Q What is it: A memo is a routine internal document created to share news. Purpose: The purpose of the business memo is to inform, primarily, but it may also have some persuasive undertones. This is a nuance of the document that is related to your understanding of rhetoric from 1101 and 1102, but it requires practice to see how information can also be used to persuade by making specific ideas primary and leaving other concerns unaddressed or under-engaged. Goals: The business memo has two goals: • To inform the individuals or groups to whom the memo goes out of a positive occurrence or event. • To generate goodwill between the author and recipient (in this instance at least). Assignment Instructions Tasks: Your business memo should address the following scenario/prompt • You business memo will be addressed to all employees at your company. It will announce a new policy of "paid time off" based on hours worked. • Prompt: Most of the employees in your company are salaried, so they do not receive overtime pay when they work beyond their scheduled hours. However, the board decided this week to institute a new policy of compensatory time off. Under this new policy, if an employee works 2 or more hours beyond the scheduled 40-hour workweek, she or he can take off the same number of hours, with pay, in the future. The employee's supervisor must approve the time off; an employee may not take the time if they are needed for an important project. This policy will be effective the first week of February 2020. It is not retroactive. Write a memo to a specific employee at your company that informs them of the new policy. Format: Business memos must be formatted in a specific manner. This information is contained in the chapter on business letters you read for this module. If you don't remember this information, consult the textbook. Length: 200-300 words (one page, single-spaced) Remember: Have fun with the assignment and begin to think about crafting an image and brand for your company through rhetoric. Word choice and style are part of creating the personality of your company and building the characterization of your company as positive in the minds of potential customers or neighbors. View Rubric GEB3213 Assignment Rubric GEB3213 Assignment Rubric Criteria Ratings Pts Rhetorical Situation view longer description 25 pts Exemplary The writing engages the correct audience, purpose, and genre for the assignment. It does so through a thoughtful analysis of the prompt and creates an expected document that conforms to genre conventions in style. 21 pts Accomplished The writing engages the correct genre, purpose, and audience. Document only conforms to most of the genre expectations. 17 pts Developing The writing is in the correct genre, but audience or purpose may be incorrect at the outset or fluctuate during the written text. Document conforms to some genre expectations, but not a majority of them. 10 pts Beginning The writing fails to meet the minimum requirements of the assignment. It does not engage the prompt through the correct genre, audience, or purpose. The document produced does not conform to genre expectations. / 25 pts Organization view longer description 25 pts Exemplary The writing flows smoothly and logically. It contains the appropriate organizational style for the assignment and shows evidence of consideration for the audience beyond expectations for level of course. 21 pts Accomplished The writing is organized logically and flows well. The organizational style may shift once in the assignment but the attempt to adhere to one style is clearly identified. Section headings are utilized when appropriate. 17 pts Developing The writing demonstrates some attempts at organization but is not consistent and needed to be revised before submission to adhere to prompt guidelines. Some section headings may be present when appropriate. 10 pts Beginning The writing is noticeably lacking in organization. Paragraphing and/or header sections may not be appropriate. / 25 pts Style view longer description 25 pts Exemplary The writing engages the reader through a prose style appropriate to the assignment. Language is precise. Conforms to the 7 Cs and proper APA style for format and citation (internal and final). 21 pts Accomplished The writing keeps the reader’s attention through a carefully crafted prose style. Language chosen is appropriate to the subject but may need further work on one or two of the 7 Cs. Often conforms to APA format and citation but may have some errors in either. 17 pts Developing The writing is clear but could be expressed in a style more appropriate to the subject. Some specific terms are not explained when necessary. Needs additional work on more than three of the 7 Cs. Adheres to some APA format and citation rules, but the citations and/or format may be incorrect more often than correct. 10 pts Beginning The writing lacks clarity and is sometimes confusing. The language chosen is not appropriate to the subject nor the assignment. Needs additional work in nearly all categories of the 7 Cs of communication as defined in the course. No evidence of attempt at engaging APA format or citation in the document. / 25 pts Mechanics view longer description 25 pts Exemplary The writing contains sentences that are nearly always complete and grammatically correct, and free of confusion and ambiguity. 21 pts Accomplished The writing contains sentences that are incomplete, or which imply unstated connections and/or conclusions. The writing may exhibit a few patterns of error, but understanding is not impeded. 17 pts Developing The writing contains some patterns of error, but the reader can understand the meaning of the sentence with some effort. There is some evidence of proofreading, editing, or rewriting. 10 pts Beginning The writing contains multiple patterns of error, and the reader cannot understand the meaning of the sentence. There is no evidence of proofreading, editing, or rewriting. / 25 pts Total Points: 0