subject line essay

200 Catchy Email Subject Lines (And How to Make Them!)

Create email subject lines where people WANT to open your emails! Learn about the key do’s and don’t’s and pick one of these 200 fantastic options.

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Your email subject line is the most important part of your email. In fact, Hubspot 1 https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/subject-line-stats-open-rates-slideshare reports that 35% of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone.

This article will help you learn what goes into creating an email subject line that people want to click. Plus, you’ll get 200 actual email subject line examples you can use.

Let’s dive in.

What is An Email Subject Line? (Definition)

An email subject line or headline is the first line of text someone reads when they receive your email. This is the line of text you’ll usually type to grab the attention of your email recipient.

Email subject lines are crucial—they are the first impression. You might write the best email in the world, but if your subject line stinks, then nobody will read it. 

A fair bit of psychology goes into writing a captivating email subject line. Let’s go into the key do’s and don’t’s. 

Email Subject Line Do’s and Don’t’s

Do make sure to follow these best practices!

• Do Be Clear and Concise: Make the subject line clear, brief, and relevant.
• Do Use an Emoji: Emojis create a personalized flair. But if you use too many, it’ll be in the spam folder.
• Do Personalize: Write the recipient’s first name to boost the open rate 2 https://mailchimp.com/resources/catchy-email-subject-lines/ . 
• Do Use Emotion-Driven Words. Evocative words will create feelings. Feelings will make clicks.
• Do Leverage Curiosity: Hint at something intriguing without giving it away. Curiosity is a powerful force.
• Do Test and Optimize: Try A/B testing for different subject lines to determine which tactic resonates best with your audience.
• Send at the Right Time: 11:00 am EST has the highest open rate 3 https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/best-time-send-email-report-2015?=&_ga=2.141218610.1693432634.1531769354-1791073514.1499368195 for email sends (and Tuesday is the best day to send).
• Do Emphasize Timing. Subject lines that include dates or a sense of urgency tend to perform better. In a study by Return Path 4 https://returnpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RP-Subject-Line-Report-FINAL.pdf , 9 million subject lines were sent out and analyzed. It turns out that certain urgent phrases and words work better than others:

But don’t abuse their fear of missing out, or you’ll come off as spammy and stressful.

Also, be careful of these “don’t’s:”

• Don’t Write Misleading Content: If you make a clickbait subject that doesn’t match the email content, your trust will go down the toilet.
• Don’t Use Spammy Language: Avoid overused sales language and excessive punctuation or all caps, which can trigger spam filters. You probably wouldn’t open an email with the subject: “🔥🎉🚀 HURRY!!! Your EXCLUSIVE Deal Awaits! 🌟💰💸 Open NOW for FREE MONEY! 🎁🎁🎁”
• Don’t Write Overly Long Subject Lines: Long subject lines often get cut off, especially on mobile devices.
• Don’t Ask For Things: Mailchimp 2 https://mailchimp.com/resources/catchy-email-subject-lines/ analyzed thousands of words related to donations and found that words such as “helping,” “fundraising,” “charity,” and “donate” all lead to negative effects on open rates. Instead, you might want to save the asking (if any) for later.
• Don’t Include Typos: A typo in the subject line screams unprofessional and unprepared.

Now, let’s get into some sample subject lines that you can use for your emails!

Catchy Email Subject Lines

Here are some really good subject lines that work for almost all occasions–just make sure they are true! Don’t use that subject line if you do not have an important announcement.

• “I have an important announcement.” Mailchimp 2 https://mailchimp.com/resources/catchy-email-subject-lines/ found that “announcement” (and similar words) caused a higher open rate. People want to be in the know!
• “Question for you” This email subject line invites the receiver to open your email and help you. It also works because of the Benjamin Franklin Effect —when someone does a favor for you, they end up liking you more!
• “Hey there, [name], check this out.”
• “Your Sneak Peek Inside the Future of [ whatever your industry is] “
• “🌟 Exclusive Offer Just for You – Ends Tonight!”
• “Can You Believe This Happened?”
• “Unlock the Secrets to Effortless Productivity”
• “You’ve Never Seen Deals Like These 🚀”
• “🎉 Surprise Inside: A Gift Just for You!”
• “This One Mistake Could Cost You (And How to Avoid It)”
• “Flash Sale Alert: 50% Off Your Favorites!”
• “This Week’s Top 10 Must-Reads for You”

If you’d like to boost the content of your email as well, check out our video below for 7 tips to improve your emails.

Best Email Subject Lines for Sales

Sales are tricky because you want to balance relatability and selling perfectly. You also don’t want to mislead, which is EXTREMELY easy in sales emails.

GovX uses an email subject line that hints toward a “free” knife… but it’s just a discount. Bummer!

Many people who report emails as spam send those reports based on the subject line alone. Here are great examples to nail your sales subject line for your email campaign:

• “You Have Two Choices.” Everyone loves to play games, and everyone likes to have options. This is a great subject line for sales, as choices influence people to take action.
• “Why You Can’t [insert problem here]” Why you can’t lose weight. Why you can’t sleep at night? Why you can’t feel happy at work? Find a common problem and offer reasons (hopefully your solution!).
• “Psst… Here’s a freebie.” People love the word “free,” but did you know the word “freebie” works even better 2 https://mailchimp.com/resources/catchy-email-subject-lines/ ? Add this to your email, but please make sure to make the freebie worth it (or risk getting unsubs!).
• “So. Many. Deals… Find Something AMAZING Now 💸”  
• “You’re a Perfect Fit For [insert opportunity here].”  
• “Save up to $10/month for life”  
• “Hey, you forgot this—here’s your 20% off!” 
• “Get a [adjective] $20 off your next order.”  
• “Ready for a Game-Changer?”
• “Limited Time Offer: 30% Off Your Next Purchase!”
• “Solve [Problem] with This One Simple Tool”
• “Last Chance: Don’t Miss Out on This Deal!”
• “How to Achieve [Desired Outcome]”
• “Exclusive Offer: Buy One, Get One Free Today Only!”
• “Join the Revolution: Be the First to Experience [Product/Service]”
• “Flash Sale: Prices Slashed for 24 Hours Only!”
• “See Why [Product/Service] is a Customer Favorite”
• “Don’t just take our word for it.” 

Newsletter Subject Lines

Are you sending out a weekly/biweekly newsletter to your subscribers? Here are some great email subject lines to share in a blog post or an email marketing campaign.

•  “Fake Friends” Vanessa Van Edwards, the founder of Science of People, used this subject line in one of their newsletters, and it was a HIT! It’s short and gets the reader wondering, What are you talking about? Try combining a short subject line with an interesting/lesser-known topic.
• “One simple way to make yourself happier.” Ramit Sethi uses this fabulous newsletter subject line, which works because it provides value! Find a problem and offer a solution.

• “3 crazy theories that [interesting thing here] .” Mark Manson grabs the reader’s attention in this email’s subject line by being super intriguing. Who doesn’t want to read up on something almost too crazy to believe?

• “You’re Invited!”  
• “Learn how to [skill here].”  
• “Studies show only 10% of people can…” 
• “Free Resources to Help You X”  
• “Want to play a game?” 
• “[Recipient’s Name], Catch the Latest in [Industry/Interest]!”
• “[Recipient’s Name], Be the First to Know What’s Happening!”
• “Your Customized [Month] Guide is Here, [Recipient’s Name]!”
• “Last Call to Get Your Questions Answered”
• “What’s Behind the [problem the reader is facing].” EG “What’s Behind the Scarcity Mindset?”
• “This ‘secret’ could [results reader wants].”
• “[Recipient’s Name], Open This Email ASAP”
• “[Recipient’s Name], I just noticed…”
• “My biggest regret?”
• “Here’s the hard truth…”
• “The secret that [successful people in this industry] won’t tell you…but we will!”
• “No one will teach you this…”

Welcome Email Subject Lines

When someone joins your email list, it’s a cause for celebration! It’s also an essential moment in your relationship with them. This is the chance to welcome them into your audience, to show them care, and to give them an impression of your brand.

• “🌟 Welcome Aboard! Discover What You’ve Been Missing!”
• “You’re In! See What’s Inside Your Welcome Kit”
• “🔓 Unlocked: Your Access to Exclusive Insights”
• “Welcome to the Inner Circle – Your Journey Begins”
• “🎉 You Made It! Start Your Adventure with This…”
• “Get Ready to Transform Your [Interest/Field] Game!”
• “🎁 Surprise Inside: A Special Welcome Gift for You!”
• “👀 Sneak Peek: What Only Members Can See!”
• “You’re Part of the Family Now – See What’s Next”
• “🌈 Welcome! Your Journey to [Goal] Starts Here”
• “🌟 A Warm Welcome & Your First Insider Tip!”
• “🔥 Hot Off the Press: Your First Member-Only Content!”
• “Welcome to the Club – Your Exclusive Perks Inside”

Email Subject Lines to Promote Your Free Content

You wrote an ebook or created a free course to promote to your audience. Here are some tips to share your content with your audience in a way that encourages them to open the email.

• “Everyone thinks I’m crazy for giving this away…”
• “I’m giving you this for FREE”
• “Special invitation for [Recipient’s Name]”
• “🎁 Just for You: A Free Guide to Transform [Topic/Skill]”
• “Unlock Your Exclusive Freebie: Master [Topic] Today”
• “📚 Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to [Topic]”
• “Claim Your Free [Content Type] – Uplevel Your [Skill]”
• “Exclusive Offer: A Free [Content Type] Just for Our Subscribers!”
• “🔥 Hot Off the Press: Grab Your Free [Content Type] on [Topic]!”
• “📈 Boost Your [Skill/Topic] with This Free [Content Type]”
• “🌈 Discover the Secrets of [Topic] with Your Free [Content Type]”
• “🎯 Hit Your Goals Faster with This Free [Content Type]”
• “🤓 Geek Out on [Topic] with Your Free [Content Type]”

Follow-up Email Subject Lines

Here are some subject lines for follow-up emails when you want to check in on someone.

Whether they attended your webinar, downloaded your course, or the ball is in their court on a pricing estimate you sent them.

For Webinar or Workshop Attendees

• “🌟 Thanks for Joining Our Webinar – Here’s What’s Next!”
• “Missed Details from [Webinar Topic]? Let’s Recap!”
• “I’d love to know your thoughts on [Webinar]?”
• “Keep the Momentum Going Post-Webinar on [Topic]”

For Course Downloaders

• “📘 How’s Your Journey with [Course Name] Going?”
• “Unlock the Full Potential of [Course Name] – Tips Inside!”
• “Are you feeling stuck with [Course Name]? Try this”
• “Need Help with [Course Name]? We’re Here for You!”
• “🚀 Take Your [Course Topic] Skills to the Next Level!”

Post Pricing Estimate

• “📊 Any Thoughts on Our Pricing Proposal for [Service/Product]?”
• “Checking in on the [Service] estimate.”
• “Following up since our last chat?”
• “Is there anything else you need?”

Cold Email Subject Lines

A cold email is sent to someone you may not know for marketing, networking, sales, or other outreach promotion. Generally, cold emails aim to increase conversion rates (a.k.a. the number of sales, clients, or customers).

And since the average professional receives 5 https://www.radicati.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Email-Statistics-Report-2015-2019-Executive-Summary.pdf about 121 emails daily, yours must stand out to get noticed. Here are some winning options for cold emails.

• Hope you’re doing well, [insert name here] .” Writing like you’d be speaking to a friend is a personalized and informal way to grab attention. This subject line is great and looks like a text from a friend you haven’t spoken to.
• “I loved your article on [topic here] .” I love it when people send me comments on my articles. And when I can tell they’ve read them and appreciate my tips? That gets them ahead of the game. A little appreciation goes a long way to getting attention!
• “You’ll love this article on [topic here]!” Along with liking a writer’s article, another eye-grabbing subject line offers another article with mega value. Can’t find a great article? Head over to our blog —we’ve got loads of topics packed with amazing info!
• “Are we still good for 2 pm today?” 
• “Can I help you with [problem here]?”
• “Hey [name], I’m looking forward to seeing you at [place]!” A 
• “Your Expertise is Requested!” 
• “You have this in common with [celebrity here].”  
• “Ideas for Improving [Aspect of Recipient’s Business]”
• “[Mutual Connection] Recommended I Get in Touch”
• “Saw Your Work on [Project/Platform], and I Have a Proposal”
• “A [Benefit] for [Recipient’s Company]”
• “Is [Common Pain Point] a Challenge for You?”
• “Sharing a Quick Tip for [Relevant Topic]”
• “Unlocking Potential with [Your Product/Service]”
• “Congrats on [Recipient’s Company’s Recent Milestone/News]!”
• “A few thoughts on [Recipient’s Company’s Recent Milestone/News]”
• “Inspired by Your Article on [Topic] – A New Perspective”
• “[Recipient’s Name], Your Thoughts on [Industry Trend]?”
• “Loved Your Post on [Platform] – Here’s an Idea for You”
• “Your Work with [Company/Project] Caught My Eye!”
• “Connecting Over Shared Interest in [Topic/Industry]”

Remember, cold emails might be complex at first, but sending the right subject line can make all the difference.

Email Subject Lines for an Upcoming Event

Are you hosting a workshop, webinar, or community gathering?

Try one of the following subject lines to ensure that as many people show up as possible.

• “🚀 You’re Invited: Unlock the Secrets of [Event Topic]!”
• “Join Us for a Surprising Twist on [Event Topic]!”
• “🎉 Exclusive Invite: [Event Name] – Reserve Your Spot”
• “Be Part of Something Special”
• “🌟 A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience: Don’t Miss [Event Name]!”
• “Discover the Future of [Topic]”
• “🎤 Hear from the Experts on [Topic]!”
• “Transform Your [Skill/Interest] at [Event Name]!”
• “🌐 Connect with Like-Minded [Audience Type]”
• “An Invitation to Explore [Topic] Like Never Before”
• “🎓 Learn from the Best: Exclusive Webinar on [Topic]!”
• “Unlock Your Potential at [Event Name]!”
• “Dive Deep into [Topic]”

Thank You Email Subject Line

Studies show 6 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276486329_Letters_of_Gratitude_Improving_Well-Being_through_Expressive_Writing that expressing our thanks to people makes us happier. And it also feels good to receive appreciation!

If someone purchased your product, signed up for your newsletter, downloaded your ebook, or attended your course, why not show some love to them?

• “🌟 A Heartfelt Thanks for Joining Our Community!”
• “You Made Our Day! Thanks for Your Purchase ✨”
• “Grateful for You: A Special Thanks from [Your Brand/Name]!”
• “💌 A Little Note of Big Thanks to You!”
• “You’re Awesome! Thanks for Subscribing ✨”
• “Thanks a Million for Choosing [Your Product/Service]!”
• “Because of You, We’re Growing – Thank You!”
• “🤗 A Warm Thank You from the [Your Brand/Team] Family!”
• “Your Contribution Matters – A Big Thank You!”
• “Your Presence is Valued – Thank You for Attending”
• “A sincere thank you 🙏🏻”
• “Payment received. Thank you so much!”

Networking Email Subject Lines

Nowadays, a lot of networking happens online . Or perhaps you’ve met someone at an event and want to play catch-up. Here are the perfect lines to say if you’re looking to network:

• “Are you coming?” Do you have a networking event coming up? Invite them over in your email by asking them a question directly!
• “You are not alone.” People who network want to connect. Let them know there are people out there searching for others, too!
• “Did I lose you?” Are you reaching out to someone you haven’t contacted in a while? This subject line grabs attention immediately.
• “I finally found you!”  
• “So happy to finally meet you!”  
• “I loved meeting you at [place]. I’d love to reconnect!”  
• “Can I introduce you to [person’s name]?”  
• “I loved our conversation about [topic here]!”  
• “It was awesome to meet you”
• “Wanted to follow up”
• “Hey! I’d love to connect :-)”
• “That was super fun!”
• “🤝 Continuing Our Great Conversation from [Event Name]”
• “Hey [Name], Loved Your Thoughts on [Topic]”
• “Can’t stop thinking about our talk on [Topic].”
• “I’d love to continue over coffee/lunch.”
• “[Name], Your Insight on [Topic] Was Spot On!”
• “It Was Great Meeting You, [Name] – Fancy a Follow-Up Chat?”
• “Revisiting Our Conversation – I Had an Idea!”
• “Hey [Name], How Have You Been Since [Event/Location]?”
• “🍵 [Name], Up for a Coffee and a Casual Chat?”
• “From Our Last Talk, I’ve Been Thinking…”

Nobody said networking was easy! Here are 24 tips to help you become an expert networker. And if you’ve networked enough and want to land an excellent job, read on!

Email Subject Lines for Jobs

Are you going on a job hunt? Once you’ve prepared your resume , decked out your LinkedIn , and perfected your elevator pitch , it’s time to move on to the email.

Sending out emails to companies you’re looking to get hired at can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are my favorite lines that work more often than not:

• “CV for [job position] — available immediately.” Try being direct and putting as much info as possible upfront. This one shows you’re ready and organized.
• “[Job Position] — [Name]” This is a variation of the above. Use this one if you don’t have a specific time you’ll be available or a CV ready yet.
• “Looking to help.” 
• “Following up on…” 
• “Referred by [friend] — [name]”  
• “[Your credentials] with over X years of experience.”  
• “Thank you — [job position].”  
• “URGENT: Need by EOD” 
• “Eager to Bring [Unique Skill] to [Company’s Name] Team!”
• “Aspiring [Job Title] Passionate About [Company’s Industry/Value]”
• “Excited About the Opportunity to Join [Company’s Name]!”
• “Driven [Your Profession] Ready to Make an Impact at [Company’s Name]”
• “Enthusiastic [Your Role] Excited About [Company’s Name] ‘s Vision”

If you want to upgrade your career, you might enjoy this free training.

Ready to start planning your professional development?

Use our free worksheet to get started on your Professional Development Plan.

Holiday Email Subject Lines

Holidays are a great time, especially if you’re in sales. Check these out if you’re a marketer or want to build up your customer base:

• “💥 Holiday Special” According to Omnisend 7 https://www.omnisend.com/blog/holiday-email-subject-lines/ , this was the #1 email subject line that got the most opens. It’s simple and effective.
• “5 Thanksgiving Facts to Know” There are a lot of interesting facts about Thanksgiving, Black Friday , and other holidays.
• “Happy Birthday [name here]—Here’s a Gift!” Combine a birthday and a gift, and you’ve got a one-two combo for an excellent email. Don’t forget to include a decent gift, though, or the receiver might feel like they’ve wasted their time.
• “Happy Holidays from [company/individual name]”  
• “HO HO NO!!! Last Day For [Benefit Here]!” 
• “[Holiday] Guide: Everything You Need to Know”  
• “Happy Holidays From [name]!”  
• “The FIRST Thing to Do After [holiday].”  
• “🎄 Unwrap Your Early Holiday Surprise Inside!”
• “Guess What’s Coming This Holiday Season… 🌟”
• “🎁 Secret Holiday Deals Just for You!”
• “Sneak Peek: Our Magical Holiday Collection!”
• “🎅 Shh… Santa’s Got a Special Message for You!”
• “Your Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday is Here”
• “The Holiday Gift You Didn’t Know You Needed”
• “🌟 Holiday Wishes and Dreamy Deals Inside”

Whatever line you choose, keep it positive and uplifting to stay in good holiday spirits.

Funny Subject Lines

Science shows that humor is one of the best ways to connect with people. If you’re looking to add humor to your emails, try one of these funny lines:

• “Since we can’t all win the lottery…” Include something in the body email: “We might not all be lucky, but at least we can [achievable goal here].”
• “It’s time to unleash your inner [noun].” This is a fun one if you want to show a little personality. Great to use for holidays (replace a noun with “Santa”), business meetings (replace with “Mark Cuban”), or even friendly get-togethers (replace with “Unicorn”).

• “Shh… This is for you only.”  
• “Why did the chicken cross the road?”  
• “May the Fourth be with you” 
• “Re:re:re: let’s chat?” 
• “Ugh, not another email!”  
• “Subject Line”  
• “How Many [Your Brand] Employees Does It Take to Write an Email?”
• “👽 Spoiler Alert: We Come in Peace and Bring Discounts!”
• “This Email is Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Surprisingly Funny!”
• “Warning: This Email Will Make You Laugh Out Loud 🤣”
• “🎉 Party in Your Inbox: No RSVP Needed!”

And if you’re itching to improve your humor, why not check out one of our humorous articles? Or check out the video below to find your type of laugh!

• Laughter Lunch: 10 Videos to Make You Laugh
• How to Be Funny: 7 Easy Steps to Improve Your Humor

FAQs About Email Subject Lines

The ‘subject’ in an email is a summary of the email’s content, serving as a headline for the recipient to quickly understand the email’s purpose.

The ideal length of an email subject line is typically between 30 and 50 characters, ensuring it is concise yet informative enough to capture the essence of the email. This will give you better open rates and engagement.

Takeaways About Email Subject Lines

Best of luck writing your email subject lines! If you just remember these tips, you’ll be in great shape:

• Be Clear and Concise 
• Use an Emoji
• Use Emotion-Driven Word
• Leverage Curiosity
• Send at 11 am EST on a weekday
• Don’t write clickbait
• Don’t use spam language

On the topic of email, it’s also worth considering what phrase to use for your signoff. If you’d like to dive more into the topic, check out this article.

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5.5 Writing Process: Focusing on the Angle of Your Subject

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Plan a research calendar.
• Conduct primary research, including field observations and interviews.
• Conduct secondary research, drawing on credible academic and popular sources.
• Compose an email that meets professional standards of the genre.
• Synthesize research findings using elements of the profile genre to create a written profile.
• Give and receive constructive feedback in peer review exercises.
• Revise a draft in response to feedback.

Now that you are familiar with the structure and content of profiles, you are ready to write one of your own. This section will show you how to apply the ideas and genre elements presented earlier in this chapter to develop your profile essay.

Summary of Assignment: A Profile in Courage or Other Admirable Trait

For this assignment, you will develop an essay that profiles the courage—or another admirable aspect—of someone or something associated with your college campus. You will create a profile of a person, group, place, or event that exemplifies the admirable aspect as you define it. For your profile, you will conduct the specific kinds of research done by profile writers: interviews, field research, and secondary research from credible sources.

Once you have compiled your research, you will decide on the focus and angle of your piece, then plan and develop your draft. You will also participate in peer review to receive guidance for any needed revisions. Throughout the process, you will focus on developing an essay that shows readers how your subject exemplifies the admirable trait you have chosen.

Another Lens. Another option for this assignment is a group writing project for your class or smaller groups within the class. Your instructor will decide whether the project will be completed by the whole class or smaller groups. With your peers, you will write a collaborative profile in courage of your class or group as a whole, showing how you all exemplify courage together. All students will contribute anecdotes about courage from their own lives in addition to conducting all other research on which profiles are based. The class or group will then work together to organize, draft, revise, edit, and proofread the collective composition.

Defining the Admirable Trait

Before beginning your profile, choose the admirable trait on which you will focus, and then create your own definition of it. This definition will help you select your subject and focus your research. Consider including the definition in your final product as well.

First, to decide on the trait, follow these steps:

• Set a timer for five minutes. During that time, write or record a comprehensive list of traits you admire in other people. Include a wide range of possibilities, such as “humor,” “generosity,” “patience,” and so on. To generate a robust list, think also of the people you admire, and then pinpoint the attributes you admire about them.
• Consider all of the traits you have listed, and select one to focus on for this project.

Next, use one or more of the following methods to begin defining the aspect of the subject that you admire:

• Think about the admirable trait you have chosen, and write down a few words or phrases that you associate with it.
• Assemble a collage of images that make you think of the admirable trait.
• Write brief notes about moments when you have personally shown the trait you are focusing on—or about times you have seen others exhibit this trait.

Looking at all of these notes, write your personal definition of the admirable trait. Your draft definition will probably evolve as you develop your profile. If so, great! That means you have been thinking more about the idea. Here is a sample definition of an admirable trait: Kindness is grace in action; it shows itself when people are willing to truly listen to others and to understand the world from another vantage point. People embody kindness when they choose to respond gently rather than angrily or when they help others without complaining.

Choosing a Subject

Now that you have a working definition of the trait you are using to focus your profile, you can choose your subject. Members of the campus community are usually willing subjects: professors, librarians, resident assistants, alumni, staff, and coaches, to name a few. You might also consider buildings, public spaces, or public art on campus. In addition, the local community may contain potential subjects—for example, business owners, city administrators, and other local individuals, groups, or events peripherally associated with your school. Also consider discussing your project with an archivist if one is available on campus or in your community; these specialist librarians always have interesting subjects to recommend for research. Follow these steps to choose a subject:

• Jot down notes about intriguing buildings, public spaces, pieces of public art, people, events, and groups on or near campus.
• Do a quick online search—perhaps on the campus website—to see what information is available about several potential subjects that most intrigue you. Remember that this research is simply to narrow your options; you will conduct more careful and thorough research after making your final choice.
• Having gathered preliminary information, think about which potential subject best connects to the definition of the admirable trait you have developed. Also, think about which subject most interests you.

Now weigh the factors you have considered here, and choose the subject you would most like to pursue. If you are having trouble choosing between two subjects, discuss your options with your instructor or with someone in the campus writing center. Once you have chosen a subject, you can plan your research. You will need to schedule interviews, field observations, and time for secondary research before you begin organizing your findings and drafting your paper.

Preparing to Write: Conducting Research

Profile writers learn as much about their subjects as possible. Be sure to take advantage of all available sources of information, and follow up on new leads wherever you find them. After completing your research, you will be able to refine your angle and draft your piece. As you gather your research, keep your target audience in mind, and look for details about your subject that will interest them. For example, Carla D. Hayden included information about events in which John Lewis participated at the Library of Congress. These details would interest Library of Congress blog readers, the audience for this piece.

You will need to complete three kinds of research for your profile: interviews, field research and secondary research; see The Research Process: Where to Look for Existing Sources and The Research Process: How to Create Sources . These types of research are outlined in Table 5.1 for efficient planning and discussed in detail below.

Professional Email Standards

Before you begin to do research, you will need to contact people via email about setting up interviews or gathering other necessary information. To come across as a credible researcher, follow professional email protocol when contacting subjects for interviews or other information. Subjects will take you and your requests far more seriously when you follow the protocols in Table 5.2 .

Talking with your subject—or a professional who knows a great deal about your subject—is often the best place to start your research. Interviews generally fall into the category of primary research , or research you collect directly for yourself. Try to interview your profile subject directly if the subject is a person. You also may find interviews with or about your subject that journalists have completed and published, though these would not be primary research. If you are unable to interview your subject directly, try to interview someone who has credible information about your subject; such interviews would be primary research as well. People who know, live, and work with your subject can provide additional, helpful background information. Try to set up a few short interviews with these people to deepen your insights.

The easiest way to conduct an interview is to schedule a brief, informal conversation in a comfortable setting. For a successful interview, have questions prepared and be ready to take notes as you talk. Following in Table 5.3 are sample questions you might ask. To add to this list, think about your preliminary research as well as the definition of the admirable trait you are using for your profile.

Note that you will need to cite any interviews you conduct, both within the text and in the Works Cited list. The Works Cited entry for an interview will read as follows:

[Last name of interviewee], [First name of interviewee]. Personal interview. Day Month (abbreviated) Year.

Thick Description

Another form of primary research is field observation. If at all possible, observe your subject in their element—watch them (with permission!) during their workday, spend an extended period of time in a related space, or watch available videos of your subject. In all cases, take thorough and detailed notes to create a thick description , or a careful record of every sensory detail you can capture—smells, sounds, sights, textures, physical sensations, and perhaps tastes. This thick description can provide meaningful details to illuminate the points in your piece. Meticulously record all sensory information about your subject and their setting, writing in-depth notes about what you see, smell, hear, feel, and taste. Remember to use words that express size, shape, color, texture, and sound. If you are taking notes on a person, describe their clothing, gestures, and physical characteristics. At the same time, take note of the interview setting. If the interview takes place in a neutral space, the setting can provide a backdrop for the profile. If the interview setting is a person’s room or apartment, record the details that tell the most about your subject’s special interests. If you are not used to taking these kinds of notes, practice doing so by following the steps in Table 5.4 .

You will also need to cite your field notes, both within the text and in the Works Cited list. The Works Cited entry for the field notes should be arranged according to this model:

[Your last name], [Your first name]. Field notes. [Name of the department you are affiliated with], [Name of your university], Day Month (abbreviated) Year. Raw data.

Secondary Research and Other Written and Published Information

Profile writers supplement their primary research findings through secondary research , or research that others have completed and published. Ensure that any supplemental information you use comes from credible sources ; these include peer-reviewed journals for academic sources and well-established, highly regarded organizations for public, nonacademic ones. Keep careful records of this research so that you can cite each source appropriately. Use the tools available from the Modern Language Association and in Research Process: Accessing and Recording Information and Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources for guidance in researching and managing source material. For more details on citing sources, see MLA Documentation and Format and APA Documentation and Format .

Additionally, ask your subject for their résumé and any writing samples they may have developed. While this type of research may not be available about your subject, as many ordinary people have not published anything, find and read any existing publications by or about your subject. Additionally, you can focus your secondary research on information related to your subject rather than about your subject specifically. For example, Carla D. Hayden, in writing the profile of John Lewis, could have researched Bloody Sunday more generally, or she could have found secondary research about the AIDS quilt to which she refers. To see how authors can use such secondary research, read the sample of student work later in this section as well as the blog post in Spotlight on . . . Profiling a Cultural Artifact .

Synthesizing Research

After you have completed your research, the next step is to synthesize it, or put it all together. You can simplify this task by filling in a graphic organizer such as Table 5.5 with your findings and potential angles you might take in your profile.

Quick Launch: Consider the Angle

After completing and synthesizing your research, consider your information carefully to decide on the most compelling angle and supporting information for your audience. While your general angle is the idea of the admirable trait in relation to your subject, aim to develop a personal insight within that focus. Brainstorm different points you can make about the trait that may surprise and engage your audience. Review the table you completed for synthesizing information, and then complete a web diagram such as Figure 5.7 with possible ideas.

After considering your notes and the completed web, decide which angle will work best. To help you make that decision, think about the information you have gathered so far as well as potential audience appeal. Review the model texts in this chapter to determine how each presents a unique angle on its subject.

Drafting: Finalizing and Supporting Your Angle

Remember that the writing process is recursive , meaning you will move back and forth among the steps in the process multiple times rather than progress through each step only once. For example, you may decide to conduct a bit more research while you are drafting or after you have received feedback from peer review. To include this new research, you may need to rearrange the structure of your draft. As you draft, keep focused on your angle at all times. Losing focus and including irrelevant material may weaken your profile and cause readers to lose interest in the subject.

Organization

As discussed in Glance at Genre: Subject, Angle, Background, and Description , profiles can be organized in several ways: chronologically, spatially, or topically. Review the information you inserted in reponse to Table 5.1 , along with your admirable trait definition, to decide which organizational strategy would work best for your piece. Then use the following sections to organize the introduction, body, and conclusion of your work. When organizing your draft, think about where to place each piece of information to convey your points most effectively. Rather than using a strict chronological structure throughout your draft, you may find your piece is more effective if you begin with a topical structure and then provide some information chronologically.

Introduction and Thesis

Like introductions in most of the writing you do, the profile introduction establishes some background and context for readers to understand your main point. Think about what readers need to know in order to appreciate your angle, and include that information in the introduction. Some writers prefer to compose their introductions first, whereas others wait until after they have developed a draft of the body. Whichever strategy you use, be sure that the introduction engages readers so that they want to continue reading. Refer to the sample texts in this chapter for models of introductory texts.

Remember, too, that your thesis should appear as the last sentence, or close to the end, of the introduction. For the profile, your thesis would be a sentence or two explaining your angle. For example:

• [Name of subject] showed [the admirable trait] not only in [doing something that shows the trait] but even more so by refusing to [accept or participate in something].
• [Name of subject] plays a unique part in the [history, life, culture] of [place, group] because [reason for angle].

Try one of these models, or a variation of it, as the first draft of your thesis.

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should support the angle you have taken, advancing your thesis, or main point. For suggestions on developing body paragraphs in narrative writing, see Literacy Narrative: Building Bridges, Bridging Gaps and Memoir or Personal Narrative: Learning Lessons from the Personal . For each paragraph, synthesize details—examples, anecdotes, quotations, location, background information, or descriptions of events—from more than one source to support your angle. By including all of these elements, necessary explanations, and a combination of narrative and reporting, you will create the strongest possible profile piece. See the section See the section Spotlight on . . . Profiling a Cultural Artifact to explore examples of how these elements can work in the paragraphs of a blog post profiling a cultural artifact. In each paragraph, consider drawing on the following:

• Show and Tell. In balancing between interviews and biographies, profile writers use both narrative and reporting techniques—that is, they both show and tell readers information about the subject. As you read your notes, decide which elements you will use to show readers something about your subject and which elements you will simply report.
• Quoted Material. If your subject has said something in a memorable way, present their words directly to readers. Doing so increases your readers’ sense of the subject’s voice.
• Anecdotes. Very brief scenarios or stories about something your subject has done, or about the subject itself, contribute to readers’ understanding. Often, anecdotes reflect field research, showing the subject “in action” or reflecting what others think about the subject. For example, Carla D. Hayden relates anecdotes about John Lewis’s actions leading 600 protesters in Selma, Alabama.
• Background Information. You may have one or more paragraphs in which you present background information—but only information that is relevant to the profile. If you highlight an individual’s success or their contributions to society or a cause, then that person’s humble beginnings may be relevant as a contrast. Hayden mentions Lewis’s impoverished youth for this reason. Including background information helps readers place the subject in time and within their culture.
• Location. Placing your subject in a setting, in either the past or the present, helps readers understand and visualize the subject in a particular context. Be sure to include location in at least one body paragraph.

The sample texts in this chapter provide models for you to use when developing your draft. Use a graphic organizer like Table 5.6 to identify the following profile genre elements in one or more of the model texts featured in this chapter: Annotated Sample Reading , the student sample in this section, or Spotlight on … Profiling a Cultural Artifact . Remember that single paragraphs often synthesize more than one type of information and use more than one strategy.

Additionally, tone , a writer’s attitude toward their subject, is particularly important in profiles because it conveys authenticity to readers. If you praise a subject but your tone or attitude reflects detachment or lack of interest, readers will notice the discrepancy. Hayden’s attitude toward her subject, John Lewis, is one of respect and admiration. If you are writing about someone courageous, then your tone will probably be similar to hers. Remember, though, that you are the narrator, and thus you set the tone. If you insert quotations by people who don’t think as you do, make sure that doing so suits your purpose. By including information in the areas covered above and maintaining a consistent and appropriate tone, you will have the basis of a strong and engaging profile.

The conclusion is your opportunity to pull all the points of the essay together. Many writers like to restate the main point they have sustained throughout the essay in the conclusion. Another strong move for the conclusion is to tell readers the exigency of the piece—in other words, why the information is important and why they should care about it. After your introduction and body are complete, read through your draft; this process will often give you a sense of what still needs to be said in the conclusion. Refer to the sample texts in this chapter for models of conclusion paragraphs.

Review Your Draft

After you have written a rough first draft, including the introduction and conclusion, read the entire piece three times:

• Revise. Read once for the big picture to judge whether you have enough content and whether the content is arranged in a way that makes sense. Revise your work as needed.
• Edit. Read a second time for mid-level concerns such as sentence variety, word choice, and consistent use of tenses: Editing Focus: Verb Tense Consistency . Think about whether you need to break some sentences apart or combine some sentences for smoother flow. Follow the chronology of your profile to ensure that the narration stays in the present or past tense and that events are clearly set in time. Read your composition aloud to see whether you overuse some words. Edit your work as needed.
• Proofread. After editing, read through a third time with an eye on small details to proofread your work. Change spelling or punctuation as needed to meet the expectations of the rhetorical situation. Check that you have formatted according to the required style guide , or standards of writing, such as Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) style.

Revisit these three steps after you have received feedback from the peer review exercise that follows. If you have access to a campus writing center, you may consult with tutors there for support at any stage of your writing process.

Peer Review: Written Responses

After you have developed a solid draft, you are ready to receive feedback from your peers. To prepare for peer review, reread the assignment prompt in Writing Process: Focusing on the Angle of Your Subject and the assessment rubric in Evaluation: Text as Personal Introduction . Then, read your peer’s entire profile before giving feedback. In your feedback, strive to be both clear and kind—clearly state the strengths and weaknesses of the text in the most supportive way possible. If you need guidance, use the model sentences in Table 5.7 to structure your feedback.

After reading your peer’s profile all the way through, use Table 5.8 to provide thoughtful and detailed feedback.

Revising: Incorporating Written Responses

After you have received feedback from your peer(s), read it carefully. If you have received feedback from more than one peer, strongly consider addressing comments on which they agree. If you have received comments encouraging you to make revision, editing, and proofreading changes, prioritize revision—making major changes in content, structure, and organization. You may need to add, delete, or rearrange information or the way in which you present the material. You may rearrange information within paragraphs or add topic sentences if needed. Much of the feedback your peers give you based on the form above will probably fit into the category of revision.

Evaluate Yourself

Another way to approach revision is to compare and contrast your work against the rubric for the assignment in Evaluation: Text as Personal Introduction , which guides you through the process of evaluating your work using the standards given in the assignment rubric.

Revised Draft Profile Sample

This section provides one example of a revised profile draft written by a first-year college student. As you will read, the admirable quality that Houston Byrd focuses on in this essay is that his subject, a bricks-and-mortar video store, offers “a crucial and important service to its community.” You will also see the ways in which Byrd both “shows and tells” readers about his subject, offering information drawn from each type of required research: interview, field observation, and secondary sources. Byrd has chosen to insert himself and his experiences of his subject fully into this profile. Review Glance at Genre: Subject, Angle, Background, and Description , and then read Byrd’s essay to see how well he incorporates the narrative and reporting profile genre elements in his draft.

After Byrd received peer feedback, he decided that his previous draft did not need much revision; he was happy with his structure, and the organization made sense to his readers. One peer suggested that Byrd insert topic sentences in each paragraph, but he ultimately decided not to do so because he thought his paragraphs held together well as written. As you revise your work in response to peer feedback, you may also choose to accept some suggestions while rejecting others.

Byrd paid close attention to peer feedback indicating that his draft had many long, complicated sentences; in the draft below, the originals are noted after the edited sentences. He also acted on feedback about verb tense consistency. Furthermore, Byrd made proofreading changes, such as adding the MLA-required right header and changing the placement of some punctuation marks. As with all writing, this draft could be improved even more with further revision. After reading the essay, discuss with a peer the revision, editing, and proofreading changes you would recommend if you were reading this draft for peer review.

Heaven Is in Toad Frog Alley

student sample text The realm of physical film, if not already dead, is dying. More so than decaying cellulose, the entire medium as an art form is declining. According to The Guardian , DVD and Blu-Ray sales were down this past holiday over 30% each (Sweney). Some say that streaming services and on-demand viewing are the culprits. Whatever the case, the answer is not so simple, and the notion is very alarming. underline The decrease in relevance of physical media is no secret. Mass closures of video rental powerhouses such as Blockbuster Video and Movie Gallery began at the turn of the decade. end underline end student sample text

annotated text The original sentence read: underline It is no secret that physical media has been on the decline, especially with the mass closures of video rental powerhouses such as Blockbuster Video and Movie Gallery near the beginning of the decade. end underline This example demonstrates a pattern throughout the revised draft in which Byrd broke apart some of his longer sentences and improved their wording. Notice that he changes tense in the last sentence for a reason: the trend is happening now, but video rental stores began closing in the past. end annotated text

student sample text Though the memory lives on in millennial nostalgia, the world of physical movie sales is not completely irrelevant. Many of the large rental chains have since closed down, but beyond the major highways is an all-but-forgotten world of local video stores. In my home state, one store in particular, called Toad Frog Alley Videos, lives in that world, located in the small town of Cleveland, Alabama. I had the privilege of visiting the store and speaking with its owner, Kandy Little, about her experiences operating in a time when physical media is scarce. Through my visit and conversation, I have come to appreciate the importance of Toad Frog Alley Videos. I truly believe that the store provides a crucial and important service to its community, as well as highlights the nature of physical film and the need for preservation. end student sample text

annotated text In this introductory paragraph, Byrd establishes the stakes for his profile subject, offering both background and context for understanding the video store’s importance to its community. He also makes some editing and proofreading changes to strengthen the draft and presents his main point, or thesis, here at the end of the introduction. end annotated text

student sample text Miles off of I-65, a major Alabama interstate, Toad Frog Alley stands, an almost well-kept secret. The idea of such a welcoming business being hidden saddened me—and still does—but in turn gave the illusion of adventure. underline Driving through winding county roads to get there, I could feel the world almost disappearing into unexplored territory. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline There is a moment, winding through country roads, where the world seems to disappear into unexplored territory. end underline Byrd corrected the sentence to get rid of a “there is” construction, a dangling modifier, and inconsistent verb tenses. end annotated text

student sample text Suddenly, there were no street names, no lines on the pavement, and sometimes no pavement at all. At the end of one of these “not much of a road” roads underline stood end underline Toad Frog Alley Videos. end student sample text

annotated text Byrd changed the underlined verb from underline is end underline to underline stands end underline for a more vivid verb. He then changed it to the past tense to maintain consistency with the verbs he uses in relating his visit to the store . end annotated text

student sample text My first impression stepping inside was awe. underline Shelves lining the walls reached from floor to ceiling, each packed full of titles, perfectly alphabetized and separated by genre. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline Lining the walls were shelves that reached from floor to ceiling. Each shelf was completely full of titles, which were perfectly alphabetized and separated by genre. end underline In this case, Byrd combined, rather than separated, sentences to avoid repetition, substitute more active verbs, and vary sentence structure. end annotated text

student sample text Between the walls were standalone shelves, organized in the same fashion. I expected a kind of personal collection, but I felt as if I had actually traveled back in time to the major rental stores of old (or rather of ten years ago). To community members, the setup meant another option for Saturday night, but underline for a film lover like me, end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline for me, a film lover, end underline end annotated text

student sample text this place was heaven. end student sample text

annotated text In the body of his draft, Byrd advances his thesis, drawing on information from each of the required types of sources. end annotated text

student sample text After my initial feelings, I was hit with a second wave, one that can only be described as abysmal. At the front of the store was a counter, being worked by one employee. The register was clunky and archaic, underline which made end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline something that makes end underline end annotated text

student sample text a public library look like the headquarters of Google. In the center of the store was a foldable table that read “FOR SALE.” underline On the table lay DVDs, either damaged or unwanted, strewn about with no rhyme or reason. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline The table was filled with DVDs, some damaged and some unwanted, strewn about with no rhyme or reason like the rest of the store. end underline end annotated text

student sample text Aside from me, there was only one patron, a middle-aged woman, shopping as if she had been there before but did not know what she wanted. I started to become depressed. underline I was not sure exactly what I had imagined, but I knew this place was nowhere close. I had convinced myself I was on a journey to find the “last great video store,” an oasis of film, flowing with patrons renting Milk and American Honey . end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline I did not know what exactly I had imagined, but with my passion for physical film and rental stores alike, I had convinced myself I was on a journey to find the “last great video store,” an oasis of film, flowing with patrons renting end underline underline Milk and American Honey. end underline This sentence is another example in which Byrd broke a longer sentence apart and polished the wording. end annotated text

student sample text underline Only when end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline It was not until end underline end annotated text

student sample text I took a breath and began looking around was I able to see Toad Frog Valley for what underline the store end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline it end underline end annotated text

student sample text was. underline Every blank wall space featured posters, equally sporting Oscar winners and underground art-house films. end underline end student sample text

annotated text This sentence provides a solid example of revising a “there were” or “there are” sentence construction; the original read: underline There were posters on every blank wall space, not just of each year’s Oscar winner, but underground art-house films as well. end underline end annotated text

student sample text The endcaps of each standalone shelf were filled with underline top picks, recent releases, or staff choices. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Here, Byrd revises for varied word choice; the original read: underline top picks, recent releases, or staff picks. end underline end annotated text

student sample text A television in the corner softly played a film of the employee’s choice. underline Toad Frog Alley end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline This end underline end annotated text

student sample text may not have been the perfect haven for cinephiles and collectors that I had hoped, but it showed an undeniable element of care. The store was something of a museum, one that lets people borrow the items they love. I left with a smile on my face and a movie in my hand. end student sample text

student sample text underline I want to believe that everyone has experienced a similar video store moment. If that were true, though, why did so many close in the first place? end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline I want to believe that if everyone could experience a moment of awe in a video store, then the demand would resurface, but if that were true, why did so many close in the first place? end underline end annotated text

student sample text Why also are stores like Toad Frog Alley still operating? Back in 2010, when rental chains were beginning to close doors indefinitely, many entertainment news sites noticed a trend. Among them was The Hollywood Reporter , which noted that over 35% of independent video stores had tanning beds. They reported the trend, saying, “[Independents] use every niche they can think of to survive and be respected in their communities” (Bond). While tanning beds may look like the supplemental savior for many locally owned stores, underline this notion end underline end student sample text

annotated text Here, Byrd defines the word this by inserting the word notion . end annotated text

student sample text is not necessarily the case, says Kandy Little. Kandy is the owner of Toad Frog Valley Video Store and has been since 1995. end student sample text

annotated text The tense shifts to present when Kandy Little is discussed but returns to the past when Byrd relates her background. end annotated text

student sample text Ironically, Kandy bought a tanning salon in hopes of opening a video store. At the time, there was a much higher demand for rentals in almost every community, and Toad Frog Alley was no exception. Though she admits tanning has increased over the years (with rentals, of course, declining), to Kandy, tanning was not the savior. “[Toad Frog Alley Videos] is still open because I work it myself most of the time,” she says. “No one else will take care of your business as well as you do.” With an inventory of over 5,000 films, Kandy believes that physical media is important for her community. Local business is important for creating jobs and city revenue, and Kandy provides both through her love of movies. end student sample text

student sample text Even though Toad Frog Alley is doing well, the scarcity of rental stores is something to consider. In the digital age, media is accessible to practically everyone. Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have made media available for viewers without requiring them to leave their homes. underline For physical rentals, end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline As far as physical rentals go, end underline end annotated text

student sample text nationwide kiosks called Redbox are set up in major grocery stores and pharmacies. underline In largely populated areas, these services have contributed to the downfall of video stores. In small towns across the country, however, many stores like Toad Frog Alley are still alive. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline In largely populated areas, these services have contributed to the downfall of video stores, but in rural America, many stores like Toad Frog Alley are still alive. end underline This revision heightens the contrast between populated areas and small towns. end annotated text

student sample text In 2018, the Harvard Political Review looked into why rural areas are struggling socioeconomically. The research concluded that the problem comes from the inability to keep the attention of a younger generation. underline The idea of the “American Dream” is largely accompanied by main streets, small towns, and mom-and-pop shops. Unfortunately, countryside communities are suffering, despite featuring many of these elements. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline Though the idea of the “American Dream” is largely accompanied by main streets, small towns, and mom-and-pop shops, rural communities have seen drastic population decreases even while holding many of these. end underline The revision breaks the original sentence apart and makes stronger, clearer word choices. end annotated text

student sample text Farming, a large majority of pastoral industry, has become increasingly mechanized with technological advancement. On top of that, failing education and inadequate healthcare in underfunded areas have contributed to population loss as well. Many young people are unwilling to live underline in rural America, end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline in these rural areas, end underline end annotated text

student sample text and thus jobs end student sample text

annotated text Deleted: underline , one of the largest incentives in most communities, end underline end annotated text

student sample text have become scarce. The Review states that “ultimately, the only way citizens will be attracted to small towns is if the quality of life is attractive and sustainable… [but] the growing demand of the U.S. economy will continue drawing people toward… [a] quality of life often deemed synonymous with urban living” (Elkadi). This cycle leaves many rural settings unappealing, not only to residents but also to businesses like Internet providers. In many cases, rural areas are deemed unprofitable for modern services. Descriptions so negative contribute to the lack of digital services available to communities. underline Businesses end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline Stores end underline end annotated text

student sample text such as Toad Frog Alley thus provide a necessary service for a town that may have little access to digital content. end student sample text

student sample text underline All of these factors raise end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline This raises end underline end annotated text

student sample text a question: Is physical media doomed to a state of limbo in rural communities? Some believe film was meant to die, and should. Following the controversial shutdown of the “classic films” streaming service FilmStruck, Professor Katherine Groo shared a perspective in The Washington Post : “The collapse of FilmStruck might go some way toward reminding us of the fundamental virtuality [sic] of film and film spectatorship” (Groo). Groo goes so far as to ask “whether [FilmStruck’s catalog listings] are the works we need to rescreen or urge others to discover.” underline Groo does not lament the death of FilmStruck as film “erosion” or “erasure.” end underline end student sample text

annotated text In the original, the previous sentence occurred later in the paragraph; Byrd moved it here in the revision to present the information in a way that made more sense for readers. end annotated text

student sample text She mentions different film archives, like the Library of Congress and Kanopy, doing open-access experimentation, but overlooks an important factor. Groo asserts that only the privileged are able to access a paid service, but she neglects rural areas and others that cannot access archives, paid or free. end student sample text

annotated text Deleted: underline For people like Kandy Little, end underline end annotated text

student sample text Toad Frog Alley remains important for the enjoyment and education of people in the town that film provides. As technology keeps progressing, archaic forms of media consumption are necessary for areas that do not yet have access to the new technologies. underline Kandy predicts this, and more, when asked about the digital age and the coexistence of physical and online media: end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline Kandy predicts this, and more, when I asked her how she felt about the digital age, and the coexistence of physical and online media: end underline end annotated text

student sample text “Studios are already giving exclusive rights to different cable companies. Once the avenues are spread out, customers will have to pay more for accessing media. The video store is here offering better prices and more media in one place.” To her, the transition back into physical media is only a matter of time. end student sample text

student sample text As a proponent of physical media, I am thankful that Kandy and Toad Frog Alley exist. underline Though nothing is wrong with enjoying the luxuries of streaming, and digital film preservation is admirable, the market is becoming saturated. Saturated markets lead to higher prices and necessitate multiple subscriptions just to access desired films. end underline end student sample text

annotated text Original: underline Though it is not wrong to enjoy the luxuries of streaming, and digital film preservation is admirable, the market is becoming saturated, which leads to higher prices and necessitates multiple subscriptions just to access desired films. end underline end annotated text

student sample text Though people in rural communities are still able to rent videos, they would be left behind in the case of film becoming solely digital. underline Video stores provide important business and atmosphere to communities. Even though digitizing film is more affordable and accessible to many people, it may not be what is best for both films and consumers. end underline end student sample text

annotated text In the original, these sentences were combined with underline , and. end underline end annotated text

student sample text For those like me, with a passion for film, the only reciprocity for the love that video stores instill is to show love in the form of support. As Kandy eloquently underline said end underline at the end of our interview, “I really don’t have a favorite film. I just love films.” end student sample text

annotated text In referring a past event while he narrates in the present tense, Byrd uses the past tense. end annotated text

Works Cited

Bond, Paul. “Video Rental Stores’ Bizarre Survival Strategy.” The Hollywood Reporter , 14 Sept. 2010, www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/video-rental-stores-bizarre-survival-27851.

Elkadi, Nina. “Keeping Rural America Alive.” Harvard Political Review , 13 October 2018, https://web.archive.org/web/20181013151815/https://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/keeping-rural-america-alive/.

Groo, Katherine. “FilmStruck Wasn’t That Good for Movies. Don’t Mourn Its Demise.” The Washington Post , 3 Dec. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/03/filmstrucks-demise-could-be-good-movies/.

Little, Kandy. Personal interview. 25 June 2019.

Sweney, Mark. “‘Christmas from Hell’ Caps Bad Year for High Street DVD Sellers.” The Guardian , 3 Jan. 2019, www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/03/christmas-from-hell-caps-bad-year-for-high-street-dvd-sellers.

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• Authors: Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Writing Guide with Handbook
• Publication date: Dec 21, 2021
• Location: Houston, Texas
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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Writing Experience — 17 Tips For Writing An Excellent Email Subject Line

17 Tips for Writing an Excellent Email Subject Line

• Categories: Culture and Communication Writing Experience

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Published: Mar 1, 2019

Words: 1071 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

• Always write a subject line. Not including a subject line is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. The subject line often determines whether an email is opened and how the recipient responds. An email with a blank subject line will likely get deleted, lost, or immediately irritate the recipient, who is forced to open the email to figure out what it’s about.
• Write the subject line first. For many professionals, the subject line is an afterthought that you add just before you hit send. But Amanda Augustine, career expert at professional job-matching service TheLadders, stresses that it can be the most important part of the email. Write the subject line first, so that it sets the tone and you don’t forget.
• Keep it short. A typical inbox reveals about 60 characters of an email’s subject line, while a mobile phone shows just 25 to 30 characters, says Augustine. Get right to the point in about six to eight words.
• Place the most important words at the beginning. A whopping 50% of emails are read on mobile phones, says Dmitri Leonov, a VP at email management service SaneBox. Since you don’t know how much of the subject line will be viewable from a smartphone, it’s important to put the most important information at the beginning. Otherwise, compelling details could get cut off.
• Eliminate filler words. With such precious space, don’t waste it with unnecessary words like “hello,” “nice to meet you,” and “thanks,” which can easily be included in the email’s body.
• Be clear and specific about the topic of the email. The subject line should communicate exactly what the email is about so that the recipient can prioritize the email’s importance without having to open it. For example, writing “Do you have a sec?” is vague, says Augustine, since the reader will have to open the email or reply to figure out what you want. If it’s a job application, she suggests including your name and the position, and if it’s to another coworker, you should identify the project that the email refers to.
• Keep it simple and focused. Especially if you’re sending a marketing email, Kipp Bodnar, a VP at marketing software platform HubSpot, says it should be focused on one action, which should be communicated in the subject line. Offer one takeaway, indicate how the reader can make use of it, and specify how you will deliver it.
• Use logical keywords for search and filtering. Most professionals have filters and folders set up to manage their email and probably won’t focus on your message when they first see it, says Leonov. That’s why it’s important to include keywords related to the topic of the email that will make it searchable later.
• Indicate if you need a response. “People want to know whether they really need to read this now and if they have to respond,” says Augustine. If you need a response, make it clear in the subject line by saying “please reply” or “thoughts needed on X topic.” If not, simply start the line with “Please read,” or tack on “no response needed” or “FYI” to the end.
• Set a deadline in the subject line. Especially if you have a lot of information to convey in the email itself, including a deadline right in the subject line exponentially increases the odds that readers will respond. For example, after the email’s topic, you could say: “Please reply by EOD Friday.”
• If someone referred you, be sure to use their name. If you’ve been referred by a mutual acquaintance, do not save that for the body of the email, says Augustine. Put it in the subject line to grab the reader’s attention right away. Moreover, she suggests beginning the subject line with the full name of the person who referred you.
• Highlight the value you have to offer. If sending a cold email to someone you don’t know, “you need a subject line that indicates value and communicates what they’re going to get,” says Bodnar. Pique the reader’s interest by offering them something that’s helpful. Whether you’re providing a speaking opportunity, a discount, or a service, make it clear in the subject line what’s in it for them.
• Personalize it with the recipient’s name or company name. You have to know who you’re sending the email to, and they have to recognize that it’s about them or a subject interesting to them, Bodnar says. Using their name or company name is one of the best ways to do that, he says, and makes the recipient much more likely to open the email. For example, you might write, “Increase Company’s sales by 25%,” or “John, see how you compare to competitors.”
• Create urgency by limiting the timeframe. To grab someone’s attention and persuade them to reply, consider creating a deadline for your proposition. Common ways of creating urgency include “respond now,” “register today,” and “limited space available — reply soon.”
• Don’t start a sentence that you finish in the email’s body. If you begin a thought or question that ends in the email, then the reader is forced to open the email. It’s annoying, and since clarity and being respectful of the recipient’s time is the goal, it’s not very helpful, says Augustine. Consider whether instant message, a call, or an in-person chat might be a better medium for your question. 1
• Make sure you reread the subject line. Augustine also warns against copy-and-paste errors. Sometimes when people are sending a similar email to multiple people, they forget to tailor it to each reader and end up with the wrong name or title in the subject line. The easiest way to avoid this is to reread the subject line before you hit send.
• Don’t put words in ALL CAPS. Using all caps may get someone’s attention, but in the wrong way. It’s the digital equivalent of yelling, and your job is to make the email as easy as possible for the recipient to read rather than giving them anxiety, says Leonov. Instead, use dashes or colons to separate thoughts, and avoid special characters like exclamation points.

Works Cited

• Augustine, A. (2017). How to write the perfect email subject line. Retrieved from https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/how-to-write-the-perfect-email-subject-line
• Gordon, W. (2019). How to craft the perfect email subject line. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/william-gordon/how-to-craft-perfect-email-subject-line.html
• Bodnar, K. (2014). The 17 best email subject lines for increasing open rates. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/the-17-best-email-subject-lines-for-increasing-open-rates
• Brooks, C. (2018). 13 tips for crafting an effective email subject line. Retrieved from https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/effective-email-subject-lines/
• SaneBox. (n.d.). How to write effective email subject lines. Retrieved from https://www.sanebox.com/blog/2014/08/14/write-effective-email-subject-lines
• Morgan, C. (2019). 20 of the best email subject lines to increase opens and clicks. Retrieved from https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/04/22/best-email-subject-lines
• Dunlop, S. (2019). 101 email subject lines for your sales emails. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/101-sales-email-templates-you-can-use-to-close-more-deals
• DeMers, J. (2018). 12 tips for crafting effective email subject lines. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/12/01/12-tips-for-crafting-effective-email-subject-lines/?sh=395663d378d2
• Nielsen, J. (2017). Be succinct! (Writing for the web). Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/be-succinct-writing-for-the-web/
• Strickland, J. (2019). The psychology of color in marketing and branding. Retrieved from https://www.helpscout.com/blog/psychology-of-color/

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15 Tips for writing compelling subject lines with 75 practical examples

Last updated July 16, 2020

According to Statista , there are over 3.9 billion email users across the globe, and the numbers are expected to grow to 4.3 billion by 2023 . Furthermore, the same study also reported that around 293.6 billion emails were sent and received each day .

While some may consider emails as an outdated method of contacting customers, Emarsys reports that around 81% of SMBs still use emails for customer acquisition. Moreover, according to a study by DMA, every $1 you spend on email marketing can offer you an average return of $42 .

All of this just literally goes to show just how effective a tool email marketing is to this current day. That is exactly why we would like to share with you some tips that can help you write compelling subject lines for marketing and business-related communications.

How To Write Subject Lines That Convert

1. use action-oriented verbs.

The thing with action-oriented verbs being used in your subject lines is that it actually animates the sentence in a physical or mental state . However, it has also got to do with how you use them to draw a vivid picture in the mind of your readers to grasp their attention.

For example, if you use ‘leading a meeting,’ then it is pretty obvious that the word due to its overuse and abuse in the past has lost most of its impact. Instead, you could prefer to use ‘chaired the meeting’ which not only adds more personality but also deviates from the usual boring stuff too.

• Mark (Date/Day/Time) on Your Calendars!
• Stop By My Desk – I Brought in Cupcakes
• Read the Insider Report for Business Job Applications
• Register Today and Become A Master at Hosting Webinars
• Get Help Now to Reach More People Through Your Website

2. Build Up On Curiosity

If you fail to tease your customer through subject lines, then the probability of them clicking on your email naturally falls down. You have to create and generate curiosity to know more to get their attention and clicking open to read through your message.

To be curious about something is human nature, which is why you need to understand your audience and know their interest to create a subject line that piques their interest. Hence you necessarily do not want to give too much away in your subject line, just the right amount that nudges them in the intended direction.

• Check This Out, Jen
• Quick Question, Mark
• Steal This Strategy
• You’re Not Alone
• You Won’t Believe This Story

3. Conciseness is Best

People are not fond of reading in the first place; it is an undeniable fact, and thinking that they would go through a long subject line is simply horrendous. You need to keep things short, simple, and digestible so that they can grab the gist of it and respond without wasting their time.

There are several people out there that might feel compulsive to look at an unopened email that offers them a subject line that has no ending to it. As a matter of fact, many supervisors in a workplace setting can also get offended if you, as a subordinate, send them an email with a tediously long subject line. Please don’t!

• This is Not a Sale. It’s a Celebration!
• Stay on the Couch & Save Money
• This is What You Have Been Missing
• The Wait is Now Over
• You Left Your Stuff At Our Place

4. Create a Sense of Importance

If your email subject line isn’t displaying anything important that may be considered a topic of interest for your recipients, then chances are slim that they will ever read your email. That is why you always need to make sure that your subject lines have something significant to say to them.

However, it is again the execution that matters since you cannot contradict by writing about something important and not making it concise as well. Writing subject lines is an art; you need to tick off all the boxes within a reasonable amount of space, not too little and definitely not too much.

• 3 days until (conference)(Let’s talk)
• Just (number) seat left for (training)
• Next Week Only – Watch Me (do something) Live
• You Should Sleep on Big Decisions
• Offer Ends in (number of days) – Trust Your Instincts

5. Dishing Out Exciting Offers

To excite the recipient and be the bearer of good news should always be the intention of any company that wants to market their products and services. Otherwise, nobody would be least interested to hear about a documentary or brief about a monotonous finding regarding something truly mundane and disappointing.

The idea is to get them excited with a subject line that feeds their craving to know more and find out more. Once you have their attention and get them excited, it is a predominant factor that the chance of them clicking on your email improves by a lot.

• Your 7-Figure Plan is here!
• Your Discount is Ready – Coupon Attached
• Double Your Bonus (today/specific date )
• Tonight A Denim Lover’s Dream Comes True
• You Are Missing Out on Points

6. Humor & Pun Intended

Humor is always appreciated, but again it can be a double-edged sword if you begin to be careless with the choice of words and putting out meanings that can actually offend someone. Hence a necessary precaution has to be advised before you use puns and other gimmicks into your subject line.

Always use humor that is universally acceptable and indefinitely doesn’t discriminate against anyone . Your aim is to make them laugh and have a smile on their face when they see your email rather than make them feel agitated or profoundly feel thwarted by your style of communication.

• Swipe Right on Us
• Mom’s Gonna Love This
• You Have This in Common With Steve Jobs
• Dad Jokes. I’ve got ‘em.
• You can’t buy this on Amazon

7. Keep It Original

There are a lot of times when companies during desperate times try to get the attention of their customers and future prospects by writing absolutely unrealistic things in their email’s subject lines. Not only does falsehood disintegrate their credibility in front of their clientele, but it can also result in them losing their respect in front of their customers.

Hence it goes without saying that you should always refrain from blurting out plain lies in your subject lines as this would get you in more trouble than ever. Stick to being honest at all times, and this will eventually help you, in the long run, to build up your trustworthiness in the eyes of your selected audiences.

• Uh-oh, Your Prescription is Expiring
• The Deals That Make Us Proud – Best of Groupon
• Buffer has been hacked – here is what’s going on
• Cool Freebie Alert! 15 Gifts, You Pick 5!
• Where to Drink Beer Right Now

8. Make Them Feel Special

No matter what services and products we use, it is always the experience that can make us remember and retain a brand in our minds. It’s like going to a restaurant to get your favorite meal, but the wait staff drives you nuts, which can eventually result in you not going to that restaurant at all.

What we are trying to say is that even if your products and offers are not up to the mark, but you make people feel special whenever you come into contact with them, then they will remember you. Your subject line needs to deliver that edge, make them feel at ease, and tell them how special you are to them , some kind words can go a lot further and help you build long-lasting relationships.

• Rock the Color of the Year
• Products That Would Make Even Celebs Envious
• Best Car Picks – Just for You!
• Your Twitter Followers Would Be Delighted
• Tips to Make You a Virtuoso at Entrepreneurship

9. Numbers for Greater Impact

It is a well-known fact that one sure-fire way to get your audiences’ attention is by relaying meaningful numbers in your communication. This implies that you represent them with factual information that carries immeasurable value for them, and it also further adds to your overall appeal.

Research is important in business as it offers you fascinating insights to propel yourself ahead of the competition. Likewise, if your subject lines for your email present valuable information with the help of numbers , as anyone would expect, you are able to leave a lasting impact on them.

• 7 Secrets That Can Make Your Business Successful
• 17 Reasons Why People Are Joining Us
• Your First 1,000 Subscribers & How to Get Them
• 97.3% of Individuals Said Yes
• 8 Deadly Sales Mistakes You Can Avoid

10. Personalization

Nowadays, with the advent of technology and how the internet has progressively integrated with our everyday lives, people are more aware and thus would like to see you try your level best. Customers nowadays are looking forward to more personalized services than ever before.

Personalizing not only the subject lines but also the entire email is therefore considered a positive reflection on how you deal with your esteemed and valued customers. It doesn’t have to be much but enough to make them understand that you care for them and their preferences .

• Thomas, Your Home Needs these Fixes
• Hey Jonathan! Care for a Free Meal?
• [Mutual Contact] mentioned You
• Hey Mark, We Met At a [Conference]
• Your comments on [social post] were insightful

11. Questions that Oblige

At times it is our inquisitive nature that can get the best of us. People like to question and challenge themselves to see just how far they know about how things work. You can play with this trait by presenting a useful and helpful question of your own and mention it in the subject line of your email.

This will again build upon their curiosity that is mentioned above and will help you get more favorable responses. Presenting them with a question that you would like to answer for them once they read through your mail is a great idea, but make sure that this tactic is used adequately without any inappropriateness.

• Is this the hottest career in marketing?
• ? Free (Cool!) Clothes Alert?
• Why Your Website is Running Low on Traffic?
• Do You Know Where to Get The Best Meal Prices?
• What is the best family car of 2020?

12. Relevance & Timeliness

Having a keen outlook towards on-going and current trends can also give you and your business the edge to ignite sparks in the mind of your customers. The more relevant your marketing style is for a selected audience , the better results you would be able to generate through your efforts.

On the other hand, it is also important that you keep your email replies prompt. In the case of an order confirmation, a welcome email, and other types of responses, they should all be well-timed . The more you delay, the lesser of a window you will have to strike when the iron is hot.

• 8 hours before the deal runs out
• These Trends Are Hitting Big at the Market
• Your Business Needs AI and Here is How
• Athleisure That is Making Waves in the Fashion Industry
• Get These Insights Now Before Everyone Else Joins the Bandwagon

13. Showcasing Urgency

There are times where you can play with words to impart urgency in your audiences , and this could get them to act spontaneously towards your desired outcomes. For instance, the word “Limited Time Offer” is often used to tell readers that a certain package or deal is only available for a short period, and if they want to avail that offer, then they need to act quickly.

Similarly, terms like “breaking news” and “important alert” can also showcase that the matter that you need to discuss with them is quite urgent. Some of the times companies may even induce fear to get customers to respond ; however, we digress on that line of action as no one should disrespect their customers like that.

• Important Alert – How Your Social Media is Being Tracked
• Breaking News – Scientists Proclaim A Cure for Corona
• The Best Deal in Town – Are You In or Out?
• Limited Stock – Order Now!
• Last Chance to Get Your Discount

14. Tell a Story

A strong narrative in your subject line can also spark the needed interest in your clients to have them clicking your email open. You need to capture the attention from the word go and may refer to an incident that they may be interested in reading its complete detail.

We all like a bit of drama in our lives; that is how fake news media make millions of dollars in cash by spicing things up a bit more than they actually are. However, we strongly recommend you to stick with an actual series of events as they too can be at times too darn interesting to simply pass by without giving a second look.

• Ready This Story About a Coffee Shop’s Success
• This is How Samantha Opened Her New Spa
• From a Pizza Delivery Boy to a Restaurant Owner – True Story
• A Forex Trader’s Tale from Hardships to Triumph
• How I Took My Website to 1 Million Subscribers

15. Use Familiarity

By far, we hope that you are getting the gist of what we have covered, and as an ending, not we would like to share with you the final tip for writing compelling subject lines. This one focuses on your past connections, engagements, and interaction with a customer that your business is familiar with.

Using a familiar set of voice or tone can actually help you bypass the protective shield or layers everyone has. It is almost like when two fellow acquaintances meet, where there are no needs for introductions. In fact, we directly jump to more active conversations and sharing of information as we have been living with them this whole time.

• Hey Peter, You Left Things in Your Cart
• Lui, Did Your Order The Same Item Twice?
• Joan Someone Just Tired to Tap into Your Account [Ignore if this was you]
• We Know You Love Apple Products – Here Are Some Discounts
• You Package is Ready for Shipping

Writing compelling emails and their subject lines is nothing less of an art form, but with proper guidance and practice, you can break it down to its technicalities for better results. However, there have to be set parameters that you need to implement in place so that certain moral values and ethical aspects of things are always taken care of by your marketing teams.

Hopefully, the above mentioned tips will offer you a range of options to play with when sending out your newest batch of emails to your customers.

Melissa Calvert is an IT Specialist who is currently working as an Academic Writer at Crowd Writer, where higher education students can acquire professionals for their do my essay needs from experts specializing in the field of study. During her free time, she likes to explore nature and travel to exotic destinations.

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How to Write Effective Subject Lines.

By Sharmila Gautama

When you pick up the newspaper in the morning, what do you read first?

News articles?

Advertisements?

Headlines get your attention first because they are compelling and give you a gist of the news – prompting you to read on or move on to other more interesting headlines.

Let’s see what is in a headline that makes us read them first.

1. Headlines don’t really bother about long sentences and grammar. They omit unnecessary details and focus on the outcome. A subject line should act in the same manner. Write your subject line keeping in mind what you want from the reader. It’s almost a shortened form of the  action point.

Look at these subject lines.

• Client Meeting Advanced to 3 PM
• Updated Project Report for Review
• Feedback on Sales Report

All these subject lines give us an idea of what the email is about. You have decided to read the email based on the subject line. Read now or later? Remember your reader is reacting in the same way – read now or later?

2. Notice how the verbs are used in headlines? They are usually in the simple tense.

• Man Arrested for Drunken Driving
• New Reforms Announced
• China Bags Gold in Badminton

The same goes with subject lines. Look at these subject lines.

• Team Party Cancelled
• New Login Activated
• Six Sigma Team Arrives Tomorrow

3. Capitalise the first letters of each word in the subject line to make it easier to read. All capitals means shouting and all small letters are difficult to read.

Tip – You could use the subject line to convey the entire message of the email. Use an <EOM> – End of Message – at the end to indicate that the subject line is the content of the email too.

• Team Meeting Venue Shifted to Apollo Conference Room<EOM>
• Reminder: Client Presentation at 4 PM<EOM>

Keep writing until next time!

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This assessment provides useful insight into the candidate’s ability to comprehend text & make inferences, and gauge their writing skills. The assessment provides a complete overview of the candidate’s 1. Ability to understand texts and information of various difficulty levels 2. Ability to retrieve information, link information, and reflect on text 3. Ability to analyze information and present it in grammatically correct and simple language 4. Aptitude for written business communication

Customised to meet your requirement

The Reading & Writing Assessment can be customised for any level and function in any industry. The assessment can be customized for the following industries: IT, ITeS Manufacturing, Banking &amp; Finance, Insurance, Retail, KPOs, FMCG, Hospitality and Healthcare.

Objectives of the Reading & Writing Assessment

The Reading & Writing Assessment helps decide on a role and function for the candidate – one that requires exceptional written communication skills and good cognitive abilities. The assessment checks: • the candidate’s ability to write grammatically correct and well-structured sentences • ability to analyze and write with logic • unity and organization in writing • verbal aptitude and clarity in expression of opinions and ideas • reading comprehension strategies: Prior knowledge, making connections, questioning, visualising, inferring, summarising, evaluating, and synthesising.

Components of the Reading & Writing Assessment

The 90-minute Reading & Writing Assessment consists of: 1. Email writing: Two scenarios to check response in different contexts 2. Descriptive writing: To check understanding and interpretation of pictorial and graphical information

3. Sentence correction, sentence formation and jumbled sentences: To check mechanics and grammar 4. Reading comprehension (long & short passages) of three difficulty levels and a range of text types – imaginative, information, and argument: To check the use of all reading strategies together

This complete communication assessment provides useful insight into the writing skills, reading comprehension, speaking and listening skills of a candidate. It checks the candidate’s aptitude for writing with clarity; their ability to understand, retrieve and analyse information from texts; follow and understand verbal communication; expression of ideas and opinions with clarity; and speak and write grammatically correct English.

This assessment can be customised for any level and function in any industry. The assessment can be customised for the following industries: IT, ITeS Manufacturing, Banking & Finance, Insurance, Retail, KPOs, FMCG, Hospitality and Healthcare.

Objectives of the Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking Assessment

This assessment helps decide on a role and function for the candidate – one that requires exceptional written and verbal communication skills. The assessment checks: • the candidate’s ability to speak and write grammatically correct English • ability to analyze and organize information • analysis and synthesis of verbal communication • unity and clarity in writing and speaking • verbal aptitude and expression of opinions and ideas • ability to infer and make connections when interpreting information • ability to communicate effectively verbally

Components of the Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking Skills Assessment

This 120-minute comprehensive communication assessment consists of: 1. Email writing: Two scenarios to check response in different contexts 2. Descriptive writing: To check understanding and interpretation of pictorial and graphical information 3. Sentence correction, sentence formation and jumbled sentences: To check mechanics and grammar 4. Reading comprehension (long & short passages) of three difficulty levels and a range of text types: imaginative, information, and argument: To check the use of all reading strategies together 5. Three listening passages of different difficulty levels: To check listening for specific information, literal and inferential comprehension, attention span, attention to detail, ability to paraphrase, ability to recall information and analyse & prioritise information 6. Three speaking topics of different difficulty levels: To check ability to warm up and start a conversation, structuring of thoughts and ideas, expression of opinions, and grammatically correct language 7. Grammar test to check crucial concepts such as: subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, prepositions, pronouns, punctuation and capitalisation

The listening component of the Listening & Speaking Assessment checks the candidate’s ability to follow, understand, and evaluate verbal information. The speaking component of the assessment checks the ability to verbally present information and express an opinion with confidence and clarity. The assessment provides a comprehensive report of the candidate’s verbal communication strengths and weaknesses.

The Listening & Speaking Assessment can be customised for any level and function in any industry. The assessment can be customized for the following industries: IT, ITeS Manufacturing, Banking & Finance, Insurance, Retail, KPOs, FMCG, Hospitality and Healthcare.

Objectives of the Listening & Speaking Assessment

The Listening & Speaking Assessment helps decide on a role and function for the candidate – one that requires exceptional verbal communication skills. The assessment checks: • the candidate’s ability to understand the spoken word • analysis and synthesis of verbal information • delivery and organization of content • ability to inform and persuade verbally • ability to speak grammatically correct English

Components of the Listening & Speaking Assessment

The 60-minute Listening & Speaking Assessment consists of:

1. Three listening passages of different difficulty levels: To check listening for specific information, literal and inferential comprehension, attention span, attention to detail, ability to paraphrase, ability to recall information and analyze &amp; prioritize information 2. Three speaking topics of different difficulty levels: To check ability to warm up and start a conversation, structuring of thoughts and ideas, expression of opinions, and grammatically correct language

The writing assessment provides useful insight into the writing skills and abilities of a candidate. It checks the candidate’s aptitude for writing with clarity, language and coherence. It also evaluates the candidate’s tone, style and vocabulary in business communication.

The Writing Assessment can be customized for any level and function in any industry. The assessment can be customized for the following industries: IT, ITeS Manufacturing, Banking &amp; Finance, Insurance, Retail, KPOs, FMCG, Hospitality and Healthcare.

Objectives of the Writing Assessment

The Writing Assessment helps decide on a role and function for the candidate – one that requires exceptional written communication skills. The assessment checks: • the candidate’s ability to write grammatically correct and well-structured sentences • ability to analyze and write with logic &amp; relevance • unity and organization in writing • verbal aptitude and clarity in expression of opinions and ideas

Components of the Writing Assessment

The 90-minute Writing Assessment consists of: 1. Email writing: Two scenarios to check response in different contexts 2. Descriptive writing: To check understanding and interpretation of pictorial and graphical information 3. Narrative writing: To check ability to narrate events and incidents 4. Guided writing: To check ability to handle directed or controlled writing tasks 5. Sentence correction, sentence formation and jumbled sentences: To check mechanics and grammar

This objective type, grammar test provides a report on the candidate’s knowledge of English grammar and ability to communicate in grammatically correct English. The test checks the candidates on various grammar concepts, as well as punctuation, capitalisation, and spelling mistakes.

The Grammar Assessment can be customized for any level and function with industry-specific test questions. The assessment can be customized for the following industries: IT, ITeS Manufacturing, Banking &amp; Finance, Insurance, Retail, KPOs, FMCG, Hospitality and Healthcare.

Components of the Grammar Assessment

The 45-minute Grammar Assessment will consist of 50 objective-type questions that will check the following: • Subject-verb agreement • Sentence structure • Conjunctions • Tenses • Articles • Prepositions • Pronouns • Singular plural • Punctuation • Spellings • Collocation of words • Modals • Capitalization

Why should I take this course?

With the global business world relying on high speed messages to make desicions, people want immediate and accurate replies. This three day course helps you brush up your grammar, punctuation and writing style that will make your writing clear and succinct.

What is the course structure?

1. An online pre assessment will gauge your proficiency in writing skills. 2. During the training you are assigned exercises that help you practice what you learn in the training. 3. At the end of the course, you take a post assessment that will help you assess your improvement in writing after the training.

What will I learn?

• write with increased confidence to both internal and external clients • use correct punctuation and grammar • eliminate common errors in writing • display an understanding of effective business communication • write well structured messages that donʼt confuse the reader • write in a professional language that appeals to a global audience

What are the course contents?

Grammar for everyone.

Review the rules of grammar Avoiding the pitfalls of incorrect punctuation

Building clarity in writing

Structuring your writing to add clarity to your writing Cutting out unnecessary words and phrases Writing with the reader in mind The end result – is it clear, accurate, professional? Meaningful subject lines Ending with action points

Using a professional tone and style

Using words and phrases that have a global acceptance Avoiding negative words Building a professional style

This course helps you to plan your writing, perfect your grammar, and assess your style and tone to write professionally.

1. You begin with an online pre assessment that helps you understand your email writing skills. 2. During the training you are assigned online exercises that help you practice what you learn in the training. 3. After the training you are assigned a coach who reviews your emails and provides feedback that helps you apply the newly-learnt skills. 4. At the end of coaching, you take a post assessment that will help you assess the improvement in writing after the training.

Most of the course is delivered online with few classroom sessions. Based on your learning needs, the duration can be customised.

• plan the structure of your emails for better readability and comprehension • overcome the ‘blank screen’ syndrome and reduce the time it takes to write • write keeping the reader’s needs in mind • apply tips that help you build a tone and style appropriate to the reader • avoid common mistakes that have a negative impact on your professional image

Pre writing process

Mind Map Planning the structure of the email Organisation that makes your writing easy to understand

Basics of Professional Writing

Eliminating grammar errors and punctuation faux pas

Knowing why you are writing

Writing meaningful subject lines Tailoring the message to the reader’s needs Is the reader clear as to WHY you are writing? How can you professionally – deal with complaints – give information – get a result – persuade the reader

Perfecting the tone

Is my style appropriate to the situation and reader? Writing effective opening lines Action points that get you results

This one day course is important to achieve a successful working relationship with your team members.

1. A pre course questionnaire on how feedback is given by the participants, and the expected behaviours to be displayed after the course are captured to make the training relevant.

• define feedback and when it should be used • deliver appropriate feedback to your team members • give feedback to help you build on your team members strengths • create a conducive environment for feedback

Building Blocks of Effective Feedback

What is effective feedback? When to deliver feedback? The benefits of feedback Defining feedback – the difference between praise and feedback Constructive feedback to develop individuals Instant feedback vs formal feedback

Preparing for the meeting

Preparing for the feedback meeting Setting SMART objectives to ensure action

Feedback process

Remaining assertive Listening to the receiverʼs feedback Remaining calm and not becoming emotional or aggressive during feedback

Personal Development

Preparing an Action Plan for use in the workplace

You need to influence your team in many ways and persuade them to achieve what you expect. This course will help you to approach every communication as one that is result oriented.

1. You will receive a pre course questionnaire that will help you set the context of the course and the information you provide will help us understand how you plan to use the skills from this workshop. 2. The training is instructor led with role plays and scenarios for practice.

• practice and apply the principles of influencing skills • steer communication towards building rapport • practice and apply the principles of negotiation

Preparing for a meeting

Expressing your views, ideas and requests with confidence Listening for unstated needs Using assertive communication The laws of reciprocation

Negotiation tips and techniques

Tips and techniques of negotiations Pre-negotiation – preparation and planning Summarising for a win-win result

Preparing a Personal Action Plan to support your return to the workplace.

Most meetings end with no action plans. How does one avoid this? This course helps you make your meeting time effective. This course can be customised for tele meetings.

This four hours course is instructor led with simulations that teach you practical techniques to make business meetings effective.

• structure and conduct meetings to achieve objectives • create an environment that is conducive for participants to contribute • assign roles and keep to time • deal with difficult situations or members.

Setting the objective of the meeting Preparing the agenda Structuring the various phases of the meeting Identifying clearly the roles and responsibilities of the chairperson Adopting the appropriate tone and structure

Leading the Meeting

Assigning meeting roles Establishing the relevance and pertinence, time and duration Techniques to lead and involve the team in the meeting

Conducting the Meeting

How to make interaction easy Handling difficult attendees Taking control of time and distractions Encouraging participation from all attendees

Communicating Effectively

Questioning and listening techniques Identifying the key message and the needs of the audience Handling misunderstandings Maintaining assertiveness

Concluding the Meeting

Following effective reviews Mastering summarising techniques

As a professional you come across many tricky situations that, if not handled well, can change the relationship. When you are prepared, you handle it with élan.

This six hours course is instructor led with plenty of role plays and interactive exercises that make learning fun.

• be prepared for unexpected situations in the corporate scenario • present yourself as a professional • manage your image and respond with confidence • be sensitive to others while interacting professionally

Making a great first impression

Presenting yourself as a professional Perfecting the handshake Handling introductions Compliments – when and how Small talk and networking Conversation killers Telephone and email etiquette

Building a Professional Image

• The dos and donʼts in dressing • Clothes and corporate culture • Packaging oneself

Cross Cultural Challenges

• Handling cultural differences in the business arena • Quick tips to handle challenging situations

This workshop will help you plan, prepare, practice and deliver presentations with greater confidence and control.

1. You come prepared with a five minute presentation that you will present to the class. 2. You are evaluated on your presentation skills by the facilitator. 3. The facilitator takes you through the session on presentation skills. 4. You present the second time incorporating the learning from the session. 5. You receive feedback on the second presentation and review the difference in both the presentations.

• plan and prepare your presentation more effectively • keep your audience engaged • handle difficult situations with confidence • interact with the audience, taking questions and feedback

Meeting the needs of the audience Aims and objectives – focussing on the audience Preparing your content and delivery notes Practising your delivery and timing

Building Confidence

Confidence and its effect on the audience Relaxation techniques to ease anxiety

Delivery Skills

An evaluation of your body language and image Positive language and appropriate gestures Connect and interact with your audience Using your voice effectively Use effective and appropriate visual aids

Formulating a personal action plan

This course helps you write proposals that gets the readerʼs attention and sets him thinking on what you are proposing.

1. A pre course questionnaire to understand your expectations from the course. 2. A review of the proposals you write by our facilitator will be followed by a classroom session and coaching.

• write with the objective in mind • create proposals that speak benefits • make your writing engaging, informative and creative • make your proposal visually appealing

Understanding the clientʼs business and organization structure Understanding the audienceʼs needs Articulating the objective of the proposal

Planning the structure Organizing the content

Putting it together

Writing the benefit statement Providing relevant information Creating the visual appeal

This one day course helps you plan, structure and write reports by taking you through practical exercises and discussions.

1. A facilitator-led classroom program that gives you plenty of opportunity to write and seek feedback. 2. Participants share a sample of the reports with the facilitator before the training to ensure the learning is personalised to each participantsʼ needs.

• plan, structure and organise your report • create a cohesiveness by building transitions in the structure • write with the objective of the report in mind • the overall design element

Planning the structure Sequencing the report

Adopting a professional style

Use expressions that connect you with the reader Adopt a style that fits in with the objective of the report

What are the components of a report?

The beginning, middle and end

Creating visual appeal

Create visuals to enhance the appeal of your document

This program is all about how you communicate with others. A one-on-one coaching program that takes stock of what results you want to achieve, and together we work towards achieving them.

1. We begin with an evaluation of your writing needs and an assessment to gauge your writing skills. 2. A coach is assigned to review your emails and give you feedback that helps you put into practice tips and techniques of power writing. 3. At the end of the course, you evaluate your writing skills and develop an action plan.

•   develop an online image that is professional •   write and respond with confidence to a variety of situations

Techniques of power writing

Understanding the audienceʼs psyche Writing to the situation Controlling emotional triggers by identifying unconscious messages

Better Communication Tips

How do you want others to see you? Conveying the message right Creating a resonance and collaboration – no matter what

Working Confidently

Giving feedback Assertive yet collaborative Responding to customer demands and complaints