Directive and persuasive writing

Name

Institution

Tutor’s Name:

Date of submission:

Directive writing

The newly introduced casual Friday rule has been very effective in the company except in our department where it’s not implemented as expected. It is important that all workers realize the uniqueness of this department as it deals with customers more often than other departments and therefore need to implement the rule cautiously. I therefore find it necessary to advice the workers to restrain from doing things that would dent our public image and customer relations. For instance, putting on sandals and shorts in the workplace isn’t any pleasing to the customers. I believe that with the workforce that I have, such changes are achievable and the sooner the better (Garrand, 2006).

Persuasive writing

The uniqueness of our department has always attracted the attention of many people as we interact more often with the customers than other departments do. The introduction of casual Friday rule is a wonderful idea and is never going to alter things in our department. However, the workers need to put more effort in restoring the reputation we’ve had so far. For instance, customers always judge a company by the existing corporate culture which guides the behavior of people in that company. When we dress maturely, handle customer courteously and generally conduct ourselves in a pleasant way the customers are proud to be associated with us.

The casual Friday rule is a good idea but how we handle it is what counts. For instance, our customers who visit the company on a Friday may confuse casual dress-code for a routine behavior at the company. This would tarnish the public image of the company. However, when we offer services to our customers while dressed maturely they fill valued and appreciated thereby improving customer relations. Such positive relationship with our customers forms the platform to our organizational success (McCarthy, 1998).

Differences between directive and persuasive writing

Both the aforementioned methods of writing tend to convey an important message to the reader. However, the tone with which such messages are conveyed makes the difference. To begin with, directive writing has aspects of authority in its messages. The writer tends to instruct the reader on specified issues that need to be addressed (Garrand, 2006). Besides, the writer provides a time frame within which such instructions are supposed to be implemented. On the other hand, persuasive writing takes a different perspective. For instance, the writer conveys the message in a low tone so as to convince the reader on the importance of implementing certain specified ideas (McCarthy, 1998).

According to McCarthy (1998) the writer in this case has no authority over the reader and can not therefore instruct the latter to do something. Moreover, the writer is not mandated to provide a specific time period within which the alterations he/she has depicted in the message are supposed to be implemented (McLeod, 1997). McLeod (1997) argues that persuasive writing is also informative as it enlightens the reader on the importance of the message conveyed. According to Garrand (2006) directive writing is a one way communication as it provides instruction on how something should be done and has little room for the view of the reader to be heard. Persuasive writing on the other hand considers the interest of the reader and provides room for the inclusion of opinion as well as the interest of the reader (McLeod, 1997).

Reference List:

Garrand, T. (2006). Writing for multimedia and the Web: a practical guide to content development for

interactive media. 3rd Ed. London: Elsevier.

McCarthy, T. (1998). Persuasive Writing. New York: Scholastic Inc.

McLeod, S. (1997). Notes on the heart: affective issues in the writing classroom. Illinois: SIU Press.