business writing
Paper details
The objective of this examination is to give you an opportunity to effectively
apply (1) the writing process as covered by all six study units and
(2) the formats presented in this study unit. To do this, you’ll produce
the following three types of business writing using standard written conventions
for American English. You’ll create all of these items in Word,
without the use of templates or email programs, and submit the three
required items in ONE document:
One business letter
One interoffice memorandum
One email
Background
Assume that you’ve worked for the last five years as an administrative
assistant for the Human Resources Department of Broadworth General
Hospital. The Director of Human Resources, Miriam Hopkins, has charged
¦
you with organizing a two-hour training seminar to be attended by the
hospital’s 20 office supervisors. The seminar should cover sexual harassment
and unlawful discrimination in the workplace.
For the last 20 years, the hospital has contracted all training through the
nationally acclaimed Wydade Consulting Services. Jeremy Dittmer,
employee relations specialist, is manager of the local branch of Wydade.
He requires a three-month advance notice regarding any training
Broadworth needs so he can supply an appropriate trainer and any
materials that may be required. This is the first time you’ve dealt
directly with Mr. Dittmer.
You must also make all necessary arrangements for the seminar, including
time, date, a room at the hospital for training, any resources the
trainer needs, any materials those who attend might need, and light
refreshments for a 15-minute break.
Process
Adhere to the following outlined process when writing your exam.
Planning
1. Brainstorm to create the necessary details you’ll need to include your letter,
memo and email; for example, the mailing addresses for the hospital
and consulting firm, the dates, the kinds of training materials, the seminar
schedule, and so on.
Drafting
2. Using either full block or modified block, draft a letter to Mr. Dittmer to
set up the seminar. Your letter must have at least two paragraphs and at
¦
least eight complete sentences. Include the following items in your letter:
a. Thanks for the company’s reliable support
b. An explanation of the training need and any special topics to cover
c. A request for a trainer to teach the seminar
d. A request for a list of resources the trainer will need
3. Draft an interoffice memorandum to Miriam Hopkins, the Director of
Human Resources:
a. Assume that you’ve received confirmation from Jeremy Dittmer for the
date, time, and materials needed. The trainer he has assigned is Deb
Walker (email: Deb.Walker@wydadecs.com).
b. Outline the arrangements you’ve made, providing explanations as
needed. Your goal is to assure her that you’ve covered all of the
details.
c. Invent any additional details as needed.
4. Using your word processing program, draft an email of at least four complete
sentences to Deb Walker, the designated trainer:
a. Confirm the arrangements for the seminar, providing only the information
she needs to arrive at the right place at the right time.
b. Copy both Mr. Dittmer (Jeremy.Dittmer@wydadecs.com) and Ms.
Hopkins (m_hopkins@BroadworthGH.org).
c. Create an appropriate email business address for yourself and include
it after the signature block.
5. Set all three items aside for at least 24 hours.
Revising
6. Review the letter, memo, and email as you answer the following questions:
a. Have I applied the revision, editing, and proofreading strategies
taught in this and previous units?
b. Do my letter, memo, and email include an appropriate beginning,
middle, and end?
c. Have I used the formats shown in the study unit for each type of
correspondence?
d. Have I included all of the necessary parts, like company letterhead,
a simulated signature in the letter in italics or a script font, a heading
for the memo, To/Cc/Subject lines for the email, and so on?
d. Have I used either the full block or modified block format for the letter?
7. Make sure your work matches the evaluation criteria below.
8. Edit and proofread your work at least one more time before submitting
¦
it for evaluation. Use your computer’s grammar and spell checks cautiously.
Not everything the computer suggests is correct, particularly
for the purpose and audience.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The school will use the following criteria to evaluate your two paragraphs.
Be sure you’ve revised and edited your work after reviewing these guidelines.
Content and Development (50 points)
The student has effectively combined information from the background
material with insightful details of his/her own to communicate to the
designated audience for the required purpose. Those details are knitted
together with reasonable, concise explanations. If the student used
bullet points as an organization tool, he/she has provided a sufficient
introduction to make the purpose and information of the list clear.
The student has developed the main idea of each paragraph in a logical
direction. Each paragraph flows naturally into the next without blurring
the main ideas. Details fit naturally where placed. The student effectively
used connective wording to weave information and explanations
into a cohesive whole.
Letter: 20 points
Memo: 20 points
Email: 10 points
Voice and Word Choice (15 points)
The student’s letter, memo, and email maintain a single point of view with
appropriate pronouns and verbs in active voice. The student used a formal
tone in my communications with Mr. Dittmer and the trainer. The
student’s tone and voice give an engaging flavor to the message; they’re
appropriate for both the audience and purpose.
Each word works smoothly with the other words to convey the intended
message in a precise, appealing, and original way. The words the student
has chosen are specific, accurate, and energetic. The student didn’t use
slang, cliches, or jargon.
Letter: 5 points
Memo: 5 points
Email: 5 points
Conventions and Sentence Fluency (15 points)
The student has demonstrated a skillful grasp of standard writing conventions
for American English, using correct grammar, usage, punctuation,
capitalization, and spelling. The student’s sentences are well written with
varied length, type, and structure to give each paragraph a sense of controlled
yet graceful movement. When read aloud, the student’s writing
exhibits a natural, pleasant rhythm.
Letter: 5 points
Memo: 5 points
Email: 5 points
Format (20 points)
I’ve correctly applied the formats shown in the study unit for a letter,
memo, and email, along with the standard formatting requirements for
the course.
Letter: 5 points
Memo: 5 points
Email: 5 points
Header and general format: 5 points
APPLY FOR THIS CASE
