"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Seven

Here are some categories of nonverbal communication:
•Grooming - A groomed appearance communicates self-discipline and awareness.
•Dress - The best way to know how to dress in your work environment is to observe the people around you who are most successful.
•Use of time - People show respect and care by arriving on time or early to their scheduled events.
•Physical distance - Here is one rule of thumb to follow: let the more powerful person choose the personal physical distance.

A lack of eye contact could show inattention, a lack of confidence, or deceit. Too much eye contact could give the impression of initiating a challenge or trying to dominate.

Communication barriers on a construction site are often physically connected to the noise or complex nature of the job, but some barriers could be more personally related to your own emotions, ego, or boredom.

Follow the old advice about giving speeches, "Tell them what you are going to tell them. Tell them. Then tell them what you told them."

Many companies will not allow cell phone use to avoid accidents and wasted time. But some companies ban cell phones in order to prevent workers from photographing equipment or data that could be used by competitors.

Don't just say "Hello." Identify yourself immediately by giving your name and the company name.

It is important to remember that not all people communicate in the same way, so be aware of your surroundings when choosing your words and actions.

A textbook is an instructional document that contains information that a reader needs to know to carry out a task or a series of tasks. A codebook is a guide that provides the codes and standards for certain areas of construction, such as electrical and building codes. Instruction manuals for tools, and installation manuals from manufacturers, are other common examples of documents used on the job.

Most books have special features that can help you locate information, including the following:
•Table of contents (lists of chapters or sections)
•Index (alphabetical list of topics with page numbers)
•Glossary (alphabetical list of terms and definitions)
•Appendixes (sources of additional information)
•Tables and graphs (visually organized summaries of important facts or figures)

Then simply rest or do something else for a while. When you come back to your writing with a fresh mind, you may see the need to rearrange some sections, add information or try to simplify them, or delete unnecessary sections. Finally, proofread. Now that you have fixed the major problems in the paper, look for the smaller errors, like grammar or spelling mistakes.

Serif fonts, being easily readable, are best for text in books and printed documents. One of the most popular serif fonts is Times New Roman.
Sans serif fonts can also be used as body text, but they are most commonly used as headlines or titles. One of the most common sans serif fonts in America is Arial.

While writing, you might ask yourself the following questions:
•Who? Who told you that? Who wants it done? Who are you?
•What? What is the problem? What do you need? What do you want to do?
•When? When did it happen? When do you want it finished?
•Where? Where is it taking place? Where are you going? Where can you be found?
•Why? Why do you want to do that? Why is this problem happening? Why did you decide to write about it now?
•How? How will you fix it? How can they help?

Remember that, even without an electronic signature, emails may be stored permanently, and can represent a binding agreement or contract.

Here are some rules for writing a proper business email:
•Make sure you are sending the email to the correct individual(s) to maintain confidentiality.
•Always start with a clear subject line that indicates the purpose of the message.
•Begin the email by addressing the recipient.
•Use a concise format, such as numbers or bulleted points, to clarify what the email is about and what response or action is required of the recipient.