Modules 11 & 12

Module 11 is about negative messages.  If you write a negative message, you should only use a negative subject line if you think the reader may ignore the message because they do not think that the message is important.  Also, when you give a bad news message to a boss or other superior, you want to make the subject line that focuses on solving the problem.  Bad news letters to people outside of the organization should try to build goodwill, bad news letters to superiors should offer solutions not just report the problem, and bad news letters to peers and subordinates should try to get them involved in trying to help solve the problem.  In bad news letters, do not tell the reader that they cannot do something, instead word it in a way to show that a policy is being changed or some other way that is not as personal and blaming. Module 12 is about Persuasive Messages.  The two main persuasive strategies are the direct request pattern and the problem solving pattern.  Use the direct request pattern if the audience will do as you ask without resistance or you need a response only from the people who are willing to act.  Use a problem solving pattern when the audience is likely to object to your proposal, you need action from everyone, and you expect the logic to be more important than emotion in the final decision.  In the subject line, you should use the request, topic or question if you are using the direct request approach, otherwise use a reader benefit.

One thing that I thought was very important in module 11 was when writing a bad letter to someone outside of your company, I thought that it was a great idea for the writer to offer additional alternatives to the reader so that it can help to build goodwill and show the reader that even though the writer or company has bad news for them, they are still willing to offer assistance in whatever ways they can.

Something in module 12 that is very important is a way to help people overcome objections to a problem, such as how much time or money they may have to spend.  To overcome this, you can show them how little time they could expect to spend on the project/problem, and also show them what could be overcome and accomplished with the money they may spend, these will help to eliminate any fears they may have.