Paper 4, which is due this week, asks you to go outside your comfort zone and attempt to get a
manager you do not control to recognize one of his or her employees. Tell the class briefly what
happened when you sent the memo to the supervisor. What did this assignment teach you
about managerial writing?
Assignment Four taught me that managerial writing as much as it is a persuasive act is
also a declarative act marking the intent and purpose of an employee for the tenure in
their organization. From my point of view, corresponding with supervisors went beyond
persuading higher ups to adopt my methodology or accept my opinion but to draw a
figurative line in the sand. What happened after sending my memo to my supervisor was
receiving dreaded feedback that made me uncomfortable with a sense that I may have
overstepped. In all honesty, I could chalk it up to insecurity for the most part, but I did
not expect a positive reception from my supervisor initially. I truly believe they didn’t
expect a sincere conversation. By establishing this line of communication, I’m
encouraged to believe that my supervisor regarded my memo as an effort to build our
internal relationships within our organization as well as a sign that I’m striving towards a
leadership position within the organization. At the end of the day, I feel empowered to be
able to hold my superiors accountable with an air of confidence.
Outline 1 – Chronological Experience
1. Introduction – Briefly restate the assignment goal: persuading a manager to recognize
an employee.
2. Action Taken – Describe how and when you sent the memo (method, tone, reasoning).
3. Manager’s Response – Explain what reaction or feedback you received.
4. Outcome – Note whether the employee received recognition or acknowledgment.
5. Reflection – Discuss what you learned about writing persuasively to someone in
authority.
Outline 2 – Focus on Communication Strategy
1. Objective – Explain your intention in writing the memo.
2. Writing Approach – Describe your tone, structure, and persuasive techniques.
3. Challenges – Identify difficulties in communicating upward to management.
4. Response – Summarize the supervisor’s reaction or lack thereof.
5. Lesson Learned – Reflect on how managerial writing differs from peer or academic
writing.
Outline 3 – Problem–Solution Format
1. Problem Identified – Describe the issue: employees not being recognized.
2. Proposed Solution – Explain what your memo suggested to fix this (specific recognition
idea).
3. Implementation – Tell how the manager received or acted on your suggestion.
4. Results – Discuss what happened afterward (any acknowledgment, feedback, or
silence).
5. Takeaway – State how this assignment improved your understanding of persuasive
business communication.
Outline 4 – Reflective and Personal Insight
1. Initial Feelings – Describe how you felt writing to a manager you didn’t control.
2. Memo Writing Process – Share what steps you took to make your message
professional and respectful.
3. Reaction/Outcome – Briefly summarize the supervisor’s response.
4. Reflection on Growth – Explain how the experience changed your confidence in
professional writing.
5. Key Lesson – End with one major insight about the importance of clarity, tone, and
diplomacy in managerial writing.
Outline 5 – Analytical/Skills-Based Approach
1. Purpose of the Task – Restate what the assignment aimed to teach.
2. Communication Method – Explain how you structured your memo (e.g., direct,
courteous, fact-based).
3. Response and Interpretation – Detail how the manager responded and what that
revealed about effective writing.
4. Skills Developed – Identify specific managerial writing skills gained (persuasion,
conciseness, professionalism).
5. Conclusion – Reflect on how you will apply these lessons in future workplace
communications.
Would you like me to turn one of these outlines into a full discussion post paragraph (about
150–200 words)?
Here’s your Paper 4: Good Deed Report assignment broken down into 20 clear bullet points:
1. The purpose of this paper is to practice real-world persuasive business writing.
2. The assignment is worth 10% of your total grade.
3. It includes two parts: one memo to a supervisor and one memo/report to your
instructor.
4. The goal is to persuade a manager you do not control to recognize an employee for
excellent service.
5. You must write about a real person and a real event that happened within the last
two months.
6. The employee’s service must be “above and beyond the call of duty.”
7. You must write to a real named supervisor—not imaginary or made-up people.
8. The supervisor cannot be someone you supervise or anyone who works for you.
9. Your note must request the supervisor take formal action to recognize the employee.
10. Simply praising the employee yourself will result in a low grade.
11. The correspondence to the supervisor must be 200–300 words long.
12. You may format the correspondence as a note, memo, email, or letter.
13. The subject line and first sentence must both include your request for supervisor
action.
14. Deliver your correspondence to the supervisor (by email or in person).
15. Then, write a 400–500 word business memo addressed to your instructor.
16. The memo to the instructor must describe the supervisor’s reaction and any results
(even if no action was taken).
17. The memo must be formatted in standard business memo format (To, From, Date,
Subject).
18. Both documents must be combined into one MS Word file, with the note to the
supervisor as the last page.
19. The report must be single-spaced, with double spacing between paragraphs, and
error-free in grammar, spelling, and structure.
20. Grading focuses on timeliness, clarity, correctness, appropriate format, and
audience awareness.
Would you like me to create a sample outline or draft for the “Memo to the Instructor” part
next?