978-0073403267 Chapter 8 Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises

subject Type Homework Help
subject Pages 7
subject Words 1883
subject Authors Kitty Locker, Stephen Kaczmarek

Unlock document.

This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
Module 08 Reader Benefits
Module 8
Reader Benefits
LO 8-1 Explain functions of reader benefits.
LO 8-2 Identify reader benefits for messages.
LO 8-3 Apply strategies for reader benefits creation.
LO 8-4 Select reader benefits for messages.
LO 8-5 Apply strategies for reader benefits and audience harmony.
LO 8-6 Support reader benefits with you-attitude.
Module Overview
Along with you-attitude and positive emphasis, reader benefits complete the three ingredients of
building goodwill. Not all documents use reader benefits—negative messages and direct
requests do not, for instance.—but they are useful for many business messages.
In particular, students will find reader benefits helpful when composing job application letters
and résumés, showing the reader how employing the student can help the organization. As many
of your students either will be entering the workforce or hope to secure a better job, teaching
them reader benefits in preparation for the job application process is an excellent idea.
As PP 8-3 shows, reader benefits are benefits or advantages the reader gets
by
Using your services.
Buying your products.
Following your policies.
Adopting your ideas.
Reader benefits must be tangible; that is, they must be quickly and easily identifiable by the
audience. They should be expressed in clear language.
As PP 8-4 and PP 8-5 suggest, good reader benefits are
Adapted to the audience.
Based on intrinsic advantages.
Supported by clear logic and explained in adequate detail.
Phrased in you-attitude.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-1
Module 08 Reader Benefits
Because different audiences will find different qualities to be beneficial,
knowing the audience is important. Students should also review Module 2
for more information on audience.
Teaching Tip: Bring in “real world” examples to show reader
benefits. Credit card offers are a good example of using
reader benefits. Many suggest reader benefits verbally (e.g.,
low interest rates; no annual fee) as well as nonverbally (e.g., photos of smiling
“customers” making purchases). Ask students to analyze the offers, listing them as
well as examining the language used to describe reader benefits.
What’s in This Supplement
This supplement is organized around the major questions posed in Module 8. It covers
Part 1: Key Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises Page 112
Part 2: Answers to Textbook Assignments Page 121
Part 3: Appendixes of Handouts/Transparency Masters Page 122
PowerPoint presentations can be found at our Web page at www.mhhe.com/bcs6e.
Questions (with answers) suitable for quizzes are in the Instructors Test Bank. For student
practice quizzes with answers, see our Web page.
Part 1: Key Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises
Why do reader benefits work? LO 8-1
Reader benefits improve the audience’s attitudes and actions.
Students sometimes wonder just why reader benefits work. A key factor is expectancy theory,
which suggests people try their best only when they believe they can succeed and see rewards
from their success.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-2
Module 08 Reader Benefits
Students probably don’t need to know all the particulars of expectancy theory, but they should
understand that reader benefits address an underlying psychological need. Moreover, they help
readers to see benefits they otherwise might not, as well as the connection between these benefits
and the readers’ needs.
Teaching Tip: Ask students to consider how their behavior as children might have
changed just prior to a holiday or birthday when they expected a gift. If students
altered their behavior, why? How did their behavior change after the holiday or
birthday passed? What did this suggest about motivation?
In-Class Exercise: For 10-15 minutes, let students share what motivates them both
in school and on the job. In terms of school, do they treat classes they see as being
beneficial to their careers as better or worse than others? Have they or will they
choose entry-level jobs that they view(ed) as beneficial to reaching later career
goals? How did those feelings compare to jobs they did “just for the money”?
How do I identify reader benefits? LO 8-2
Brainstorm!
To generate a list of possible reader benefits, students should use invention techniques, such as
brainstorming (described in Module 4). As PP 8-6 describes, students should brainstorm in two
steps:
1. Think of feelings, fears, and needs that may motivate the reader.
2. Identify the objective features of the product or policy.
In-Class Exercise: Figure 8.1 (p. 114)/PP 8-7 shows
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This widely
published model describes human motivation and is adapted
here for a business environment. To help students better
understand the model, have them locate where on the
hierarchy they believe they are. What steps are they taking to
reach the next level? At what level might they see themselves
in two years? Five? Ten? As they climb, what tangible
rewards will they expect, if any? Ask students to share their
findings with the class.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-3
Module 08 Reader Benefits
How detailed should each benefit be? LO 8-3
Use strong, vivid details.
Typically, three to five sentences are required to give enough detail in a
business message about a benefit (as described on PP 8-8). If two or
three benefits are developed fully, then a sentence or two can be used for
the remaining benefits.
Students skilled with language will have a distinct advantage over those
who don’t. Benefits must be phrased in language that is not only
descriptive, but also clear. Examples throughout this section of the
module compare weak with stronger descriptions of reader benefits.
Psychological description (PP 8-9) is a technique to use to develop
vivid, specific benefits. It involves techniques often used by creative
writers to create a scenario rich with sense impressions. Therefore, using
examples from creative writing to help students see the advantages of
vivid description can be helpful in discussing psychological description.
Teaching Tip: Students who read literature regularly have a distinct advantage over
those who don’t. Help students to see the value of reading by showing examples of
passages from well-written texts that are strongly descriptive. Ask students to bring
in samples from their own collections. What words or phrases do they find
particularly descriptive? How is the language powerful? Vivid? (Bear in mind Fair
Use Act principles that govern how such materials may be used in the classroom.)
In-Class Exercise: Bring an object to class large enough for everyone to see easily
—a stuffed animal, a basketball, a poster or work of art—and have students spend
5-10 minutes using psychological description to write down every word, thought, or
idea that comes to mind about the object. When they are finished, spend 5-10
minutes making a master list of descriptions. Try separating these into categories
that fit the five senses, as well as emotions and abstract concepts.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-4
Module 08 Reader Benefits
How do I decide which benefits to use? LO 8-4
Use the following three principles to decide.
As described on PP 8-10 through PP 8-12, three principles can guide
students in deciding which benefits to use:
Use at least one benefit for each part of your audience.
Use intrinsic benefits.
Use the benefits you can develop most fully.
Teaching Tip: Help students to better understand the
differences between intrinsic and extrinsic benefits by
having them brainstorm about the benefits of their
education. What extrinsic benefits can they list (e.g., a
degree; preparation for a job or profession)? What
intrinsic benefits are there (e.g., increased confidence)?
Which are more important to students now? Which do
they think will be more important over the course of their
lives?
In-Class Exercise: Have students get into groups of 3-5
and do Exercise 8.10 on p. 121. Use Appendix 8-A
through Appendix 8-E to show students how to develop
reader benefits for people getting advice about interior decorating. Use the first
transparency master to introduce the problem. Let students brainstorm possible
audiences, needs, and benefits for 10 minutes. Then show them the remaining
transparency masters. How do their benefits compare?
Matching the benefit to the audience LO 8-5
Despite the temptation to use the same benefits with different
audiences, most writers will recognize that benefits should be tailored
individually, as different audiences may have different expectations.
PP 8-13 and PP 8-14 show strategies to effectively match the benefit
to the audience:
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-5
Module 08 Reader Benefits
When you communicate with different audiences, you
may need to stress different benefits.
Look for intrinsic as well as extrinsic benefits.
Even in your own organization, different
audiences may care about different things.
Use audience analysis to see what benefits
would appeal to your intended audience.
The best benefits match the audience’s
expectations.
In-Class Exercise: Most students will have had experiences where they were limited
significantly in their choices: the menu at a fast food restaurant, selection of
over-the-air television channels, or colors for a shirt or other clothing item. Ask them
to choose a particular product or service that they can all relate to and spend 10-15
minutes brainstorming on the effectiveness of the choices they have. Are they
satisfied? What would they change if they could? Why? Do they believe the
company is serving the customers as well as they could? What benefits are being
overlooked by the company, as well as what audiences?
What else do reader benefits need? LO 8-6
Check for you-attitude.
Students may want to re-familiarize themselves with Module 6. In particular, they should
remember that benefits must appeal to the reader. Therefore, you-attitude is critical in expressing
them.
Last Word: Students will revisit reader benefits in future modules. Make sure they
understand the concepts in this module clearly before moving on to new modules. In
particular, students should feel confident that they will be able to create reader
benefits in the documents they compose. Therefore, assign homework to give them
practice.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-6
Module 08 Reader Benefits
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any
manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
8-7

Trusted by Thousands of
Students

Here are what students say about us.

Copyright ©2022 All rights reserved. | CoursePaper is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university.