ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research

Jamie Larsen, Instructor

Assignment 6 - Impromptu Writing

The Communication Situation: You will be playing the role of a Utilities Engineer who works for the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The situation that you encounter is described in The Bluewater Resort Case: Background. It will take you about 10-15 minutes to read this case. I recommend that you read it, and then review it before you complete this time limited final assignment.

The communication situation involves writing persuasively to one of the other four people in order to resolve a potentially embarrassing, and libelous, situation. Be sure to read the Operating Procedures for the Codes of Conduct for the Utilities Commission Public Staff.

Note: This case is based on a real-life situation. My brother-in-law graduated from NC State as a Civil Engineer and began his career with the Utilities Commission. The incident that you will read about in the Bluewater Resort Case occurred early in his career, and actually changed the way he conducted business. I will "tell the rest of the story" about his solution to this rather sticky case after you have participated in the Dicussion associated with this case online.

The Assignment: You will write a one page memo or business letter to one of the four stakeholders in The Bluewater Resort Case. The assignment sheet, and evaluation criteria, will be sent to you once you complete the last online class activity for the last week of classes. You will have 60 minutes to complete a final draft and submit it to me. This is an open book, open note assignment. In the real world, this is the type of "on-the-fly" writing you will do and I feel this assignment involves your using many of the persuasive writing techniques that we have talked about this semester. Remember, as we discussed in the topic of Professional Negotiation, you want to always seek a WIN-WIN solution to any problem.