written communication skills

BCO 113 WRITING COMMUNICATION SKILLS Midterm Task brief & rubrics

Midterm Task

Task

· This is an individual task. You are to write 2 business letters using the correct format (email, memo or letter) and organizing the information using the correct technique (direct, indirect or persuasive) as required from the instructions of the task. The task should be in Word or PDF format and submitted via Turnitin (see below)

Text 1:

Ashley is a hardworking customer service representative and has sent a request asking that the company create a programme to reimburse the tuition and resource expenses for employees taking college courses. Although some companies have such a programme, his company, First Federal, don´t feel that they can indulge in this company perk. Employees are free to improve their educational credentials and skills but what is to keep them from moving their education and skill set to another employer? First Federal has over 200 employees. If even a fraction of them started classes, the company could see a huge bill for the cost of tuition and resources. Because the company is facing stiff competition and its profits are sinking due to covid-19, the expense of such a programme is out of the question.
Your Task: As a Human Resources Manager, write an email to Ashley, communicating the bad news. 200-250 words.

Text 2:

Raise the Minimum Wage? Employee Says Yes

As one of more than twenty minimum-wage employees at Carly’s Catering in Omaha, Nebraska, you are closely following the national debate about raising the minimum wage. Your employer, Carly Herrera, has a three-year-old catering business that provides exceptional meals and top-notch service to businesses and individuals looking to cater events, weddings, and other large parties.

Your job as a “cater-waiter” is high pressure because Carly demands efficient, versatile, and personable help. And while you sometimes earn tips, you mostly rely on your hourly wage, which is the minimum required by law. Turnover at Carly’s is high because many employees just don’t think the job is worth it, and during the recent holiday rush, several of your co-workers quit unexpectedly.

You research the issue and find the following facts:

· Many economists say an increase in the minimum wage will spur consumer spending and help the weak economy.

· Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia already have higher minimum wages than the federal level.

· Nebraska lawmakers have introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage from the current $7.25/hour.

· Scholarly studies show that the cost increase to employers is offset by lower turnover and higher productivity.

Your task. Write a persuasive letter to Carly in which you ask her to consider raising the minimum wage at Carly’s Catering. 350 – 400 words

Formalities:

· Your memo must be between 200-250 words.

· Your persuasive letter must be between 350-400 words.

· You will need to submit both tasks in a single document. Turnitin will not accept two separate files.

· Font: Arial 12,5 pts.

· Text alignment: Justified.

Submission: Sunday 15 November before 23.59 CET (Barcelona time) via Turnitin.

Weight: This task is worth 40% of your total grade for this subject.

Learning outcomes assessed:

· Demonstrate familiarity with different writing formats in business and apply this in practice

· Illustrate the awareness of how to apply principles of instructive, persuasive and informative writing

Rubric

Exceptional

100-90

Good

89-80

Fair

79-70

Marginal

69-60

Fail

10 pts

Understanding of the format and structure required in business writing

30%

The student demonstrates superior knowledge and understanding of the business writing format
All elements (title, heading, subject line) are present and adequate.

The student demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the business writing format.
All elements (title, heading, subject line) are present and adequate to a certain extent.

The student demonstrates fair knowledge and some understanding of some elements of the business writing format
Some elements (title, heading, subject line) are
inappropriate

The student demonstrates marginally inadequate understanding of all elements of the business writing format
Several or all elements (title, heading, subject line)
are lacking or inappropriate

The student demonstrates inadequate understanding of all elements of the business writing format

All the elements (title, heading, subject line) are lacking and
inappropriate

Explanation and description of purpose

25%

Clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose
Length is adequate to the message

Quite clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose.
Length is adequate to the message

Fairly clear and thorough description and explanation of purpose
Length is adequate to the message

Description and explanation of purpose is unclear.
Length inadequate-too short or too long

Description and explanation of purpose are lacking or incomplete.
Length is inadequate- too short or too long.

Understanding of grammar mechanics of written language

25%

Superior understanding of grammar rules and mechanics of written language.
Adequate word forms.

Good understanding of grammar rules and mechanics of written language
Adequate word forms.

Fair understanding of grammar rules and mechanics of written language
Mostly adequate word forms.

Marginally inadequate understanding of grammar rules and mechanics of written language
Inadequate word forms (use of abbreviations)

Failure to understand grammar rules and mechanics of written language.
Inadequate word forms (use of abbreviations)

Demonstrates familiarity with context of the writing exercise

20%

Clearly and adequately identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language

Adequately identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language

Identifies context by choosing an adequate tone and language most of the time

Fails to identify the context by choosing inadequate tone and language

Tone and choice language are highly inadequate to the context.