Collect the sales and fund-raising messages that come to you, your co-workers, landlord, neighbors, or family. Use the following questions to evaluate each message:

■ What mode does the opener use? Is it related to the rest of the message? How good is the opener?

■ What central selling point or common ground does the message use?

■ What kinds of proof does the message use? Is the logic valid? What questions or objections are not answered?

■ How does the message create emotional appeal?

■ Is the style effective?

■ Does the close tell people what to do, make action easy, give a reason for acting promptly, and end with a positive picture?

■ Does the message use a P.S.? How good is it?

■ Is the message visually attractive? Why or why not?
■ What other items besides the letter or email are in the package?
As your instructor directs,

a. Share your analysis of one or more messages with a small group of your classmates.

b. Analyze one message in a presentation to the class. Make a copy of the message to use as a visual aid in your presentation.

c. Analyze one message in an email to your instructor. Provide a copy of the message along with your email.

d. With several other students, write a group email or report analyzing one part of the message (e.g., openers) or one kind of letter (e.g., political messages, organizations fighting hunger, etc.). Use at least 10 messages for your analysis if you look at only one part; use at least 6 messages if you analyze one kind of message. Provide copies as an appendix to your report.