PRODUCT/ SERVICE COMPARISON

1
PRODUCT/SERVICE COMPARISON

• Making Purchasing Decisions

2
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.

3
Purpose

• Investigate and either choose the best product or
  service for your audience or allow your audience
  to choose.

4
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.

5
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.

6
Format

• Memo format
• Mandatory elements
• TO
• FROM
• DATE
• SUBJECT
• Introduction, body, conclusion sections with
  appropriate headings

7
Introduction

• Background information about need for purchase
• List of criteria
• Indicate importance of each criterion
• Rank order
• Asterisk after mandatory criteria

8
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

9
Paragraphs 2

• Alternating method
• ex. Therapy schools
• tuition area tests
• 4k wva sheny umabnone
• 9k umab wvay wvaahpat
• 13k shen umaby shengre
• 18k duke duken dukegre
• Student comparison example 1

10
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

Names/features UMAB WVA Shen Duke
9k 4k 13k 18k
DMV y y y n
tests n ahpat gre gre
11
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.

12
Topic Handout

• Guidelines

13
Product Comparison Exercise

• Comparison Exercise Instructions