1. PRODUCT/ SERVICE COMPARISON Making Purchasing Decisions

2. Definition and Explanation Examination of the features of a number of products or services to decide which one to purchase Results of the investigation of various brands to find the best one to purchase.

3. Purpose Investigate and either choose the best product or service for your audience or allow your audience to choose.

4. Prewriting Choose the product or service to research. Select a minimum of four brands/models of that product/service. –Ex. If investigating automobiles for additions to company fleet, examine at least four makes/models.

5. Criteria/Features/Wishlist List of criteria to apply to each of the 4+ examples. Criteria can come from you or audience. List appears in introduction and should be specific. –Instead of an item like “fuel economy,” give the EPA figures: 35 city and 40 highway. List format adds visual variety to your memo.

6. Format Memo format Mandatory elements –TO: – FROM: – DATE: – SUBJECT: Introduction, body, conclusion sections with appropriate headings

7. Introduction Background information about need for purchase List of criteria –Indicate importance of each criterion Rank order Asterisk after mandatory criteria

8. Paragraphs 1 Organization: Block or alternating method –Matrix pattern: best/cheapest to worst/most expensive –ex. Block: physical therapy schools W. VaUMABDukeShen $3,926no testsGREDMV DMV $9,088no DMV$13,000 AHPATDMV$18kGRE

9. Paragraphs 2 Alternating method –ex. Therapy schools –tuitionareatests –$4k wvashen=yumab=none –$9k umabwva=ywva=ahpat –$13k shenumab=yshen=gre –$18k dukeduke=nduke=gre Student comparison example 1

10. Table 2nd organization: comparison table, not paragraphs Items and features along x and y axes Fill in grid with specific information or y/n Student comparison example 2Student comparison example 2 Nam es/fe atur es UM AB WV A She n Duk e $9k4k13k18k DMVyyyn testsnahp at gre

11. Choice With paragraphs in the body, the conclusion is short. With the table, the conclusion is long. You choose = tell audience choice and reasons for it Audience chooses = you remind audience of major pros and cons for each item Giving the audience several choices is also acceptable.

12. Topic Handout Guidelines

13. Product Comparison Exercise Comparison Exercise Instructions