Assignment #1
Choose one of the professional scenarios provided in Blackboard under the Course Info tab, or
click here to view them in a new window.
ENG315 Professional Scenarios 1. Saban is a top performing industrial equipment salesperson for D2D. After three years of working with his best client, he receives a text message from Pat (his direct manager) assigning him to a completely different account.
Pat has received complaints that Saban gets all of the good clients and is not a “team player.”
Saban responds to the message and asks for a meeting with Pat to discuss this change. Pat responds with another text message that reads: “Decision final. Everyone needs to get a chance to work with the best accounts so it is fair. Come by the office and pick up your new files.”
Moments later, Saban sends a text message to Karen, his regional manager and Pat’s boss. It simply reads, “We need to talk.” 2. Amber, Savannah, and Stephen work for Knowledge, Inc. (a consulting company). While on a conference call with Tim Rice Photography (an established client), the group discusses potential problems with a marketing campaign. Tim Rice, lead photographer and owner of Tim Rice Photography, is insistent the marketing is working and changes are not needed.
Amber reaches over to put Tim on “Mute” but accidently pushes a different button. She immediately says to Savannah and Stephen that the marketing campaign is not working and that “…Tim should stick to taking pretty pictures.”
Tim responds, “You know I can hear you, right?” 3. James shows up to work approximately five minutes late this morning, walks silently (but quickly) down the hallway and begins to punch in at the time clock located by the front desk.
Sarah, the front desk manager, says, "Good morning, James," but James ignores her, punches in, and heads into the shop to his workplace. Sarah rolls her eyes, picks up the phone, and dials the on-duty manager to alert her that James just arrived and should be reaching his desk any moment. 4. Paul works for the website division of SuperMega retail company. He receives an email late Friday afternoon that explains a new computer will launch at the end of next June and it will be in high demand with limited stock. Also contained in the three-page-message is that customers will be able to preorder the item 30 days before launch according to the production company. Paul is asked to create a landing page for consumers who are interested in learning more about the product.
By mistake, Paul sets up a preorder page for the product that afternoon (well in advance of the company authorized period) and late Friday evening consumers begin to preorder the product. Sharon, Vice President of Product Sales at SuperMega, learns of the error Saturday morning and calls Paul to arrange a meeting first thing Monday morning. Sharon explains to Paul on the phone that the company intends on canceling all of the preorders and Paul responds that the company should honor the preorders because it was not a consumer error. After a heated exchange, Paul hangs up on Sharon when she insists that the preorders will be canceled because of Paul’s error.
Write a Professional Email Message (in the form of Figure 5.1 on page 84 of BCOM9) from the
perspective of a character in the scenario. The email should discuss the communication issue provided
in the scenario and should be addressed to another character from the scenario.
The message should take the form of an email; however, you will submit your assignment to the online
course shell.
The professional email message must adhere to the following requirements:
1. Content:
a. Address the communication issue from the scenario.
b. Request a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue (at a specific time).
c. Concentrate on the facts of the situation and avoid using overly emotional language.
d. Assume your recipient is learning about the situation for the first time through your
communication.
2. Format:
a. Use a descriptive subject line or heading.
b. Include an appropriate and professional greeting / salutation.
c. Use email form including: To:, From:, Subject:, and Signature.
3. Clarity / Mechanics:
a. Focus on clarity, writing mechanics, and professional language/style requirements.
b. Run spell/grammar check before submitting.
4. Your assignment must:
a. This course requires use of (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses.
Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
5. Submitting your assignment:
a. Submit your assignment through the online course shell only.
6. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
a. Plan, create, and evaluate professional documents.
b. Deliver professional information to various audiences using appropriate tone, style, and format.
c. Analyze professional communication examples to assist in revision.
Unacceptable
Below 60% F
Meets Minimum
Expectations 60-
69% D
Fair 70-79% C Proficient 80-89%
B
Exemplary 90-100%
A
1. Submission
meets the
content
requirements
outlined in
assignment
details.
Points
Range:0 (0.00%) -
17.97 (17.97%)
Submission
content missing
multiple required
elements, has
multiple issues
with
development of
content, or does
not relate to the
stated
requirements.
Points
Range:18 (18.00%) -
20.97 (20.97%)
Submission missing
at least one noted
content
requirement and
has multiple issues
with development
of provided content
items.
Points
Range:21 (21.00%) -
23.97 (23.97%)
Submission is
missing at least one
requirement or has
specific development
issues with provided
content items.
Points
Range:24 (24.00%) -
26.97 (26.97%)
Submission
includes all stated
requirements and
most are well
developed.
Points
Range:27 (27.00%) -
30 (30.00%)
Submission includes
all stated
requirements and is
well developed.
2. Assignment
meets the format
requirements
outlined in
assignment
details.
Points
Range:0 (0.00%) -
14.975 (14.975%)
Assignment
makes little or no
attempt to meet
the stated format
requirements.
Points
Range:15 (15.00%) -
17.475 (17.475%)
Assignment is
missing at least two
format
requirements (or
there are major
errors as noted in
comments).
Points
Range:17.5 (17.50%) -
19.975 (19.975%)
Assignment is
missing at least one
format requirement
and/or has 4-5 minor
errors.
Points
Range:20 (20.00%) -
22.475 (22.475%)
Assignment
includes all stated
format
requirements and
has 2-3 minor
errors.
Points
Range:22.5 (22.50%) -
25 (25.00%)
Assignment includes
all stated format
requirements and
has 0-1 minor errors.
Unacceptable
Below 60% F
Meets Minimum
Expectations 60-
69% D
Fair 70-79% C Proficient 80-89%
B
Exemplary 90-100%
A
3. Audience,
Purpose, and
Overall
Effectiveness of
the Professional
Email Message.
Points
Range:0 (0.00%) -
17.97 (17.97%)
The message is
not properly
targeted, the
purpose is
unclear, and/or
the message is
ineffective in
achieving its
goal(s).
Points
Range:18 (18.00%) -
20.97 (20.97%)
The professional
email has major
errors in at least
two of the areas
(Audience, Purpose,
or Overall
Effectiveness).
Points
Range:21 (21.00%) -
23.97 (23.97%)
The professional
email has a major
error in at least one of
the areas (Audience,
Purpose, or Overall
Effectiveness).
Points
Range:24 (24.00%) -
26.97 (26.97%)
The professional
email mostly
addresses the
proper audience,
generally achieves
its purpose, and is
somewhat effective.
Points
Range:27 (27.00%) -
30 (30.00%)
The professional
email addresses the
proper audience,
achieves its purpose,
and is effective.
4. Clarity, writing
mechanics,
professional
language/style
requirements.
Points
Range:0 (0.00%) -
8.994 (8.994%)
More than 8
errors present.
Points
Range:9 (9.00%) -
10.494 (10.494%)
7-8 errors present.
Points
Range:10.5 (10.50%) -
11.994 (11.994%)
5-6 errors present.
Points
Range:12 (12.00%) -
13.494 (13.494%)
3-4 errors present.
Points
Range:13.5 (13.50%) -
15 (15.00%)
0-2 errors present.