Negative Business

Purpose: To communicate a negative message effectively in a high-stakes situation

Type of Assignment and Weight: This writing assignment is worth 100 points.

This assignment links to course learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 8.

Audience: An employee, a customer, a prospective student, or a prospective employee (depending on the scenario you choose).

Assignment: Write a letter of no more than 1 page conveying bad news in ONE of the following scenarios:
(a)   Announcing an impending layoff at a company or organization.
(b)   Announcing a service or product that will no longer be offered by a company.
(c)   Rejecting an applicant for admission to an undergraduate or graduate program at a university.
(d)   Rejecting an applicant for a job position at a company or organization.

Regardless of the chosen scenario, the letter’s body should follow the same structure (Indirect Approach)(for additional

detail, use during class discussions and in the textbook):
(1)   Buffer
(2)   Reasons
(3)   Negative news
(4)   Goodwill close In addition,
?   Limit your letter to one page, and use the Times New Roman 12pt. font.

? Review pp. 414-422 of your text to create the block letter format. Use whatever conventions are appropriate for this

message.

? Save your file as a Word file, and name it your last name.NBL (e.g., Rogers..NBL)

Criteria Accomplished 90-100 Acceptable 72-89 Insufficient 0-71
Opening 10% The opening sincerely and ethically responds to the audience’s concerns and clearly transitions to the

explanation leading to the negative response. The opening at least neutrally responds to the audience’s concerns and at

least generally transitions to the explanation leading to the negative response. The opening is insincere, unethical,

too blunt for the situation, or nonexistent; it fails to transition to the explanation leading to the negative response.
Organization
& Cohesion 20% The reasons bring the reader to an understanding of the bad news that follows; ideas flow logically from one

to another within and between paragraphs; the conclusion re- establishes goodwill. The reasons could be more skillfully

sequenced, but are identifiable and lead to the bad news; ideas within sentences and between paragraphs relate to one

another, but some connections are loose or mechanical; the conclusion is at least polite. The reasons aren’t clear

enough and/or don’t adequately prepare the reader for the bad news; the ideas within sentences and between paragraphs are

disjointed; and the conclusion is nonexistent or counterproductive, too general, or too weak to re-establish goodwill.
Content 20% The letter precisely and accurately represents the facts, considers the audience’s viewpoint, and includes

content targeted towards maintaining goodwill.
The content skillfully demonstrates the text concepts (pp. 202-204). The letter could be more precise, but still presents

relevant facts that logically explain the bad news. Some content shows an attempt to maintain goodwill and demonstrates the

text concepts (pp. 202-204). The letter deviates from the objective and/or presents unclear, inaccurate, illogical,

irrelevant, or repetitious information. The content shows little if any application of the text concepts (pp. 202-204).

Criteria Accomplished 90-100 Acceptable 72-89 Insufficient 0-71
Style and Tone
10% Style and tone are professional, tactful, bias-free, positive, consistent, and suitable for the purpose and audience.

Style and tone are professional, neutral, and generally positive, bias-free, natural, and suitable for the topic and

audience. Style and tone lack professionalism, consistency, and/or suitability.
Format 10% Letter fully adheres to the assignment instructions and guidelines on pp. 414- 422 (full block format,

appropriate letterhead). Letter generally adheres to the assignment instructions and the guidelines on pp. 414- 422

(full block format, appropriate letterhead). Letter significantly deviates from the assignment instructions and the

guidelines on pp. 414-422 (no full block format or appropriate letterhead).
Mechanics 15% Letter contains virtually no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Letter contains infrequent spelling,

grammar, and punctuation errors that minimally detract from the message. Letter contains a wide range of spelling,

grammar, and punctuation errors that interfere with the communication.
Clarity and Conciseness
15% Sentences are virtually free of excess words, unclear phraseology and passivity; and the word choices are precise.

More sentences than not are free of excess words, unclear phraseology, and passivity; and word choices are appropriate,

although not always precise.
Letter shows student is progressing in this area. Sentences contain excess words, unclear phraseology, and passivity;

and word choices are vague or substandard. Little to no progress demonstrated in this area.

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