The exercise helps you get started on drafting professional correspondence by creating an outline for the three correspondences you will create for the Document Series Project.
You have read the Document Series Project description. Each scenario requires three correspondences. Select the scenario you would like to work with. For this exercise, you will draft an outline detailing the type and content of the three correspondences associated with the scenario you have chosen. It’s up to you to choose which type of correspondence (email/memo/letter?) is appropriate for each person in the scenario.
First, you will do a PAD analysis of the correspondence (see PART 1 below), then you will select the genre in which you want to write based on your assessment of purpose and audience (i.e., letter, email, or memo). Finally, you will draft an outline for the three responses.
The process you undertake here–beginning with the PAD analysis, selecting genre, and drafting and outline–is central to successfully completing the project.
PART I
Pre-Writing: Perform a PAD analysis (Purpose, Audience, and Design) of your chosen correspondence by answering the following questions to yourself:
• What’s your purpose? More than just the stated purpose? What’s the goal, the desired outcome?
• Who’s your audience? More than just a name, what’s their stake in the situation? How are they disposed toward your correspondence? Are they an internal or external audience? What’s the power dynamic between you? What level of formality do they expect? What tone is appropriate?
• What design will be most effective? Think about genre (i.e., letter, email, or memo). What genre is most appropriate. Think about style and format and length. Think about structure and organization. Consider the expectation of your audience and the purpose of the correspondence.
PART II
Drafting: After you have chosen the scenario and finished your PAD analysis, draft the outline and submit it here.
1. Outline ways to enacts facts (logos) and how to phrase things to hint at your credibility (ethos) and the timeliness (Kairos).
o An outline can consist of an informal list, a bubble cluster, or a formal outline (Roman numerals and all).
o An outline for this type of assignment doesn’t have to span more than a page, but it shouldn’t consist of just a few sentences.
2. It would be best to indicate which scenario you chose, number the correspondence (1, 2, 3), and label each one (email/memo/letter?), also indicating who it is for
3. Click here for an sample outline for scenario responses
4. At the top or bottom of the document, include the password for the Day 2 video lecture
As usual, make sure the submission is formatted according to MLA or APA standards (yes, not doing so correctly or not at all will impact your grade).
• How I Will Grade the Assignment (Click Here)
