persuasive memo assignment 1
Communication
Persuasive Memo Assignment
Large amounts of office supplies have been disappearing from your department’s supply room for several months. It started with small items, such as pens, tape, and sticky notes. Now, staplers, calculators, and expensive poster and certificate frames are missing. You have no idea who is responsible, but the thefts appear to be happening during regular business hours. The total loss from the thefts is now more than $1,000.
Security recommends a hidden camera for the room, but the idea of “spying†on employees troubles you. You have agreed to a compromise: a security camera placed in plain view.
You believe the thefts are the work of one person and that the other 90 employees in your department are innocent. Therefore, the camera may offend people and harm employee morale.
However, the alternative is to allow the increasingly costly thefts to continue. You also want to avoid having to search employees and their belongings, which according to security is the next step if the camera fails to discourage the thief.
Write a memo to the employees in your department explaining the need for the camera.
Outline for the memo:
Paragraph 1: briefly state the topic of your proposal.
Paragraph 2: explain the company’s problem/need/opportunity, and briefly explain how your proposal addresses it.
Paragraph 3: list the types of evidence (equipment, facilities, personnel, budget, timeline, research) that your proposal will use.
grading grid
Evaluation of the Persuasive Message Memo
Memo Element |
Points |
Comments |
Organization (5 points) Uses appropriate “persuasion†pattern. |
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Format (5 points) Correct memo format, neat professional appearance.
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Tone (7 points) Professional, courteous, diplomatic, “you†attitude present.
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Mechanics (5 points) Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. |
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Content (8 points) Clear language, complete message, concise expression.
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Total points (out of 30) |