Persuasive Writing in Business
In business courses, your writing often must include a recommendation, which will be based on careful research and analysis of information. In this way, professors are asking students to write persuasively rather than just informatively. In a persuasive writing assignment, you are arguing for or recommending a specific business strategy. Persuasive writing, then, involves proposing a step, plan, or decision that is supported with evidence and logic.
This resource was prepared by the Business Communication Lab at the Sam M. Walton College of Business
Examples of persuasive writing in business include the following:
- Case analysis
- Industry analysis
- Claim letter
- Adjustment letter
- Business brief
- Memo
Below, two examples of persuasive writing in business are annotated, detailing how the writers of these documents move from informative writing to persuasive writing by giving a recommendation and by supporting their argument.
What is a memo?
Memos are a formal genre of internal correspondence. They have a consistent format: purpose
statement, summary, discussion, and recommendation. The purpose of a memo is to provide the reader with a conclusion and recommendation for the next step of
a process or plan.
See the model below for more details:
How do you write a claim letter?
Write a claim letter when you have a polite, reasonable complaint about an unsatisfactory experience, product,
or service. In a claim letter, you recommend possible solutions to the situation. As with a memo, claim letters
are a type of formal communication. However, the claim letter is a more personal type
of communication.
See the model below for more details:
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