Peer Review Business Communication Portfolio –

Upload your drafts here for peer review and complete the activities assigned below for the drafts assigned to you. Like last time, I will assign drafts out between 1 and 2 p.m.

Peer Review Business Communication Portfolio

Perform the activities below with the drafts for peer review, making comments and notations on the drafts where necessary. You can answer the questions either in a separate Word document or in the text box.

Messages

Read each message closely and answer the following two questions and comment on the drafts themselves: 1. On a word level, where could the writer be more direct and concise with language? Also, where is it successful? 2. On a paragraph level, how is the document formatted? Is it easy to read? What suggestions do you have?

For each message, also consider the following questions for the appropriate messages:

1. Good news/neutral messages

• • What organizational method does it use, direct or indirect? How appropriate is this organization method?

• • As the recipient, is there anything else you need to know?

1. Persuasive messages

• • How receptive would the audience be to this message?
• • What organizational method does it use, direct or indirect? Does it match how receptive or not the audience might be? Does it need more or less of a buffer statement?
• • Where is persuasion the strongest?
• • Where is persuasion the weakest?
• • As the recipient, is there anything else you need to know?

1. Bad news message

• • How receptive would the audience be to this message?

• • What organizational method does it use, direct or indirect? Does it match how receptive or not the audience might be? Does it need more or less of a buffer statement?

• • How long does the writer wait to relate the bad news?

• • As the recipient, is there anything else you need to know?

Résumé/Cover Letter

Review the documents closely and answer the following questions. Questions 1-4 are for the résumé, and 5-6 are for the cover letter. Before you get started, mark at least one successful thing on the résumé and cover letter:

1. What information is needed? Is that information included? If not, what is missing? (Think of things like contact information, education, experience, etc.)

1. What information has the most emphasis through placement on the page, font size and type, etc.? How is the résumé organized? Does the organization make sense and is it easy to follow?

1. As a viewer, do you have all of the information you need? If not, what is missing? What else would you need to know?

1. As a viewer, what suggestions do you have to enhance the visual appeal? If you don’t have any, explain.

1. How is the cover letter organized? How does it make a connection with the audience/company?

1. Is there anything unnecessary in the cover letter? Where might it turn the reader off? What else would you want to know if you were considering hiring this person and/or bringing them in for an interview?

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Business Communication Portfolio

Scenario

Throughout the semester, you will have produced many kinds of short business communications, ranging from emails to memos to letters. At the end of the semester, you will pick three to revise along with and include in a portfolio along with your resume and cover letter, selecting one good news/neutral letter/memo/email, one bad news letter/memo/email, and one persuasive letter/memo/email. The whole portfolio will also be prefaced with a cover letter explaining and reflecting on your revisions. This portfolio is your chance to apply and show what you’ve learned this semester.

Turning in the Portfolio

Your portfolio will contain the following parts and be uploaded as a single document:

1. Portfolio Cover Letter
2. Good news/neutral message (original and revision)
3. Bad news message (original and revision)
4. Persuasive message (original and revision)
5. Resume and Cover Letter (original and revision)

Grading Considerations

Each set of drafts will be graded on the attached rubric (to be updated). I will be looking for the following in each:

• Establishes a clear sense of purpose
• Uses appropriate techniques and strategies for the audience and situation
• Reflects an understanding/depth of revision
• Communicates clearly and concisely
• Contains few to no grammar/mechanics errors