Macbeth and Free

Macbeth and Free Will Essay In Desiderius Erasmus’s Defense of Free Will, he refutes Martin Luther’s creed that God predestines everyone’s lives and instead asserts that man alone possesses the power to choose his own path to either salvation or damnation. The play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, raises similar questions – did the protagonist, Macbeth, willingly choose to commit such atrocities as killing the king and his court to feed his own ambition, or did he merely play the role of a pawn, performing that which fate bade him do? Amid much controversy over this issue, evidence both in Erasmus’s critical essay and in the play itself affirms that Macbeth cognitively decides to act as he does in the play, confirming Erasmus’s perspective and suggesting that people have the ability to dictate their own fate through their thoughts, decisions, and actions. Through his interpretation of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, Erasmus writes in favor of free will over predestination, a concept that, when applied to the character Macbeth, raises questions about the motives behind his detestable actions. In his essay, Erasmus explores the â€Å"power of the human† (46) to â€Å"turn away from what leads to eternal salvation† (46). According to this opinion, Macbeth makes a conscious choice to pursue a life of crime and sin, instead of simply following his fate. Macbeth’s plea that the â€Å"stars hide [their] fires† (1. 4. 57) so that â€Å"light [would not] see [his] black and deep desires† (1. 4. 58) indicates that Macbeth remains aware that his â€Å"wicked, rebellious will† (Erasmus, 48) lies within himself, and he fears the consequences of his sinful deeds. This very fear of punishment reflects the existence of free will in Macbeth as Erasmus inquires, â€Å"why [should God] curse me, when I sinned through necessity? † (47). Macbeth’s clear understanding of the evil that he plans to commit and his fear of divine punishment suggest that characters in Macbeth choose their actions as opposed to following their destiny. Macbeth’s evil actions, however, are not completely driven by an inherent evil nature; although he does have free will in the play, he becomes a slave to his ruthless ambition because of his own moral weakness. As Erasmus writes, â€Å"there are certain seeds of goodness planted in men’s minds† (50), although â€Å"the will is perhaps more inclined to evil than to good† (50). In other words, everyone possesses both good and bad within them, and it is up to the individual person to â€Å"[turn themselves] towards, or away from, faith† (48-9). Macbeth’s apparently latent moral code surfaces occasionally throughout the first act in his moments of wavering in his violent resolve; he tells Lady Macbeth that they â€Å"will proceed no further in this business† (1.7. 34) in one of the scenes preceding the murder. However, the manipulative Lady Macbeth must only mention that which Macbeth desires and question his masculinity to crush Macbeth’s good side and force it to submit to his evil ambition. The ease with which Lady Macbeth extinguishes Macbeth’s doubt of the evil plan highlights Macbeth’s weakness for his ambition. Macbeth becomes a slave not to the devil, but instead to the very evil that resides within himself. Neither heaven nor hell predetermines Macbeth’s actions in the play; it is in fact his inability to compromise his ruthless ambition that ultimately forces him into crime. He chooses to sin of his own accord, and therefore faces his final punishment that sets the world back in order at the end of the tragedy. Through their individual works, Shakespeare and Erasmus imply that humans have free will to determine their own actions, and only the strongest of heart will succeed in accomplishing the work of God.

Personal Narrative- Staying Young Forever :: Personal Narrative Essays

Personal Narrative- Staying Young Forever It all begins with the famous phrase, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" As children, we think the words "growing up" mean becoming like mom and dad. It means having a job, being able to cook dinner, and knowing how to pay bills. We are too young to understand the real concept behind those two dreadful words. If only someone had told me the truth, I could have prepared for the shock. I hate growing up, and getting older really stinks! The phases of growing up are like a date gone wrong. They start off real nice and eventually smack you in the face. I remember back in kindergarten when there used to be nap time. Oh how I took it for granted! I'm not even sure if I know what the word "sleep" means now. And if school couldn't get more difficult over the years, someone came along and decided we needed to learn languages other than English. As if my English wasn't bad enough, now I have to learn how to speak in gibberish. Growing up causes the "unthinkable" to happen. When I was little, I really should have taken advantage of pure skin, no wrinkles, and the phrase "eat your vegetables." Now, I have to use Clearasil, undereye cream, and drink Slim-Fast! What could possibly be good about becoming old, fat, ugly, and bald? I used to have energy, but now I have to drink caffeine to wake myself up. It used to be that when I went to get my hair cut, my stylist would say, "Look how shiny and thick your hair is." Now I hear, "Okay, what should we try today to give your hair some volume?" Not to mention that we women have the privilege of losing our figures, becoming less attractive, and receiving lumps of cellulite in our backside. That's when we must say, "Goodbye bikinis!" Growing up brings more responsibilities. It used to be that my mom would come in my room every morning and say, "Time to get up!" Now I wake up to the annoying sound of my alarm clock going "beep, beep," and my mom in the next room sawing logs. Just when I thought this was bad, it never occurred to me that at the age of twelve I would eventually have to get something called a "job".

The Public Needs to Know

The Acquisition Process Competition Requirements Choconda Martin BUS 319 November 5, 2012 Professor Calvin D. Fogle Almost all DOD systems are competed at some stage in the acquisition system (we would guess that less than 10% of acquisition programs do not go through a competitive process at least once in their acquisition cycle). Generally, the sequence is: †¢ Define the requirement (determine the mismatch between operational capability–more about this below); †¢ Advertise the need for a product that can satisfy the requirement; †¢ Accept bids from potential suppliers; †¢ Review proposals and select one or more suppliers, Order the product; †¢ Monitor progress; †¢ Accept the finished product; †¢ Review project documentation and pay for the product. This cycle repeats itself one or more times during system development and one or more times during procurement (purchase of a major end item previously developed or available commercially). For l arge systems, procurement follows a highly demanding DOD-funded development process and the prime manufacturer, almost by necessity, is the developer. In such cases, the competitive steps for a given phase of the acquisition process (listed above) would not be repeated during the procurement phase.Some things that I would change would be the misconception of communication within the industry during acquisition processing. The Federal Government has an obligation to conduct procurements in the most effective, responsible and efficient manner possible. Current market information is very vital as they define the requirements, so that the contracting officers can develop the acquisition strategies, seek opportunities for small businesses, and negotiate contract terms. Industry partners are the best source for this information, so productive interactions is very important and should be encouraged.The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) authorizes a broad range opportunites for vendor co mmunication, but agencies most time do not take advantage of these existing flexibilities. Some agencies may be reluctant due to fear of protests or fear binding the agency in unauthorized commitments. If we increase the awareness by training the agencies with the help of DAU (Defense Acquisition University) and agency training practitioners to conduct an awareness campaign we might be able to eliminate unnecessary barriers to engagement.Agencies should provide clear, consistent direction to their workforce and industry partners about how to engage with industry prior to award of contracts and task and delivery orders under the Federal Supply Schedule, government-wide acquisition contracts, and other indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts. While agencies do not have the resources, and are not required, to meet with every vendor at every step of the acquisition process, information gathered from industry sources plays an invaluable role in the acquisition process.For this reason, agencies must develop practices that will ensure early, frequent, and constructive communication during key phases of the process. The federal government’s ability to achieve successful program outcomes, effectively and efficiently, depends upon agencies establishing effective strategies for industry engagement and supporting those strategies with senior-level commitment.References Co-Workers/Supervisor/FAR The Public Needs to Know The Acquisition Process Competition Requirements Choconda Martin BUS 319 November 5, 2012 Professor Calvin D. Fogle Almost all DOD systems are competed at some stage in the acquisition system (we would guess that less than 10% of acquisition programs do not go through a competitive process at least once in their acquisition cycle). Generally, the sequence is: †¢ Define the requirement (determine the mismatch between operational capability–more about this below); †¢ Advertise the need for a product that can satisfy the requirement; †¢ Accept bids from potential suppliers; †¢ Review proposals and select one or more suppliers, Order the product; †¢ Monitor progress; †¢ Accept the finished product; †¢ Review project documentation and pay for the product. This cycle repeats itself one or more times during system development and one or more times during procurement (purchase of a major end item previously developed or available commercially). For l arge systems, procurement follows a highly demanding DOD-funded development process and the prime manufacturer, almost by necessity, is the developer. In such cases, the competitive steps for a given phase of the acquisition process (listed above) would not be repeated during the procurement phase.Some things that I would change would be the misconception of communication within the industry during acquisition processing. The Federal Government has an obligation to conduct procurements in the most effective, responsible and efficient manner possible. Current market information is very vital as they define the requirements, so that the contracting officers can develop the acquisition strategies, seek opportunities for small businesses, and negotiate contract terms. Industry partners are the best source for this information, so productive interactions is very important and should be encouraged.The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) authorizes a broad range opportunites for vendor co mmunication, but agencies most time do not take advantage of these existing flexibilities. Some agencies may be reluctant due to fear of protests or fear binding the agency in unauthorized commitments. If we increase the awareness by training the agencies with the help of DAU (Defense Acquisition University) and agency training practitioners to conduct an awareness campaign we might be able to eliminate unnecessary barriers to engagement.Agencies should provide clear, consistent direction to their workforce and industry partners about how to engage with industry prior to award of contracts and task and delivery orders under the Federal Supply Schedule, government-wide acquisition contracts, and other indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts. While agencies do not have the resources, and are not required, to meet with every vendor at every step of the acquisition process, information gathered from industry sources plays an invaluable role in the acquisition process.For this reason, agencies must develop practices that will ensure early, frequent, and constructive communication during key phases of the process. The federal government’s ability to achieve successful program outcomes, effectively and efficiently, depends upon agencies establishing effective strategies for industry engagement and supporting those strategies with senior-level commitment.References Co-Workers/Supervisor/FAR

Analysis Of Mike Bunn s Writing - 1771 Words

Understanding The Different Rhetorics Bunn, M. (2011). How to read like a writer: Readings on writing. Writing spaces (Vol. 2, pp.71-85). WAC Clearinghouse. http://wac.colostate.edu/books Summary: In the textbook chapter of Mike Bunn’s How To Read Like a Writer, he addresses college graduate students and theatre students. Narrative and descriptive are use to describe Bunn’s form of writing. As he stated in his thesis, â€Å"In 1997, I was a recent college graduate student living in London for six months and working at the Palace Theatre owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber.† (71) According to Bunn’s text, he describes his experiences by working at the theatre and being a college graduate student by using rhetoric in his writing. One of the main†¦show more content†¦The author’s ethical approach was on the beginning of the first paragraph where he explains his job in a Palace Theatre owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Reid, E. S. (2011) Ten ways to think about writing: Metaphoric musings for college writing student. Writing spaces: Readings on writing. (Vol. 2, pp. 3-22). WAC Clearinghouse.. http://wac.colostate.edu/books Summary: This chapter of the textbook by E. Shelley Reid’s Ten Ways To Think About Writing: Metaphoric Musings for College Writing addresses writing students. Reid uses expository and descriptive types of writing in her text. She describes and explains about the ten different important things when it comes to writing. One example in her chapter is where she explains how to write by the rules, describes the steps on how to be a successful writer and why some people struggle with writing essays or paragraphs sometimes. The writer quoted, â€Å"Write about what you know about so that you can show not just tell in order to adapt to your audience’s needs and accomplish your goals. Unless you do a good job showing what you mean, your audience will not understand your message.† (4) She also stated in one of her steps that sometimes the audience or readers of an essay or writing cannot exactly understand what the writer is trying to tell them. She tells her audience to

Analysis Of Divergent The Movie - 1197 Words

Analysis of Divergent The movie Divergent can be interpreted and looked into deeply to discover the missing and hidden features within the film. Throughout the movie, there are many twists and turns. It takes the viewers on a journey. The movie is easy to understand with what is going on, but at times the plot is about mystery. When viewers go to the theater to watch the film, they tend to miss the hidden features of the movie. They only tend to focus on certain points, and by paying greater attention, viewers are able to discover more than what they actually know that occurs in the movie. In Divergent, the genre of the film will be established, the realistic points of the movie will be divulged, and the composition will be focused on. Throughout the movie, the genre is focused on a dystopian post-apocalyptic time period. But, even though it is dystopian, it is full of adventure. Dystopian means a relating to or denoting an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant o r bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded environment. The whole city of Chicago is being run by a single dictator Jeanine. The group of people she has work for her help with enforcement of the rules. They are truly trapped in a world, and are not able to get out. Divergent is full of intensity and action with not knowing what will happen next. The genre is geared toward more teenagers and coming of age adults. Even though the genre is a dystopian post-apocalyptic timeShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of The Princess Bride And A Pair Of Tickets1744 Words   |  7 PagesRick Hutchens English 105 May 23, 2017 Three Girls and Their Quest to Find Themselves in the Face of Adversity: An Analysis of The Princess Bride, Divergent and â€Å"A Pair of Tickets† and How Vampirism and Quests make the stories what they are. Writing a story is difficult. In the stories The Princess Bride by William Goldman and â€Å"A Pair of Tickets† by Amy Tan, and the movie Divergent Directed by Neil Burger there are three very similar women who must find their path in life. In The Princess BrideRead MoreSociological Theories In The Movie Divergent1584 Words   |  7 Pagespredict how others that do the same will also react. The movie, Divergent, which is based on the three-novel series by Veronica Roth is one that showed me how society functions from a dysfunctional perspective. Five groups of individuals that adhere to the same social function are given the opportunity to change their role. This movie gave me the drive and fundamentals finish my Sociology degree. I learned a lot about sociology in this movie, and more about the sociological theories I study todayRead MoreThe Cartoon Show Total Drama Island1535 Words   |  7 Pagesof academic success tend to become nothing more than a common street thug. I believe that those strong minded street smart individual aren’t in fact, rebellious thugs at all, however more divergent thinkers instead. They choose to lead away and make their own definition of smart. For example, in the movie Divergent, everyone is born into one of the five factions which are abnegation, dauntless, erudite, amity, and, candor. That faction determines how you will grow up, your personality trait, whereRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Francois Truffaut1310 Words   |  6 PagesFahrenheit 451 Analysis Franà §ois Truffaut’s 1966 science fiction film, Fahrenheit 451, encapsulates a dystopian society that controls its inhabitants. This film is based off of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel of the same title.Truffaut took the novel and created a full length film to tell the story. The use of future is a common characteristic of science fiction movies, yet this particular film uses future to relay its message, not just as the setting. The technical aspects, effects and setting work togetherRead MoreIdeo : Human Centered Service Design Essay1097 Words   |  5 PagesIDEO – HUMAN CENTRED SERVICE DESIGN A CASE ANALYSIS SUBMITTED BY JANHVI AGARWAL The subject of discussion in this case is how IDEO implemented its design thinking process to effectively solve the service quality upgradation queries and ‘customer pains’ at CINEPLANET, the market leader in the movie screeners’ industry in Peru. The following questions give a proper direction to the case analysis in terms of the content and understanding of the case. What is design thinking? What are the three phasesRead More12 Angry Men1722 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizational Management 701 February 26, 2015 When this movie was made, no one could have depicted that it would greatly speak of the ever changing dynamics of our world today. Immigration and diversity seem to have plagued the world now more than ever and it is no surprise that the business world has been changed tremendously. When this movie came out in 1957, there wasn’t much diversity as we see it today. Upon watching this movie, various topics covered, ranging from power and influence, ethicalRead MoreThe, 1984 ) And Juice By Ernest Dickerson987 Words   |  4 Pagesshare the similar purpose of Blaxploitation which redefine the critical perspective about the stereotypical good and evil ideologies of the African Americans and reveal the blacks’ position in American society. However, by mobilizing close textual analysis on both films Brother and Juice, as well as the articles from Janani Subramanian and Kenneth Chan, I want to argue that the diversities of the films genres endow distinctive approaches to addre ss the issue. In the Brother, the science fiction genreRead MoreAnalysis Of Divergent As A Dystopian Film1956 Words   |  8 Pagesworst case scenario of a situation, within the four films studied Divergent, Macbeth, V for Vendetta and Mokingjay part 2, the worst case scenario is seen when the government takes control and citizens are under constant supervision or fear for their everyday lives. Within these dystopian themes we can see where directors are drawing on for their inspiration as our world is becoming somewhat dystopian. 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Effects of Tobacco Use - 1283 Words

Tobacco use harms everything. Numerous factors of tobacco use play into the destruction of a human health and body. Sadly, 19 percent of all adults in the United States use tobacco on a daily basis. Countless numbers of people currently in use of tobacco products attempt to quit their use of tobacco, but many fall short of their goal due to the addictive nicotine within cigarettes. This nonstop use of tobacco has been the result of more than 440,000 deaths per year of smokers with an estimated 49,000 of these deaths of innocent people exposed to secondhand smoking. States are aware of the risks of tobacco poses, but only invest roughly 3.7 billion dollars out of a total 25.7 billion dollars collected from tobacco taxes and legal statements on prevention and cessation programs. The only hope in lowering tobacco use is to make it illegal which would in the end save many lives. Tobacco usage must be abolished because cigarettes harm the environment, tobacco shatters smoker’s heal th and innocent people impacted by secondhand smoke face numerous health risks. Take a walk to a city and take a look at the ground, name the litter seen on the ground. One sight will probably be cigarette butts filled with horrific toxins. Many people think nothing of this improper disposal and that the inappropriate disposal of cigarette butts is harmless, but this isn’t true as improper disposal of cigarette butts have been noted contaminating city waterways, ground soil, harm wildlife, pollute theShow MoreRelatedTobacco Use And Its Effect On Our Ecosystem923 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the Center for Disease Control tobacco use is responsible for more than four hundred eighty thousand premature deaths each year and is the largest cause of preventable mortality in the United States (cdc.gov). Imagine a world where our ecosystem is not suffering from the toxic effects that tobacco use has on our ecosystem. A dream that will probably never be achieved in America due t o the high demand of this cancerous substance. Cigarettes have proven to be one of the most detrimentalRead MoreArticle I: Intervention Effects On Tobacco Use In Arab1508 Words   |  7 PagesArticle I: Intervention effects on tobacco use in Arab and non-Arab American adolescents 1. Title- the title describes the study population, it does not describe the intervention, or variable that be added to both groups. Maybe a better title would have been the effects of using the modified Project Towards No Tobacco (TNT) use program on the tobacco use of Arab and non-Arab American adolescents. 2. Abstract-The problem, increasing adolescent smoking, particularly in Arabs is well described. TheRead MoreIntroduction. 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Anybody who comes in contact with a tobacco substance

Direct Order Strategy Free Essays

string(31) " for it is clearly understood\." Methods of Development: Writing Routine, Good-News, and Goodwill Messages Most business communications can be prepared by following one of three patterns or methods of development: Direct Order, Indirect Order, or Persuasive Order. This lecture will discuss the direct order that is used for most routine, good-news and goodwill messages. Learning Objectives: ? To understand methods of development for writing routine business messages. We will write a custom essay sample on Direct Order Strategy or any similar topic only for you Order Now ? To recognize structure of presenting routine messages. ? To identify situations which require the routine method of development. Lecture Outline Planning Your Message Basic Components of the Direct Message Strategy Examples of Routine Messages Routine Request Main Idea Details Close Placing Orders Requesting Action and Information Making Claims and Requesting Adjustments Requesting References or Recommendations Routine Announcements, Replies and Positive Messages Issuing Informative Messages Requesting Information and Action Claims and Adjustments Recommendations and References Announcements Goodwill Conclusion Planning Your Message Most business communications can be prepared by following one of three patterns or methods of development: Direct Order, Indirect Order, or Persuasive Order. When planning your message, you should analyze your audience and choose an organizational approach that will effectively communicate your main idea. Analyze the audience—ask yourself these important questions ? Who is the audience? ? What are their needs? ? What cultural differences exist? ? What do I want them to do? ? What tools will help persuade the audience? ? Would emotional or logical appeals be best? You should consider your audience’s demographics: age, gender, occupation, income, education, and other quantifiable characteristics. Also consider your audience’s psychographics: the psychological characteristics of a person such as personality, attitudes, and lifestyle. Satisfying audience needs is the most effective way to motivate your audience. Because needs differ, people respond to messages differently Choose an organizational approach ? Use the direct approach when –Audience is objective –Audience prefers to hear the â€Å"bottom line† first –Message is long or complex –Corporate culture encourages directness ? Use the indirect approach when –Audience is negative –Audience won’t object to indirect approach -Message is short and clear Top Basic Components of the Direct Message Strategy Main idea: Because you will use the diamond arrangement, the opening paragraph should be short. It should express the main idea as a positive message with the single most important idea, concisely stated. It should be a clear idea of the focus of the letter or memo . This is what the reader wants to know and what you want the reader to know. In a memo or e-mail, you expand the subject line into a topic sentence. Remember, getting right to the point does not mean being abrupt or tactless. It’s important to use cordial statements such as please or I would appreciate. Details: Middle paragraphs will be longer because they contain all the necessary information, questions, justification or explanation. This should satisfy the reader’s informational needs. Give all details necessary to support the main idea in your opening paragraph. Make sure this section is clear, complete and concise. Revise to eliminate repetition or wordiness. Positive close: The closing paragraph will be a short paragraph. It could summarize the main point, indicate what should happen next, and/or highlight reader benefit. It should have a positive tone and may include a call to action when you need the reader to respond with additional action. Make compliance easy such as including information about how you can be reached or how the reader is to respond. Why is the direct method of development appropriate for most business messages? Most business messages (more than 80%) are routine requests for information or action. They should be organized directly unless they involve sensitive issues. The everyday transactions of a business will be directed at an audience whose reaction will be positive or neutral. What are some examples of routine messages? Requesting information or action ? Placing orders ? Making straightforward claims See checklist p. 265 ? Complying with requests ? Granting claims and making adjustments ? Writing letters of recommendation See checklist p. 275-276 ? Goodwill messages See checklist pp. 280-281 Looking at the checklists, you will notice that all of these routine messages follow the basic direct order strategy: main idea, details, positive close. The content will vary depending on your purpose but because they are still routine messages to a positive or neutral audience, the direct approach is the easiest and fastest method of development. Let’s look at several examples. Top Examples of Routine Messages Routine Request Whenever you ask for something, you are making a request. A request is routine if it’s part of the normal course of business and you anticipate that your audience will want to comply. Like all routine messages, routine requests may be thought of as having three parts: an opening, a body, and a close. Using the direct approach, you place your main idea (a clear statement of the request) in the opening. You use the middle to give details and justify your request. Then you close by requesting specific action and concluding cordially. As you prepare your routine requests, keep in mind that despite their simple organization, they can still cause ill will through ambiguous wording or a discourteous tone. In fact, even the briefest note can create confusion and hard feelings. As with any business message, keep your purpose in mind. Ask yourself what you want readers to do or to understand as a result of reading your message. [pic] Begin routine requests by placing your request first—up front is where it stands out and gets the most attention. Of course, getting right to the point should not be interpreted as a license to be abrupt or tactless: Be specific. State precisely what you want. Pay attention to tone. Even though you expect a favorable response, the tone of your initial request is important. Instead of demanding action (â€Å"Send me your catalog no. 33A†), soften your request with words such as please and I would appreciate. Assume your audience will comply. An impatient demand for rapid service isn’t necessary. Generally, assume that your audience will comply with your request once the reason for it is clearly understood. You read "Direct Order Strategy" in category "Essay examples" Avoid beginning with personal introductions. Don’t be tempted to begin your request with a personal introduction such as â€Å"I am the senior corporate writer in the corporate relations department of ABC Company, and I am looking for information that . . . † Punctuate questions and polite requests differently. A polite request in question form requires no question mark (â€Å"Would you please help us determine whether Kate Kingsley is a suitable applicant for this position. †) A direct question within your message does require a question mark (â€Å"Did Kate Kingsley demonstrate an ability to work smoothly with clients? ) Top [pic] Use the middle section of your message to explain your initial request. Make the explanation a smooth and logical outgrowth of your opening remarks. You can use the middle section of your routine request to list a series of questions. Just keep a few basics in mind: Ask the most important questions first. If cost is your main concern , you might begin with a question such as â€Å"What is the cost for shipping the merchandise by air versus truck? † Then you may want to ask more specific but related questions about, say, the cost of shipping partial orders. Ask only relevant questions. So that your request can be handled quickly, ask only questions central to your main request. If your questions require simple yes-or-no answers, you might provide readers with a form or with boxes to check. If you need more elaborate answers, pose open-ended questions. â€Å"How fast can you ship the merchandise? † is more likely to elicit the information you want than â€Å"Can you ship the merchandise? † Deal with only one topic per question. If you have an unusual or complex request, list the request and provide supporting details in a separate, short paragraph. Try using paragraph headings to make your reader’s job easier. Top [pic] Use the closing to request a specific action and to ask that readers respond by a specific and appropriate time (â€Å"Please send the figures by April 5 so that I can return first quarter results to you before the May 20 conference†). Help your reader respond easily by including your phone number, office hours, and other contact information. Conclude your message by expressing your goodwill and appreciation, but don’t thank the reader â€Å"in advance† for cooperating. If the reader’s reply warrants a word of thanks, send it after you’ve received the reply. The various types of routine requests are innumerable, from asking favors to requesting credit. However, many of the routine messages that you’ll be writing will likely fall into major categories: placing orders, requesting information and action, making claims and requesting adjustments, and requesting recommendations and references. Top Placing Orders Messages placing orders are considered some of the simplest types of routine messages. When placing an order, you need not excite your reader’s interest; just state your needs clearly and directly. Most orders refer to a product that the reader knows about, so these messages are usually processed without objection. Most companies today are moving toward paperless ordering by using computer-generated order forms. Still, if you need to draft an order letter, follow the same format as you would on an order blank. Main Idea: Open with the general request. Details: In the middle, include specific information about the items you want. Present this information in column form, double-space between the items, and total the price at the end. Positive Close: In the close, be sure to specify the delivery address, since it may differ from the billing address. Also indicate how the merchandise is to be shipped: by air or ground, by a specific delivery services, and so on. Otherwise, the seller chooses the mode of transportation. Finally, in any letter including a payment, mention the amount enclosed, explain how the amount was calculated, and if necessary, explain to what account the amount should be charged. Top Requesting Action and Information When you need to know about something, to elicit an opinion from someone, or to suggest a simple action, you usually need only ask. If your reader can do what you want, such a straightforward request gets the job done with a minimum of fuss. In more complex situations, readers might be unwilling to respond unless they understand how the request benefits them, so be sure to include this information in your explanation. Internal: Requests to fellow employees are often oral and rather casual. However, as long as you avoid writing frequent, long, or unneeded messages, sending a clear, thoughtfully written memo or e-mail message can save time and questions by helping readers understand precisely what you want. External: Business writers often ask businesses, customers, or others outside their organization to provide information or to take some simple action: attend a meeting, return an information card, endorse a document, confirm an address, or supplement information on an order. Such requests are often in letter form, although some are sent via e-mail. These messages are usually short and simple. In more complex situations, readers might be unwilling to respond unless they understand how the request benefits them, so be sure to include benefit information in your explanation. Top Making Claims and Requesting Adjustments When you’re dissatisfied with a company’s product or service, you make a claim (a formal complaint) or request an adjustment (a claim settlement). Although a phone call or visit may solve the problem, a written claim letter is better because it documents your dissatisfaction. Moreover, even though your first reaction to a clumsy mistake or a defective product is likely to be anger or frustration, the person reading your letter probably had nothing to do with the problem. So a courteous, clear, concise explanation will impress your reader much more favorably than an abusive, angry letter. In most cases, and especially in your first letter, assume that a fair adjustment will be made, and follow the plan for direct requests. Begin with a straightforward statement of the problem. In the middle section, give a complete, specific explanation of the details. Provide any information an adjuster would need to verify your complaint about faulty merchandise or unsatisfactory service. In your closing, politely request specific action or convey a sincere desire to find a solution. And don’t forget to suggest that the business relationship will continue if the problem is solved satisfactorily. Top Requesting References or Recommendations If you’re applying for a job and your potential employer asks for references, you may want to ask a personal or professional associate to write a letter of recommendation. Or, if you’re an employer considering whether to hire an applicant, you may want to write directly to the person the applicant named as a reference. Because requests for recommendations and references are routine, assume your reader will honor your request and organize your inquiry using the direct approach. Begin your message by clearly stating that you’re applying for a position and that you want your reader to write a letter of recommendation. If you haven’t had contact with the person for some time, use the opening to recall the nature of the relationship you had, the dates of association, and any special events that might bring a clear, favorable picture of you to mind. If you’re applying for a job, a scholarship, or the like, include a copy of your resume to give the reader an idea of the direction your life has taken. If you don’t have a resume, use the middle of your letter to include any information about yourself that the reader might use to support a recommendation, such as a description of related jobs you’ve held. Close your letter with an expression of appreciation and the full name and address of the person to whom the letter should be sent. When asking for an immediate recommendation, you should also mention the deadline. You’ll make a response more likely if you enclose a stamped, preaddressed envelope. Top Routine Announcements, Replies and Positive Messages Like requests, routine announcements, replies, and positive messages have an opening, a body, and a close. Readers receiving these messages will generally be interested in what you have to say, so you’ll usually use the direct approach. Place your main idea (the positive reply or the good news) in the opening. Use the middle to explain all the relevant details, and close cordially, perhaps highlighting a benefit to your reader. Innumerable types of routine announcements, replies and positive messages are used in business every day. Most of these messages fall into six main categories: issuing informative messages, granting requests for information and action, granting claims and requests for adjustments, providing recommendations and references, announcing good news, and sending goodwill messages. Top [pic]Issuing Informative Messages [pic]Requesting Information and Action All companies send routine informative messages such as reminder notices and policy statements. When writing informative messages, use the beginning of the message to state the purpose (to inform) and briefly mention the nature of the information you are providing; use the body to provide the necessary details; and end with a courtesy close. Most informative communications are neutral. That is, they stimulate neither a positive or negative response from readers. Some informative messages, however, require additional care. Policy statements or procedural changes, for instance, may be good news for the company and employees (the company can save money which will provide additional resources and even raises for employees) but such benefits may not be obvious to employees. In instances where the reader may not initially view the information positively, use the body of the message to highlight the benefits from the readers’ perspective. Top If your answer to a request is yes or is straightforward information, the direct plan is appropriate. Your prompt, gracious, and thorough response will positively influence how people think about your company, its products, your department, and you. When you’re answering requests and a potential sale is involved, you have three main goals: (1) to respond to the inquiry and answer all questions, (2) to leave your reader with a good impression of you and your firm, and (3) to encourage the future sale. Top [pic]Claims and Adjustments When your company is at fault and your response is positive, you must protect your company’s image and try to regain the customer’s goodwill by referring to company errors carefully. Explain your company’s efforts to do a good job, implying that the error was an unusual incident. When your customer is at fault, you can (1) refuse the claim and attempt to justify your refusal or (2) simply do what the customer asks. If you refuse the claim, you may lose your customer—as well as many of the customer’s friends, who will hear only one side of the dispute. Weigh the cost of the adjustment against the cost of losing future business from one or more customers. When a third party is at fault, you have three options: †¢ Simply honor the claim. You can satisfy your customer with the standard good-news letter and no additional explanation. †¢ Honor the claim, but explain you’re not at fault. This option corrects any impression that the damage was caused by your negligence. You can still write the standard good-news letter, but stress the explanation. †¢ Refer the claimant to the third party. When you suggest filing a claim with the firm that caused the defect or damage, you fail to satisfy the claimant’s needs. The exception is when you’re trying to dissociate yourself from any legal responsibility for the damaged merchandise. In such a case, write a bad-news message. Top [pic]Recommendations and References When writing a letter of recommendation or reference, you want to convince readers that the person being recommended has the characteristics necessary for the job or benefit being sought. Your letter must contain all the relevant details. Your audience will have trouble believing uninterrupted praise for someone’s talents and accomplishments. So illustrate your general points with a specific example or two that point out the candidate’s abilities. You have an obligation to refer to any shortcoming that is serious and related to job performance. If you must refer to a shortcoming, you can best protect yourself by sticking to the facts, avoiding value judgments, and placing your criticism in the context of a generally favorable recommendation You can also avoid trouble by asking yourself the following questions before mailing a recommendation letter: †¢ Does the person receiving this personal information have a legitimate right to it? †¢ Does all the information I’ve presented relate directly to the job/benefit being sought? Have I put the candidate’s case as strongly and as honestly as I can? †¢ Have I avoided overstating the candidate’s abilities or otherwise misleading the reader? †¢ Have I based my statements on firsthand knowledge and provable facts? Top [pic]Announcements To develop and maintain good relationships, companies recognize that it’s good business to spread the wor d about positive developments, whether the company is opening new facilities, appointing a new executive, introducing new products or services, or sponsoring community events. Writing a letter to the successful job applicant is a pleasure. Such a letter is eagerly awaited, so the direct approach is appropriate. A company announcing a new discount program to customers would begin the letter by trumpeting the news. The middle section would fill in the details of the discount program, and the close would include a bit of resale information and a confident prediction of a profitable business relationship. However, when the audience for a good-news message is large and scattered, companies often communicate through the mass media. The specialized documents used to convey such information to the media are called news releases. Top [pic]Goodwill You can enhance your relationships with customers, colleagues, and other businesspeople by sending friendly, unexpected notes with no direct business purpose. To come across as sincere, avoid exaggeration and back up any compliments with specific points. One prime opportunity for sending goodwill messages is to congratulate someone for a significant business achievement—perhaps for being promoted or for attaining an important civic position. Other reasons for sending congratulations include the highlights in people’s personal lives. It is important to recognize the contributions of employees, colleagues, suppliers, and other associates. Your praise does more than just make the person feel good; it encourages further excellence. Moreover, a message of appreciation may become an important part of someone’s personnel file. So when you write a message of appreciation, try to specifically mention the person or people you want to praise. In times of serious trouble and deep sadness, written condolences and expressions of sympathy leave their mark. Begin condolences with a brief statement of sympathy, such as â€Å"I was deeply sorry to hear of your loss. † In the middle, mention the good qualities or the positive contributions made by the deceased. State what the person or business meant to you. In closing, you can offer your condolences and your best wishes. Top Conclusion You should write positive or neutral messages using the direct order method of development. By introducing the main idea in the first paragraph, the reader immediately understands the purpose. The body of the message should provide all the details the reader will need to understand or respond. The closing will be a positive statement, a call to action, or a statement of good will and will keep the reader well disposed to you and your company. [pic] Sources: Bovee, Courtland L and John V. Thill. Business Communication Today. 6th edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. Guffey, Mary Ellen. Business Communication: Process and Product. 4th edition. Thomson—South-Western, 2003. ———————– Main Idea Details Positive Close How to cite Direct Order Strategy, Essay examples