*Reviewing Assignment 1. The Assignment 1 Description is available via Blackboard for you to read and review closely!

*Understanding the Workplace Writing Context: Read Chapter 1 "Understanding the Workplace Context: A Case Study."

*Understanding how to write appropriate emails, memos, and letters in workplace settings: Read Chapter 8 "Writing E-Mails, Memos, and Letters."

*Weekly Post 2: Complete the exercise 1 on p. 27 (pick only one topic instead of three) and exercises 4 and 8 on pp. 296-297 from our textbook, Writing that Works. (Due on BB Feb. 1 by noon!)

Please Review the Unit Notes below!

The strategies provided in Chapter 1 shows us how to approach different kinds of writing in various workplace settings from a rhetorical standpoint. You will use these strategies as you work on each major assignment throughout the semester. The overall focus of Chapter 1 illustrates the significance of what rhetoricians call the rhetorical situation: 

Approaching Assignment 1 expectations through the concept of the rhetorical situation shows us that as you prepare your e-mail and letter, you should pay close attention to three main elements Chapter 1 addresses:

1) Your purpose (why you are writing)

2) Your audience (in the context of this assignment, a supervisor, a colleague, or customer)

3) The context of your writing.

Establishing a strong understand ing of these three elements will help you respond to these essential questions Chapter 1 covers effectively: 

1) What kind of information do you need? 

2) How to determine the amount of information you need provide?

3) How to organize this information effectively? You will/should respond to these questions always with your audience, purpose, and context in mind. 

As you respond to these questions, always keep your purpose, audience, and context in mind. 

The expectations of your audience will have a significant impact on how you organize, format, and design your documents. Since your target audience is professionals in workplace settings for this assignment (and for this class in general), they have a firm grasp of different genres used in business/professional writing. By genre, I mean a report or a memo, or an email and a letter. To successfully convey your message (routine/positive or sensitive/negative), you should follow genre conventions and expectations as these conventions and expectations will likely to be the expectations of your audience as well. It is critical that you learn the genre expectations of writing professional emails and letters to complete this assignment successfully. Chapter 8 offers you a thorough explanation about how to write effective emails and letters:

1)    Using a professional style and tone

2)    Structuring effective messages

2)    Using the appropriate medium (method of transmission-digital or print)

3)    Using the appropriate pattern (direct or indirect)

4)    Clarity and emphasis 

5)    Design and following organizational protocol

It is essential to follow genre expectations, using the appropriate style-tone and medium-design, and be clear. These elements will help you to establish and maintain your ethical identity (ethos) in workplace settings, which speaks to your level of professionalism.  

Your ethos (ethical character) is tied to two other essential rhetorical appeals: logos and pathos. Ch. 8 from our textbook emphasizes the importance of doing your research (logos) and using goodwill (pathos) in workplace communication. As you reflect on your ethical character, also consider how logos and pathos will help you establish your credibility for this assignment.