Assignment #1: Persuasive Letter
Length:
Value:
Est. Time:
Due:
700-1000 words for letter body (does not include analysis)
90 points
6 to 8 hours
Rough Draft (15 pts.): Jan. 23
Final Draft (75 pts.): Jan. 28
Compose a letter to a “real” individual audience where you attempt to persuade a reluctant or
ambivalent audience to do something for you (not for society at large). Your goal should be
fairly challenging but also attainable. It should not be something so trite as trying to obtain a free
meal or getting a few dollars knocked off your cell phone bill. Neither should it be so grandiose
as to change the law of the land. You need a topic for which you have a decent body of evidence
(including visual evidence) with which to support your argument. The topic should also be
focused and have a reasonable chance of success. Here are some past challenging arguments that
have proven successful:
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Write a letter on behalf of your company.
Compose a personal statement for graduate school.
Persuade an auto manufacturer to perform a “non-warranty repair on a vehicle.
Encourage a business to change some aspect of their facility (i.e.—handicap accessibility,
layout, product line).
Get a company to repair a valuable product for free when that product is out of warranty.
Persuade your landlord to remodel the bathroom in your apartment or perhaps install a
dishwasher if you don’t already have one.
Convince a bank to forgive penalties levied against you.
Obtain an interview through a job application letter.
In addition to the letter, complete an audience/context analysis based on the discussions
Sheehan’s textbook. The analysis should be in memo format to me and 300 to 500 words in
length. It should discuss but not be limited to the:
 context(s) in which the message will be read and possibly used. You should pay
particular attention to the constraints that may be placed upon the communication.
 outcome(s) you hope to achieve with the communication as well as those you would like
to avoid.
 various audiences (based on Sheehan’s “kinds of audience” that might be exposed to or
affected by the document and a description of what those audience(s) will likely value.
Once completed, I strongly urge you to mail your letter so you can gauge the success of your
efforts. Further, it is entirely acceptable for you to write a letter on behalf of a friend or family
member.
The grading criteria for this assignment will be based on completed audience analysis, quality
and quantity of the supporting evidence, content, tone, style (including visual elements), format,
thoroughness and mechanics.