course material

1. Write a rough draft of your Persuasive Message assignment, responding
Write a rough draft of your Persuasive Message assignment, responding to the prompt
below. Upload it to this Canvas drop box by the deadline specified on Canvas. At the top of
your draft document, before your message headers, you should also include 1 – 2 sentences
identifying the kinds of errors or issues you would like your reviewers to pay special
attention to.PROMPTFor this assignment, you may either write a cover letter, craft a
persuasive proposal aimed at solving a problem at a company or organization you work or
volunteer for.OPTION 1: Apply to a JobComplete the following steps:Find a job or internship
listing to which you would like to applyCopy and paste the contents of the job ad into a
Word document along with a link to the original adProduce a persuasive cover letter
targeted at the job you choseYour cover letter should:Use formal letter formatting
(including the complete date of transmission, the recipient’s address, as well as opening and
concluding salutations)Follow class guidelines for persuasive messages and cover
lettersAdhere to all four of the 4-C style guidelinesUse block formatting to create a visually-
appealing documentConclude with tailored, personalized goodwillWhen writing this
message, channel John F. Kennedy: focus on what you can do for the company, not what
getting the job would do for you!Note: Please upload a single .doc, .docx, or .pdf file
containing both the text of the job ad you’re applying to and your cover letter.OPTION 2:
Solve a Problem at WorkSubmit a short persuasive memo in which you propose a well-
supported solution to a problem at a company or organization you work or volunteer for
(or that you have worked or volunteered for in the past). Your message should be less than
one page in length and should be addressed to someone with the ability to implement your
solution. Below are some suggested topics for your proposal. You could:Propose a plan to
decrease employee turnoverConvince your boss to adopt your plan to streamline / change a
procedurePersuade management to adopt your plan to boost employee / member
moraleArgue for your plan to promote customer satisfactionJustify a budget increase or
suggest a cost-cutting measurePromote an innovative business strategy or
procedureConvince management to start / continue with a worthwhile programAssure the
boss of the merits of a new venture or procedure they are dubious aboutYour persuasive
memo should:Use standard memo formatting (meaning it should include To, From, Date,
and Subject lines and exclude opening and concluding salutations)Have an action-oriented
subject line (that uses a polite question or command to either identify the reader’s problem
/ need or indicate the action you want the reader to take)Follow class guidelines for
persuasive messages (i.e. clearly identify a problem; state a solution; support that solution

2. with logic and, if appropriate, additional persuasive appeals; and close with a call-to-action
and tailored, personalized goodwill)Reflect best practices for document design and, if
appropriate, include graphics and/or data visualizationsAdhere to all four of the 4-C style
guidelinesAlso make sure that your memo is reader-focused. Use reader-focus to
demonstrate your authority, motivate your reader to agree with your recommendation, and
make next steps easy for your reader to take. You can accomplish these goals
by:Establishing specific, sincere common ground with your readerMaking your message
easy to read and understand by organizing it to include specific headings and well-
structured paragraphsConnecting aspects of your recommendation to your reader’s
priorities, thus showing how your ideas benefit your readerClosing with a specific action
step/call to actionNote: In addition to your memo, you may also include 2-4 sentences of
background information on your problem, company / organization, and / or audience. This
background information will not be graded nor will it count toward the one-page limit for
this assignment.Please upload a single.doc, docx, or .pdf file containing both the your
persuasive memo and your optional background information.