In-Class Activity for Friday, June 20, 2014
A message is communicated successfully if it is received by its intended audience. The message conveyed by two different genres might be the same, although the conventions used to communicate this message may be drastically different. In this exercise we’ll analyze the ways conventions are used to communicate messages, the underlying assumptions associated with different genres, and the choices we must make when writing based on the audience for which we are writing.
For all scenarios, keep the details the same as you tailor your writing to the audience appropriately. Write each piece to the specific audience, analyzing before and as you write, how considering your audience and your genre varies.
Scenario #1
Earlier today you were in a car accident while driving your grandmother’s car. Luckily you were not hurt, nor was anyone else, but your vehicle and another have significant damage and are headed to the repair shop. Since you were texting your friend while driving instead of paying attention, the accident was your fault. You now have to write a letter to your grandmother telling her about the accident. Write this in the genre of an email or letter, whichever of those you would use to communicate with Grandma.
Some things to keep in mind:
- What content should be included for this genre? (What information and details are relevant in this letter to your grandmother?)
- What is the style of the language used?
- What format is it written in? How could I tell by looking at it that it is a letter?
Scenario #2
Because of the car accident, you are missing your Biology class. This is not good, because today is the mid-term and you’re missing it. Your professor is old and ornery, and you are pretty sure he said “if you miss a test, your grade is zero - no make-ups” at the beginning of the semester. You are stressed out! By the time the police clear the accident scene, the mid-term is over and you are headed home. You decide to write an email to your Biology professor and plead for another chance to take the mid-term or to make it up somehow. Write the email, considering the audience and the situation.
- What content should be included? What details are relevant? Or too much?
- What style of language should you use for this email?
- What else is appropriate?
Scenario #3
Same car accident. You are now writing a text message to your best friend. Write this in the genre of a txt msg.
Some things to keep in mind:
- What content should be included for this genre? (What info/details are relevant in a text message?)
- What is the style of the language used in a text message to a friend?
- What format is it written in? How could I tell by looking at it that it is a text message?
Summary Reflection:
Write a quick reflection while considering some of these prompts:
· What are the purposes associated with each of these genres, or types of writing? In other words, what is the intention of each? (How does each reach its audience?)
· How does the intention or purpose of writing something affect the conventions in which it is written (i.e. content, form, and style)?
· Why do you think considering audience matters in writing?
· What are some connections between the composing and genre? More specifically, what do they mean to each other?
Scenario 1
ReplyDeleteDayofmidterm, 2014
Abuelita,
I had an accident while I was driving your car, luckily nobody was hurt. I was texting while driving and not paying enough attention on the road. The car in front of me stopped and I reared ended him. Both cars had to be towed away with significant damage. I promise that my insurance will take care of this and I will make sure that you are not affected by this. I truly am sorry and realize it is my fault, sorry for taking the fact that you let me use your car for granted. I do not think that i will text and drive any time soon, it really was an eye opening experience.
Te amo,
Manny
Scenario 2
Dayofmidterm, 2014
Dr. Ornery,
I want to excuse myself for not showing up for the midterm. I was on my way to class when I was in a car accident. I tried everything I could to make it to class but sadly by the time we were able to clear the accident it was too late, the class time was well over. I will come to see you during your office hours first thing in the morning but I wanted to let you know right away of what happened. With me tomorrow I will bring the police report just in case we need extra documentation of the accident.
Very respectfully,
Angel M. Rivera Moreira
Scenario 3
Bro, I was texting you and I rear ended this old dude. nobody was hurt. How was the midterm?
Summary reflection
Each different genre will be utilized depending on your audience, you will not write to your grandmother the same way you will write your professor or your friend. You have to use a more personal/respectful touch while addressing your grandmother. For your professor you will have to write a very respectful email, watching your tone and hoping to strike a personal feeling so the professor might excuse you and give you the midterm. For the text to your friend, you only have 160 characters, you have to be concise and to the point. Composing and genre go hand in hand, before composing you need to figure out what is the genre that you will be utilizing. You cannot start writing and then realize what type of genre you will write in.
Grandma,
ReplyDeleteI first would like to say that neither myself nor the other driver was injured, however, your car did not fare so well. I was driving to class and I had recieved a text message from my roommate that the garbage disposal had broken, and while waiting to turn at a light I didn’t judge the other car’s speed adequately turning into them. The accident is entirely my fault and I’m very shook up over the entire ordeal, I am really sorry that my ignorance resulted in this and will do whatever I can in my power to fix your car,
Sorry,
Noah
Dr. Green,
I am fully aware that it is your policy to not permit students to makeup exams or quizzes, however, as you are likely aware, I was absent today during the midterm. I didn’t not intentionally miss this class, I was unfortunately involved in an automobile accident on my way to campus. Thankfully neither party was injured, but I was unable to go to class because the paramedics required me to go to the hospital. I just wanted to let you know that I would not disrespect you in that way, and I would appreciate any consideration you may have towards my situation to establish a grade for this test, even a diminished one at that.
Thank you for your time,
Noah Raymond
duuuuuuude I just fking totaled my gmas car on my way to my bio midterm
Each intends to serve a different purpose. When writing a letter to someone like your grandmother telling them you broke something valuable of there’s, you approach it gently and try and weigh out the positives before laying on the negatives. This is similar with the professor, however, you are using your own prior knowledge of their policy to supplement the negative, showing that you understand why what happened was wrong, but why you think that there is some space for leniency. Finally a text message is conveying the simplest point of the conversation, the one major event that happened fleshed out to its most complete form in the shortest number of words possible. This affects how you write your composition because you are more likely to user your audience's understanding of your genre based on who your audience actually is. Composition and genre are similar int he sense that anything that is a genre is also a composition, and genres are defined by a multitude of compositions.
Scenario 1.
ReplyDeleteDear grandma:
I’m Michael and I am sorry for telling you that I had a car accident earlier today. It was my fault since I was texting my friend while driving. But don’t worry, no people were injured and now I have go to the repair shop with the owner of the other car. Both our cars are significantly damaged. Don’t worry about me and I’m really sorry for the accident. I’ll call you later after I deal with the repair issue.
Sincerely,
Michael
Scenario 2.
Dear Professor:
I’m a student in your Biology class XXXX section X and my student number is 87XXXXXXX. Unfortunately, I had a car accident this morning and I had to deal with it with the police and car repair shop. That is the reason for my absence of today’s exam. Is there any chance that I can make up for my miss? I could show you the proof letter from the police if I’m required to do so. I am really sorry for my absence and I am really looking forward to your help. I do appreciate for your time and help!
Sincerely,
Xintong Luo
Scenario 3.
I’m Michael and I had a car accident today. No worry, no one got hurt.
But I missed my mid-term exam for my Biology class. I was in the repair shop all day and I’m so exhausted now. What an awful day! Wish to see u soon.
Reflection
For the first scenario, the most important thing I want to do is that I need to tell my grandma I’m fine and what happened. It isn’t necessarily very formal because I am writing to my family member. It’s an email to my grandma, so I need to tell her I am not injured in case she got worried. For the second scenario, I need to get a permission from my professor so that I won’t fail the course. I need to express my apology and ask for help. It must be in formal form otherwise the professor would not help me out. For the last one, it can be casual since I am just texting to my close friend. I don’t need to apologize or ask for help. I just needed her comfort or I just want to talk to someone. Using some simple and casual words is okay.
An appropriate genre can help my composing be more efficient and achieve my goal more directly. If I didn’t use the words I should use or the tone I should use, the target audience would feel offended and that would make us miscommunicated.
Scenario #1:
ReplyDeleteDear Grandma,
So on my way to pick up your clothes from the dry cleaners I got into a car accident. Don’t worry, everyone, including myself is okay and not injured! Unfortunately, I caused the accident because I was trying to finalize my dinner plans with Jackie and was not paying attention to the road; I accidently rear-ended the car in front of me. I’m so sorry and I will be more than willing to pay to have your fender replaced and will take full responsibility to pay for all repairs to fix the other affected vehicle.
Again I apologize for being a careless driver, but good news, the dry cleaners was able to remove that wine stain from your favorite dress!
Very respectfully and with all my love,
Your dearest Granddaughter Danielle
Scenario #2:
Dear Professor,
I sincerely apologize for missing class today, as I know today was the mid-term exam. On my way to class, I got into a terrible car accident coming from my Grandmother’s funeral. By the time the police were able to arrive and clear the accident scene there was not enough time to make it your mid-term.
I know you said at the beginning of the semester, “if you miss a test, your grade is zero – no make-ups.” I’m asking if there’s any possible way I can make this exam up at a scheduled time based on your convenience.
Again I apologize for missing this very important test and I hope to have the chance to make it up or at least talk to you about any other options on gaining some critical points back that I did not mean to miss.
Very respectfully,
Danielle Tavel
Scenario #3:
Hey, I cant make it to dinner. I got into a car accident. Im okay but my parents want me home to make sure Im alright and talk about what happened. Sorry we’ll talk later.
Reflection:
In each of the above scenarios audience was the most important factor in considering how to write the required response. It was extremely important to use language that would appeal to the particular audience and also effectively describe the scenario. I would never use my response to scenario #3 as my response to scenario #1 and vice versa. When composing these responses to the scenarios I had to be carefully to choose the right genre that would appeal to the audience in the most direct way. For instance, I don’t think I would ever write a formal letter to my best friend just to tell them I got in a car accident and couldn’t make dinner. Using a text message is probably the best genre in that situation.
Scenario 1
ReplyDeleteDear Grandma Pat,
First of all thank you so much for letting me drive your car! I had a good time with it and always try to be careful, but as you know we all make mistakes. Now don't go reading that thinking I'm hurt or anything, but if you assumed something happened involving your car you're right. I got in an accident and It was my fault. ill work to pay it off, please let me do this grandma because I need to take responsibility and I don't want to take advantage of you. I hope your not too mad at me, even though I'd understand if you were and I don't plan on driving again in your car... That's understandable.
With love, Geoff
Scenario 2
Professor Ornery,
As I'm sure you're aware I wasn't in attendance during today's midterm, this was because I was being pulled out of a crumpled car. Though I sustained no injury I was unable to make class because of this accident. I'm emailing you of course to request a date which I could make up the exam. Given the circumstances I think it would be appropriate for me to make it up, even if it is a different test than the rest of the class took. I implore you to consider this so that I might pass your class, but understand if you don't, given your course policy.
Geoffrey Alexander
Scenario 3
Dude I f***ed up my car sooooooo your on ride duty now I guess....
Reflection
The purpose of these three genres is debatable but I think writing such as a letter or email is meant to be informative of serious news, but changes with the audience it appeals to. For instance in the letter to grandma I was serious but because of the close affiliation my writing style seemed more lax and less urgent, while in the email to the professor I tried to write with the utmost urgency and I wrote in a somewhat monotone way because I wouldn't really know a professor like I would a family member. The text message was what I really saw a change in genre with because texts are very informal and inform an audience in a more "calm" manner, this is probably because of how texts are short and sweet, not too much content so they seem less serious. The audience is very important to these scenarios because individuals may react differently to different mediums of discourse. An old lady would probably be more comfortable with a hard copy letter, while a professor who spends a lot of time on a computer would probably like a computer, which brings me to best friends who are likely in touch with you most of the time via cellphone.
Scenario#1
ReplyDeleteDear Grandma,
I had a little problem today while I was driving, I distracted myself for a few seconds because my phone was ringing and I got so distracted that I hit the other car. You don’t need to worry about me or anyone else because no one got hurt but the car is a little damaged, I understand this is my fault and I feel really sorry for it but I had to see who was calling me because it could be something really important, for a second I thought it were you calling me.
Scenario#2
Professor …
Here is Aristoteles from your Biology class, I humbly come to ask sorry because I missed the mid-term exam today, and to ask for a second opportunity to take the test; I was involved in a car accident and I had to call the police to clear the situation so that I couldn’t get to out of the accident scene before the police completely clear the situation. I remember you said that it would not be a second chance but I will request you for an exception because of that sad event.
Since now thank you for your attention.
Scenario #3
Hey how are you doing?
Let me tell you what happened to me today. I got involved in an accident with the car of my grandmother and I don’t know what should I do, I sent my grandmother a text saying her about the accident and she didn’t answered yet, I think she is really mad, and then because of the time I couldn’t make it to the Biology’s mid-term, by the way how was it? I also sent the Professor a request to it another day but I don’t know if he will accept it.
Summary Reflection
In the first scenario the idea is to tell the story to my grandmother in order for she not freak-out about what happened and don’t get very upset about what happened. I believe that everyone that likes his grandmother would not give all the information by email in order to not worry too much. In the second scenario we don’t want to give too much information, therefore we want to tell about the involvement of the police to possibly sensitize the professor in order to make him allow us to take the exam in other occasion and in the third scenario probably we will be the most honest and informal possible to get a advice for someone that we like or just to unburden. The audience matters because knowing the audience we will try to write in the best way to appeal for their mercy. I would say that the connection between the composing and genre is that the genre is included in the composing.
Scenario #1 :
ReplyDeleteDear Grandma,
I believe that you received a call from my mother informing you about the accident that I had while driving home yesterday. It just happened that I was paying attention to the phone instead of paying attention to the road. As you always warned us, bad things always happen when you are not paying attention, so I ended up beating another car. The good thing is that the owner of the other car is a good and pretty understandable guy so we could understand each other quickly and easily. So, don’t worry because I am fine and not injured. Both I and the owner are fine. As soon as my car gets fixed, I will do my best to make you a visit. I am dying to taste that carrot cake you did last time again. Somehow I can’t seem to forget it.
Your beloved grandson,
Art.
Scenario #2:
Hello Professor Davis,
I am Alvaro Tendula, one of the students from your Biology class and the purpose of this email is to explain the reason for absence during the midterm and to request a make-up exam.
Today, I just had an accident while driving to school, but lucky both I and the owner of the other car had no injuries. However, our car suffered too much damage and we had to wait until the police came to resolve everything, so by the time everything was clear, the midterm was already over. I understand that there are no excuses but what happened could not be predicted, but I’ve always followed the rules and email when there is a problem that would require me to have an absence. If possible, I would really appreciate that I could be given a second chance to make up for the exam, because my current grades are good and a lost midterm would have high negative impact on them.
Sincerely,
Alvaro Tendula.
Scenario #3;
Hey man, sorry for hanging up the phone while we were talking yesterday but I just happened to have an accident. Luckily I am fine, and the other guy is fine too, but I lost the midterm, and my car since it had to go to a repair shop. I hope that Professor Davis allows me to make a make-up text. Otherwise, I am doomed and will have to take the class again. I will call you after I get some sleep because I am really stressed at the moment.
Reflection :
Each situation requires the writer to choose a different style of writing. The first requires talking to someone of your family and giving up the details so that you can be successful in ensuring them that you are okay, but there is no need in using a very formal language. The second situation requires a much more formal language and the use of rules. Professors must always be treated with respect despite the relationship we have with them, which means writing in a formal way unless you are told not to by him. The third situation doesn’t require any rule and formal language at all; at least that is what I believe.
Thinking about the audience requires a lot because the way you write will decide how much importance and consideration you are going to receive as a feedback. It is important to know how to address to others, because it gives to the other side a reason to give their attention to you and maybe, define the outcome.
ReplyDeleteScenario 1
Dear grandma,
I am very sorry to tell you that I have a car accident today. I should blame myself because I was texting my friends at that time. So, that was my fault. Fortunately, I was not hurt and no one was hurt. Don’t worry about me. I was lucky in this car accident.
However, both your vehicle and another were headed to the repair shop. I am so apologize to you because it may take a lot of money to repair your car. I am so sorry to tell you this thing but I would pay the money by the salary when I take part-time job. I would take responsible to this accident.
Sincerely,
Scenario 2
Dear professor,
I am so sorry that I cannot take the mid term test on time because I had a car accident at that time. It is my fault that I was texting my friends. I need to wait for the police to clean the scene because I was responsible for this accident.
I studied hard and wanted to get a good grade in this class, so I finished all homework and took note every class. That means I did not take the test because I cannot control my time in this accident. I know that you said you would give someone who didn’t take the mid term test a zero grade. But this time the situation is different. I really want to take the mid term test and I swear that I will not make any mistake when I was driving.
Please give me a chance.
Thank you!
Scenario 3
Hi,
I had a car accident now, but no one was hurt in fact. The problem is that I may spend some money to repair my car in the store. I missed my mid term test. So bad, hope to see u soon.
Reflection:
The purpose of the first genre is to apologize to grandma and told her I was not hurt that she won’t worry me in this accident. And the purpose of the second one is to make the professor to give me a chance to take the missed mid term test. The purposed of third one is just telling my friend what happened.
The writing need to consider audience because writer can take different genre writing styles, for example, I need to write more apologize to professor because I want to have a second test chance, but I can write simple words to my friends because I only need to tell him/her what happened.
Genre and composing can affect each other by the writing style. Genre is the element for the whole writing while composing is the way or tools for writers to compose their words.
Scenario # 1:
ReplyDeleteDear Grandma,
I regretfully inform you that earlier today I was in a car accident while driving your car. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but there was significant damage to your car and it needs to be taken to a repair shop. I also need to tell you that I was texting my friend while I was driving so the accident was my fault. I apologize and want to let you know that I will pay for the damage that was done to your car.
Love from your granddaughter,
Ali
Scenario #2:
Dear Professor:
I want to sincerely apologize for missing the Biology mid-term today. I was involved in a car accident and therefore, I was unable to make it to class in time to take the exam. Please allow me to make up the exam as this was an unintended incident and will not happen in the future. I will be very grateful if you allow me the opportunity to take the mid-term at your convenience.
Respectfully,
Alicia Strauss
Scenario #3:
Hey bro, I am on my way to a mid-term. See you later tonight. :)
Reflection:
In these three scenarios you are addressing a specific person, but how you address them is based on both the genre and your audience. For example, in scenario #1 you are addressing someone who is related to you so you can be somewhat informal; however, the fact that you were involved in a car accident with said person's vehicle necessitates that you also need to be understanding and apologetic so some formality is necessary. In contrast for scenario #2 you need to be extremely formal, especially since you are requesting to be able to complete an exam which you missed due to the car accident. Scenario #3 is an example of complete informality and is probably the cause of your accident to begin with.
One can conclude that how you write is determined by both the genre you are familiar with, the rhetorical situation which caused you to write, and to whom you are writing to. If we are aware of this then we will be able to concisely and effectively communicate to our readers.
Delete