ENGL 230: Writing for Business & Technology
Bad News 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 15% of your final grade, and it is due on Tuesday, November 28th at the beginning of class.
Choose one of the following exercises from the book:
Ex. 11.18 p. 370
Ex. 11.20 p. 371
Ex. 11.30 p. 375
These are all Damage Control: Dealing with Disappointed Customers, which is covered in the chapter on pp. 351-353.
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 indirect pattern
Keep your sentences concise, but include all the necessary information.
Begin with a buffer to reduce shock or pain
Give the reasons cautiously, emphasizing reader benefits when plausible, and using positive words
Cushion the bad news
Closing should be positive and forward-looking
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 has excellent clarity AND promotes acceptance well |
Letter has clarity AND promotes acceptance |
Letter has clarity OR promotes acceptance |
Letter does not have clarity or promote acceptance |
|
|
Letter leaves reader with positive image of company |
Letter somewhat leaves reader with positive image of company |
Letter barely leaves reader with positive image of company |
Letter does not leave reader with positive image of company |
|
|
Indirect pattern is used well |
Indirect pattern is used |
Indirect pattern is not used well |
Indirect pattern is not used |
|
|
Buffer in opening greatly reduces shock or pain |
Buffer in opening reduces shock or pain |
Little attempt at including a buffer in the opening |
No buffer in opening |
|
|
Reasons are explained well, cautiously, and positively |
Reasons are explained cautiously and positively |
Reasons are explained, but not fully |
Reasons are not explained |
|
|
Bad news is cushioned well |
Bad news is cushioned |
Bad news is barely cushioned |
Bad news is not cushioned at all |
|
|
Closing is positive and forward-looking |
Closing is positive OR forward-looking |
Closing is positive |
Closing is not positive |
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||