Writer’s Notebook

“September”

Wow. Is it really September already?

9/1/10

Content: Fun

Real-World Writing Real-World Writing Turned Reader’s TheaterTurned Reader’s Theater

Business Style Letters with Business Style Letters with Effective ToneEffective Tone

Goals and ObjectivesGoals and Objectives

Construct effective business letters Construct effective business letters using appropriate tone and audience using appropriate tone and audience awarenessawareness

To build a strong rebuttal paragraph To build a strong rebuttal paragraph that anticipates an argument from the that anticipates an argument from the opponentopponent

Model letters through role-playModel letters through role-playDiscuss use of tone in each of Discuss use of tone in each of

the five real-world writing tasks.the five real-world writing tasks.

Business Letter

In On-Demand writing, you may be asked to write a letter. 9 times out of 10, it will be a formal business letter.

Just like the business letters you have already learned about.

Letter

Similar to speechNot out loud, but you can directly

address the audienceCan make use of first personAUDIENCE AWARENESSFORMATFORMAT

_____________________

______________________ ______________________ _________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________ ________________________ ________________________

___DATE _____________

___SENDER’S ADDRESS_ ___RECIPIENT’S ADDRESS___ ____GREETING_____________________________________ _______INTRODUCTION_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _______________BODY PARAGRAPH (x3)__________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ________________CONCLUSION___________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ _CLOSING___________ ___SIGNATURE_________ ____TYPED (PRINTED) NAME__

SKIP A LINE

SKIP A LINE

Working with Working with oneone Partner Partner Partner 1: Pretend you are an unhappy customer Partner 1: Pretend you are an unhappy customer

complaining about a malfunctioning or flawed complaining about a malfunctioning or flawed product you have just purchased. Get a product you have just purchased. Get a replacement.replacement.

You pick the product. Be creative but make sure it works You pick the product. Be creative but make sure it works within the context of the assignment.within the context of the assignment.

Partner 2: Pretend you are the customer service Partner 2: Pretend you are the customer service representative responding to the complaint of the representative responding to the complaint of the customer. Your job is to make the customer happy customer. Your job is to make the customer happy but you but you CANNOT CANNOT replace the product.replace the product.

Both Partners must write a business letter and must Both Partners must write a business letter and must use appropriate tone for the audience and situation.use appropriate tone for the audience and situation.

Writer’s Notebook

““Mr. Kcoow”Mr. Kcoow”• Your evil math teacher, Mr. Kcoow, says that Your evil math teacher, Mr. Kcoow, says that

students at Western are worthless and will not students at Western are worthless and will not amount to anything. He thinks it is a waste of amount to anything. He thinks it is a waste of time to try to teach you all because you all are time to try to teach you all because you all are just a bunch of derelicts with no future.just a bunch of derelicts with no future.

• Write a letter (don’t worry about full format w/ Write a letter (don’t worry about full format w/ addresses) to Mr. Kcoow explaining why his addresses) to Mr. Kcoow explaining why his assessment of students at Western is wrong.assessment of students at Western is wrong.

9/2/109/2/10

Content: On Demand (tone)

Letter Check

Trade letters with a classmate.

Underline any direct address of the audience

Circle any universal “you” that does not refer to the intended audience

Check the format write a margin note for any missing elements of the letter

For Later

Rewrite your letter

FOCUS:FormatAudience AwarenessRebuttal Paragraph

How You Will Be EvaluatedHow You Will Be Evaluated

Is there a clear thesis statement that Is there a clear thesis statement that reflects the writer’s position? -10 pts.reflects the writer’s position? -10 pts.

Is there a “hook” in the intro to make Is there a “hook” in the intro to make readers want to read more? -10 pts.readers want to read more? -10 pts.

Is there a clear beginning, middle, and Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end? -10 pts.end? -10 pts.

Is the writer aware of their audience? -10 Is the writer aware of their audience? -10 pts.pts.

Does the writer anticipate and address Does the writer anticipate and address opposing arguments or objections? -10 pts.opposing arguments or objections? -10 pts.

Speech

• Speeches are written to be read OUT LOUDSpeeches are written to be read OUT LOUD

• Write it as it should be spokenWrite it as it should be spoken– Direct address of audienceDirect address of audience– RepetitionRepetition– Rhetorical questionsRhetorical questions– VoiceVoice– Can even use stage directionsCan even use stage directions

Speech Tips

• RepetitionRepetition– audience does not have the textaudience does not have the text– Repeat crucial points they need to rememberRepeat crucial points they need to remember

• ThesisThesis• ReasonsReasons• ThesisThesis

• Engage the audienceEngage the audience– Direct addressDirect address– Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical Questions– Inclusive LanguageInclusive Language

• Hook ‘emHook ‘em– Strong IntroductionStrong Introduction

Write a Speech• Partner 1 (the Customer)Partner 1 (the Customer)

– Write a speech to a group of local business owners Write a speech to a group of local business owners explaining the importance of customer service. Use a explaining the importance of customer service. Use a personal experience to illustrate your point about dealing personal experience to illustrate your point about dealing with customers who purchase defective merchandise.with customers who purchase defective merchandise.

• Partner 2 (the Customer Service Rep)Partner 2 (the Customer Service Rep)– Write a speech to a group of local consumers (people who Write a speech to a group of local consumers (people who

buy stuff) explaining the best way to deal with customer buy stuff) explaining the best way to deal with customer service. Use a personal experience to illustrate your point service. Use a personal experience to illustrate your point about the best way to deal with customer service when about the best way to deal with customer service when returning defective merchandise.returning defective merchandise.

Writer’s Notebook

““Employable Graduates”Employable Graduates”• JCPS is concerned students are not prepared JCPS is concerned students are not prepared

for the current job market when they graduate for the current job market when they graduate from high school. The district plans to implement from high school. The district plans to implement a new graduation requirement. Students will be a new graduation requirement. Students will be required to create a proper resume, complete a required to create a proper resume, complete a practice job interview, and be determined as practice job interview, and be determined as “employable” before they are allowed to “employable” before they are allowed to graduate.graduate.

• Write a speech to school board to convince them Write a speech to school board to convince them to support or oppose this plan.to support or oppose this plan.

9/3/109/3/10

Content: On Demand

Speech Evaluation• Trade speeches with a classmate

– Evaluate the speech with the criteria to follow

• IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SPEECH:– Write a speech to a group of local business owners Write a speech to a group of local business owners

explaining the importance of customer service. Use a explaining the importance of customer service. Use a personal experience to illustrate your point about personal experience to illustrate your point about dealing with customers who purchase defective dealing with customers who purchase defective merchandise.merchandise.

How You Will Be EvaluatedHow You Will Be Evaluated• Is there a clear thesis statement that reflects the writer’s Is there a clear thesis statement that reflects the writer’s

position? position? UNDERLINEUNDERLINE the thesis the thesis• Is there a “hook” in the intro to make readers want to read Is there a “hook” in the intro to make readers want to read

more? more? [BRACKET] [BRACKET] the hook the hook• Does the writer anticipate and address opposing arguments Does the writer anticipate and address opposing arguments

or objections? or objections? *Star the rebuttal paragraph*Star the rebuttal paragraph• Is the writer aware of their audience? -10 pts.Is the writer aware of their audience? -10 pts.• Does the writer make effective use of repetition for the Does the writer make effective use of repetition for the

crucial points? crucial points? Circle the crucial points that are repeatedCircle the crucial points that are repeated

Audience a la Mode• Complete the “Audience a la Mode” sheet

Writer’s NotebookWriter’s Notebook

““Letter/Speech Reflection”Letter/Speech Reflection” What changed when you switched What changed when you switched

form letter format to a speech?form letter format to a speech? What changed when you switched What changed when you switched

from an individual audience to a from an individual audience to a group?group?

HomeworkHomework

Revise and rewrite your letter or speech Revise and rewrite your letter or speech (choose one).(choose one).

Focus on audience awareness and suitable Focus on audience awareness and suitable tone.tone.

Use a rebuttal Use a rebuttal What is your partner’s strongest argument against What is your partner’s strongest argument against

you?you? Why is this not a strong argument?Why is this not a strong argument? Why is your argument better? Why is your argument better?