Memorandum

Date:         February 27, 2006

To:            Sean Prentiss

From:        Cody Michael       

Subject:     A Proposal for an Upcoming Excused Absence

                  I understand you have strong feelings towards academics, and I do as well.  I have been an A and B student throughout my college career, and have rarely missed class.  During this semester I have attended all of your scheduled classes.  I also remember when you shared with the class your experience of spending time with your brothers in Mexico, and what it meant to you.  On March 1^st through March 8th, my family has scheduled a large reunion in Cabo, Mexico, and I have been invited to attend.  I was hoping you could relate your experience of the time spent with your brother, to my request for attending this reunion. 

                  Attending this family reunion in Mexico entails me missing a week of scheduled class meetings.  I understand how much you need everyone’s participation in class, and how much work we cover each week.  If schoolwork is a problem, hopefully we can work something out to keep me caught up.  I am open to any suggestions you might have.

                  Traditionally, assignments are required to be typed when handed in, but access to computer technology in Mexico will be very limited, and I do not own a laptop.  Any assignment you could issue me before the reunion would be excellent, so I could hand it in early and stay caught up.  However, I am willing to hand write any assignments that will be covered that week in class, while in Mexico, and type them when I return home.  Perhaps we can come up with an alternative project, for example, where I keep a journal discussing any business writing documents I have discovered along the trip, and discuss how they are well or poorly written.  When I return home, I could compile my results into a well-written paper discussing the pros and cons of business writing styles in Mexico, and how they compare to the writing styles used in the United States.

                  This project will give me excellent experience combining creative writing, your expertise, and business style writing. If presented to the class, my project could allow students exposure to a different culture of writing.  You might also enjoy reading it, as it will be a different perspective than what has been covered in class already.

Please allow me to be excused from this upcoming week of class.  It would mean the world to my family, and I can provide you with an extremely interesting, and in-depth project.  Thank you for your kindness, and I will see you in class on Tuesday.

Note: There is no signature line at the end of your memo.