Assignment:
Overview: In this assignment you need to craft two separate documents:
1. a marketing letter inviting a distinguished guest to a campus event and
2. a networking email contacting an internship program or an international company.
Please study the scenarios provided below to determine the audience, style, tone, and structure of each document.
Writing a Marketing Letter
The background. Businesses often invite prominent people to participate in activities that promote the organization's interests: fund-raising events, product promotions, groundbreaking ceremonies, professional conferences, and so on. A major challenge is that the invitee may not
be rewarded monetarily, or may be given only a small honorarium. And if the invited person is rich, famous, or busy enough, even substantial compensation might not be enough to get him or her to participate in your high-profile people to contribute their time and energy.
In this application, you are charged with inviting a local distinguished person to participate in a campus event for your team, group, club, fraternity, sorority, or some other organization of your choice. You would like this person either to join a discussion on a particular topic or to formally present his or her views on an issue of interest to your group. (You can make up an appropriate group if you don't actually belong to one, but be sure to select an actual person as your inviteeperhaps someone of renown.) Assume that the invitee is busy with other obligations and probably receives many similar requests to contribute time and expertise. Your group has $500 available for an honorarium or for other activities to support the planned event (for example, a lunch or dinner meeting with the invited guest).
The purpose. You goal is to gain the interest of the invited person, to help the invitee feel a connection to your group's interest and purposes, and to feel that she or he has the right background to make a useful contribution.
The audience. Most people you will want to invite are very busy, often in demand for similar groups and events. Sure, you need to flatter the person invited, but primarily you need to arouse his or her interest in your group's purposes. The invitee needs to feel prepared to contribute the requested information and ideas. You also need to show scheduling flexibility to accommodate the guest's busy calendar.
The communication strategy. Use a respectful tone throughout the communication, a tone that reflects your admiration for the invited person and your appreciation for his or her considering you request. Also, make sure to do the following:
· Identify the nature and interests of the group you are representing, giving the invited person enough information to decide whether he or she has the right background to meet your needs.
· Give examples of any related activities your group has sponsored.
· Let the invitee know exactly when and where the event will occur, possibly offering alternative dates.
· Tell the invitee whether there will be other presenters; how long she or he should speak, respond to questions, or both; and who will be in the audience (undergraduate students? Faculty? The general public?).
· Stipulate the honorarium if you intend to use some or all of your group's $500 for this purpose.
· Close with a thank-you and a date by which you need a reply.
· Provide your contact information and express your readiness to discuss any of the details.
Writing a Networking Email (choose one scenario)
Scenario 1:
Find an internship program in the field of your interest. Research about the program: overview, requirements, person(s) to contact regarding the application. Then following the guidelines below, compose your networking email.
Scenario 2:
Find an international company in the field of your interest. Research about the company: history, ratings, latest news. Choose a position you would like to apply for and the person you can contact regarding an informal interview. Then following the guidelines below, compose your networking email.