Final Portfolio

Olivia Burd

Style and Rhetoric

Professor Sanchez

May 4, 2025

Final Portfolio

Table of Contents

Cover Letter …….. p. 3

Persuasive Content with Data: Formal …….. p. 4

Persuasive Content with Data: Informal …….. p. 5

Reflection …….. p. 6

Persuasive Content with Emotion: Direct …….. p. 7

Persuasive Content with Emotion: Indirect …….. p. 8

Reflection …….. p .9

Impact Report & Rhetorical Norms Analysis …….. p. 13

Cover Letter

My experience in this course this term was not what I expected originally, it turned out to be very insightful for me as a writer. To be frank, when I knew the class was called Style and Rhetoric, I thought it would be the same sort of style and rhetoric that I learned several times over. I have been very pleased that it’s not, and that it’s more so applying this knowledge to real world writing.

The most helpful topics, to me, were the Global Culture and Ethics and Global Access lessons. I found these lessons helpful because they’re things that I’ve never learned before and being able to write for different cultures is something that will greatly benefit me as I head into the world of professional writing. That being said, these are also the two lessons that I will definitely be using to enhance my future writing. Being able to write inclusively is undoubtedly important in a professional setting especially with the social climate as it is today. Though these are the two lessons that stood out to me most, a majority of the topics covered in the course will be used to enhance my future writing.

I put my best foot forward and completed every assignment to the best of my ability, and reached out to classmates if I had questions. I took the time to read every lecture and assigned reading so that I gained a deep knowledge of the subject and so that I was fully prepared for all assignments and discussions. For those reasons, I do believe that I deserve an A in this course.

Persuasive Content with Data: Employee E-Newsletter

MNO: Pepsi Co.

Persuasive Content Example

Formal

To Our Valued Employees,

This month, PepsiCo. is implementing a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to ensure that Pepsico. does a better job of protecting the environment. The goal of the CSR is to limit the amount of single-use plastic that we’re creating each year and practice other ways to ensure the company is protecting the environment. The information on the impact of single use plastic comes from an Oceana press release.

In 2022, after trying to lower the amount of plastic used, PepsiCo. increased its plastic use by over 220 million pounds. That is a four percent increase from the amount that was used in 2021. After this increase, PepsiCo. is asking that employees find ways to give back to the environment. As Pepsi works to decrease their plastic use, they are hoping employees will do the same while also making a difference outside of the office.

Common ways for employees to be part of the initiative to protect the environment are to participate in local clean ups, remove invasive species from local ecosystems, and invest in as well as use renewable energy. Through company policies to limit plastic use, and personal environmentally friendly choices, PepsiCo. can make a positive impact on the environment.

After the devastating increase in plastic, Pepsi has pledged to make a positive change this year and in the coming years. The company has since become aware that increasing the use of refillable bottles by just ten percent could reduce plastic bottle pollution by twenty-two percent. An increase of reusable bottles would also stop 7.6 billion plastic bottles from entering the ocean each year. This information is being shared to encourage Pepsi employee’s to be aware of and eliminate their single-use plastic usage as the entire company does the same.

This pledge to reduce single-use plastic may seem daunting and overwhelming, but it is all possible. Many other countries have found ways to make this work and greatly reduce the amount of single use plastic. Many countries have also banned the use of plastic. Taking steps, as the Pepsi company is asking its employee’s do, to preserve the environment through this new CSR initiative will create a large impact for the future of our planet.

Informal

Hello Pepsi Team!

I hope this finds you well. Have you been as concerned about the current state of our environment as we have? It’s time that we begin introducing our new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. We hope that through the information shared in this newsletter that you will be inspired to donate, support, fundraise and participate in our CSR to protect the environment. Together, with the implementation of this new CSR initiative, we can lower the amount of single-use plastic and the effects it has on the environment as explained in this Oceana press release.

After an accidental 4% increase in plastic use recently, it’s more important now than ever that we lower these rates. Just in the year 2022, PepsiCo. created 2.6 million metric tons of plastic. This all comes after PepsiCo. stated that they were working to lower the amount of plastic they use in their packaging. The company didn’t change any of their practices or adjust the CSR initiatives in order to be more environmentally friendly. Now that we’re adjusting our CSR initiatives we hope that you will join us in trying to make a positive impact.

Implementing a CSR works to make a company more environmentally safe. There are many unique ways to get involved and make a difference within our initiative. Besides the obvious decrease in plastic use to protect the environment, you can donate to other organizations that work to protect the environment, such as the Rainforest Alliance or the Sierra Club, spend time volunteering to clean up trash, and more. Though none of these directly relate to Pepsi, we do encourage you all to take measures for the overall improvement of the environment. Just as the Pepsi company is pledging to do, through our Pepsico Positive initiative, we hope that you all, as our employees, will also take similar measures.

Together, if we can increase reusable bottle usage by just 10% we could reduce plastic bottle pollution by 22% in our oceans. Let’s use this information and Pepsi’s new CSR initiative as our motivation to be more aware of how our plastic usage is affecting our environment. Little by little we can make such a difference.

References:

Baxter, A. (2025, March 11). Coca-Cola and Pepsi’s plastic packaging use increases by hundreds of millions of pounds. Oceana. https://oceana.org/press-relea... 

Content with Data - Reflection

To edit and revise both write-ups I used professor feedback and knowledge I’ve learned throughout the course to enhance my writing for this portfolio. The combination of these two things allowed me to rewrite both versions in a way that I believe meets the assignment requirements best.

The first thing I did was a read through on my own before looking at any feedback. At this stage of the revision process I was able to make edits and adjustments that made my writing flow better. I also paid attention to the key elements that differentiate between informal and formal writing to ensure that I kept that aspect on the right track.

After I made my edits I looked at the professor in-line feedback. The first major change that I made was a small edit in the informal salutation and then creating a formal salutation. I’m happy with how the salutations for each tone make it clear from the start whether it's formal or informal. Another major change that took place in both versions was to create a stronger, more obvious call to action. I didn’t realize how much this would enhance the overall message, but they both turned out to be impactful. The last major change was the hook, before making edits both versions were lacking a strong hook but through this revision process I believe that I was able to create two strong, effective hooks.

Lastly, was my effort to add detail and further explanation in some key areas. For example, in the formal version I changed “this may seem daunting…” to “This pledge to reduce single-use plastic may seem daunting” to give the reader a clearer picture of the task/goal at hand. Another example of adding detail is in the informal version where I added hyperlinks to the Rainforest Alliance and the Sierra Club. This gave the readers information on organizations that also help support environmental preservation.

Persuasive Content with Emotion: Media

MNO: Pepsi Co.

Brand Mascot: Mr. Clean

Press Release 1 - Direct - Germany:

Mr. Clean Wants YOU To Keep the Earth Clean

Limit the amount of single use plastic that you use

Germany– (Marketwire. - April, 6, 2025) - Mr. Clean has joined forces with Pepsi Co. to further their initiative to limit single-use plastic in an effort to keep the environment cleaner.

If you are not already concerned about the state of our environment, you should be. Together, Pepsi Co. and Mr. Clean are working to improve the state of our environment by reducing single use plastics. Oceana, a company working to preserve the oceans claims that each year there is an “estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic that enters the ocean” (Oceana, 2024). Think about the fish, the sharks, the whales, the dolphins, and even the crustaceans that are being affected by the pollution we are creating.

Human health is also being impacted by the excessive amounts of single-use plastic that we are using. Plastic pollution affects the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. It is slowly killing us and the living organisms surrounding us. According to Katie Huffling, the Executive Director of Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, “The science is clear - tailpipe pollution poses a significant threat to public health” (2024).

Through this collaboration with Mr. Clean, the man who helps make everything clean, Pepsi Co. is pledging to stop producing such large quantities of plastic bottles but we are asking that you join us in reducing your waste, too. Now is the time to invest in a new reusable water bottle, travel with a reusable straw, and bring your reusable bags on your next grocery store trip.

It might be too late to save the environment soon, but right now it is not. Now is the time to limit the amount of single-use plastic that you are utilizing everyday. A clean environment equals better health for all living organisms. Let’s start with being aware of our own individual single-use plastic usage.

Press Release 2 - Indirect - Japan:

Cleaning Up the Environment with Mr. Clean

Limit the amount of single use plastic that you use

Japan – (Marketwire- April, 6, 2025) - In an effort to decrease plastic pollution on our planet Pepsi Co. has began working alongside Mr. Clean to encourage us to reduce our single-use plastic waste.

Next time you utilize single use plastic, think about the effects of it. Think about the way that it affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Also consider how it affects the other living creatures that we share our planet with. The plastic that you are using has a detrimental effect on these elements of the environment. Limiting our usage is one of the ways to help restore our environment.

Mr. Clean’s vision in collaboration with Pepsi Co. is to encourage humans, and companies like Pepsi, to decrease their use and production of single-use plastic. Currently, according to Oceana, whose mission it is to reduce plastic waste and save the environment states that, “an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean each year” (Oceana, 2024). Without the help of Mr. Clean, and his cleanliness, Pepsi can’t make the difference they intend to.

The change that Mr. Clean is encouraging is going to help save the lives of the plants, animals, and humans that are inhabiting planet Earth. Reducing your plastic usage will likely help save something or someone's life. We need to work together to begin the process of eliminating the amount of single-use plastic that we use.

Persuasive Content with Emotion - Reflection

I think the revisions that I have made help my writing to be more impactful and effective to the reader compared to how it was written before revising. Much like the Persuasive Content with Data revision process, I also began by rereading what I wrote and making the initial edits before looking at professor comments. There were some minor things that I wanted to change like word choice, high/low context aspects, and overall sentence structure.

The first major revision suggested by the professor was to create a campaign title to add to the headings for both the direct and indirect versions. This was tricky for me as the creative aspects are something I usually struggle a bit more with. However, I am happy with what I’ve come up with and how it enhances the overall piece. It was also suggested that I make stronger and clearer call-to-action statements for my readers, which I believe I also did effectively.

Adding context about why and how Mr. Clean is the right person for this collaboration was another aspect that I made sure was stronger and clearer to my reader in these newly edited versions. I believe that adding this context helps the reader to have a deeper understanding of what this campaign is all about.

Impact Report & Rhetorical Norms Analysis

Cover Letter Rewrite

At PepsiCo Foundation we believe that we play a role in ensuring that every person and every community has access to good food, safe water, and fair economic opportunities. PepsiCo. Foundation uses its philopatric initiatives to give every community a chance to thrive. PepsiCo works closely with companies around the globe to provide equal opportunities to communities that are less fortunate allowing them to have access to the same opportunities as privileged communities.

As we work towards our PepsiCo Positive goals, our impact report highlights the positive changes we have created related to food security, access to safe water, and economic opportunity. We work with our partners and changemakers to create a lasting social change in these areas across parts of the world in order to improve the livelihood of individuals across different communities. Our collaboration efforts work with local and larger businesses to create diverse, well-rounded collaboration to improve less than ideal situations. These collaborations also allow for smaller, local businesses to benefit.

The current state of the economy and the lack of resources available given the current state of the world, meeting our PepsiCo Positive goals this year has been difficult. Vulnerable people and communities have been suffering the most this year, but with the assistance of our partners we have been able to change the circumstances for many.

Our highlights of the year include:

• 2,000 families signed up for a home-delivery summer meal program.
• 12,500 next generation farmers were provided with resources and training through the program She Feeds the World Thailand.
• In the Shumet Dagu community of Ethiopia, more than 2,500 individuals now have access to safe water.
• In India, more than 1.3 million people now have safe drinking water thanks to Safe Water Network.
• PepsiCo. aims to support 4,000 students in underserved communities with scholarships to help them obtain degrees.
• 100 businesses were selected to receive $10,000 grants to support their business.
• 16 million dollars has been donated to nonprofit organizations across the world.

The list above and the other accomplishments shared through this report represent PespiCo’s dedication to serving the underprivileged. PepsiCo Positive is continuing to support these struggling communities to ensure that they have equal access to the necessities. This Impact Report is created to show our level of dedication and our continued support. We keep track of and share the successes that have occurred and the positive impact that PepsiCo has been making.

Summary Page

PepsiCo.’s Global Progress Report is created at the end of every year to assess and evaluate the impact that they are making to help underprivileged communities around the world. This specific report, from 2023, highlights the ways in which PepsiCo has made a difference in food security, safe water access, and economic opportunity.

The report shares the specific partnerships that have been created in various countries and the impacts that these businesses have had in helping PepsiCo to accomplish its yearly impact goals. In fact, the report highlights 12 different countries, including the United States that needed the extra assistance or have aided in helping the less fortunate communities. The report also clearly outlines the ways in which PepsiCo uses their power to be changemakers.

The impact report shares that food security is an important focus for PepsiCo because “when everyone has access to food, children are better educated, economies grow, and people live longer, healthier lives” (2023). This statement marks the beginning of the positive changes that PepsiCo has made in terms of food security. Dedication to food security is demonstrated in the partnerships that are detailed in this section of the report. It shares that “the PepsiCo. Foundation and No Kid Hungry Virginia partnered with Accomack County public schools to launch a home-delivery program to feed children. Approximately 2,000 families signed up” (2023). As the report states, the high number of signups shows the lack of food security in struggling communities, but it also shows that PepsiCo is making a difference.

The next section of the report discusses PepsiCo’s plan for access to safe water. The Foundation focuses on three approaches to bringing safe water to communities. Those 3 approaches are “investing in water conservation initiatives, water distribution projects that aim to improve sanitation services, and investment in purification through community-based facilities that will make it cheaper” (2023). These three approaches are further discussed and shown via example throughout this section of the report. Much like in the previous section, PepsiCo details the companies and partners that have aided in providing safe water.

Lastly is the section that focuses on economic opportunity. This section is to highlight PepsiCo. Foundation’s mission to “invest in education and training programs to drive economic advancement” (2023). This economic advancement is represented by the fact that the PepsiCo Foundation “invests in scholarships to help unserved populations – including aiming to support more than 4,000 students” (2023). This allows students who are facing financial barriers to attend community colleges rather than being held back because they can’t afford it. As a result of the success these scholarships result in PepsiCo “aims to reach 4,125 scholarships awarded by 2025” (2023).

Overall, this Impact Report summarizes the impact that PepsiCo Foundation has had on underserved communities and how their initiatives and partnerships have helped improve the lives of others. It’s clear that they’re dedicated to continue having a positive impact.

Rhetorical Analysis

For both the cover letter and the summary, I focused heavily on trying to keep the same formatting and tone as the original Impact Report while also trying to add elements that were taught in the course. For both pieces of writing I also wrote for a low-context audience using a specific to general formatting.

To follow the specific-to-general formatting I said “This specific report, from 2023, highlights the ways in which PepsiCo has made a difference in food security, safe water access, and economic opportunity”. Specifically mentioning the year and then generally stating the three areas of focus. I think this also helped to show that my writing was for a low-context audience. Another example in my writing is “. Vulnerable people and communities have been suffering the most this year, but with the assistance of our partners we have been able to change the circumstances for many”. For this, I directly say the vulnerable people but then leave it more general to say the partners are creating change without specifying the change.

I kept my writing concise and straight to the point without over explaining to ensure that I kept my writing low-context. For example, I said “Much like in the previous section, PepsiCo details the companies and partners that have aided in providing safe water”. Rather than restating what I had written about the safe water section, I just referenced it, to avoid over explaining.