Assignment:
Locate an article about a workplace issue (there are lots online or you may look at a journal in your field...even the newspaper can give some. Just look at the business news. Examine the problem, then create a "writing scenario."
How to create a scenario:
You will assume a role, (or several) identify an audience, and then generate one letter, one memo, and one email that addresses aspects of the workplace issue. For example, if you locate an article about a product recall, develop an adjustment letter to customers, a memo to employees about how to respond to customers, and an email responding to a complaint about the recall. Or, you can be the boss writing an email directive to employees about maintaining company standards. Be creative!
This assignment will let you use your imagination to its fullest [Symbol] I'd like you to explore as many kinds of correspondence as you can, for example, a claim letter, an adjustment email, and a "bad news" memo. will provide examples of the different kinds of communication.
The assignment will consist of 3 parts:
1. The article and the writing scenario that you create about the issue. Include a link to the article, and write out a brief explanation of the scenario you have created to go with the article.
2. The 3 examples of correspondence as listed above.
3. A one page response following the guidelines for writing a response to an assignment.
Just to clarify: once you choose an article, identify your audience and the write 1 letter, 1 memo and 1 email that addresses a particular workplace issue. Each of those 3 items will all be addressed to the same person (Customers, Employees, etc). Then you will also submit a 1 page response, following the guidelines I have included under "How to Write an Effective Reflection" -- Which is below. So that will be 4 separate items.
How to Write an Effective Reflection
Every writing assignment you complete for this class requires you to write a one page (minimum) reflection in which you relate the rhetorical decisions you made in the creation of the document. The following guidelines should help you develop the reflection. Discuss them in memo format if you wish, and the use of bulleted or numbered items is appropriate. Not all items will pertain to all assignments...your job is to carefully analyze your own problem solving thinking and writing.
- What is the topic or subject of the document?
- What is the purpose of the document? What "problem" is it going to solve or address?
- What is the rhetorical problem?
- Who are your readers, both known and unknown? Is this internal or external? What is the knowledge or interest level of your readers? If you know or don't know, how have you adjusted your style or tone?
- How have you adjusted your tone or style of writing to acknowledge the professional relationship you have with your readers? (Boss, client, guys down the hall, above you or beneath you, complete strangers?)
- Why are you writing? Why is the document required? WHO CARES????
- What do your readers need to know?
- What do you want the readers to do?
- What are some of the ethical considerations you explored as you created this document? What about liability issues?
- Why did you choose the particular format for the document...or why is the assigned format suitable for the document you created?
- What is your plan for distributing this document? Why?
- What are your information sources?
- What information do you need to locate?
- How will visuals help this document address the problem?
- What have you done to make sure all the material in your document is relevant to your purpose?
- Have you correctly cited all of the sources you consulted in the creation of this document?
- How did you make sure your writing was concise, accurate, clear, readable, usable, and correct?
Be specific in examining each of these areas. How will your document make a good impression on the reader?