Assessment Preparation
Choose a message type and two different audiences.
Select a real-world message you might write, such as:
- A request for information (e.g., asking about a job, program, or service)
- A professional apology (e.g., addressing a mistake)
- An announcement or update (e.g., sharing important information)
Then, choose two different audiences who would receive this message in different contexts. Examples include a hiring manager, a coworker, a client, a professor, or a general public audience.
Map your rhetorical situation.
Before writing your 2 versions, take time to think through the situation you’re writing in. This will help you make strong, audience-aware choices. You might use the Mapping the Rhetorical Situation organizer to help guide your thinking.
Use the following prompts as a starting point:
- Writer (Who is writing?) – What role are you writing from?
- Message (What are you saying?) – What is the main idea or goal of your message? What are you trying to communicate?
- Audience (Who are you writing to?) – Who will read this? What do they already know, and how can you connect with them?
- Purpose (Why are you writing?) – What do you hope your message will accomplish?
- Format (How will you share your message?) – What form will your message take?
- Context (When and where are you writing?) – Are there social, cultural, or professional situations influencing your message?
- Culture (What shared values or assumptions might influence your message?) – What norms, expectations, or beliefs of your own and your audience’s should you consider?
Assessment Deliverable
Part 1: Write Two Versions of Your Message (total of 350–700 words)
Write the same message for 2 different audiences. Use the rhetorical situation elements to guide how you shape each version. Your goal is to make intentional, audience-aware choices.
For each version, consider:
- Writer – What role are you writing from (student, professional, etc.)?
- Message – What’s the key idea or information you’re trying to communicate?
- Audience – Who will read this, and how can you connect with them?
- Purpose – What do you want your audience to understand, feel, or do?
- Format – What form best fits the situation (email, letter, memo, social post)?
- Context – Are there events or settings that shape how your message will be received?
- Culture – What shared beliefs or expectations do you and your audience bring to this message?
Tip: The goal is not to rewrite the same message with minor changes. It’s to adapt the message so it lands effectively with each reader. Keep your tone, word choice, and structure aligned with the expectations of each audience.
Part 2: Write a Reflection (175–350 words)
After writing your 2 versions, reflect on the choices you made and what you learned from the process.
Compare your 2 versions and answer the following questions:
- How did the audience shape your tone, formality, and vocabulary?
- What assumptions did you make about each reader, and how did that guide your approach?
- How did the format or genre influence your choices?
- What role did context or culture play in how you framed your message?
- What was most challenging about adapting your message, and what helped you work through it?
Tip: This is your opportunity to think like a writer. Be honest about what worked, what didn’t, and how your awareness of rhetorical choices grew through this assessment.
Submit your assessment.