the mastery of your non-verbal communication is also important. Some are the following: 

1.  It enhances and emphasizes the message of your speech. 

2. It can communicate all feelings, attitudes, and perceptions as well as express anything without
saying a word. 
3. It can sustain the attention of listeners and keep them engaged in the speech. 
4.  It reflects what type of speaker you are. 
5.  It makes you more dynamic and animated in your delivery. 
6.  It serves as a channel to release tensions and nervousness. 
7.  It helps you make your speech more dramatic. 
8.  It can build connections with listeners. 
9.  It makes you credible as a speaker.

ASPECTS OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

1. Body Language
-This refers refers to your body movements which include eye contact, facial expressions, posture,
and gesture. 

 • Using Eye Contact 

 It is very important to use eye contact when you talk to people in small or big groups. Your
listeners can easily detect how confident you are or how interested you are to talk to them if you
use eye contact effectively. Never look up or look down; just look straight in the eyes of your
listeners. However, excessive eye contact may result in communication barriers.
 Power Tips
a. Be sure that you master your speech because it will help you establish and maintain eye contact
with your listeners. 
 b. Get the attention of your listeners by looking at him/her straight in his/her eyes. Maintain eye
contact even if you are listening. 
 c. Use your eyes in identifying your listener's behavior. There may be some who show acts of
boredom, inattentiveness, or confusion. If you identify them, adjust your speech delivery. 
 d. When you are speaking to a big group, glance smoothly at your left, center, and right. Some
speakers use the W-X-M shape glance. 
e.  Control movements of your eyes. Again, do not look up or look down; eyes should be in the
audience. 
 
 • Using Facial Expressions
Your facial expressions are your tools to express or communicate your emotions through your
eyes, eyebrows, lips, ears, tongue, and nose. It is very important to know and use your facial
expressions effectively. 
 Power Tips 
a.  Know your facial expressions well by looking at the mirror and see how you show happiness,
sadness, fear, surprise, anger, and disgust. 
 b. Smile. It is the best facial expression because, generally, it conveys politeness, disguises real
feelings, and shows affection. 
 c. Seek comments from your family or friend regarding your facial expressions. 
 d. Be natural. Do not exaggerate. Exaggerating facial expressions may be interpreted as fake. 
e.  Practice. Do the "a-e-i-o-u" technique when you practice, It can be done by saying a-e-i-o-u
with exaggeration. This exercise can also help relax your facial muscles. 
 • Using Gestures
Gestures include movements of your hands, legs, and other body parts that carry meanings. It is
very important to use gestures properly and effectively especially when you are in any
communicative situation. 
 Power Tips 
 a. Use gestures for a specific purpose. 
b. Make natural gestures. Never exaggerate and avoid too many gestures especially in
professional speaking. 
 c. Identify your mannerisms and practice how to avoid or control them when you speak. 
 d. Master your speech; your gestures will emerge naturally and spontaneously at some point. 
 e. Avoid the following gestures when speaking: arms across the chest, arms stiff; hands inside the
pockets or nailed in the hips; one arm hanging, the other's scratching; spread legs and hands
clasped at the back; hands clasped. 
 • Using Good Posture
Posture is the position of your body either when you stand or when you sit. It is very important to
have a good posture because it shows confidence and elicits positive impression from your
audience. 

2. Clothing and Appearance

Clothing and appearance are considered as vital in creating first impressions of you as a speaker.
In addition, the way you look and what you wear matter as these contribute significantly to the
success of your speech. Observe this mantra: "Dress to succeed!"
 Power Tips for Men 
 - Wear an executive attire (suit and tie). 
 - Use a black suit and pants. 
 - Use a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt to match the black suit and pants. 
 - Use a plain and simple tie that matches the color of your long sleeved shirt. 
 - Use a black belt. 
 - Use black socks. 
 - Use a well-polished black loafer shoes. 
 - Sport a clean, polished hair style. 
 - Get a clean, well-shaved face. 
 - Ensure nails are cut and clean. 
 - Avoid wearing too much accessories; wrist watch and ring are enough. 
 - Avoid wearing heavily-scented perfume. 
 - Ensure breath is fresh. 

 Power Tips for Women 

 » Wear an executive attire. 
 » Use light, pastel colors, 
  »Use natural shade stockings. 
 » Use polished, high-heeled (2-3 inches high), shoes. 
 » Sport a neat and clean hair style. 
  »Wear light make-up. 
 » Avoid wearing too much accessories. 
  »Avoid wearing heavily-scented perfumes. 

3. Vocal Elements
Vocal elements include volume, rate, tone, and pitch. Volume is the loudness and softness of your
voice; rate is the speed of delivery; tone is the voice quality; and pitch is highness or lowness of
your voice. 
 Power Tips 
 - Relax so you can modulate your voice. A modulated voice is pleasant to the ears. 
 - Develop habits of practicing proper pronunciation and enunciation as these will help build your
confidence and credibility. 
-Adjust your volume to the size of your audience. You can get feedback from your audience to
know whether your volume is well-adjusted. 
 - Remember: Speaking too slowly will bore your audience; speaking too fast will confuse them.
Your 
 audience most likely prefers a smooth-paced rate. 
 - Avoid fillers (ah, um) and audible motions (coughing, clearing throat) by rehearsing your speech
aloud more often. 
 - Use pauses and stresses more effectively. 
 - Monitor your vocal elements by reading aloud any material; then that's the time you can make
improvements or adjustments. 
- Learn to take good care of your voice.
 

4. Proxemics
-It is the space and distance between the speaker and the audience. It is an invisible wall that
defines how comfortable you are at a distance from the people you are talking to. 

5. Colors
-Colors reflect people's personality and reveal character. Hence, your choice of colors for your
clothes and visual aids matter to your audience. 

Colo Psychology and Meanings According to Experts (Color Psychology 2018)

Red is the single most dynamic and passionate color that symbolizes love, rage, and courage. Demanding attention, re
success. The desire to experience the fullness of living leads to constant activity.
Positive: passion, love, warmth, energy, excitement, strength, stimulation, excitement. physical courage, basic survival.
Negative: anger, defiance, aggression, visual impact, strain, danger
Effects: increased respiration, blood pressure, appetite and metabolism

Yellow is a truly joyous and radiant color. It exudes warmth, inspiration, and vitality. It is the happiest of the colors. It
forward to the future. Intellectual, highly imaginative, and idealistic, you have a cheerful spirit and an expectation of great

Positive: cheerfulness/ energy, honor, joy, intelligence, optimism, confidence, emotional strength, extraversion, friendline
Negative: irrationality, jealousy, anxiety, depression, fear, emotional fragility, deception, cowardice, caution
Effects: increased mental activity, awareness, energy

Orange is an optimistic color. It helps you look at the bright side of life despite difficulties.
Positive: sociable, optimistic, enthusiastic, cheerful, self-confident, independent, adventurous
Negative: insincere, pensive, overly proud
Effects: enthusiasm, rejuvenation, courage, vitality

Green is a color for spring which represents growth and renewal. It is a color that resonates energy and positivity.
Positive: intuitive, conceptual, analytical, inventive, visionary, problem- solver
Negative: wastes time in idle chit-chat, indecisive, easily frustrated
Effects: feel recharged and calm, more hypothetical

Blue is a color for depth, stability and independence. This is best for studying and working because it helps in relaxing
Positive: serenity, intelligence, confidence, trust
Negative: aloofness, lack of emotion
Effects: relaxed and peaceful mind

 Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. It is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility

Positive: wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, magic, passion, vitality

Negative: arrogance, impatience, greed Effects: increased spirituality, calming down of anxiety

6. Touch
-Touch is a physical contact. It can be interpreted differently in various cultures. But, generally,
touch is used to communicate love, care, or comfort. 
Power Tips:
a. Always practice caution in touching other people because touching may mean differently to
them. 
b. Understand and observe cultural and gender practices of a person before touching him/ her. 

Connecting with the Audience

1. Consider the needs of your audience. Psychologist Abraham Maslow identified the hierarchy
of human needs as shown below. You can use this framework to deepen your understanding of
your audience. 
 2. Identify your audience size and set-ups. Coordinate with area personnel, conference
committee or the ones knowledgeable about details, so that you can make necessary adjustments
to your speech. The set-up should complement the size or number of audience.
3. Smile and be polite. Smiling and greeting your audience are the kindest things that you can do
to your audience. Your audience will feel more comfortable and not intimated when you do so. In
most cases, smiling is one way to gain respect from your audience. 
 
4. Use pronoun "we" or "you" frequently. This is to minimize the gap between you and the
audience. Remember, your 
 speech is about your audience, not you. 

5. Use only those examples which your audiences are already familiar with. Make sure your
examples are simple and relatable. When you introduce a new concept or item, it is imperative that
you explain it very clearly based on the level of understanding of your audience. 
 
6. Use layperson's terms in your word choice. Related to the above principle, avoid words or
phrases that only you can understand. Adapt to the language of your audience. 
 
7. Reinforce your verbal message through effective use of non- verbal communication
skills. Remember, effective use of non- verbal cues will make you become a more interesting and
dynamic speaker. 
 
8. Feel what your audience feels; think what they think. This is related to the psychological
factor in audience analysis. Once you are familiar with the beliefs, values, cultures, and needs of
your audience, relate to them. If you see 
 them as a happy audience, show them happiness, too. If they see you as a credible speaker,
prove to them that you are one. 
9. Win your audience's hearts. Make them feel important. What most effective speakers do
usually is they address the audience as "Sir" or "Madam" and use empowering and positive words
such as young and beautiful, indefatigable spirit, bright and talented, or dynamic and effective.
Connecting with your audience is building relationship, one that is harmonious. 
 
10. Open casual conversations with your audience before and after your speech. Before and
after your presentation, move around and welcome, greet, and thank your audience. This is also a
good strategy in knowing the people who will be listening to you. 
 
11. Watch your words. Use words that are not offensive or biased. 
12. Listen attentively to feedback after your speech. One way of doing this is to look in the
eyes of the person giving the 
 feedback on your speech. 
 
13. Acknowledge and appreciate positive reactions. Simple words such as "Thank you," "Much
appreciated," or "Lovely to hear that from you" can stir positive emotions in your audience. 
 
14. Allow audience participation when necessary. This is one way to engage and sustain the
attention of your audience. 
 
15. Use humor appropriately and effectively. Use humor naturally and with caution. Never use
green jokes or toilet humor. 
 Be sensitive to your audience. 
 
16. Approach disruptions of your audience contextually and adapt to the situation. For
positive disruptions such as adding to your ideas or saying yes to your arguments, just ride along.
For negative interruptions such as embarrassing you or showing inappropriate behavior, just relax
and keep composed. 
 
17. Deal with hostile audience or hecklers positively. Follow what the presentation master,
Rodolfo de los Reyes does whenever there are hostile audiences, "Hold your fire; cling to your
positives. Public speaking is not a warfare. Positives provide permanent power. 
 
18. Handle questions effectively. The best way to do this is to anticipate possible questions from
your audience. Also, expect some who will ask irrelevant questions. To deal with them, politely ask
them to clarify or rephrase their questions.

Impromptu Speaking
OVERVIEW OF IMPROMPTU SPEECH
Time differentiates impromptu speech from other types of speech. When you are
called to deliver an impromptu speech, you have limited preparation time (two
minutes or even least 4 in some instances). In fact, if you notice, you always give
impromptu speeches. Examples: when you are tasked to recite in class, when you are
requested to give birthday greeting, when you are tasked to thank, welcome, or
congratulate someone, or when you are required to react on an issue thill involves
you. Since you have limited time to prepare for impromptu speech, you should know
some strategies to deliver
that speech effectively. 

SOME TIME-TESTED STRATEGIES

On-the-spot or impromptu speaking is indeed a challenge, but if you can master some
time-tested strategies to confront this kind of challenge, surely, you will be successful
in communicating quickly and sensibly for two to three minutes "bout anything
without thinking too much. 
1. Use a virtual outline to structure your talk or response. 
 Below are some examples. 
a. Past, Present, Future
Example: In the past, I was not comfortable doing impromptu speaking because I
could not think right away of what to say maybe because of nervousness and limited
preparation time. At present, however, I am enjoying it because I constantly practice
and keep on participating in any speaking situation. In the future I look forward to
teaching others how to tackle impromptu speech situations. 
 
b. Point-Reason-ExampIe/Explanation-Point 
 Example:
 Point:  I love Facebook. 
 Reason: Two reasons are: it helps me easily reconnect with old friends and it makes
me more update of the happenings around me. 
Example/ Explanation: Through Facebook, I am able to contact my old friends in
other countries and reminisce about wonderful memories of the past. It is such a joy to
reconnect with them. Also, through posts on Facebook, I keep abreast of the current
events, which have implications for my role as a citizen of this nation. 
Point:  Facebook, indeed, is a useful social network site. That is why I love it. 
c. Opening, Rule of Three, Clincher
Example: 
Opening: Every time I see homeless families, it breaks my heart. That is why I have
been inspired in doing three little things to help alleviate the poor conditions of these
families.
Rule of Three:  First, I feature them in my writings which I submit to editors for
publication. I highlight their sad and bad experiences living in the streets as well as
their dreams and aspirations in life. Second, I actively participate in organizing and
facilitating livelihood programs for them. Finally, I join the series of campaigns and
awareness activities on fighting poverty by different non-profit organizations. 
Clincher:  These three are my baby steps toward achieving my vision of freeing this
nation from the bondage of poverty. 
 
2. Keep your speech brief and to the point.
3. Do not apologize or say, "So sorry, I'm not really good at giving impromptu
speeches," or "I'm sorry I don't know what to say. I have no idea." Avoid saying
something that will affect your credibility as a speaker.
4. If you need time to process what to say, begin by greeting your audience.
Acknowledge their presence and thank them for coming to the presentation.
5. Read. Read a lot So you are always well-informed of the happenings and
knowledgeable about any topic.
6. Create or recreate a story. In this sense, use your imagination and make up a
story.
7. Speak slowly and clearly. Take a deep breath and stay calm. 
 

Power Tips for Effective Impromptu Speech Delivery

 Smile. Just smile. 

 Relax by thinking positive things. In mind, keep telling y
1. Before the Speech purpose: to 'inform, to entertain, to welcome, to congratula
Choose an appropriate structure for your speech. Start outli
are crucial, so make them strong, powerful, and catchy.

 When you are called, keep composed, walk slowly to the lec
introduced you. 
As you stand to deliver, maintain eye contact, and begin rig
2. During the Speech Part of your opening is greeting your audience. From your in
first-second- third, before-after, then-now, initially-final
Observe time limit. Remember, you barely have five minutes t

 Say thank you. 

After the Speech
 Return to your place comfortably.

Informative Speaking
There are several instances where you are asked to provide information about yourself, family,
school, or any specific topic through a speech. This type of speech is the informative speech
whose primary aim is to help your listeners understand and remember the information you present,
discuss, or explain. 
 
TYPES OF INFORMATIVE SPEECH
Generally, there are four types of informative speech. These are speech about objects or people,
speech about processes, speech about events, and speech about concepts. 

 
Organizational Patterns
 A. Chronological Pattern.
This can be used if you want to present a history or evolution, or development of your topic in a
sequential order, from past up to the present, beginning to end.  
Your outline will look like the following: 
1.  Introduction 
1.1 Attention-getter 
1.2 Thesis Statement/Main Point 
2. Body 
2.1 Step A, Year A, First 
2.2 Step B, Year B, Second 
2.3 Step C, Year C, Third 
2.4 Step D, Year D, Fourth or Finally 
3. Conclusion 
3.1 Summary of the Points 
3.2 Memorable Statement 
 
B. Spatial/TopicaI/CategoricaI Pattern.
This can be used if you want to inform your audience about the main features, descriptions, or
categories of your topic. 
 Your outline will look like the following: 
Introduction 
 1.1 Attention-getter 
 1.2 Thesis Statement/Main Point 
Body 
 2.1 Feature A, Description A, First Category 
 2.2 Feature B, Description B, Second Category 
 2.3 Feature C, Description C, Third Category 
 2.4 Feature D, Description D, Fourth or Category 
Conclusion 
 3.1 Summary of the Points 
 3.2 Memorable Statement 
 
C. Cause-Effect Pattern.
This can be used if you want to show the causal relationship of an event or phenomenon. 
Your outline will look like this:
Single Cause-Multiple Effects 
Introduction 
 1.1 Attention-getter 
 1.2 Thesis Statement/Main Point highlighting the cause of an event or phenomenon
Body 
 2.1 Effect A 
 2.2 Effect B 
 2.3 Effect C 
 2.4 Effect D 
Conclusion 
 3.1 Summary of the Points 
 3.2 Memorable Statement
 
D. Domino Effects 

Introduction 
1.1 Attention-getter 
1.2 Thesis Statement/Main Point highlighting effect of an event or phenomenon 
Body 
2.1 Cause A 
2.2 Cause B 
2.3 Cause C 
2.4 Cause D 
Conclusion 
3.1 Summary of the Points 
3.2 Memorable Statement

Persuasive Speaking
ESSENTIALS OF PERSUASIVE SPEAKING 
There are many practical situations and opportunities where persuasion is observed. Some of
them are: (1) to convince your parents to increase your allowance or to buy you the latest cellular
phone or laptop model, (2) to persuade your teachers to extend the deadline of your term paper, or
(3) to urge your schoolmates to vote for you in a student government position you are running for.
Persuasive speaking can be considered as a form of speaking that most people of diverse
backgrounds are engaged in and involved the most. This is the kind of speech that considers any
topic under the sun that is arguably relatable and interesting. So, when you deliver your persuasive
speech, your primary goal is to influence the thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors or attitudes
of your listeners (Gamble & Gamble, 2012). Likewise, you also aim to change their thoughts,
feelings, actions, and behaviors, and convince them that your ideas arc more important, practical,
attainable, feasible, and workable,
You, as a persuasive speaker, advocate whatever cause or message you pursue. The primary
purpose of persuasive speech is to effect change in the attitudes or actions of your listeners.
 

TYPES OF PERSUASIVE SPEECH 

l. Speech that Questions Fact
This type usually happens whenever the speaker questions the existence of a particular event or
happening. In this case, the persuasive speaker poses questions of fact, derives conclusions from
different sources of information, and attempts to convince the audience to believe in his/her ideas.
For example, you argue that the declaration of Cybercrime Law as constitutional is questionable.
Your outline will look like this: 
Purpose: To persuade the listeners that Cybercrime Law is unconstitutional. 
Main Point: The provision of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution values freedom of the speech. 
Supporting Idea: Article III, Section 4 of the Constitution states that no law shall be passed
abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of press, and the cognate rights of individuals and
groups within our society.
 

II. Speech that Questions Value

This type usually happens whenever the speaker deals with questions of value in terms of self,
family, friendship, religion, government, freedom, love, and money among others. In this case, the
persuasive speaker: (1) makes a statement or claim, (2) attempts to convince his/her audience
why something or someone is worthy of pride and/or emulation, and (3) justifies it based on
standards.
For example, you argue that the state or government should not revive the death penalty because
it remains to be inhuman and unjustifiable. Your outline will look like this:
Purpose: To persuade the listeners that over the years death penalty is unjustifiable 
Main Point: There is no reason for the state to revive the death penalty. 
Supporting Idea: The Philippines still has problem with the justice system. In fact, former Philippine
President himself acknowledged it: Aquino said the country's justice system is far from perfect,
citing cases of innocent people found guilty of crimes they did not commit only because they were
unable to hire good lawyers" (Porcalla, para. 3), 
 

III.  Speech that Questions Policy

This type usually happens whenever the speaker questions the way things are today which can
have implications for the future. In this case, the persuasive speaker asks relevant questions that
can help in resolving whether something should be implemented or not, observed or not, or done
or not. 
For example, you argue that the state or government should protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender/ sexual (LGBT) community in any workplace or office. Your outline will look like this: 
Purpose: To persuade the listeners that the LGBT community should be protected from
discrimination 
Main Point: LGBT members deserve to be protected by the state against exclusivity in any
workplace or office. 
Supporting Idea: There are horrible reports and cases of discrimination at work in terms of
promotion and benefits. Hence, there is a need to create and implement a policy related to this. 
 

IV.  Speech that Refutes

This type usually happens whenever the speaker responds to and disproves the claims of others
while he/ she defends and promotes his/her own. One best example is the debate. In this case, the
persuasive speaker is required to carefully plan his arguments/claims with valid support. 
For example, you disagree with the reports about the Philippines as the worst country due to the
increasing rate of heinous crimes. Your outline will look like this: 
Purpose: To persuade the listeners that there is no truth to the claims of foreign media that
Philippines is not safe to visit and stay
Main Point: The Philippines is not the worst country in the world.
Supporting Idea: Statistics from the Department of Tourism showing the massive increase in
international tourists every year and travel blogs reporting the Philippines as the top destination is
Asia are two reasons why this country is not the worst one. 
 

Essentials of Business Writing

 Writing correspondences is an essential activity of any business, academic, or industrial
organization. Generally, correspondences or technical reports aim to inform and persuade their
intended readers. They also have certain advantages over the spoken mode. These are listed as
follows: 

 • They allow the writer to have time to think about the message he/she wants to convey
thoroughly. 
 • They are more accessible and can be retrieved by the reader at any time convenient to him/her.
 • They present the message in details.
 • They can be documented and filed. 

Business Letter
 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 Functions
1. Letterhead  It identifies the writer, his /her address, and contact numbers.
2. Date  It is placed between the letterhead and the inside address. It should never use plain numerals for d
3. Inside Address  It identifies the reader's name, position, and company, and address. It should be placed immediatel
4. 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

 It refers to the writer's greeting to the reader. It can appear in different formats:

5. Salutation  Dear Sir: 

 Sir: 
 Dear Mr. Burkin:

It contains the message of the letter. Paragraphs are single-spaced internally but double-spaced to
6. Body
paragraphs.

 It is an expression used to end a letter. Below is the level of formality of the complimentary close (M
Highly formal 
 Respectfully yours, 
 Respectfully, 
 Vey respectfully,
Polite and formal 
 Very truly yours, 
 Yours very truly, 
7. Complimentary
 Yours truly,
Close
Less formal \\ Sincerely yours, 
 Yours, 
 Cordially yours,
Informal and friendly 
 As ever, 
 Best regards, 
 Kindest regards, 
 Regards,

8. Signature Block  Includes the signature and the typed name of the sender. The typed name can be in all caps (PETE
It indicates the attachments to the letter. It can be written in the following formats: 
9. Enclosure  Enclosures (2) 
Notation  Enclosure 
 enc. / encl.

10. Copy Notation It indicates the name of the secondary recipients of the letter. It is indicated by cc: which means carb

Parts of a Business Letter 

 
Three Formats of a Business Letter 
1. FULL BLOCK Format

2. MODIFIED BLOCK Format

3. SEMIBLOCK Format
 
MEMORANDUM
MEMO
Memorandum is a business correspondence which aims to inform and persuade target readers
who are within the organization. Similar to news writing format, it follows an inverted pyramid
structure. This means that the most important information comes first. 

 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 asks readers to provide certain information or take certain actions. An

example of this memo is when requesting fund for a 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 more 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 
I. 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 a MEMO
Parts
1. Letterhead

2. Date

3. "To" Line

4. Attention Line
5. "From" Line
6. Subject Line

7. Body

8. Identification Initials

9. Enclosure notation

10. Copy notation

TIPS FOR WRITING A MEMO

1. Use bullets, numbers, and letter to list information.
2. Use a positive tone, active verbs, and concise wording.
3. Use heading to improve the readability.
4. Eliminate grammatical and typographical errors.
5. Use correct format and structure.
6. Put your initials in a signature form beside your printed name as sender.
7. Flush the memo heading to the left ("to" line, "from" line, subject line, and date line).
8. Say thank you or state a directive action (e.g., for your compliance, for your immediate action,
for your approval, for your information) at the end of the memo. 

Electronic Mail
E-MAIL
The advent of technology has introduced us to a new form of business communication; that is e-
mail communication. In fact, one study in the United States showed that 98 percent of employees
consider e-mail as extremely important (Gerson, 2009). It is important not only in the workplace but
also in personal communication. We send e-mails to our friends and relatives locally and abroad;
and teachers and classmates. Undoubtedly, e-mail has revolutionized the way
people communicate.
Similar to letters and memos, e-mails serve many purposes. It can be used to give directions, to
transmit documents, to record important data and information, to confirm requests, to explain
procedures, to make recommendations, to inquire, and to submit feasibility and status reports. 

ADVANTAGES OF E-MAIL
1.  It reaches the target reader fast.
2.  It confirms an acceptance or rejections easily.
3.  It is less costly than letters and memos.
4. It can easily reach the farthest parts of the globe.
5.  It is environment-friendly.
6.  It is easier to document. 
 

DISADVANTAGES OF E-MAIL
1.  It is prone to hacking and technical glitches.
2. It can cause information overload.
3. It can be used to transmit computer virus. 
 

TIPS FOR WRITING AN E-MAIL OR A MEMO

1. Make the subject line informative or descriptive of the memo content. Avoid vague sudject lines
such as follow-up, additional information, and request. 
2. Keep the subject line simple and short.
3. Do not change the subject line when you are replying to an e-mail. 
4. The "to" line should contain the names of the primary readers. Secondary readers must be
placed in the cc line. Primary readers are those who are directly involved in the message of the e-
mail.
5. Ensure the correctness of the e-mail address of the recipients.
6. Make the file name of the attached document meaningful.  Instead of using "letter1," use
"request_letter_barrot."
7. Never use "all caps" in the main text. This is unacceptable.
8. State your purpose in the first sentence of the memo.
9. If the message is sensitive, compose it first using the word processor.
10. Avoid emoticons and informal jargons like LOL and BRB in formal memos.