- Persuasive Memo Correspondence: Writing a persuasive memo 'Your success as a business person is closely tied to your ability to convince others to accept new ideas, change old habits, or act on your recommendations.' Writing a persuasive memo will give you the opportunity to practice these skills. Memo You will write a persuasive memo.
- Persuasive writing is tough for kids to get used to, especially if they're not argumentative by nature. A few tools and shortcuts can help your child learn how to write well enough to convince someone (even you!) to change his mind about an issue that really matters to him or her.
- Persuasive Memo.persuacion memoPersuasive Memo To U.S. Army Human Resources Command Persuasive Memo To U.S. Army Human Resources Command Juan Fiqueroa TUI University Persuasive Memo To U.S. Army Human Resources Command To: Gina S. Farrisse, Mayor General, From: juan Fiqueroa, Sergeant Date: May 02, 2011 Subject: Enlisted Promotion System Each year Congress.
Persuasive Memo.The Affordable Care Act Persuasive Memo The Affordable Care ACT was passed so as to provide employees with better health security. In order for this to happen, comprehensive health reforms of insurance are put in action. The Act will ensure that the health care costs are lowered.
How to write this letter:
1 | Open with a statement that focuses the reader's attention on the issue. |
2 | State what you want to persuade the reader to do or not do. |
3 | Explain why the reader should cooperate. Calling attention to personal benefits will help. |
4 | Close with a call to action. Add any additional information the reader may need. |
Guidelines
In a persuasive memo you must constantly keep your reader's feelings in mind. Consider how the person will react to what you are saying. What would convince him or her most readily? How much should you rely on logic, and how much should you appeal to emotion?
Example Letter #1
The next round of negotiations between the Springfield Symphony Board of Directors and the Artists' Alliance will end without any more progress than we made in the previous four rounds--unless we can make a genuine breakthrough. Many of us, ourselves long-time members of the Alliance, feel our leadership has taken an unreasonable position against caps on honoraria for guest artists.
Aiming to resolve this standoff quickly and amicably, Eric Doe has slated an emergency meeting of section heads for Monday at 7:30 a.m. With your supporting vote at that time (and with just a few other yes votes), we should be able to demonstrate that the majority of the Alliance is prepared to yield on this issue. Musicians will be able to return to work, and the symphony will avoid the public relations fiasco that would inevitably follow a cancelled season opener.
Other cities across the nation have learned that the life of civic orchestras depends upon a positive public image. We are counting on you to help turn the negative tide by giving your support to honoraria caps and ending the current gridlock. There's still time to get our season off to a promising start!
Example Letter #2
John, I understand that you had a disagreement with the Board of Directors regarding the Doe contract. I know you have worked many hours on this project and that your brother-in-law is the general contractor. However, the majority of the directors feel that the contract will not meet our needs. They voted to reject it, and there is little you can do to reverse that decision.
As a concerned friend, I strongly recommend that you refrain from contacting the directors and discussing the matter any further. They have made their decision. Your arguments will not change things and could even jeopardize your future with the company.
I have no personal stake or interest in the Doe matter. My interest is in your welfare. I value your friendship and wish you well for the future.
Example Letter #3
A matter of grave importance faces us; it affects each and every one of us! I am writing to solicit your support for John Doe's plan to hold the office Christmas party at the Springfield Entertainment Hall instead of at the Yacht Club. Company tradition dictates that the party be held at the Yacht Club, but attendance in the past years has steadily declined. I think we all know why.
The Entertainment Hall offers an exciting atmosphere, great music, and unpretentious, good food. Let today be the day we all join together in demanding a worthwhile Christmas party. Let today be the day John Doe tastes victory, and we all will enjoy its spoils! Register your support with the entertainment committee by signing the attached petition.
Example Letter #4
We have all seen news reports lately about the problems of repetitive stress injuries. Doe Enterprises is making every effort to see that these problems do not arise for our employees.
During Employee Safety Week, your managers and directors urge you to schedule a time to have your work station evaluated by one of our trained safety inspectors. The inspectors will offer you tips on how to avoid repetitive stress injuries on the job.
Call John at extension 5-5555 to schedule your visit with the safety inspectors.
Write Your Letter Step-by-Step
1
Open with a statement that focuses the reader's attention on the issue.
Example Sentences for Step 1
Example Phrases for Step 1
2
State what you want to persuade the reader to do or not do.
Example Sentences for Step 2
Example Phrases for Step 2
3
Explain why the reader should cooperate. Calling attention to personal benefits will help.
Example Sentences for Step 3
Example Letter #1
The next round of negotiations between the Springfield Symphony Board of Directors and the Artists' Alliance will end without any more progress than we made in the previous four rounds--unless we can make a genuine breakthrough. Many of us, ourselves long-time members of the Alliance, feel our leadership has taken an unreasonable position against caps on honoraria for guest artists.
Aiming to resolve this standoff quickly and amicably, Eric Doe has slated an emergency meeting of section heads for Monday at 7:30 a.m. With your supporting vote at that time (and with just a few other yes votes), we should be able to demonstrate that the majority of the Alliance is prepared to yield on this issue. Musicians will be able to return to work, and the symphony will avoid the public relations fiasco that would inevitably follow a cancelled season opener.
Other cities across the nation have learned that the life of civic orchestras depends upon a positive public image. We are counting on you to help turn the negative tide by giving your support to honoraria caps and ending the current gridlock. There's still time to get our season off to a promising start!
Example Letter #2
John, I understand that you had a disagreement with the Board of Directors regarding the Doe contract. I know you have worked many hours on this project and that your brother-in-law is the general contractor. However, the majority of the directors feel that the contract will not meet our needs. They voted to reject it, and there is little you can do to reverse that decision.
As a concerned friend, I strongly recommend that you refrain from contacting the directors and discussing the matter any further. They have made their decision. Your arguments will not change things and could even jeopardize your future with the company.
I have no personal stake or interest in the Doe matter. My interest is in your welfare. I value your friendship and wish you well for the future.
Example Letter #3
A matter of grave importance faces us; it affects each and every one of us! I am writing to solicit your support for John Doe's plan to hold the office Christmas party at the Springfield Entertainment Hall instead of at the Yacht Club. Company tradition dictates that the party be held at the Yacht Club, but attendance in the past years has steadily declined. I think we all know why.
The Entertainment Hall offers an exciting atmosphere, great music, and unpretentious, good food. Let today be the day we all join together in demanding a worthwhile Christmas party. Let today be the day John Doe tastes victory, and we all will enjoy its spoils! Register your support with the entertainment committee by signing the attached petition.
Example Letter #4
We have all seen news reports lately about the problems of repetitive stress injuries. Doe Enterprises is making every effort to see that these problems do not arise for our employees.
During Employee Safety Week, your managers and directors urge you to schedule a time to have your work station evaluated by one of our trained safety inspectors. The inspectors will offer you tips on how to avoid repetitive stress injuries on the job.
Call John at extension 5-5555 to schedule your visit with the safety inspectors.
Write Your Letter Step-by-Step
1
Open with a statement that focuses the reader's attention on the issue.
Example Sentences for Step 1
Example Phrases for Step 1
2
State what you want to persuade the reader to do or not do.
Example Sentences for Step 2
Example Phrases for Step 2
3
Explain why the reader should cooperate. Calling attention to personal benefits will help.
Example Sentences for Step 3
Example Phrases for Step 3
4
Persuasive Memo To Boss
Close with a call to action. Add any additional information the reader may need.
Example Sentences for Step 4
Example Phrases for Step 4
Recommended Articles
Recommended Letter-Writing Resources
TWOPERSUASIVE BUSINESS MEMOS::WRIT124
VALUE:25 points total for both together – 5 for peer review, 20 for memos.
DUEDATES:
Due 9/27 midnight: Peer review 2 memos, replies due 9/29midnight
Final Due to Prof. in ANGEL dropbox: 10/4 midnight
LATE WORK NOT ACCEPTED
WARNING:This assignment is mandatory because at least one memo goes in your portfolio. Failureto do this assignment necessitates an administrative withdrawal.
PURPOSE:To prepare documents for your final portfolio. To give you practice in writingpersuasive memos for the workplace so that you will have the power to changethings.
ASSIGNMENT:Write two persuasive professional memos of 150-200words. Each memo must contain a thesisor main point, and must take a position and be persuasive to the selectedaudience.Writein the concise style characteristic of good business/technical writing and in alanguage and tone appropriate to your audience and purpose. Remember you aretrying to persuade people to make a change, not make them angry. Remember youare only explaining to give context, but the main purpose of the memo is tocreate CHANGE. One memo must contain a simple table.
RESEARCH: This assignmentrequires research and may require APA citations.
FORMAT:Use the memorandum formatas shown in Figure 17.1 on page 387 in Technical Communication 10thedition – or, you can use thetemplate I provide in ANGEL.
TOPICS:As with the business letters, I am looking for real world situations.I prefer you use the first two topics listed.However, if you'd rather, you could use the other topics or one of your ownchoice. Use your work experience, your student experience, etc. You mightconsider:
· Evaluating the design of a singlewebsite in your field, or your school's website, library site, or the websiteof your major. You might evaluate the website of an organization where you wishto work, or one that provides information to the public. This could be in thearea of law, health, or public safety, etc. As you evaluate the design, youwill make recommendations on how they might change this design based on eitherpoints in Lannon, or the CRAP principles (citing the class power point).Whatever sources you use must be cited in APA.
· Evaluate and makerecommendations regarding a document, brochure, or flyer produced by youremployer, your school, or another organization with which you have interactedor are interested. You could evaluate instructions that came with a product youpurchased and write a memo suggesting improvements or changes.
In order to produce a table, you might try countingthings like the number of links, icons, pictures, types of pictures, use offonts, etc. (this is called Content Analysis) – thus you could make your table.You could compare a well designed webpage with the one you are working with,counting elements, and creating a comparison table.
· redesigning the packaging ofsomething you recently purchased
· the purchasing of newequipment
· the hiring of new staff
· changing or implementing awork or school policy
· requesting a promotion orraise
· reorganizing work force
Look for topics that you give you an opportunity touse tables as part of your memo.
Some important notes aboutthis assignment—please read carefully:
- Each memo must use persuasion.
That is, youshould be making a case for a change in policy, a condition, or a value ratherthan merely conveying information. Memos that do not use persuasion will notreceive any grade higher than a 1.5 regardless of how well they are written.
- At least one memo must include tabular data (both memos can but it is not required).
I am lookingfor a simple table only.Let me repeat this—asimple table only, one that can be done easily with your word processingprogram.If you know Excel and can dogreat things with charts and graphics, so much the better.
Persuasive Memo Join Company Health
- This assignment will require some research since it requires data.
So getstarted early.Also, gather author,title, publication and electronic pathway information as appropriate from anysources.We will begin our study of APAhere [fuller discussion later] and apply it to tables.See pages 702-713 of Lannon as well as thehandbook.The idea here is that if yougather data from anything other than original research, you must indicate whereyou got it using APA.
- The data must be real, verifiable, etc.
DO NOT MAKE UPDATA.It corrupts theassignment.The data can be gatheredfrom outside sources (hence the source information) or from your own workexperience.The idea is to moveinductively from the concrete to your conclusion to persuade your audience.If the data's cooked, persuasion (the outcomeof this assignment) is lost.You need toconvince me of your credibility here.IfI sense that the data is pulled out of the air, if I can't verify it in someway, the assignment will not receive a passing grade.
Your memo should have the following elements:
· Introductory paragraph—present subject and purpose of memo and any other relevantbackground material.
· Body paragraphs—Present your support points and relevant evidence here—facts,statistics, examples, expert testimony.Remember to organize your material logically, appropriately.
· Conclusion—Provide motivation, appeal to shared values, etc.
Use topic and subtopicheadings as appropriate.
Grading Rubric
a)The writing demonstrate a thorough reading of theassignments;
b)The writing is focused and clear;
c)The writing has no grammatical or spellingerrors;
d)The writing is formatted properly;
e)The writing meets the requirements of theassignment (memos each have a main point and ask for change).
f) One memo has a table or other data display.
This assignment was taken from Dennis Hinrichsen's assignment.