Machon

1

Daniel Machon

Olivia 2/26/15 4:42 PM
Comment [1]: Your margins are off. They
should be 1 all around.

Professor Olivia Rines

UWRT 1101
9 February 2015
Genre Analysis: Emails
Technological advances have been made other the past decade and throughout the
past few years. We have seen that with these advances come different forms of
communication, through text messages, emails, and even video calling. With the new
communicative actions comes the formation of new genres that we can break down and
study. After the creation of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s, came one of the first
electronic mailing abilities, which is what we know as e-mail. E-mail has served
communicative purposes throughout the professional, personal, and even advertising
realms of our worlds. As we break down the basics of e-mails, we will observe the
features of e-mails, which are what constitute its function within the realms that we find
them (Professional, Personal and Advertising). As we observe the basics, features and

Olivia 2/26/15 4:43 PM

Comment [2]: Citation needed.

Olivia 2/26/15 4:46 PM

Comment [3]: Remember, the
communicative purpose in the defining
feature of the genre. Therefore, there
wouldnt be multiple purposes unless email
can be divided into subgenres.

functions of emails, we will also see how these different things play a bigger part in the
overall genre of itself.
The purpose of emails is primarily for two parties to be able to communicate
electronically. E-mail is the digital version of a letter that is sent. As we dig deep into
the purpose of emails we find certain discourse modes, which are building blocks which
we can draw on in many different genres and the use in actual texts in flexible ways for a
range of purposes (Bax 63). E-mail encompasses a few of these discourse modes; such

Olivia 2/26/15 4:47 PM

Comment [4]: Excellent!

Olivia 2/26/15 4:47 PM

Comment [5]: All facts should be
supported with citations.
Olivia 2/26/15 4:48 PM
Comment [6]: HmmmIm not so sure
about this claim. Can you support it?
Daniel Machon 2/22/15 7:01 PM
Deleted: There is a specific purpose for emails, which is to be able to communicate with
other people electronically.

Machon 2

as description, information, argument, instruction, and interaction. Usually any specific

e-mail will contain one, if not a few of these discourse modes.
Throughout our study of genres we have realized that there are specific features of
genres. The function of the email determines how the features will play out within the
genre. The features of email are broken down below.

Olivia 2/26/15 4:55 PM

Comment [7]: Expand on this claim.
Olivia 2/26/15 4:49 PM
Comment [8]: What is the main purpose
of this paragraph? So far, it feels a little
choppy. Maybe an issue with the flow?
Olivia 2/26/15 4:49 PM
Comment [9]: Who is we?

Location: E-mails usually originate on a computer, phone, tablet, or another

electronic device that has access to the Internet and e-mail capability.

Topic focus: Topics of e-mails could vary based on the situation in which they
are to be sent. For example, an e-mail sent to your boss would have a different
topic than an e-mail sent to your childs teacher.

Visual Aspects and Layout: There is a certain layout in which most emails are
sent. Most times emails start with a salutation, have a body of the email, and
end with a signature. Depending on how formal the situation, the structure
might change.

Length: Just like the topic focus of an email, the length of an email could vary
depending on the situation. Emails should typically be shorter; none of us want
to have to read a long email. Emails are meant to be an express way of
communication, rather than sending a letter or even having to meet face to face.
Being concise and to the point is what is desired in an email.

Structure: The structure of an email must involve an address line, subject line
and have some sort of specific topic. From there the structure of the email could
be different based off the formality of it.

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 7:05 PM

Deleted:

Machon 3

Style and Register: Typically email is a more formal way of communication.

While some emails are more informal, in non-professional situations, the style of
formal and informal emails will differ in the way that they are laid out and
designed.

For example, student and professors use emails for formal, out of

classroom, communication.

Grammar: Grammar is an important factor, especially if it is within the

professional realm. Grammar rules are important when the email is going to be
sent in a formal manner.

Lexis/Jargon: The jargon or technical language within an email would be based

upon the nature of the email and in what setting the email is sent. For example,
an email sent to a specific person in the Air Conditioning business might use
different technical language than that of a person in an Electric business. As the
Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said,
depending on your purposes, the messages you send will differ in their
formality, intended audience, and desired outcome (Effective E-mail
Communication, 1)

Email has become widespread use of communication among different professions

and personnel. As stated before, the function of an email, or any genre of that matter,

Olivia 2/26/15 4:50 PM

Comment [10]: Make sure that you are
supporting the information in this chart
with citations.

determines the features that the genre will have. All of the features listed above will
change based on the communicative purpose and function of the email. In a more formal
communication setting, such as a professor and student, the features of that email will
differ from that of an email between two friends. For example, Appendix A shows an
email that is written from a student to a professor, in a formal setting. The audience of

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 7:08 PM

Deleted: then

Machon 4

this situation would be someone who is a superior (professor) from someone who is less
educated in this particular area of study. (student). If the email was written from the
professor to the student, then the same sense of professionalism that the student wrote it
should be shown through the professor. Aspects of this email that are important are the
salutation at the beginning and the end. Addressing the professor, in this case, is an

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:58 PM

Deleted: ion
Daniel Machon 2/22/15 7:09 PM
Deleted: to a certain
Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:58 PM
Deleted: area

important detail that must be included because it shows a degree of professionalism and
respect.
Appendix B is another example of an email, but instead shows a more informal style
of this genre. The function of this email is different; going from one friend to another, so
the features of this specific example is different because of the setting. Jargon and other
technical language that might be used in a more formal email would not necessarily be
needed in this less formal style. Less formal style can be seen through the salutation at
the beginning. The layout of this example is not professional, nor is it something that you
would send to a boss or professor. As the function changes the features will also
change, so that the communicative purpose of the email will be evident. .
Appendix C shows a third style of an email. This type of email is known as a blast
email. A blast email is defined as a single sending of many electronic messages
(emails) to many people at the same time (Cambridge Dictionaries Online). We all see
this type of email, coming from stores for online shopping or special offers that are being
made. Email blasts serve to appeal to the audience, usually customers, so they would
have totally different features than that of the formal and informal styles of emails.
Effective email blasts address the needs of a specific audience, so the content must be
relevant to that particular group. Make sure you use your knowledge of your customer

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 7:10 PM

Deleted: shown
Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:38 PM
Deleted: s

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:11 PM

Deleted: .

Machon 5

and your product or service when writing your email blast (Mizrahi, 84). The function
of this email is different of that of the other two and because of that we know the features
are also different. Expect to see more images and catchy phrases in a blast email that is
trying to appeal to a bigger audience than a formal or informal email that is between two
people. In this example, the use of images and catchy phrases is what truly shows the
design and layout of what a blast email is for.
The three examples that have been explained are all prime examples of what can be

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 11:01 PM

Deleted:

expected when analyzing the genre of emails. Determining the function of the email
helps us as an audience expect what features are going to be displayed. Despite the fact
that we may realize a function of an email and therefore know the features, the genre of
email is changing day by day. With the influence of other communicative technology,
the formality of email is slowly becoming informal. There are so many aspects of emails
that could be broken down deeper. Researching and studying this topic helped me realize
that there is so much more to genres than what is taught in school. I would never have
thought that emails by themselves are genres, but breaking them down it truly shows that
it is. . At the same time while studying one particular genre it showed that there are so
many fine details that are within the particular genre. Studying the genre of emails, it
helped me wrap my brain around what the purpose of a specific genre truly entails.

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:22 PM

Deleted: more the genre than what was
taught in school
Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:33 PM
Deleted: It helped me wrap my brain around
what the purpose of a genre truly was.

Machon 6

Works Cited
Mizrahi, Janet. Web Content: A Writers Guide. New York: Business Expert Press, 2013.
eBook.

Olivia 2/26/15 4:40 PM

Comment [11]: What is going on with the
spacing here? This should be at the top of
the page.

Shipley, David and Will Schwalbe. Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and
Home. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print.
The Writing Center. Effective E-mail Communication. University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, 2014. Website. February 9, 2015.
"Cambridge Dictionaries Online." Email Blast. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
<http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/business-english/email-blast>.

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 9:09 PM

Deleted:

... [1]

Machon 7

Daniel Machon 2/22/15 10:10 PM

Deleted:

Appendix




Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

... [2]

Machon 8

This is a very strong draft, and I really enjoyed reading it. In order to improve, it is
crucial that every claim that you are making in this paper is supported by evidence and/or
citations. All facts, unless they are commonly known by the general public, must be
supported by evidence/citations. I felt like you were making strong points throughout
your paper but you never really expanded on them enough to make them convincing.
This is especially clear in reference to your examples. Your chart is very detailed but you
dont use those details in the analysis of your examples. Make sure that you know what
you are trying to argue and them you support that argument with details.
The following is the rubric for the assignment, including what you would have received
had this draft been your final draft. This grade will not be recorded anywhere. It is simply
a chance for you to see where you stand.
Category

Content
(60 points)

Organization
(10 points)

Scoring Criteria
Is focused, clear, purposeful, and meets the needs of the audience
States the main function/communicative purpose of the genre and how the
purpose is accomplished
States the discourse mode(s) commonly used in the genre
States the core features of the genre and how the features are shaped by the
communicative purpose
States the context, intended, actual audience, and biases at play for each text
States if each text fits the genre
All claims made are supported. Writer uses specific references to sources to
support claims.
Introduction establishes a framework for the rest of the paper and includes a
thesis statement.
There is an obvious conclusion summarizing the paper that discusses the
evolution of the genre and what the writer learned
Utilizes a strong internal structure and purposefully moves the reader easily
through the text.

Total
Points
5

Score
5

10

10
5

6
4

10

10

10

Machon 9

Style and
Conventions
(30 points)

Score

Vocabulary and word choice are precise and varied.

Sentences are all well-crafted and consistently varied in structure, length, and
beginning.
The writer demonstrates a firm grasp of the conventions of written English
(spelling, capitalization, punctuation etc.). There are no typos.
Is formatted according to the conventions of MLA
Is 1500 2000 words
Total Points

10
5
100

8
5
82