ENGL 230: Writing for Business & Technology
Routine Letter Assignment
Course Outcomes
Analyze situations, audiences, and desired goals to determine the written format appropriate to the purpose of the message.
Produce clear and concise computer-generated letters, memos, reports, and proposals.
Create written communications that promote positive interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, and/or international relations.
This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade, and it is due on Tuesday, June 26th.
Choose one of the following exercises from the book:
Ex. 9.29 p. 293-4
Ex. 9.30 p. 294
Ex. 9.31 p. 294
Ex. 9.32 p. 294
You will submit your response as a block letter. All formatting and style conventions must be followed. See p. 258 in the book (Figure 9.3) for letter formatting tips.
Try to keep the following in mind:
Use the direct pattern
Keep your sentences concise, but include all the necessary information.
Opening should contain good news
Try to rectify the wrong, regain customer confidence, and promote further business
Emphasize the “you” view and reader benefits
Avoid placing blame
Closing should be positive and promote goodwill
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
See the grading rubric on the back for more information, and please ask if you have any questions.
A 9 – 10 pts | B 8 – 8.9 pts | C 7 – 7.9 pts | F 6-6.9 pts | Total |
Content is concise, and all necessary information is included. | Content is somewhat concise and most of the necessary information is included. | Content is not concise OR much of the necessary information is missing. | Content is not concise AND much of the necessary information is missing. | |
Letter serves to rectify the wrong | Letter makes some effort to rectify the wrong | Letter makes little effort to rectify the wrong | Letter makes no effort to rectify the wrong | |
Letter serves to regain customer confidence | Letter makes some effort to regain customer confidence | Letter makes little effort to regain customer confidence | Letter makes no effort to regain customer confidence | |
Letter serves to promote further business | Letter makes some effort to promote further business | Letter makes little effort to promote further business | Letter makes no effort to promote further business | |
Opening is direct, concise, and contains good news | Opening is direct and contains good news | Opening is direct OR contains good news | Opening is not direct | |
Body emphasizes “you” view and reader benefits | Body somewhat emphasizes “you” view and reader benefits | Body barely emphasizes “you” view and reader benefits | Body does not emphasize “you” view and reader benefits | |
Body explains reasons for adjustment with goodwill tone | Body somewhat explains reasons for adjustment with goodwill tone | Body explains reasons for adjustment | Body does not explain reasons for adjustment | |
Closing is appropriate and positive | Closing is positive | Closing is present | No closing is present | |
No major formatting errors | Few (1-2) major formatting errors | Major formatting errors that distract from message | Many major formatting errors, making message unclear or incomprehensible | |
No major spelling or grammatical errors | Few (1-2) major spelling or grammatical errors | Major spelling or grammatical errors that distract from message | Many major spelling or grammatical errors, making message unclear or incomprehensible | |
Total | ||||