5 Discussions assignments

Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.

By the due date assigned, respond to the assigned discussion questions and submit your responses to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.

Respond to the assigned questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

DISCUSSION 1 (250WORDS)

ERRORS TO AVOID IN A BUSINESS LETTER

In the course of your day-to-day work, you need to write dozens of business letters, to your colleagues, clients, consultants, or vendors. Think what would happen if you were to make a critical error in your communication that will eventually affect your firm financially.

Using the South University Online Library research and read articles that describe the business costs resulting from unclear instructions. Based on your research and readings, respond to the following questions:

• What are the kinds of errors that are commonly committed in a business letter?
• What could be the results of such errors? Provide at least three examples.
• How would you avoid such errors in the future? Explain in detail.
• What would you include in a best practices document for writing a business letter? Explain the dos and don’ts.

Discussion 2: (250WORDS)

Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.

By the due date assigned respond to the assigned discussion questions and submit your responses to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.

Respond to the assigned questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

INTEROFFICE MEMOS AND THE RELATED ETHICS

You have just been appointed to head up the committee to plan the upcoming holiday party for your company, which employs around three hundred people. Susan, Mark, John, and Kathy have also been appointed to this committee. You have worked with Susan before and know that she will be a great worker. You have met Mark and Kathy, but do not know much about them. Unfortunately, you have heard that John can be difficult to work with. At any rate, you are really excited about planning this party and know that leading this committee will be a great opportunity to show your leadership skills.

Based on this scenario and your understanding of how to write internal e-mails, respond to the following:

• Create an e-mail draft you want to send to your committee members about an initial meeting to discuss the party. In the e-mail, include any information you think is appropriate to get everyone excited and on board to make this the best holiday party ever.

Then, respond to any two of the following:

• As you developed this e-mail, what did you consider including in the message? Why did you feel that was important to include?
• Were there any topics that you decided would be best not to include in this message? What were they and why did you choose not to include them?
• Were you concerned about how formal or informal this e-mail needed to be? Why?
• Is it ethical to include blind carbon copies (Bcc) in business e-mails? Give reasons for your agreement or disagreement.
• The information you have heard about John being difficult to work with has you concerned. Do you plan to communicate with him before the initial meeting? If yes, what method will you use to communicate with him? If no, why not?.

Discussion 3: (250WORDS)

Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.

By the due date assigned, respond to the assigned discussion questions and submit your responses to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.

Respond to the assigned questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

THE PREWRITING PROCESS

According to J. Richard Hackman, a noted team research scholar, using a team to complete a complex project may not be the best approach. However, imagine that your organization relies heavily on teams to complete projects. Your boss wants you to develop a well-researched report analyzing Hackman’s comment.

As you prepare to write this report, please respond to any four of the questions below. Post your responses in the discussion board.

• What are the first steps of the 3×3 writing process–the prewriting process?
• What is the purpose of your report? Why are you writing this report? What do you hope to achieve with this report?
• What is the best channel to send your report? What factors did you consider in making this decision?
• Who is your primary audience? Do you have a secondary audience?
• What is the appropriate tone for your report?
• What techniques will you use to help you achieve a positive tone?
• How are you going to ensure your report has a “you” view?
• Give an example of how you will make your report:
  • Conversational and professional
  • Courteous
  • Bias-free
  • Precise and vigorous

As you respond to your classmates, make sure you use the course concepts that you have studied so far.

Discussion 4:(250WORDS)

Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.

By the due date assigned respond to the assigned discussion questions and submit your responses to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.

Respond to the assigned questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

WRITING APPROPRIATE E-MAILS

Given below is an example of a poorly written e-mail.

To: Sylvia Greene (sgreene@financialsolutions.com)

From: Chester Goings (cgoings@financialsolutions.com)

Subject: No Go on Baby Charity Thing

Cc:

Bcc:

Hey, Syl, you’re one in a million. But we can’t give you time off to work on that charity fashion show/luncheon thingy you want to coordinate. And Financial Solutions can’t make a big contribution as we’ve done in previous years. It’s no, no, no, all the way around.

Look, we admire the work you have done for the Newborn Hope Foundation. It has raised millions of dollars to make differences in the lives of babies, particularly premature ones. But we need you here!

With the upcoming release of our Planning Guide 5.0, we need you to interview clients. We need you to make video testimonials, and you are the one to search for stories about customer successes. Plus a zillion other tasks! Our new website will launch in just six short weeks, and all that content stuff must be in final form. With the economy in the tank and our bare-bones staff, you certainly must realize that each and every team member must be here and making a difference. If our Planning Guide 5.0 doesn’t make a big splash, we’ll all have a lot of time off.

Due to the fact that we’re the worldwide leader in on-demand financial planning and reporting software, and in view of the fact that we are about to launch our most important new product ever, you must understand our position. When things get better, we might be able to return back to our past practices. But not now!
Chet

Your assignment is to rewrite this as a professionally written, appropriately toned e-mail. Your version of this e-mail must satisfy the following parameters:

• Subject line should be professional, informative, and include a verb.
• Opening should cordial and the topic should be introduced using the indirect method.
• Body should provide good information, be logical, discuss only one topic, and be easy to read.
• Closing should conclude with action information, dates, or deadlines, summarization of the message, and a closing thought.

Discussion 5: (250WORDS)

Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.

By the due date assigned, respond to the assigned discussion questions and submit your responses to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.

Respond to the assigned questions using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

CREATING GOOD PRESENTATIONS

Using the South University Online Library, research good and bad habits while creating Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. Based on your research and understanding, complete the following tasks:

• Explain at least five bad habits that are often seen in Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
• Recommend how to overcome each of the bad habits mentioned in the point above.
• Propose five recommendations to create a compelling Microsoft PowerPoint