10.19 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Upward: How to Work From Home
(Obj. 4)
To: Chris Crittenden <chris.crittenden@beta.com>
From: [Your Name <your e-mail>]
Subject: Improving Training for Telecommuters and Their Managers
Cc:
Bcc:
An increasing number of our employees are becoming telecommuters. Although working at
home or at remote locations promised reduced overhead costs and higher productivity, not all
Currently we have 83 telecommuters, and an increasing number are asking for permission to
Some of the problems that telecommuters typically face are lack of face time, resentment among
other office workers, difficulty in coordinating projects, lost creativity from lack of stimulation,
A good training program, according to one consultant, integrates four key issues:
Although we could develop our own in-house training program, I believe we would be better
May I have your permission to arrange a meeting with a consultant to explore a telecommuting
Your name
10.20 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Upward: Hey, Boss, I Have an Idea
(Obj. 4)
Solutions will vary depending on the situation.
10.21 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Upward: Tipping Not Optional (Obj. 4)
Current date
Dear Mr. Delmonico:
Even when servers have given good service, some customers leave no tip. This is a serious
Restaurants such as the famous Coach House Restaurant in New York now add a 15 percent tip
We servers feel that a mandatory tip printed on checks would work well here at the Pacific’s
Edge Restaurant. We know that we give good service, but some customers forget to tip. By
Printing mandatory tips on checks not only helps customers but also proves to the staff that you
support them in their goal to receive decent wages for the hard work they do. A few customers
We urge you to begin printing a mandatory 15 percent tip on each customer’s bill. Our American
10.22 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Downward: Saving Cash on Shipping
(Obj. 4)
Date: Current
To: All Employees
From: [Your Name], Manager
Subject: Reducing Overnight Delivery Costs
Overnight delivery services are wonderful, but they are costing us a bundle! To avoid rigid
Ask yourself whether the recipient will really use the information immediately. If not,
Some overnight shipments, of course, are critical. To retain our budget for those shipments, we
10.23 Persuasive Organizational Message Flowing Downward: Fixing Atrocious Memo
(Obj. 4)
Date: Current
To: All Managers and Employees
From: Rita Nelson, CEO
Subject: Scheduling Employee Meetings
To save your time and to reduce your frustration, we are suggesting that anyone who schedules
employee meetings in the future give serious thought to these questions:
If you decide that a meeting is absolutely necessary, please follow these suggestions:
10.24 Identifying the AIDA Strategy in Sales Messages (Obj. 5)
Students are to select a sales letter and analyze it by answering the following questions. Answers
will vary.
10.25 Examining Puffery in Advertising (Obj. 5)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) helps readers distinguish between puffery and deceptive
10.26 Because I Said So? The Truth About Testimonials (Objs. 3, 5)
Celebrities, experts, and ordinary people may appear in ads and commercials. In the United
States such testimonials must be true, though. The advertiser has to have evidence. The FTC says
Testimonials illustrate the persuasive technique of association, an intensifying instrument, in
Hugh Rank’s model and “the weapons of automatic influence” authority and liking in Robert
10.27 Critiquing Persuasive Blog Post Headlines and Examining Bylines (Objs. 1, 5)
Answers will vary. A random sampling reveals a vast variety of potential findings, some more
Consider this attention getter at Businessweek.com: Job Interviews Are the New First Date. After
Other potentially enticing attention-grabbing headlines follow. A common feature students will
Nine Reasons You’re Still Broke . . . When You Shouldn’t Be
HubSpot Shares 11 Secrets That Help Generate More Leads Than Even Salesforce.com
7 Ways to Be a Stress-Free Workaholic
10.28 Turning Features Into Benefits (Objs. 1, 5)
To ensure originality in the students’ effort, consider assigning a limited number of products or
Power Monkey eXtreme—This charger’s large-capacity, 9000 mAh lithium battery holds
enough power to fully charge your tablet or phone multiple times, and can also charge
Now ask students to explain how the features of the product (in this case, the power pack) could
benefit a frequent business traveler or a student on the go. The $199.50 price is steep and might
10.29 Sales Letter: Pitaya—The Next “Superfruit”? (Obj. 5)
[Current date]
JJ’s Power Gym
800 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Dear Jay:
As a fitness and health food expert, you love juicing. You are familiar with the wonderful taste
But how about superpremium juice from the pitaya fruit?
Biologically related to the Vietnamese dragonfruit, the pitaya is a superfruit packed with
It’s delicious and it’s so good for you!
Yet this refreshing exotic fruit is largely unknown in North America. This is about to change!
We have secured a year’s supply of pitaya and exclusively distribute our Pink Pitaya Coco
Don’t miss out and be among the first juice and smoothie bars to offer this superfruit to your
We believe that you have to give your customers what they want, but also what they should be
The precious premium Pink Pitaya Coco Blend is now available at an introductory price of $8.45
Respond now and claim your superpremium juice trial pack by phone at 800-4-PITAYA
Happy juicing!
P. S. Hurry! The first 50 respondents who order will be entered to win a special prize—one of five
ultraportable juicers, small enough to take on the road! Your odds couldn’t be better, so contact us
NOW!
10.30 E-Mail Marketing Message or Direct-Mail Sales Letter: Promoting Products and
Services (Obj. 5)
Solutions will vary.
10.31 Micromessages: Analyzing Twitter Feeds for AIDA Components (Obj. 1, 2, and 5)
Make a # NewYearsResolution to reduce weight! Extra fat creates hormones that could lead to
unhealthy cell growth http://www.goo.gl/OmRK4
Every little bit helps. Please retweet “@ grist: The orcas are trapped in ice and need your help
http:// bit.ly/14j5BVB
Not on # Windows8 yet? Upgrade before Feb 28 and get Windows 8 Pro for $39.99 plus over $70 in app
offers!
10.32 Writing Persuasive Tweets and Posts (Objs. 1, 5)
Solutions will vary.
10.33 Writing Newsworthy Press Releases (Obj. 6)
Solutions will vary.
10.34 Press Release: I’ve Got News for You! (Obj. 6)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cindy Eikenberg
(410) 847-9420
BIG MACS GO GREEN WITH POTATO-STARCH
CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS
Santa Barbara, CA, current date. In an effort to use bio-degradable packaging, McDonald’s has
The new container, produced by EarthShell, is whipped up out of renewable starch that is
reclaimed from the commercial processing of potatoes and French fries. It also uses natural
The miraculous EarthShell product is surprisingly strong, yet economical and biodegradable. It
meets industry requirements for rigidity, insulation, stacking, consumer usage properties, and
Many fast-food restaurants have turned to paper after consumer groups insisted on banning
EarthShell Corporation is engaged in the licensing and commercialization of proprietary
composite material technology for the manufacture of disposable food-service packaging, such
For more information, visit its Web site at www.EarthShell.com.