Written Assignment - Delivering Negative News

Criteria

5

Exceptional

4

Very Good

3

Meets Expectations

2

Needs Improvement

1

Very Unsatis-factory

0 Does not meet any of the criteria

LETTER

CONTENT

All necessary and relevant details are provided to achieve purpose. Graphic highlighting is used effectively to spotlight important information. Audience’s needs are exactly met. Content exceeds expectations.

All necessary details are provided to achieve purpose. Graphic highlighting is used effectively. Audience’s needs are met.

Most necessary details are provided; one relevant detail may be missing, or some irrelevant details may have been added. Graphic highlighting not used or used ineffectively. Audience’s needs are mostly met.

Few necessary details are provided; several relevant details may be missing, or several irrelevant details may have been added. Graphic highlighting not used or used ineffectively. Audience’s needs have not been met.

Few to no necessary details are provided; many relevant details may be missing, or many irrelevant details may have been added. Graphic highlighting not used or used ineffectively. Audience’s needs have not been met.

LETTER

FORMAT & ORGANIZ-ATION

All required letter elements are present and correctly formatted.

Indirect pattern is used correctly. All elements (buffer, reasons, negative news, alternatives, and goodwill ending) are used effectively and in the correct order.

All required letter elements are present with one formatting error.

Indirect pattern is used somewhat correctly. All elements are used and mostly in the correct order.

All required letter elements are present with two formatting errors.

Indirect pattern is not entirely evident. All elements are used but not necessarily in the correct order.

One required letter element is missing and/or there are three formatting errors.

Indirect pattern is not entirely evident. Some elements may be missing and/or are not in the correct order.

Two or more required letter elements are missing and/or there are four formatting errors.

Indirect pattern is not evident. Several elements are missing and not in the correct order.

LANGUAGE

No grammar/syntax errors.

Very few and only very minor grammar/ syntax errors.

Some grammar/ syntax errors.

Many grammar/ syntax errors.

Many grammar/ syntax errors, to the point that they mar the clarity of ideas.

(0 points)

TONE

Tone is courteous and professional. Language is straightforward and lacks any wordiness. Familiar and commons words have been used. Care has been taken to ensure no accusatory or unnecessarily negative-sounding language appears.

Tone is courteous and professional. Language is mostly straightforward and lacks wordiness. Familiar words have been used. Some care has been taken to ensure no accusatory or unnecessarily negative-sounding language appears.

Tone is courteous and mostly professional. Language is somewhat straightforward but may include wordiness. Some unfamiliar / not commonly used words may appear. Effort has been made to reduce accusatory or unnecessarily negative-sounding language.

Tone is not always courteous and lacks professionalism. Language is not straightforward and quite wordy. Word choice is often unfamiliar and/or uncommon. Some accusatory or unnecessarily negative-sounding language may be present.

Tone is impolite and lacks professionalism. Word choices are very awkward and wordy. Word choice is very unfamiliar and/or uncommon. A lot of accusatory or unnecessarily negative-sounding language is present.