This assignment (minimum 400 words, submitted via email) is similar to the Research Analysis, but we are framing our work here as a different genre: a professional email. Note that, even though we are calling it an email, you should still complete your work as a separate document/file and then submit that file to me via email.
While the Research Analysis is more of an academic genre (using language and formatting more appropriate for college writing), the Research Email will follow guidelines better suited to professional communication (see the “Correspondence” handout on Moodle). Your work on this assignment should aim to address the following in particular:
- In terms of audience, think of yourself writing directly to an imagined coworker who asked you to do research on your issue. Imagine you received an email reading something like this: “Hello, [your name]. Regarding our work on [your issue], I need you to find a source that gives us insight into how people are thinking about this. Once you find something, please respond with an overview of what you find so I can share this with the team.”
- Following the “Correspondence” reading on Moodle, this genre will also shift your thinking on the introduction and conclusion. For the introduction, you should clarify why you are sending the email and the main purpose of the email. It is not until the second paragraph/section that you would begin your analysis/overview of the source. For the conclusion, let your reader know what you will do next and/or ask what they need next.
- It will likely help to use lists (bullet points) and perhaps headings to organize your main points and highlight important points for your reader. You will likely use a different tone and style as well, one that is appropriately professional but not overly academic.
In your email, you will still need to address our main analysis questions and prompts from the Rhetorical Analysis.
Matt King 