Question

8.1 Radical Rewrite in AIDA format: Weak Persuasive Request Inviting Small Planet Speaker (Objs. 1, 2) The following request from a program chair is intended to entice a prospective speaker, but it could be more much effective with a radical rewrite. Your Task. Analyze this poorly written request, and list at least five weaknesses. If your instructor directs, revise the letter implementing an effective persuasive strategy. Add appropriate information if needed. Current date Ms. Anna Lappé 418 North Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11212 Dear Ms. Lappé: I am program chair for an upcoming member drive in Seattle. We would like very much to invite you to be our keynote speaker. Our organization is called Sustainable Enterprises of Seattle, and we are a nonprofit dedicated to equipping the Northwest’s citizens and decision makers with policy research and practical tools to advance long-term solutions to our region’s most challenging challenges. We do many things including in-depth research. We offer commentary and analysis. All of these things we disseminate through e-mail, online, and in person. We realize that you are extremely busy with your advocacy of the sustainability movement and as founding principal of the Small Planet Institute. But are you free on March 14? We are hoping you could address our group and talk about connecting the dots between the food on our plate and global warming—or do you call it global climate change? You have written that this country’s food sector is both a central culprit in global warming and a key part of the solution. We would really like to learn how the world can be fed and the planet cooled through sustainable farming. We heard about you through your Facebook page and through your websites: Food MythBusters, Small Planet Fund, and Take a Bite Out of Climate Change. We can offer only a small honorarium, although we could put you up at Seattle’s eco-friendly Cedarbrook Lodge. Our mission is to make the Northwest a global model of sustainability. We envision sustainable communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. If you can speak to our group, we could, with your permission, possibly arrange to have copies of your latest book that you could sign. Thank you and please let me know. Sincerely, question here

Answer 1

There are many weaknesses in the letter out of which some are given below:-

1] The formatting of the letter is not proper.

2] It is not clear and not able to convey the proper message.

3] The request should be concise. Which is missing in this request letter.

4] When the receiver is being invited as keynote speaker there should not be any negative criticism on the work done by the speaker or praising unnecessarily.

5] The purpose of this letter is not clear as the receiver of the letter is not able make him/herself sure about the intention of the sender of the letter.