Using your imagination, create the kind of skills the job as boss’s assistant requires. Make up names for your boss and the company, as well as any facts that might help you prove your case to your cousin. Freewrite about the skills you’ve seen her show in other settings and about how you can convince her to use those abilities in this position. In addition, consider personality traits that show she would work well with your boss. Also, make up details and figures about how this job will benefit your cousin personally and professionally.
Circle the information your cousin most needs to hear to be persuaded to apply for this job. You won’t be able to use everything you made up. Organize the details and explanation using an order of importance pattern.
Open the Word document containing your draft of Paragraph 1 and begin a new page. Type the heading Paragraph 2 and draft your 8–12 sentence paragraph. Begin with the topic sentence, in which you establish your confidence in your cousin and spark her interest in applying for this job. Develop your paragraph using clear, varied sentences and concrete words with transitions or connectives that create a logical flow. Use the information you’ve identified as most important and make your paragraph as persuasive as possible.