Question

Dear Mr. Sanchez: Your efforts to promote ethical business practices in our city have drawn national recognition. You are an excellent role model for all our citizens, especially our youth Following your leadership, nNext month Jackson High School, in partnership with the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, will be hosting our second annual Ethics and Leadership for Youth conference. This conference is great. Lots of kids show up and have fun. A swell time is had by all who attend. In fact, this year we are increasing our enrollment to accommodate more students from neighboring school districts. We are excited that so many students are interested in ethics Last year, after learning about the importance of ethical leadership, students who attended our conference returned to their home schools and implemented a total of nine ethics and leadership initiatives. Therefore, we would like to invite you to be the keynote speaker for the second annual ELY conference. The keynote address is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, April 16, n the Jackson High Memorial Auditorium. Our students would be honored by your presence. If you are able to join us, please call me at (555) 673-3333 by March 15 to make arrangements. Sincerely, Jan Sanduccino, Principal Jackson High School.
1. Which of the following is the best revision for the third paragraph?

a. Last year, after learning about the importance of ethical leadership, students who attended our conference returned to their home schools and implemented a total of nine ethics and leadership initiatives. One of these initiatives included a project in which students researched ethical leaders in the local community. Naturally, the students encountered much of your work and have humbly requested your presence at the Ethics and Leadership for Youth conference this year. As a speaker at the ELY conference, you would have the opportunity to significantly impact our next generation of leaders.
b. Last year, after learning about the importance of ethical leadership, students who attended our conference returned to their home schools and implemented a total of nine ethics and leadership initiatives. One of these initiatives included a project in which students researched ethical leaders in the local community.

2. What are the major problems with the above message?

a. It is not opaque, and it provides too many details.
b. It does not state the reasons before the main idea, and it has no reader benefits.
c. It fails to provide any easy excuses, and it would make the reader feel bad to decline.

3. Effective claim and complaint messages:

a. Vent anger.
b. Provide a blow- by- blow description of details
c. Make a reasonable request

Answer 1

Answer:

1) - a - Last year, after learning about the importance of ethical leadership, students who attended our conference returned to their home schools and implemented a total of nine ethics and leadership initiatives. One of these initiatives included a project in which students researched ethical leaders in the local community. Naturally, the students encountered much of your work and have humbly requested your presence at the Ethics and Leadership for Youth conference this year. As a speaker at the ELY conference, you would have the opportunity to significantly impact our next generation of leaders.

2). b - It does not state the reasons before the main idea, and it has no reader benefits.

3). - c - Make a reasonable request.

Explanation:

1). The first option most adequately rephrases the third paragraph by reconsidering the main ideas effectively and clarifies the author's purpose effeciently. It presents the main idea of the 'significance of ethical leadership and its success' more clearly through appropriate evidence('nine ethics and leadership initiatives taken by students). It presents the given idea more impactfully by strengthening the language of the paragraph.

2). The key problem that the given message contains is that 'it fails to provide adequate reasons before presenting the main idea to the readers and this is why readers do not gain any message or specific idea.' The lack of logical explanation of the main idea does not allow the readers to understand the purpose for which the given content is produced and just become a passive information they are receiving as they aren't able to relate to it.

3). The main characteristics of a constructive claim or complaint messages include 'offering a reasonable request.' Reason is something that not only justifies the validity of the argument but also positions the author's stand on the topic. An effective claim or complaint displays appropriate reason or logic behind it and establishes its credibility and convinces the reader with sufficient evidence that it is worthy and fair. Thus, option C is the correct answer.