Scenario:
You recently purchased/downloaded an app and have found it to not live up to your expectations. After reading the “Comments” section for this app on the App Store, you have found that a few other people have had similar problems, but not the exact problem you have been experiencing. The app storefront has stated that an updated version will be available for download early next month; as a result, the company will not be issuing patches or bug fixes for a few weeks – unless, of course, there’s a catastrophic error with its product that would require immediate attention. Given this information, you have decided to add a post to the “Comments” section of its online storefront blog; you may either request a refund or make the company aware of your dissatisfaction with this product.
Assignment:
Compose a blog post that critiques an app in light of your user experience. You are free to choose any app or service that interests you. Your blog post should possess the qualities of an effective blog post (see 206ff of your textbook) and should follow the three-step writing process (92). Your blog post should be uploaded on ICON. You cannot choose the same app as a classmate.
Tips:
Remember that another person will be reading and eventually responding to your post. Be sure that your post is one that the reader will want to respond to, and cast yourself as someone that the reader would want to help. Tone, therefore, will play an important role in your post – i.e. don’t rant or make it into an ad hominem attack – and your post will likely have a more personal touch than a neutrally worded e-mail. Be sure to provide enough essential information so that the company representative can respond adequately to your post.
This assignment will be worth 20 points (5% of your final grade) and will be due at 11.59pm on September 9th. As with all individual BCaP assignments, you are not permitted to collaborate with your classmates or peers.
The rubric is listed below:
Informative headline (1 point)
Appropriate greeting that maintains professionalism & appropriate formality level (1 point)
Demonstrates evidence of following the 3-step writing process (LO 4.1) and clearly conveys your dissatisfaction with the product in a clear, professional manner that invites your reader to respond (5 points)
Request framed appropriately (LO 4.5, 10.1-2) and follows the standard format for routine messages of this sort: explains the problem and gives details, provides backup information, and requests specific action(s) of the reader (5 points)
Ends with a sincere goodwill message and uses an appropriate parting “sign off” (1 point)
Contains a final sentence that provides clear contact information that makes it easy for the reader to reach you in at least two channels – this can be as simple as a request to be responded to via your username information in the blog/comments section, your Twitter feed, or your own blog (1 point)
A positive tone that reflects “you attitude” (1 point)
Concise phrasing and clear, precise word choices (2 points)
Free of grammar and usage errors; no errors = full points, with a 0.5 reduction for each error (3 points)
Total score will be out of 20 points; grades and statistics will be posted on ICON.