Agenda zMama Rosetti’s results and review zSolestar peer review zDiscussion of final presentations zIntroduction to collaborative writing

Mama Rosetti’s zWhat was important? yAudience focus: using appropriate tone, addressing all reader concerns, being concise, taking a non-confrontational approach, not directly contradicting the reader, ending on a positive note yContent: using clear examples, having lots of data, providing data from a variety of sources, drawing on your own experience as data, explaining your position thoroughly, explaining why your reasons are important to the company yOrganization: getting to the main point quickly, sticking to the main point, being easy to follow yFormat: using bullet points and headings yOther: creativity

Solestar peer review zIn discussing your drafts of Solestar, consider the following questions: yWhat do you know about your audience? yWhat type of persuasive appeal(s) will you use? (Why?) yWhat type of organization will you use? (Why?) yWhat kind of data will you need to support your position? (What data is included in the case and what will need to be made up?) zIf you were Benjamin, would your partner’s memo have a positive impact on you?

Collaborative report and presentation yBoth: xProblem-solution orientation xTeam of 3-5 xSubject must be confirmed by March 30 yWritten proposal (40 points) xMust have parts listed in syllabus xLength: 3-5 pages (not counting title, executive summary, bibliography) xMust analyze and recommend yOral presentation (20 points) xAll must speak (even if briefly) x8-12 minutes, plus time for Q&A

Possible topics zCommunication problem: the problem must be within the scope of communication, not strategy or policy zExamples: yAirline public responses after crashes yCompanies accused of environmental wrong-doing that have reacted in public yGovernment communications on controversial topics yCompanies that have tried (unsuccessfully) to cover up unpopular policies, procedures, or prior knowledge

Possible sources zThink of a crisis or sensational event you are interested in. Look up the crisis/event and see whether communication was a factor in the problem zThink of a company you are interested in. Look up the company in a media database and see if there are any crises or problems in its history zUse the library and the Internet zUse material from other classes

Presentation overview zLength: 8 minutes min, 12 minutes max, plus required Q&A zParts: yDescription of communication problem yRoot cause analysis (main source of trouble) yRecommendation yCost/benefit analysis (for your recommendations) yQ&A

Why collaborate? z“Individual authorship” in organizations is uncommon yMost writing is collaborative to some extent (e.g. directly asking for feedback, multiple “layers” of submission, use of forms) yEven if you write the document “alone”, your rhetorical, stylistic, and language choices are shaped by organizational norms. So are your channel and format zCollaboration can allow synthesis of ideas, learning styles, perspectives, etc. - leading to better documents

Successful group writing zWhat is it? (How do you define success?) zWhat factors contribute to it?

Document analysis z With your team for the final project, read the document z Be prepared to discuss the “Discussion” questions (do not have to write out) z Be prepared to stand up and discuss one key recommendation you would have for the company z Turn in the document with your group’s comments on it

Assignment z Work on your Solestar memo z Read Ch. 13 in EBC z Read “Collaborative Writing” on CourseTools