‘Reflect for Transfer’ #1 and #2 in Anderson, pg 19

To: Emily Luther
From: Renee Cherwonik
Date: July 13, 2025
Subject: Memo #1 – Reader Awareness in a Real-Life Writing Situation

In a recent workplace situation, I had to write an email to a senior manager explaining a delay in onboarding a new customer due to a system issue involving tax configurations. I knew that the reader was under pressure to meet project deadlines and that the customer involved, AT&T, was considered high priority. This context influenced my writing because I understood the manager would be looking for accountability, quick understanding, and reassurance that the issue was being resolved.

Because of this, I made two specific writing decisions:

1. Kept the message concise and organized, using bullet points to highlight the cause of the delay, the temporary workaround we implemented, and the next steps being taken.

2. Maintained a professional and solution-focused tone, showing that I took ownership of the issue and was actively collaborating across departments to resolve it.

This situation reminded me how important it is to write with the reader’s needs and pressures in mind. On the job, it’s helpful to stay clear, respectful, and efficient in communication—especially when dealing with urgent or sensitive topics.

To: Emily Luther
From: Renee Cherwonik
Date: July 13, 2025
Subject: Memo #2 – My Writing Strengths and Learning Goals

I bring several writing strengths to this course that I believe will help me succeed in professional communication. These include:

• Workplace experience, especially in writing internal updates, emails to customers, and status summaries.

• Audience awareness, developed through writing to different departments such as Tax, IT, and Accounts Receivable.

• Strong organization and clarity, which I practice by planning my messages and avoiding overly complex language.

That said, I also recognize areas where I want to grow. Through this course, I hope to:

• Improve my persuasive writing, particularly for presenting proposals or recommendations.

• Learn how to structure more formal documents, like memos and executive reports.

• Gain skills in writing for digital platforms, especially for tools like Microsoft Teams and project management software.

I’m looking forward to developing these skills so I can become a more confident and effective communicator in any professional setting.