EN2150 - Week 3 - Assignment

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Week 3 - Assignment

Respectful Bad-News Message and Informal Report

Assignment

Your portfolio: Interpersonal Communication Portfolio

Practice communicating a service disruption honestly while preserving dignity, evidence, and a workable path forward.

Your task

Respond to a client whose referral or appointment cannot proceed on the promised timeline, then brief a supervisor on the situation.

What to submit

  • A client-facing bad-news message of 200-300 words
  • A one-page informal report with situation, evidence, impact, and recommendation
  • A short evidence log separating known facts, limits, and assumptions
  • A 150-word reflection on tone and dignity

How to complete it

  1. List the verified facts, unknowns, affected audience, and decision that must follow.
  2. Draft the client message with a clear change, relevant reason, acknowledgment, and next step.
  3. Convert the situation into a scannable report for a supervisor; include an evidence-based recommendation.
  4. Audit for blame, euphemism, unsupported certainty, privacy risk, and inaccessible wording.

Check your work

  • The bad news is clear without being abrupt or evasive.
  • The report distinguishes evidence, impact, and recommendation.
  • The message offers a realistic next step and contact/follow-up expectation.
  • The reflection explains how wording protects dignity while remaining truthful.

How your work will be reviewed

Respectful Bad-News Message and Informal Report review criteria
DimensionEvidence of readiness
ClarityDecision or change is stated plainly and relevant reasons are included.
EvidenceKnown facts and limits are accurate and visibly separated from assumptions.
Dignity and toneLanguage acknowledges impact without blame, manipulation, or false reassurance.
ActionReader receives a realistic next step, owner, or follow-up expectation.

Using AI

If you use AI to brainstorm or revise, document the tool, verify its output against the e-book and workplace scenario, and identify what judgment remained yours.

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