Bad News Letter Assignment
01/29/07Write a letter that delivers a negative message. Choice of whether or not to use a buffer is up to you, but remember that while you want to be sensitive whenever possible, you also want to make the bad news clear, and don't want it to be mistaken for good news. Also remember that people don't like having any options, or being forced to choose between two negative options. Whenever possible, give your reader a positive alternative to the bad news. Finally, while you shouldn't burn bridges unnecessarily, feel free to give a firm negative message if warranted by the situation. While it is always important to be polite (even when you really hate someone's guts), don't feel that being polite means giving people permission to walk all over you. It is possible to be firm and polite.
I will use the following criteria to grade your assignment: Evaluation Criteria for Bad News Letters. Choice of topic is up to you. You may use one of the topics at the end of this document, or one of your own creation. Your letter must be typed and between one to two pages in length. Proofread carefully! God is in the details, and sloppy work will not be tolerated!
This assignment is designed to teach you how to deliver a negative message and how to write a letter. Therefore, your assignment must be in letter format. If you are unsure about formatting, consult this source: Business Letter Format . One final note--if you write a form letter, remember to personalize it with an individualized inside address and salutation, and perhaps even with individualized information within the text of the letter itself.