Q OBJECTIVES • Examine audiences and develop strategies for addressing them (CLO 2) • Construct accurate, effective presentations, visuals, and documents (CLO 3) • Effectively compose written ideas in standard, grammatically-correct, formal English, with no lapses in usage, mechanics, and spelling (CLO 4) • Utilize and document library and information resources (CLO 6) ASSIGNMENT Students will identify one weakness or need in their current workplace or, if that is not available, on their college campus. They will then compare and contrast two products or services to fill that weakness or need and write an email to their boss or campus director respectfully explaining the problem and suggesting the most appropriate solution. The weakness and/or need identified and products or services recommended should be realistic and well-thought-out. Students will need to create any and all necessary details to effectively complete all parts of the project. This business proposal must be internal; that is, you will address it to the management of your company or to the campus director for a product, equipment, or branding change or addition. Options for an internal business proposal might include (but are not limited to): • o ? a uniform or protective equipment addition or change ? a product brand change ? adding new or updated equipment ? the addition of an amenity (such as a vending machine or water fountain) Example of a good topic: • o ? Weakness: Sister's Restaurant should invest in new slip-resistant shoes for all waitstaff. ? This weakness allows for comparison of two (or more) specific shoe brands. The writer could choose to compare cost, comfort, availability, shipping times, warranties, customer service from each shoe company, etc. -- there are many criteria that could be researched and discussed. Example of a bad topic: • o ? Weakness: Sister's Restaurant management needs to improve its treatment of all waitstaff. ? While, perhaps, this is a "weakness" of the company, there are no products or services to be researched or compared/contrasted. Buying new equipment, for example, would not fix this problem. ? This topic also does not consider the target audience. Management, the group be "complained" about, is the very audience intended read the proposal. These readers may find the topic and suggestions unnecessary, leading to inaction at best, or offensive, leading to retaliation at worst. Part 1—Comparison/Contrast Report: • Assignment: Students will construct a report of 1-2 pages, not including the References page, comparing and contrasting two products or services that meet a need in your current job or college environment. You may choose to compare and contrast a product or service currently used by the company with similar products or services, or you may choose to identify a need within the company and compare/contrast products or services that will fulfill this need. You should consider at least three criteria in your comparison and contrast: quality, service, pricing, availability, and/or any other pertinent details. Be sure to avoid gaps in information or incomplete comparisons, which will result in lost points. • Outline: o Summary/Indication of Need (1 par.): ? Identifies the weakness or need in the workplace/college with clear explanation of what is currently in use (or what is currently missing) and why the weakness or need should be addressed. o Point-by-point comparison and contrast of at least three clearly identified criteria (at least 3 par.) ? One paragraph required per identified criterion (example: one paragraph to compare/contrast quality of each identified solution, one paragraph to compare/contrast service, and one paragraph to compare/contrast pricing) ? Each paragraph must cite source information. At least one source per product is required. ? Example: If you tell your reader that the product costs $29.95, you must cite this information according to APA standards, giving credit to the source and letting your readers know where you found it. ? These sources must be cited according to APA standards in the body of your report AND included on a References page. This reference page does not count toward the minimum length requirement. o Evaluation (1 par.): ? Clearly identifies which product or service is preferred and explains why. o References (last page in the same document): ? Include APA entries for all sources cited in the body of the report o Additional Criteria: ? This document will be formatted using appropriate headings (level and style) and will demonstrate an awareness of page design according to block formatting. Part 2—Email: • Assignment: The student will write an email to his/her boss or campus director explaining the weakness/need identified and detailing his/her proposal to the company. o The email should briefly mention that you've conducted research to support your findings and should discuss at length only the preferred and recommended product/service. o Indicate that the comparison/contrast report (written in Part 1) is included as an attachment to the email (though you will not actually attach the report in your final draft submission). • There is no minimum length requirement here, but keep in mind that emails are "best used for fairly brief messages" and "should get to the point and conclude in three small paragraphs or less" (Business Communication for Success (Links to an external site.)) • As with all emails, this email should be polite, respectful, and written with an appropriate level of formality. o Audience awareness is key here. Be sure to avoid "flaming" in your email; that is, you must keep in mind that both you and your recipient work for and/or attend the company/college being discussed, so it is important not to "bash" the company. WRITING GUIDELINES • Reports and emails should be thoroughly proofread for errors in grammar and mechanics. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRADING • “Forgetting” your References page in the Comparison/Contrast Report will result in a zero grade for plagiarism and will be reported to the College, so please keep this in mind as you draft your project. If you would like to download a copy of this writing assignment sheet, please click HERE Download a copy of this writing assignment sheet, please click HERE. The rubrics used to grade these writing assignments are posted below: • o Business Proposal Part One: Comparison/Contrast Grading Rubric Download Business Proposal Part One: Comparison/Contrast Grading Rubric o Business Proposal Part Two: Email Grading Rubric