Executive Summary blog entry

By Thursday, November 18 (before your conference), blog the Executive Summary of your Final Report. (If you don't know what an executive summary is, then you should start attending class).

Proposal Blog Assignment

Proposal Blog Assignment

As soon as possible, write the proposal section of your proposal and post it here. (We'll discuss what goes in the proposal section in class.)

Fundraising letter

Class writing assignment (blog assignment is below):

16.22 on p. 518 of the text

Due dates See syllabus.

One change in the assignment: I expect that you will write the letter about a group you actually support. If you support no group, pick an Ohio Wesleyan organization or event to raise money for. In fact, generally speaking, you should think "OWU organization" when you are writing the letter.

I will contribute $50 to the organization represented by the best letter in the two classes -- no kidding.

Blog assignment:

By Wednesday's class, reflect on the effectiveness of the "Gorilla Letter," which I handed out in class on Friday. Here are some prompts to get you going.

1. Who are the audiences for the letter?

2. What techniques does Penny Patterson use to manipulate (yes, manipulate) those audiences into donating to her cause?

3. Just who is Penny Patterson, anyway? What ethos does she project?

4. Are the above techniques effective? (Obviously, they are. This fundraising campaign is one of the most successful in history. However, the letter does have more than a few failings.)

5. Just what, exactly, makes them effective.

Do this blog assignment, folks. The last assignment had six participants. I will not look favorably on your fundraising letter unless you respond to this blog assignment.

By Wednesday's class, reflect on the "playhouse" letter I supplied in class. Based on the advice given in the text and in class, what are the strengths of the letter? What are its weaknesses?

You don't have to blog it, but also take a look at Ex. 5.2 in the text and please come prepared to discuss it, as well.

Assignment #3 and reading associated w/ in-class discussions.

Assignment #3 and reading associated w/ in-class discussions:

Type: Good-news communication

Format: Standard business memo (get it right)

Due dates: See syllabus. Note that the memo is due twice, first as a draft for in-class, peer revision and then as a final version for evaluation.

Length: At least one full page (more if you wish).

Assignment: One of the following on pp. 427 - 29: 14.15, 14.16, or 14.18.

Discussion assignments:

For Wednesday, read and prepare to discuss 14.4 on pp. 422ff. Note that this assignment is also a blog assignment.

For Friday, read and prepare to discuss 3.12 on p. 83 and 3.13 on p. 84. It's not a blog assignment, but do it anyway.

Giving good news

Take a look at 14.4 on pp. 422ff in the text. Which one do you think is best? Which one is worst? In both cases, why? In general, comment on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the various attempts. Be prepared to discuss these examples in class on Wednesday.

Class concerns and questions

Please feel free to post any class concerns and questions here. Please feel free to respond to the concerns and questions of others.

Future career

Please feel free to use this post to reflect on problems and issues associated with your future career.

The job search

Your second assignment is to write a letter of application and resume for a specific job that you will have to find and research. Preliminarily, you must assess your strengths and weaknesses and decide how they match your chosen professional field.

Thus, ASAP please briefly answer the following questions about yourself by responding to this post:

1. What are the specific needs of the job I am applying for? What is the "corporate culture" of the company I am applying to? (You'll have to pick a job and research the company.)

2. Am I right for the job at hand? Do I satisfy the their needs? Am I the right person for their corporate culture? (Notice that the questions do NOT ask whether the job is right for you. That question is irrelevant to the people who will make decisions about you.) What are my strengths and weaknesses with regard to the search for a job? In other words, what do I know, what do I know how to do, and what do I need to learn and learn to do before I leave old OWU.

The questions are somewhat personal, but you'll gain some benefit from seeing how others respond. Feel free to go back and edit your answers once you have seen what others have to say.

Remember, the questions are designed to help you in the job search. I won't be grading the grammar or content (unless I see a distinct lack of effort or no post at all).

Have fun. Think hard. Treat the letter/ resume assignment like the real thing because it IS the real thing.

Tom Burns