5.13: Assignments
- Page ID
- 165828
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Review Questions
- What is the primary purpose of workplace messages?
- Why does formatting play an important role in professional communication?
- What information should a strong subject line include?
- What are the key parts of a professional email?
- How does a memo differ from a business letter?
- Why are salutations important in professional communication?
- What role does the closing paragraph play in workplace writing?
- What is a complimentary close?
- Why should workplace messages be proofread carefully?
- How can strong formatting improve readability in professional documents?
Short Writing Assignment
Choose one of the following workplace writing situations and create a complete professional message using the correct format.
Option 1: Professional Email
Write an email to an instructor requesting clarification about an assignment before submission.
Your email should include:
- A clear subject line
- A greeting/salutation
- An opening paragraph stating purpose
- A body paragraph explaining the situation
- A closing paragraph that summarizes next steps and shows appreciation
Option 2: Memo
Write a memo to classmates announcing that next week’s group presentation meeting has been moved to a different classroom.
Your memo should include:
- A centered heading (MEMO or MEMORANDUM)
- Date, To, From, and Subject
- An opening paragraph explaining the change
- A body paragraph with important details
- A closing paragraph explaining what readers should do next
Before submitting, review your message for:
- Clarity
- Complete detail
- Professional tone
- Readable formatting
Case Study
The Missing Details
A student employee working in a college advising office is asked to notify student workers that the office will close one hour early on Friday because of staff training.
Wanting to send the message quickly, the student writes this email:
Subject: Friday
Hi,
Office closes early Friday.
Thanks.
Within the next hour, several student workers reply with questions. One asks what time the office will close. Another asks whether student appointments must still be completed. A third asks whether all workers should still report at their usual time.
The supervisor explains that the message caused confusion because it did not include enough detail, even though the writer intended to be efficient.
The supervisor asks the student to revise the message using stronger workplace writing.
Discussion Questions
- What important details are missing from the original email?
- Why is the subject line too weak for this situation?
- What information should be added to the body of the message so readers understand the change clearly?
- Rewrite the email so faculty understand the full message the first time they read it.
- Would email remain the strongest format for this situation, or could another communication channel work better? Explain.