Justifying a Directive
This case is best for groups.
Background
In Chapter 12, the discussion of directives includes these sentences: “Even though you have the authority to require your readers to follow the policy, you want to explain why the policy is desirable or at least necessary. You will be most persuasive if you present clear compelling evidence. . . .” In this case, you will study the ways a group of writers explained the reasons for a directive.
You and the other members of your group are interns for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). One of the challenges your agency faces is that it often needs to issue directives—
You have an idea. Last year, you interned for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). During that time, you participated in creating some of the materials related to what is called the needlestick law—
Your Assignment
To complete this assignment, perform the following tasks:
Study Chapter 12 on informational reports, concentrating on the discussion of directives.
Study the OSHA Standards on Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention. On this page you will find links to the different documents that make up OSHA’s standards on needlesticks. Review several of these documents. For each one, focus on the audience and the techniques the writers use for explaining and justifying the directive.
Submit to your supervisor a 1,000-