Assignment 1 Instructions

Read the scenario below and complete the writing task that follows it.

This short assignment is a diagnostic writing assessment worth 6% of your final mark. You will receive full marks for completing this task once your instructor has assessed your text.Complete this assignment during Week 1, before you start working on the course.This assignment will help you and your instructor find ways to address your writing weaknesses early on.

Writing your thoughts into sentences, paragraphs, and complete texts may seem natural to you if you are familiar with basic rules of efficient writing. If you are not, however, this course will challenge you to unlearn basic rules of writing you have practised in the past and learn new basics of writing all over again.

Most of us follow writing conventions to write sentences and paragraphs into texts. The dominant trend today emphasizes nouns at the expense of verbs that have lost their impact to the passive voice. As a result, a reader must often ask himself what the true subject of a sentence is. This trendy style of writing may seem impressive to a writer, but it may not achieve its purpose if the reader cannot clearly understand what it is that the writer intended to communicate.

The purpose of this assessment is to identify your writing strengths and weaknesses. This activity will help your marker analyze your writing at the beginning of this course and provide you advice about ways to improve your writing as you complete ADMN 233.

Your marker will assess this assignment following five categories outlined in theMarking Guidein the Welcome and Orientation section of this course Web site. Once you receive this Assignment 1 back, read your markers assessment carefully and discuss your results with your Academic Expert to determine how best to improve your writing.

Scenario You are Mr. John Wheels, owner of Crankys Mountainbikes, a bicycle shop located in Canmore, Alberta, a trendy mountain resort. Your store sells lightweight mountain bicycles to cycling enthusiasts and rents bikes to tourists who enjoy visiting Albertas Rocky Mountains during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Prices for these lightweight, aluminum-framed bicycles typically range between $1,000 and $3,000. You would like to introduce a line of less expensive alloy-composite bicycles called Ecobikes in your store to compete with local retail giants in Calgary, a large, neighbouring city. Low prices for the metal-framed mountain bikes these stores sell have undercut your stores profits over several years. Prices for a new line of low-cost alloy-composite bicycles manufactured and assembled in Canada range from $400 to $700, far less than all-aluminum bikes. Writing Task 1.) Address an e-mail to Ms. Leigh Saddle, Sales Representative for Ecobikes, a bicycle-manufacturing company located in Mississauga, Ontario: l..e@ecobikes.ca.

1. 2.) Add an appropriate subject line.
2. 3.) Establish a friendly tone in the salutation.
3. 4.) Write a three-paragraph e-mail.
4. 5.) Outline the theme of your e-mail in a topic sentence. This topic must relate directly to your subject line. Support this sentence with several related sentences. Be advised that one sentence does not constitute a paragraph.
5. 6.) Request information from Ms. Saddle about one of the following topics:
   1. a.) a choice of alloy-composite bicycle models for children, men, and women
   2. b.) a price range for various bike models
   3. c.) warranty options
   4. d.) parts, service, and repairs
   5. e.)conditionsofdelivery

Marking Guide: Your marker will use the following five categories to assess your written assignments:

In determining a grade forContent, markers look for evidence that you;

• -clearly understand the topic.
• -have analyzed the topic completely (given the length and scope of the assignment).
• -are aware of your audience and purpose.
• -use appropriate quotations (where relevant).
• -use original ideas and expression.
• -provide appropriate evidence of reading and research (where relevant).

In determining a grade forOrganization, markers look for;

• -clear, appropriate, and logical structure within each paragraph and within the whole assignment.
• -an appropriate thesis statement and good main ideas at the paragraph level.
• -an introduction and conclusion (as sentences at the paragraph level; as paragraphs at the essay level).
• -effective transitions within sentences, between sentences, and between paragraphs.
• -a variety of sentence structures.
• -your awareness of the audience.

In determining a grade forMechanics, markers look for;

• -correct spelling.
• -correct punctuation and capitalization.
• -legible writing or readable text formatting.

In determining a grade forGrammar, markers look for;

• -correct application of grammar rules.
• -proper syntax.

In determining a grade forStyle, markers look for evidence that you;

• -are sure and in control as a writer.
• -adopt an appropriate stance.
• -chose a style appropriate to the content, subject, purpose, and audience.
• -present an effective voice that is consistent and sustained.
• -use imagination, creativity, intent, and innovation effectively.
• -use appropriate expression and vocabulary.
• -adhere to appropriate rhetorical principles and format.