In the buffered bad-news pattern, the reasons come:

Answer

Before the news, so the reader can see why

Options - A. After the news, to justify it - B. Before the news, so the reader can see why - C. In the subject line, to set expectations - D. In the closing, after the alternative Why - A. After the news, the reader has stopped reading rationally — Smith's point about the reader "reeling from the blow". Reasons first prepare the ground. - B. Correct — buffer, reasons, news. By the time the reader reaches the decision they can see the facts that led to it, which is what makes acceptance possible. - C. A subject line is 3–7 words that title the topic; it is not where an argument goes, and a refusal in the subject is the opposite of a buffer. - D. The closing is forward-looking — the alternative and the next step. Reasons that arrive there arrive too late to help.

Smith 8.3.1–8.3.2, 8.3.5; Olds ch 13; concept map J15