Writing Persuasive Business Emails and Proposals
Assignment 72 Instructions on Writing Persuasive Business Emails and Proposals Academic Conditions and Submission Context This assessment on topic of Persuasive Business Emails and Proposals serves as the single evaluative component for the module and accounts for the full allocation of marks. The completed submission must fall within a 2,000 to 2,500 word range. Text beyond this range will not be considered during grading. All submissions are processed exclusively through Turnitin. Work submitted via alternative channels cannot be acknowledged or reviewed. To support anonymous marking, your submission should display only your Student Reference Number (SRN). Personal identifiers, including your name or email address, should not appear anywhere in the document or file metadata. A total of 100 marks is available for this assessment. To satisfy progression requirements, the submission must achieve a minimum overall score of 50%. The Harvard referencing system must be applied consistently. Ideas, models, examples, and language drawn from published sources must be cited accurately. Referencing support materials are available through the university’s digital library. The use of AI-assisted tools is limited to language review, proofreading, or structural feedback. Automated generation of arguments, examples, or analytical content is not permitted. A completed Assignment Cover Sheet must accompany the submission. Missing documentation may result in the work being classified as incomplete. Conceptual Orientation of the Assessment Persuasion as Professional Practice Business communication is often treated as a technical exercise, clear subject lines, correct tone, and polite closings. This assessment approaches business emails and proposals differently, positioning them as strategic persuasive texts that shape decisions, relationships, and organizational outcomes. You are asked to produce an academically grounded essay that examines how persuasive principles operate within professional written communication. The focus is not on templates or surface-level etiquette, but on how writers influence readers through audience analysis, rhetorical structure, credibility signals, framing, and evidence selection. The essay should demonstrate your ability to connect business communication theory, persuasion research, and real workplace contexts such as internal corporate emails, client proposals, partnership requests, or funding pitches. Learning Aims Under Review This assessment evaluates your capacity to: LO1 – Conceptualize professional writing tasks as strategic business activities LO2 – Analyze persuasive techniques used in organizational email and proposal writing LO3 – Apply academic communication frameworks to realistic business scenarios LO4 – Evaluate how persuasive writing contributes to organizational value and decision-making Analytical Themes to Be Addressed Your discussion should engage thoughtfully with the following thematic areas. These are intended as intellectual anchors rather than isolated sections. The role of persuasion in professional written communication Audience awareness and stakeholder expectations in business contexts Structural design of persuasive emails and proposals Language choices, tone calibration, and credibility construction Ethical considerations in persuasive business writing Digital communication norms and contemporary workplace expectations Organizational Architecture of the Submission To ensure coherence and academic depth, the submission should be arranged using the following components. Section titles may be adapted, but the underlying progression should remain visible. Academic integrity declaration Title page Table of contents Contextual framing of persuasive business writing Professional stakes of emails and proposals Rhetorical strategies in business correspondence Evidence, credibility, and trust-building Ethical boundaries and responsible persuasion Analytical discussion grounded in research Reflective synthesis and professional implications Harvard-style reference list Appendices (if applicable) The 2,000 to 2,500 word limit applies to the core analytical content only. Suggested Distribution of Attention The following breakdown illustrates a balanced allocation of emphasis. High-quality submissions may shift focus where analytically justified. Framing persuasion in business communication – 300 Professional contexts and communicative stakes – 350 Rhetorical and structural strategies – 450 Language, tone, and credibility signals – 350 Research-informed analytical discussion – 700 Reflective synthesis and organizational implications – 250 Section Development Guidance Framing Persuasion in Business Communication This section should establish persuasion as a central function of professional writing rather than an optional enhancement. Draw on classical rhetoric (ethos, pathos, logos) alongside modern business communication theory to explain why emails and proposals carry decision-shaping power. For example, consider how a funding proposal does more than present information, it frames risk, constructs trust, and positions the sender as competent and reliable. Professional Stakes of Emails and Proposals Here, examine the real consequences attached to business writing. Poorly constructed emails can delay projects, damage relationships, or signal incompetence. Effective proposals can secure resources, partnerships, or approval. Use practical academic examples such as internal recommendation emails, sales proposals, or executive briefings to illustrate how persuasive intent operates differently across contexts. Rhetorical Strategies in Business Correspondence This section should analyze how structure guides persuasion. Discuss elements such as opening positioning, sequencing of claims, strategic emphasis, and calls to action. Integrate communication models that explain how readers process information under time and cognitive constraints. Avoid presenting formulas. Instead, focus on how skilled writers adapt structure based on audience expectations and organizational culture. Language, Tone, and Credibility Signals Explore how word choice, sentence structure, and tone influence perceptions of professionalism and authority. Address how writers balance confidence with politeness, and how subtle linguistic cues affect trust. You may, for instance, analyze how hedging language functions differently in risk-sensitive proposals versus assertive sales communication. Ethical Boundaries and Responsible Persuasion Persuasive writing operates within ethical limits. This section should consider issues such as manipulation, omission of information, and exaggeration. Engage with business ethics literature to discuss how persuasion can remain effective without compromising integrity. This discussion is particularly relevant in high-stakes proposals involving financial, legal, or social consequences. Research-Informed Analytical Discussion This portion of the essay should demonstrate depth and synthesis. Compare perspectives from academic studies on persuasion, professional writing, and organizational communication. Acknowledge disagreements in the literature and reflect on methodological constraints. The goal is not summary, but evaluative engagement with evidence. Reflective Synthesis and Professional Implications Rather than restating earlier points, this section should integrate insights and consider their implications for future professional practice. Reflect on how mastering persuasive writing contributes to career readiness, leadership effectiveness, and organizational value creation. Scholarly Standards and Presentation Expectations Harvard referencing must be accurate and consistent Academic … Read more