We are constantly bombarded by persuasive business messages of some type, including advertisements, articles, and "junk mail" in the form of letters and memos. Collect two examples of persuasive messages that you have received recently, of at least a page or more in length. Try to choose one example of an effective persuasive message and one example of an ineffective message. Then write a memo to me analyzing and critiquing the two business documents for their persuasive content. Include a copy of the two documents with your memo.

This assignment will tend to be a little longer than prior assignments, however choose two documents that really worked for you, excited you, or really made you mad. Have some fun with the critique. Include the following in your assignment:

* Follow all Memo formatting

* Begin your memo with a purpose statement, such as: "Enclosed are two business documents that have been analyzed and critiqued for their persuasive content."

* Identify the purposes of the documents and state where your documents are from. A second sentence to your memo may include: "The first document is an advertisement for Macy's Labor Day sale from a letter sent directly to my home." or "The second document is a full page advertisement for US Air in Fortune Magazine."

* Tell if each persuasive message is effective or ineffective.

* Identify the intended audiences of the documents. Was more audience analysis needed by the businesses?

* What is the main persuasive purpose of each document?

* Which of the four persuasive goals (adoption, continuance, discontinuance, deterrence) is the document utilizing?

* How many of the three major persuasive appeals (reasoning, credibility, emotion) is each document using? Give specific examples of where the appeals are used within the message.

* Identify if the documents are using the AIDA concept in their persuasive plans. Give examples of each, if utilized. If one or more of the four elements are missing, what should the document have included to fit the pattern? Make recommendations to improve the documents.