Letter Analysis

[syllabus] [calendar]

The purpose of the class is to give you an opportunity to analyze business letters by applying the
principles that one should use when writing a letter to a client.

Before Class

• In PWOnline read about The Rhetoric of a Letter, the Template of a Letter and analyze the
  sample Bad News Letter. As you read through these links, keep in the mind the letter that you
  have to write to the displeased client in the Digital Copyright Case.
• Look through the Letter Analysis activity for tomorrow, start thinking about the answers to the
  questions.

During Class

• Work with your DCC groups.

• Read the two sample letters: Letter #1 and Letter#2. Each group may want to print
  one copy of each letter to see what the letter would look like printed.
• Answer the following question in the body of an email addressed to the instructor.

Questions

1. For each letter, identify the writer, the audience, the purpose, and the situation.
2. Does each letter comply with the rhetorical principles of a business letter? Note the differences.
3. What features make each of these letters effective in fulfilling its purpose? What makes each letter
   ineffective?
4. What changes would you make in each letter to make it more effective? Why?