WGU D268 Task 1 Guide and Example: RRM3 Introductory Emails

By Dan Palmer, MBA · Academic strategy consultant for working adult learners · LinkedIn

WGU D268 Task 1 asks you to do something most working adults already do every week: introduce yourself by email to people you haven’t met. The twist is that you write two emails to two different characters, each in a different communication style, and then explain your choices and point to the exact words that make the emails different. Students who write two friendly, well crafted emails in the same voice find out the hard way that the rubric is checking the difference, not the friendliness.

This guide is for working students who want RRM3 D268 Task 1 WGU requirements done in an evening or two. It explains how to read the five characters, how to choose two that make the contrast easy, how the four communication styles map to what each character values, and how to write a Section B that quotes your own emails. It ends with a completed template example written to fictitious practice characters, so it shows the reasoning without handing you an answer.

D268 (RRM3) Task 1

Competencies

1025.1.1: Implements Appropriate Communication Styles

The learner implements appropriate communication styles based on audience and setting.

Introduction

Understanding your message’s audience and considering how to adapt your message is key to successful interactions. In this task, you will:

1. Write two emails introducing yourself in a professional workplace setting to two different characters from the scenario below.
2. Demonstrate in a written analysis how each introductory message is adapted to the audience you are addressing.
3. Use the RRM3 D268 Task 1 Template located in the Supporting Documents section below the rubric as a guide to complete this task.

Scenario
You work for a corporation with multiple branches across the United States. You have been called to the East Coast headquarters to work on a training program that will be used nationwide. You will be meeting your team members—who come from various branches—for the first time and would like to communicate with them to introduce yourself before arriving. The following list has important information to know about each of their work cultures

The team is as follows:

• Sarah: At Sarah’s branch at company headquarters, her team values time, efficiency, and direct communication. She typically plans out every minute of her day and expects meetings to have clear agendas with concise information about daily tasks. The culture is low context and values certainty and formality. Sarah has worked in the organization for nearly 20 years.
• Joe: At the company’s Southeast branch, Joe’s team values a relaxed and informal atmosphere. He and his colleagues focus a lot of energy on developing genuine relationships and trust. Joe and his coworkers use a high-context communication style. Joe is the newest hire out of this branch but has been working in the organization for 10 years.
• Blake: At Blake’s branch in the Southwest, his team values collaborating, sharing work, and equally contributing to ideas. The culture tends to focus on equal distribution of workload and people who desire to improve the success of the overall group. They generally communicate in a nonassertive manner. Blake has been working in the organization for 30 years.
• Talia: At Talia’s branch in the Midwest, the culture is friendly and warm. People are very supportive of each other and value kindness and expressions of appreciation. They, at times, have difficulty communicating criticism. They are largely assertive and uncomfortable with silence. Talia was recently promoted, and she has worked for the organization for 5 years.
• Mei: At Mei’s West Coast branch, employees can work in the office building, outside on patios, or on lawn spaces. Their workplace culture is individualistic, and people focus on direct communication. In Mei’s office, workers appreciate diverse and novel ideas. They value discussion and are comfortable with ambiguity. Mei is a recent graduate, and this is their first year at the organization.

A. Choose two of the characters from the scenario above and write an introductory email introducing yourself to each character (one email per character).
For each email you must:

1. Use a different communication style based on the characters chosen from prompt A.
2. Include an opening (i.e., Dear, Hello, etc.) and closing (i.e., Sincerely, See you soon, etc.).

Note: Suggested length for each email is 1–3 paragraphs.

Note: When introducing yourself, you may use real or fictitious details about your personal and professional life.

B. Based on the characters you chose to introduce yourself to in prompt A, complete the following:

1. Explain why you chose each communication style for each character.
2. Describe how each email from prompt A is different from the other.

Note: Suggested length is 1–2 pages.

C. Acknowledge sources—using in-text citations and references—for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

Note: Sources are NOT required for this task, but if sources are used, they must be acknowledged and cited appropriately.

D. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

Note: See the rubric for what professional communication entails.

Download the D268 Task 1 example template (.docx)

What D268 Task 1 Asks You to Do

D268 is Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others. The task directions label this assessment D268 (RRM3) Task 1, and you’ll also see it listed as RRM3 Task 1: Introductory Messages. You complete everything in the RRM3 D268 Task 1 Template from the Supporting Documents section.

The suggested length is 1 to 3 paragraphs per email and 1 to 2 pages for Section B. You may use real or fictitious details about your own personal and professional life.

If you searched for a WGU QHT1 Task 1 example, check the code on your task page before using it. The current directions and template for this task are labeled D268 and RRM3.

The Scenario: Read the Five Characters for Clues

You’re traveling to the East Coast headquarters to build a nationwide training program and want to introduce yourself to five teammates before you arrive: Sarah, Joe, Blake, Talia, and Mei. Each description tells you what that person’s branch values. Before choosing anyone, list the cues for each one:

Every detail is there for a reason. Years at the company, preferences for formality, and attitudes toward silence or ambiguity are what Section B expects you to use when you explain your choices.

The Four Communication Styles

The template asks you to use two of the four communication styles taught in Section 1, Lessons 2.4 and 2.5. Check those lessons for the exact names and descriptions in your version of the course. The four styles most often used for this task match the ones leadership researcher Mark Murphy describes (Murphy, 2015):

Your job is to match each character’s cues to the style that would land best with them, then write the email in that style. Don’t just mention the style; the email itself should sound like it.

Choosing Your Two Characters

The rubric checks that your two emails use different styles, so the easiest path is to choose two characters whose cues point in clearly different directions. Choose a pair where one character’s branch prioritizes efficiency, structure, or facts and the other prioritizes relationships, warmth, or collaboration. Two characters with similar cues force you to invent differences, and that’s where B1 explanations get vague.

Before you write, finish this sentence for each character you chose: “Because [their branch] values [two cues], I will [two things I’ll do in the email].” That sentence becomes the backbone of your B1 answer.

Writing the Two Emails (Section A)

The template points you to Section 1, Lessons 5.4 and 5.5 for an example email format. Whatever format the lessons show, every email you submit needs these parts:

• An opening, such as “Dear Sarah,” or “Hi Joe,”. The opening is a required element, and the choice itself is part of the style.
• A short introduction of who you are, your role, and why you’re writing (the training program at headquarters).
• Details chosen for this reader. A reader who wants facts gets your experience, a measurable result, and a clear next step. A reader who values relationships gets a little about you as a person and an invitation to connect.
• A closing, such as “Sincerely,” or “See you soon,” followed by your name.

Keep each email to 1 to 3 paragraphs. Write as if you’ll actually send it: these are workplace emails, so keep personal details professional even when the style is warm.

Section B1: Identify the Style, Then Explain Why

The template’s wording sets the order: “First, identify the communication style you chose for each character. Second, explain why.” Make the style name the first thing the evaluator sees for each character, then explain using that character’s cues from the scenario.

Weak: “I used a personal style with Joe because he seems nice.”

Specific: “I chose the personal style for Joe because his Southeast branch focuses on building genuine relationships and trust and prefers an informal atmosphere, so an email that leads with who I am, rather than with tasks, gives him a reason to trust me before we work together.”

Section B2: Quote Your Own Emails

B2 asks how the emails differ, and the template adds an instruction that’s easy to miss: “Give examples of specific words, phrases, and/or sentences you wrote in each email.” A strong B2 compares the emails point by point and quotes both:

• Openings and closings: quote both pairs.
• Content: quote a sentence of facts from one email and a personal detail from the other.
• Tone: point to contractions, exclamation points, or formal phrasing.
• The request: compare what you asked each person to do.

If your B2 could be written without looking at your emails, it isn’t specific enough.

Sections C and D: Sources and Professional Communication

Sources aren’t required for this task. If you use research, cite it in text and add a reference list in the template’s references row. The template also gives a specific rule for course materials: you don’t have to cite them, but don’t quote them directly. Paraphrase instead, using a phrase such as “Course material explains.” The template ends with a reminder that professional communication is graded, so run Grammarly before you submit.

WGU D268 Task 1 Examples: How to Use Them

Searches for WGU D268 Task 1 examples turn up papers written to the same five characters you’re writing to. Copying them is risky for two reasons. The emails introduce you, so another student’s career details won’t fit your submission, and the most shared papers are exactly what the similarity checker compares against. Use an example to see the structure of a strong Section B, then write your own emails.

D268 Task 1 Example: A Completed Template

Our D268 Task 1 example fills in the RRM3 D268 Task 1 Template using two fictitious practice characters, not the characters in the WGU scenario. A fictitious quality assurance lead, Taylor Brooks, introduces themself to Colette, whose team relies on data and evidence, and to Andre, whose team values personal connection. The example includes:

• An analytical style email and a personal style email, each with a subject line, opening, and closing
• A B1 answer that names each style first, then explains it with the character’s cues
• A B2 answer that compares greetings, content, tone, requests, and closings with quoted phrases from both emails
• A cited source and an APA reference in Section C
• Comments explaining which requirement each part meets

Here’s part of its B2 answer:

The email to Colette uses complete, formal sentences with no contractions or exclamation points. The email to Andre uses contractions such as “I’m” and “we’ll” and an exclamation point in “I’m so glad we’ll be working together,” which makes it sound warm and conversational.

The example is for illustration only. Your submission must write to two of the five characters in the WGU scenario, in your own words.

Download the D268 Task 1 example template (.docx)

Plan It Around Your Work Week

1. Evening one: List the cues for all five characters, choose two with contrasting cues, match each to a style, and draft both emails.
2. Evening two: Write B1 and B2, quoting your emails, add any references, run Grammarly, and review the similarity report.

Common Reasons D268 Task 1 Comes Back

• Both emails use the same style with different names
• An email is missing its opening or its closing
• B1 explains the style without first naming it, or explains it without using the character’s cues
• B2 describes differences in general terms without quoting the emails
• Course materials are quoted directly instead of paraphrased
• A style is claimed in Section B but the email doesn’t actually sound that way

What Comes After Task 1: WGU D268 Task 2 and Task 3

D268 continues with WGU D268 Task 2 and WGU D268 Task 3, each with its own directions and RRM3 template. The skills from Task 1, reading an audience and adapting your message to it, carry forward. If you’re looking for a WGU D268 Task 2 example, use the same test as here: an example should show you structure and reasoning, and your submission should apply them to your own task in your own words.

Related WGU Guides

• Adapting messages to different readers is the core of our WGU C204 Task 1 guide, which covers emails, letters, and posts for different audiences.
• Communicating across different workplace cultures connects to our WGU D082 Task 2 guide on cultural intelligence.
• For more on writing for a specific audience and purpose, see our WGU D269 course guide.
• Browse all WGU assignment guides and samples.

Pre-Submission Checklist

• Both emails are written in the RRM3 D268 Task 1 Template
• Each email goes to a different character from the scenario
• The two emails use two different communication styles, and each one sounds like its style
• Each email has an opening and a closing and stays within 1 to 3 paragraphs
• B1 names each style first, then explains it using the character’s cues
• B2 quotes specific words, phrases, or sentences from both emails
• Course materials are paraphrased, and any research is cited
• Grammarly Correctness is clear and the similarity report has been reviewed

Frequently Asked Questions

Which two characters should I choose for D268 Task 1?

Choose two whose cues point in different directions, such as one whose branch values efficiency and structure and one whose branch values relationships and warmth. That makes it easy to use two clearly different styles.

What are the four communication styles in D268?

The template refers to the four styles in Section 1, Lessons 2.4 and 2.5. The styles most often used for this task are analytical, intuitive, functional, and personal; check the lessons for the names in your version of the course.

Do I need sources for D268 Task 1?

No. Sources are optional. If you use research, cite it. You don’t have to cite course materials, but you should paraphrase them rather than quote them.

Can I use fictitious details in my emails?

Yes. The directions allow real or fictitious details about your personal and professional life.

Can I submit the D268 Task 1 example from this page?

No. It writes to fictitious practice characters, not the WGU characters, and copying any example would violate WGU’s academic integrity policy.

Want a Second Look Before You Submit?

If you’re working full time and want structured assignment support choosing your two characters, making your styles clearly different, or tightening Section B, message Gradevia on WhatsApp at +1 564 544 6924.

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Sources

Murphy, M. (2015, August 6). Which of these 4 communication styles are you? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2015/08/06/which-of-these-4-communication-styles-are-you/