Dear Professor Grogan,

My name is Neil Kaczorowski and I am interested in registering for ENG 3050 in the upcoming Winter 2015 semester.  This course is a requirement to complete my degree in Civil Engineering and it will also provide me with useful skills that I can apply in a future career.  

Being able to communicate effectively is important in the field of engineering, as it is in any career field.  Engineering tends to be associated strongly with the disciplines of science and mathematics, leaving writing and communicating abilities overlooked.  Technical communications, especially the aspect of reports, is important to focus on when pursuing an engineering degree.  Strong writing proficiency, along with knowledge and the ability to apply math and science, will make an engineer better-rounded and more appealing to an employer.
        
In my own recent experience as a co-op with Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc (SME) I was expected to write many reports daily based on data gathered in the field.  This course will allow me to practice and gain insight into effective technical writing that I will be able to apply to future jobs.  

The teamwork emphasis that this course offers will also be beneficial to me in work to come.  Many times while working with SME projects would get switched around between different engineers or different offices entirely.  Being able to communicate and transfer reports around effectively so that everyone ends up on the same page was crucial to maintain fluidity and to make sure all the correct data ends up with the client.

Writing and English classes have never been what I most enjoyed throughout my years of schooling, but I consider myself a proficient enough writer nonetheless.  My writing strengths would include familiarity with formal research reports as well as a decently concrete grasp of vocabulary and grammar.  I was required to compose extensive research reports with a partner throughout high school and I am able to apply that experience in other work.

Some weaknesses that I have noticed in my years of writing are difficulties in meeting page requirements or specified word counts as well as the length of time it requires me to compose coherent thoughts on paper.  In the past I have found it challenging to greatly elaborate on any particular topic, which is required all too often in writing assignments.  I find I can communicate more effectively using less words or sentences than are typically mandatory.  It is difficult for me to fill a page with long, bombastic paragraphs rewording the same information.  This may attribute to the large amount of time it takes for me to complete a writing assignment.

Despite my writing weaknesses I feel that I have much to offer the class as a whole.  I am generally positive and cooperative in group assignments and I have some prior experience with technical reports.  I have much experience with group projects and am reliable when it comes to splitting up work to accomplish a task quicker, never falling behind deadlines.  I have no problem getting behind a peer who has good ideas and an effective plan on how to deal with a project and I am also not reluctant to propose a plan or suggest allocations of project work.

Overall, this class will be very helpful to me as a building block for future classes as well as in a career further down the road.  I will obtain applicable skills for real-world scenarios and receive a better understanding of technical writing especially in area of writing professional reports.

Sincerely,

Neil Kaczorowski
17906 Peters
Roseville, MI 48066
(586) 804-0178