Professor Writing

BCO113 WRITING COMMUNICATION SKILLS   Makeup Task brief & Memorandum and Email Rubrics
 
Midterm Task:  Memorandum and Formal Emails

• This is an individual writing task.
• You must complete 2 Business documents.
• • 1 Memorandum
  • 1 Persuasive Email

 

• Your documents must follow standard Memorandum and formal Email format as discussed in class.
• You must upload your document via Turnitin in pdf format.

Formalities:

• Word count: Each individual task is allocated a specific word count.
• Font: Arial 12 pts.
• Text alignment: Justified.

Submission: Week __ – ________ at 23:59 CEST – Via Moodle (Turnitin)
Weight: This task is a ____% of your total grade for this subject.
 
It assesses the following learning outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Demonstrate familiarity with different writing formats in business and apply this in practice.
• Outcome 2: Illustrate the awareness of how to apply principles of instructive, persuasive, and informative writing.

 
Memorandum 300 Word Count
TASK 1
 
Read the scenario below. You are the Managing Director of a company. Write a MEMO informing and requesting confirmation from each employee about a required attendance company retreat. Remember to put your points in topic groups and logical order.
 

• • Your message should be in standard memo format, as per class introduction.
  • You should apply the direct style of writing.
  • You should use positive language and build goodwill. Begin with a short introduction thanking the employees for the past year.

 
Memo Company Picnic
Write a memo informing the employees about the required attendance to the retreat. (Decide where it will be held) As the Managing Director of a small
company, you are organizing different activities as well as providing food and drinks in two weeks from the date of this memo, the retreat is for your employees
only. There are many fun activities that you have planned. Briefly list your ideas for the day starting at 09:00 and ending 17:00. For example, sports, card games,
team building, etc. There will be prizes for the winners of some of the events.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon and an afternoon snack later in the day (set a time and explain what will be served).
Also ask your employees to let you know at least one week in advance whether they a will drive their own vehicle or will they ride on the company bus.
(Explain where and when the bus will depart to the event)
 
Persuasive Email Word count 700
Task 2
Read the scenario below. Imagine you are the head of the School Cafeteria. Write an Email to the Superintendent Ms. Jackson asking for heathier food choices and extra gym access for the students.
 

• • Your message should be in formal Email format, as per class introduction.
  • You should apply the indirect style of writing.
  • You should use positive language and build goodwill.

 
Persuasive Email
At school, there is very little healthy food to eat in the cafeteria, and you would like that to change. Write an email to your Superintendent Ms. Jackson, asking
for a larger variety of healthy alternatives to the junk food that is currently available (be specific). You would also like to ask her to agree to give each
student more access to the school gym and cardio machines.  Cite a recent study(s) or survey(s) that states that healthy students are more productive, and show
that the students would be healthier and perform better. Mention the name of the survey or study in your email.
Use the AIDA strategy. Do not forget to reduce resistance.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rubric Memorandum Task 1

	Exceptional 100-90	Good 89-80	Fair 79-70	Marginal 69-60	Fail 10 pts
Content and structure   30%	Memo clearly states the purpose Appropriate explanations or facts used to support the main idea Easy to follow Tone is appropriate for intended audience Very good use of indirect vs. direct writing pattern	Memo clearly states the purpose Some explanations or facts used to support the main idea Somewhat hard to follow Tone is generally appropriate for intended audience Correct use of indirect vs. direct pattern	Purpose of memo is unclear More explanations or facts need to be used to support the main idea Hard to follow Tone is too formal or too informal for intended audience Too direct or indirect	Purpose of memo is unclear Main idea is not supported by explanations or facts Memo rambles; hard to follow or understand Tone is inappropriate for intended audience Incorrect choice of pattern	Purpose of the memo missing Unclear structure, hard to follow Inappropriate tone and use of language Difficult to understanding the patter choice
Understanding the format   25%	Accurately uses correct memorandum format (heading, greeting, introduction, body, closure, signature, enclosure, and copy)	Mostly uses correct memorandum format (heading, greeting, introduction, body, closure, signature, enclosure, and copy)	Some noticeable errors in use of correct memorandum format (heading, greeting, introduction, body, closure, signature, enclosure, and copy)	Several noticeable errors in use of correct memorandum format (heading, greeting, introduction, body, closure, signature, enclosure, and copy)	Inadequate demonstration of understanding of memo format
Language Usage   25%	Accurate use of punctuation and grammar. Positive language and forward-looking tone. No spelling errors	One or two mistakes with punctuation or grammar. Language majorly positive, appropriate tone. One or two spelling errors	More than two mistakes in punctuation or grammar. Somewhat positive language. More than two spelling errors	Incorrect use throughout the memo of punctuation or grammar. Majorly negative tone and language. Frequent spelling errors distract from memo	Many spelling, punctuation an grammar errors. Rude tone and very negative language.
Appearance 20%	Correct spacing, font, and format used	Few problems in spacing, font, or format	Frequent problems in spacing, font, or format	Marginally incorrect use of format and hard to read	Wrong format used and hard to read

 

Rubric Email Task 2

	Exceptional 100-90	Good 89-80	Fair 79-70	Marginal 69-60	Fail 10 pts
Understanding of the format and structure required in business writing 30%	The student demonstrates superior knowledge and understanding of the business writing format All elements (subject line, greetings, and professional email address) are present and adequate.	The student demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the business writing format. All elements (greeting, subject line, and address) are present and adequate to a certain extent.	The student demonstrates  fair knowledge and some understanding of some elements of the business writing format Some elements (greeting, subject line or address) are inappropriate	The student demonstrates  marginally inadequate understanding of all elements of the business writing format Several or all elements (greeting, subject line, and address) are lacking or inappropriate	The student demonstrates  inadequate understanding of all elements of the business writing format All the elements (greeting, subject line, and address) are lacking and inappropriate
Explanation and description of purpose 25%	Clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose Length is adequate to the message.	Quite clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose. Length is adequate to the message	Fairly clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose Length is adequate to the message.	Description and explanation of purpose is unclear. Length inadequate-too short or too long	Description and explanation of purpose are lacking or incomplete. Length is inadequate- too short or too long.
Understanding of mechanics  of written language 25%	Superior understanding of mechanics of written language. Adequate word forms.	Good understanding of mechanics of written language Adequate word forms.	Fair understanding of mechanics of written language Mostly adequate word forms.	Marginally inadequate understanding of mechanics of written language Inadequate word forms (use of abbreviations)	Failure to understand mechanics of written language. Inadequate word forms (use of abbreviations)
Demonstrates familiarity with context of the writing exercise. 20%	Clearly and adequately identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language	Adequately identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language	Identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language most of the time	Fails to identify the context by choosing inadequate tone and language	Tone and choice language are highly inadequate to the context.