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This guide provides a detailed overview of how to effectively compare products and services. It outlines the importance of thorough examination to determine the best option for your needs. Learn how to choose at least four brands, create a comparative criteria list, and structure your findings in a clear memo format. The guide emphasizes the importance of specific criteria tailored to your audience's needs, delivering insights on how to rank and present your comparisons for optimal decision-making. It's designed for anyone looking to make informed purchases.
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PRODUCT/SERVICE COMPARISON Making Purchasing Decisions
Definition and Explanation • Examination of the features of a number of products or services to decide which one to purchase • Results of the investigation of various brands to find the best one to purchase.
Purpose • Investigate and either choose the best product or service for your audience or allow your audience to choose.
Prewriting • Choose the product or service to research. • Select a minimum of four brands/models of that product/service. • Ex. If investigating automobiles for additions to company fleet, examine at least four makes/models.
Criteria/Features/Wishlist • List of criteria to apply to each of the 4+ examples. • Criteria can come from you or audience. • List appears in introduction and should be specific. • Instead of an item like “fuel economy,” give the EPA figures: 35 city and 40 highway. • List format adds visual variety to your memo.
Format • Memo format • Mandatory elements • TO: • FROM: • DATE: • SUBJECT: • Introduction, body, conclusion sections with appropriate headings
Introduction • Background information about need for purchase • List of criteria • Indicate importance of each criterion • Rank order • Asterisk after mandatory criteria
Paragraphs 1 • Organization: Block or alternating method • Matrix pattern: best/cheapest to worst/most expensive • ex. Block: physical therapy schools • W. Va UMAB Duke Shen • $3,926 no tests GRE DMV • DMV $9,088 no DMV $13,000 • AHPAT DMV $18k GRE
Paragraphs 2 • Alternating method • ex. Therapy schools • tuition area tests • $4k wva shen=y umab=none • $9k umab wva=y wva=ahpat • $13k shen umab=y shen=gre • $18k duke duke=n duke=gre • Student comparison example 1
Table • 2nd organization: comparison table, not paragraphs • Items and features along x and y axes • Fill in grid with specific information or y/n • Student comparison example 2
Choice • With paragraphs in the body, the conclusion is short. • With the table, the conclusion is long. • You choose = tell audience choice and reasons for it • Audience chooses = you remind audience of major pros and cons for each item • Giving the audience several choices is also acceptable.
Topic Handout • Guidelines
Product Comparison Exercise • Comparison Exercise Instructions