Title: Letter on Improving Online Writing
Course: Canvas Practice Course > Section: August 2nd Business Communications

Letter Assignments

Purpose:

Business letters are used to communicate with customers, vendors, or other business associates outside of an individual business.  Much outside communication is done by email.  However, often in business, it is necessary and/or prudent to have a written record of communication in a more formal format that an email, even if that letter is sent as an email attachment.

Role and Audience:

For all letter assignments, your role is that of an employee working in web design.

The Assignments:

a.  Letter on Resume Objective:

Write a letter to a customer/client who you know is currently in the process of hiring new employees.  Explain how a targeted/tailored resume objective and one that explains what the prospective employee can do for the company is one portion of resume review that the client/customer must focus on.  What positive messages are sent with a resume that has a targeted/tailored objective?  What negative messages are sent with a resume that has a generic objective?  What positive messages are sent by with a resume with an objective that focuses on what the prospective employee can offer the company? What negative messages are sent by with a resume with an objective that focuses on what the prospective employee expects to receive from the company?

b.  Letter on Numbering Consistency:

Write to a customer/client for your company’s web design services explaining how the use of consistent numbering conventions in a website is essential to keeping the audience’s attention.  Explain how the use of inconsistent numbering may be confusing to website visitors and may lead to their seeking a different online site for the services/information they seek.  Include examples of both inconsistent numbering and consistent numbering to illustrate the points in your letter. You may use examples from actual websites including their url.

c.  Letter on Improving Online Writing:

On page 287 of your Yahoo! Text five suggestions are listed to improve your online writing:  clear out deadwood; start strong, stay strong; replace superfluous phrases; cut the clichés; and junk the jargon.  Select one of these suggestions.  Write to a customer/client for your company’s web design services explaining how the suggestion you selected to improve online writing indeed does make meaning clearer and serve to increase visitor retention.  Give examples of both poor online writing, using the suggestion you selected, and demonstrate how when corrected, the writing improves the effectiveness of the website.  You may use examples from actual websites including their url.

d.  Letter on Avoiding Bias in Writing:

See page 76 of your Yahoo! text.  Seven principles for avoiding bias in your writing are listed.  Select one point.  Write to a customer/client for your company’s web design services explaining the importance of adhering to the principle you selected in order to make the website politically and ethically acceptable for all members of its audience.  Give examples of biased writing and unbiased writing using the point you selected.  You may use examples from actual websites including their url.

Format:  Use your letterhead template format for all letter assignments.  See Class Instructions for the correct format.

Evaluation Criteria:

I will evaluate your writing based on thoroughness and correctness of content and correct usage of Standard American English.  Please see the Rubric for Written Assignments on page 3 of the course syllabus.

Outside Resources:

I encourage you to visit the Tutoring and Learning Center for help with your writing.  I also welcome questions or concerns.  Per the syllabus, you may contact me any day, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by email or telephone.