Jason Katz

Zack De Piero
English 202D
16 November 2018

Company Profile:

Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services is an accounting firm that is located in the
northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia. It was started twenty five years ago by Bilo Sagdiyev, who
has had the nickname Brother Bilo since he was a small child. Brother Bilo’s has roughly 30
employees that work there full time. When tax season comes by, Bilo hires some interns to aide
in their daily operations.
The firm has a bunch of public accountants working for them. This way, they can provide their
services to all types of clients, professional and personal. The firm has been steadily growing in
size and magnitude since its opening but especially over the past decade.

Textual genres:

1. Letter of recommendation Commented [1]: I was considering what genre to

Info: Bilo is writing to Mr Goldstein for Mr. vega
Writer: Bilo Sagdiyev, CEO of Brother Bilo Accounting and Financial Services
Audience: Mr. Goldstein, Hirer at Northeast Accounting
Exigence: Mr. Vega needs a letter of recommendation for his new job
Background: Mr vega is leaving Brother Bilo’s and wants a letter of recommendation
Goal: For Mr. vega to be hired
input into my final project, then I came across a Letter
of recommendation. I thought about how this textual
genre was not the most talked about or discussed
genre in class. That pulled me in to writing it, some
uncharted territory
Commented [2]: So i decided for my first genre to
be the former employer of Mr. Vega and write to a new
potential employer a letter of recommendation about
Vincent Vega

Dear Mr. Goldstein,

I am writing to you today with regards to former employee of mine, Vincent Vega. Mr. Vega Commented [3]: I thought that a very professional
joined my team of accountants precisely 20 years ago. And in that twenty year window, I cannot and positive approach was the most appropriate for my
chief accountant.
think of one instance where Mr Vega disappointed. He always came to work mentally focused to
Commented [4]: I put in a large number like 20
take on the day. His work ethic and overall charisma shined each and every day he was in my years to be able to establish Brother Bilo's credibility
office. when talking about Mr. Vega to a new potential boss,
Mr. Goldstein

Being his former employer, I can safely say that Mr. Vega is the ideal employee. He is hard-
working, diligent and most of all professional and respectful. His abilities in accounting also
outpace the competition. For the last 8 years, Mr. Vega has been our top accountant out of
nearly 3o employees. When considering Mr. Vega for employment, take this letter into
consideration. He was an immense asset to my team for over twenty years. I have no doubt in
my mind he will provide the same impression wherever life takes him next. I ask you to please
take into deep consideration Mr. Vega for employment. He will not let you down.
Commented [5]: I put this in from our assigned
readings. In chapter 3 it states, "a comparison of this
candidate's potential with that of peers" (Thill and
Bovee p. 236). The reading talks about when writing a
letter of recommendation, it can be a very smart move
to input the individual's performance amongst others in
his field/job.
Sincerely,

Mr. Bilo Sagdiyev

(215)-555-1234
CEO at Brother Bilo Accounting Firm
CPA
 2.Organizing an interview for a potential new employee

Info: HR wants to schedule an interview with a new recruit

Writer: Steven Glandsberg, HR rep at Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services
Audience: Brother Bilo, CEO at Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services Commented [6]: For my second genre I thought that
Exigence: Bilo would like to recruit some new talent on to the team the exchange between the HR rep and the CEO could
be an interesting textual genre to capture
Background: Steven wants to make an interview happen for this potential new hire
Goal: to make a time that works for bilo and the interviewee

Mr. Bilo, Commented [7]: I thought that an HR rep writing to

the CEO will be very formal.

I have been looking over the resumes and applications for our new position, and one in
particular caught my eye. Zack De piero is a fantastic candidate with all of the experience and
necessary qualifications we are looking for. I want to reach out and request for him to come in
for a one-on-one interview. What times are you free the following week to sit down with this
young man. If his people skills are as impressive as his resume, he’ll likely be a perfect fit.

Best Regards,

Steven Gladsberg

Steven Glandsberg,

I trust your judgment and Mr. De piero sounds like a fantastic fit. I would love to sit down and
conduct an interview with him. That being said, I am available anytime after 1:00 pm on tuesday
or 10:00 am to roughly 12:00 pm on thursday. If any of these times work for him, put him down Commented [8]: But on the other hand, the CEO
and let me know as soon as possible. If none of the times are good, I might be able to writing to the HR rep will obviously be professional but
perhaps a bit less formal, but the CEO will have his
restructure my business with Vincent Vega on friday and have some time between 2:00 pm and salutation at the bottom
3:30 pm. Please let me know what Zack De piero says. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bilo Sagdiyev
(215)-555-1234
CEO at Brother Bilo Accounting Firm
CPA
 3. A request for the CEO’s help

Info: Mr. Vega needs assistance at work on a big client
Writer: Mr. Vega, Chief Accountant at Brother Bilo’s
Audience: Bilo Sagdiyev, CEO
Exigence: The PSU account must be finalized before the end of the period
Background: Vega has had this client in the past, but came to a fork in the road
Goal: Vega wants to sit down with Bilo and work on this client
Commented [9]: With thinking about my third textual
genre to write, I thought it could be an interesting
exchange to see the Chief Accountant asking for help
with a client from the CEO, would it be as formal as a
novice asking the CEO, I don’t think so. But it’s still Mr.
Vega’s boss and therefore there must be some sort of
formality in his tone. On the other hand, Bilo might not
need to have such a formal approach. I mean this is his
chief accountant he is talking to here.

Mr Bilo Sagdiyev,

I would like to request your assistance on the Penn State University account. As you know, they
are our biggest client and some of their books can get a bit out of hand. I have the balance
sheets and income statements made up, I just need assistance with the organization and
placement of their domestic assets and how to properly write that off. If you could find some
time in your busy schedule to discuss, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again and I
will have everything prepared for you to analyze and look over. Talk to you soon.

Sincerely,

Vincent Vega
(267)-447-4493
Chief Accountant

Vincent,

I would love to sit down with you and take a look at the Penn State University account. They are
our biggest client and we want to make sure it stays that way. I can show you a tip I learned
back in the day to being able to write off almost anything. I cannot believe I haven’t showed
you? It will blow your mind in how easy it can come. How about you meet me in the conference
room in fifteen minutes with the PSU client file? Commented [10]: This was influenced directly from
my interview. In the interview, Mrs. Smith expressed to
me the importance of 1 on 1, face to face
Best, communication that gets lost with all of the new
technological inventions we have. I value face-to-face
interactions and thought putting this in was a perfect,
Bilo realistic example of that.
4. Questionnaire

Info: The company wants some feedback from employees

Writer: Steven Glandsberg (HR rep) on Bilo’s behalf
Audience: employees of Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services
Exigence: to better the working environment
Background: Bilo wants to know how employees feel about working for him
Goal: He wants his employees to become happier

Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services Questionnaire

Answer these questions: 1 thru 5 where 1 is the worst, 5 is the best. Commented [11]: For the Questionnaire a 1-5 scale
seems most realistic for how a company would gage its
employees’ personal take on differing subject matter.

1) How would you rate your work experience as a whole at Brother Bilo’s Accounting and
Financial Services? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
2) Do you find yourself with the necessary tools you need to be a productive member of
this team? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
3) How do you like your desk location-wise in the office? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
4) Do you feel you’re given a sufficient amount of break time during the workday?
1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
5) Should we consider having casual fridays as the office? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
6) How do well prepared do you feel for you job requirements? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
7) Do you think you could take on more responsibilities? 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
8) Does the environment and the people around you help you be successful?
1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
9) How can Brother Bilo’s make the workplace more productive for all?
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Commented [12]: The first question I put as a more
general overall question about the employees work
experience.
Commented [13]: I made these questions with the
intention to have the employees tell Bilo how they feel
working for his company. What has he been doing
correctly, and what has he been doing poorly or not as
good as he could be.
Commented [14]: In the Interviews and Interviewing
techniques chapter of the course readings it says, "For
example, open questions might start in any of the
following ways: “Tell me about,” “To what extent,” “In
what ways.” (Madill Ch 14 n.pag.). I know this is a
questionnaire and not an interview, but they have
similar thought processes involved. One could see this
set of questions as Bilo interviewing/asking his
employees about their work and work environment.
And using 'how' to imply an open ended question as
the final question of the questionnaire seems
appropriate.
5. Employee Termination
Info: Termination letter going to Jimmy
Writer: Steven Glandsberg, Human Resources Rep
Audience: Jimmy John, accountant at Brother Bilo’s
Exigence: Jimmy John is drinking on the job
Background: Jimmy has come to work smelling of booze. This is not his first time either.
Goal: to terminate Jimmy John
Jimmy John,
It has come to our attention that your recent actions merit severe consequences. Brother Bilo’s
Accounting and Financial Services is terminating you due to your recent accounts of being
intoxicated on the job. This termination is effective as of Monday, November 19th. According to
our records, you were intoxicated back on October 10, November 2, and November 14. This is
the third strike that we can allot as a company.
Although separation from our team will not be easy, it must be done. Being drunk in any work
setting is completely unprofessional. You are not only a danger to yourself but to the other
fellow hardworking employees of our great company. Therefore, this must be done. The final
check will be sent to your home address we have one file.
Sincerely,
Steven Glandsberg
Commented [15]: I am slowly grasping the true
concept of written communication. Different rhetorical
situations merit different appropriate textual genres.
This one, for example, I had more fun creating because
it was a negative message. I enjoyed the cutthroat,
game over mentality that went into writing it. The
language I used here differs immensely to writing to the
CEO for some assistance. I was much more direct and
the genre definitely had a dark tone to it. Thats what
happens when you drink on the job.
Commented [16]: I used the direct approach to
convey the severity of the email. I feel if someone was
to be terminated for drinking on the job, the termination
would be swift, direct and most importantly cutthroat.
Commented [17]: Specific examples of this include,
"This termination is effective as of Monday, November
19th."
"This is the third strike that we can allot as a company."
"Therefore, this must be done."
( Katz p. 6)
Commented [18]: This style of using the direct
approach with a negative message also comes from
the reading. In Thill and Bovee Ch9 it is written, "
Stating the bad news at the beginning can have two
advantages: It makes a shorter message possible, and
it allows the audience to reach the main idea of the
message in less time" (Thill and Bovee p.255).
6. Request for Payment Adjustment
Info: Brother Bilo does Randy Marsh’s accounting paperwork who owes the firm $500 a month
for those services
Writer: Randy Marsh, owner of Marsh Trucking and Co.
Audience: Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services
Exigence: Randy must inform Bilo that his payment will be late
Background: Randy received accounting expertise from Bilo and now owes money to the firm.
He typically pays Brother Bilo $ 500 a month at the beginning of the month
Goal: Randy would like a break if possible with the payment deadline. He also wants to salvage
the business relationship.
Dear Brother Bilo’s Accounting and Financial Services,
I am writing to you today in regards to our business arrangements. Typically, your private entity
computes my business’s accounting information and I pay you $500 a month for it.
Unfortunately, this month upcoming month’s pay for December, will have to be delayed. As you
know, I am in the trucking business of perishable goods. And two of my trucks have gone out of
service, one in an accident and the other has motor problems. Regardless, my business affairs
have halted immensely. Tough times have hit my small business and your payment will have to
be late.
I will be sending you $300 this week for my December payment. The other $200 will be sent in
the coming weeks when I obtain it. I truly am sorry for this immense inconvenience that I have
placed on you. I certainly do not want it to tarnish our professional relationship as businesses
that goes back roughly 15 years. I should be back on track with my payments come the new
year. Once again, I apologize for this delay and ask for your patiences. Thank you for
everything.
Best Regards,
Randy Marsh
Marsh Trucking and Co.
4344 Ranch Drive
Abington, PA 19001
(215) 667 8899
Commented [19]: I was not sure of what sort of
payment adjustment I wanted to do. This looking at the
book of genres, I saw an example of a request for an
extension. I feel like this would work out best because it
seems like the most realistic. I feel like Randy Marsh
would really write to Brother Bilo’s firm asking for some
more time because hard times have come
Commented [20]: I used a passive tone here to
ease the burden of bad news that Bilo's firm will not be
getting their full payment for the next few weeks. I took
this idea from Thill and Bovee Ch5 where it states, "
Use passive sentences to soften bad news, to put
yourself in the background, or to create an impersonal
tone when needed (Thill and Bovee p. 137).
Commented [21]: I got some ideas from Thill and
Bovee Ch 3 about closing a request. The chapter
states, " Close request messages with, a request for
some specific action, information about how you can be
reached, and an expression of appreciation" (Thill and
Bovee p 227). The action I am requesting is for the firm
to remain patient in this tough financial time. I put all of
Randy Marsh's business information at the end of the
email in his E-signature. But before that, I made sure to
thank the accounting firm again for everything.
Commented [22]: From writing the project, I am
delving into what makes one textual genre different
from another while both holding importance and
relevance. I've seen through hands on experience, the
numerous varying genres that all fall under written
communication. I wrote a few here, but there are
thousands more and that is a bit mind boggling. With
regards to language, one can utilize the same
information, use different language, and convey a very
different tone. Language might be the most important
aspect of any genre including written textual genres.
While coming up with these rhetorical situations, I can
see the differences but importance of each one. They
all have a purpose for when and how to write them. No
situation is the same and therefore no rhetorical
situation is the same. This explains why there are so
many genres in the world, you literally cannot count. As
these unique rhetorical situations arise, so do unique
takes on various genres. None of the genres would get
their points across without the correct language and the
correct organizational structure. The two go hand-in-
hand when attempting to get any message across to
your audience. How you lay out your textual genre is
almost as effective as what you put inside (language).
If the organizational structure is flawed, the audience
could get a very skewed message or the complete
wrong message.
Z. De Piero Student:
________________________
202D Business Writing, F’18

Rubric for 202D Final Project

Rubric for Rhetorical Situations

Did Not Meet Met Exceeded

Expectations Expectations Expectations

Company Profile

Have you you provided relevant background information to help bring your
organization to life? What’s the name of this organization/company?
What’s their field, industry, or “line of work”? Where are they located?
Who is their clientele?

Exigence

What prompted the writer’s need to communicate? What’s the urgency

behind the need to enact this particular genre? Why this, why now?

Writer

Who is the writer? What’s their name, what organization/company are

they affiliated with, and what’s their role/position?

Audience (Primary and Peripheral)

Who is the intended/primary audience for this genre? What’s their name,
what organization/company are they affiliated with, and what’s their
position/role?

Additionally, what other peripheral/secondary audiences might play a role

in how we can understand this genre? Might other people be interested in
the message that’s being communicated? Could the writer have additional
people in mind beyond the specific person(s) that they’ve contacted?

Purpose

What’s the writer’s goal? Is it realistic? Have they identified a concrete,

actionable outcome that they’re hoping to achieve?

Context / Background Info

What additional information is necessary to make the most sense of this
rhetorical situation? Do the writer and their audience have a “history” of
sorts? Is there an upcoming deadline? Has a company’s policy or
personnel recently gone through changes? Is there a current “hot topic”
that’s circulating throughout the news cycle that makes this communication
more urgent?

Notes and Score (X/7.5)

Rubric for Textual Genres

Did Not Meet Met Exceeded

Expectations Expectations Expectations

Genre Identification

Did you (accurately) name/identify each unique genre that you

enacted?

Alignment with the Rhetorical Situation

Does the genre that you created/enacted accurately reflect the

rhetorical situation (for each genre) that you laid out?

Genre-Specific Conventions

To what extent did each textual genre include its most important
conventions? Remember: when we think of “conventions,” we think
of the unique characteristics, features, patterns, or ingredients of a
particular genre. (e.g. a sspecific subject or an e-signature line for an
email)

Rhetorical Strategies

Has the writer used various rhetorical strategies to persuade their

reader/audience in the most effective way possible? From jargon
(technical terminology), to particular details (e.g. the specific amount
of $ due for a claim; timelines for a call to action), to communication
with internal vs. external audiences, have you (the student) brought
each genre “to life” in realistic ways with your language-based
decisions?

Organization/Structure

Is the writer’s communication organized/structured in a clear and

logical manner? Does the organizational strategy best suppor the
writer’s goals of each particular genre?

Mechanics + Punctuation

Have you demonstrated a control of mechanics and punctuation?

Are you using complete sentences (unless intentionally avoiding them
for stylistic reasons)?

Notes and Score (X/15)

Rubric for “Metacognitive Moves” Reflection

Did Not Meet Met Exceeded

Expectations Expectations Expectations

Focus on “Moves”

What writerly decisions did you make in this project? Did you identify
numerous, conseequential “moves” that you made for this project? Did you
articulate what you did and why you did it? (Or didn’t do it?) do that

Examples of “Moves”

Is your analysis of your moves connected to your language? Have you

quoted yourself to provide concrete examples?

Learning and Insights

The whole point of engaging in a metcaognitive reflection (like this) is to

better understand what you’re learning and to communicate that with
others. What insights are you gaining about written communication?
About language? About rhetorical situations? About genre? Ahout
organizational structures?

Interview

Think back to your interview. How/when/where/why did you draw from

insights that came out of your interview? Indicate how your interview
informed this 202d project.

Connection to Assigned Readings

Per the syllabus, did you make specific connections to our assigned course
readings? What ideas, concepts, or strategies informed your project? I’d
like to see you paraphrase and “quote” at least 5 different times from at
least 3 different readings/chapters.!

Notes and Score (X/15)