Purposive Communication

By Angieross Sharon Valenzuela

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Communication
for Various
Purposes
 Writing an Explanation Essay
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▪ Explanation Essay
▪ a written piece of work that addresses “why”
questions
▪ Explains a particular topic to its readers
▪ Meant to inform or educate readers (should
present convincing and adequate support for
the explanations)
 Do you ever wonder what will the world be if
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we people in the past did not ask these
questions?

▪ Why are plants

▪ Why can’t men ▪ Why did the
green?
become apple fall from
pregnant? the tree?
 Parts of the Explanation Essay
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▪ Introduction

▪ Tells what you are about to tell the readers

▪ Body
▪ Tell them

▪ Conclusion
▪ Remind them what you told them
z Parts of the Explanation Essay

▪ Introduction
▪ Grab the reader’s interest
▪ Bring in the general topic for the paper
▪ State the thesis or specific point of the
essay
 z Introduction
▪ Why should anyone want to read your paper? That is
exactly what you should make clear in the introduction of
your paper.
First, get the reader interested in the paper by using a
grabber, such as a relevant quote, a personal anecdote, an
amazing statistic, or a provocative statement.
Example:
Some believe that if work place safety preserves
just one human life, it is worth it, but others disagree.
 z Introduction

Second, now that you have the reader’s attention, state

your general topic.
▪ Example:

▪ One of the most important aspects on the job is work

safety, but is the cost and the effort proportional to
the return?
 z Introduction

Third, state your thesis or the specific point of your paper.

The thesis tells the reader what to expect from the rest of
the paper.
Example:
Safe working environments are actually more profitable
to the employer in the long run than unsafe ones.
 z Introduction

Now, observe how the three parts go together to form an

introduction.
If it saves just one human life, it is worth it! One
of the most important aspects on the job is work
safety, but is the cost and the effort proportional to
the return? Safe working environments are actually
more profitable to the employer in the long run than
unsafe ones.
 z
Parts of the Explanation Essay

▪ Body
▪ Say what the evidence is
▪ Give a concrete example of the evidence
▪ Tell why the evidence is important
 z Body

SEWing helps you stitch together a successful paper. The

three letters mean, "Say," give "Example," and explain
"Why." The acronym helps you remember not to make
your point and stop there, but to support your point with
evidence and analysis.
 Body
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Here's how SEWing works:

[Say] The supervisor responsible for training at Three Mile

Island Nuclear Generating Station didn't behave ethically.
[Example] In his memo of July 11, 1978, he ordered his
team not to include new information on how to handle a
low coolant event. [Why] According to Markel's guidelines
for technical writing, deliberately suppressing information
is unethical, and in this case the accident had costly
economic and serious public relations consequences.
 Body
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Here's how SEWing works:

[Say] The case of Union Carbide in India illustrates this

point about the importance of safety. [Example] In the
early morning of December 3, 1984, gas leaked from a
faulty tank at the Union Carbide facility, totally disabling 40
people, partially disabling 2,680 persons, and killing 3,800.
[Why] The executives of Union Carbide were permanently
disgraced, and the company was fined $470 million be the
Indiana government.
 Body
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Connect your different body paragraphs by using
transitional devices to help your reader move smoothly
from one example to another:

In the same way, . . .

On the other hand, . . .
In addition, . . .
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Parts of the Explanation Essay

▪ Conclusion
▪ Reconnect to the introduction
▪ Summarize the evidence
▪ Leave memorable message for the
reader
 z Conclusion

First, bring the reader back to the introduction by

reconnecting to a statement made there.
Example:
Is the cost of safety worth the price a
company must pay to ensure safety?
 z Conclusion

Second, summarize the evidence presented in the

body paragraphs
Example:
The evidence provided in the examples of
the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station
and Union Carbide would suggest that safety is
worth the price.
 z Conclusion
Third, leave the reader with a memorable message or a
call to action, for your final words are what the reader
will take away from the paper.
Example:
Certainly if the lives of one’s loved ones or of
oneself are at stake, safety is worth whatever it
costs, so it is the responsibility of every worker to
identify and eliminate safety hazards in the
workplace.
 Conclusion
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Now, observe how the three parts go together in the
conclusion.
Example:
Is the cost of safety worth the price a company must pay to
ensure safety? The evidence provided in the examples of the
Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station and Union
Carbide would suggest that safety is worth the price. Certainly if
the lives of one’s loved ones or of oneself are at stake, safety is
worth whatever it costs, so it is the responsibility of every
worker to identify and eliminate safety hazards in the
workplace.
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Blog

▪ The term is first used in the 1990s –

short version of “weblog”
▪ It is an individualized piece of written
work found on the web
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Blog
▪ Contains individualized accounts of a writer’s experiences
and emotions
▪ The viewpoint is usually personal and subjective
▪ Includes visual features, as well as links to other sites on the
net
▪ Unlike diaries, blogs are public in nature – bloggers must
present their ideas in the way that interests the public
▪ More concerned with communicating a message rather than
documenting an idea or emotion
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Vlog

▪ stands for a video blog or video log,

and refers to a type of blog where
most or all of the content is in a
video format.
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Vlog
▪ consist of creating a video of yourself where you
talk on a particular subject such as reporting or
reviewing a product or an event.
▪ It can even serve as a way to share your artistic
process or provide a tutorial guide on a creative
practice or topic.
▪ Some vloggers even use it as a means to share
new performance art or music they have created.
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Research-based
Argumentative Essay

▪ Presents a clear stand on an issue

that has at least two different (or
opposing) sides
 z Persuasive
communication
▪ An art of gaining fair and favorable considerations
for our point of view. It:
✓ Provides a choice among options.
✓ Advocates something through a speaker.
✓ Uses supporting material to justify advice.
✓ Turns the audience into agents of change.
 z Persuasive
communication
▪ An art of gaining fair and favorable considerations
for our point of view. It:
✓ Asks for strong audience commitment.
✓ Gives importance to the speaker’s credibility.
✓ Appeals to feelings.
✓ Has higher ethical obligation.
 z Argumentative
communication
▪ Relies heavily on sound proof and reasoning. Asks for
strong audience commitment.
Lucas (2007) claims that avoid defective argumentation, the
following must be avoided:
1. Defective Evidence
a. Misuse of facts
b. Statistical fallacies
c. Defective testimony
d. Inappropriate evidences
 z Argumentative
communication
2. Defective patterns of reasoning.
a. Evidential fallacies
i. Slippery slope
ii. Confusing facts with opinion
iii. Red herring
iv. Myth of the mean
b. proofs
c. Defective arguments
 z Public Speaking

What is public speaking?

A process of speaking in a structured, deliberate
manner to inform, influence or entertain an
audience.
 z Speech
What is a Speech?
The term used to refer to the body spoken expression of
information and ideas. A speech may be delivered in any
of the following modes: read from a manuscript,
memorized and delivered extemporaneous or
impromptu. The choice of mode of speech delivery is
determined by factors such as length of preparation,
complexity of message, purpose and occasions.
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Letter Correspondence
Ways of sending letters
• Email

• Slow mail

• Hand carry
 z
Letter Correspondence
Emails
- Gained popularity due to speed and convenience
- Although generally less formal, there are sill
expectations for its appropriateness
- The formality is determined by the sender’s
familiarity and relationship to the receiver, the
classification and objective of the message to be
send, and other factors that shape the context of
communication
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Letter Correspondence
Emails
Below is the list of all the parts of an email. The style may
vary depending on the system you use:
1. From – name of the person sending the email
2. Sent – Date and time the email is sent
3. To – name of person receiving the email
4. CC – other person receiving the email
5. Bcc – other person receiving the email without the other
recipient knowing
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Letter Correspondence
Emails
Below is the list of all the parts of an email. The
style may vary depending on the system you
use:
6. Subject – Content (title) of the email
7. Attachment – document sent separately, not
included in the email (but attached)
8. Salutation – greeting or opening
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Letter Correspondence
Emails
Below is the list of all the parts of an email. The style
may vary depending on the system you use:
9. Body of the letter – content of the message (in
details)
10. Closing – ending
11. Name – name and title (below the name of the
sender, the following information may be included:
company and address, telephone number, URL or
website address and social media link)
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Effective Letter correspondence

For more effective email communications (and also letters),
remember the following:
1. Be courteous
2. Keep messages as concise and clear as possible
3. Proofread and spellcheck before sending
4. Provide a short but descriptive subject line
5. Although some parts of the email are optional, it is enabling
to know all the other parts
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Letter Correspondence
Business Letters:
• Application letter
• Letter of Inquiry
• Letter of Invitation
• Letter Requesting Approval
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Content and Organization
A. Heading or letterhead - inside address (of both sender
and receiver), date and salutation
B. Body of the letter
First paragraph (Introduction): it provides a background of
your letter such as how, where and when you first learned of
the information. State your purpose in one or two sentences.

Middle Paragraph (Details): this section should specify the

information you are seeking or the details you wish to make
known to the reader
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Content and Organization

Final Paragraph (Conclusion): express your expectation from

your addressee and thank him in advance for his favorable
action.

E. Complimentary Close
F. Signature
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Heading or letter head

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Class Activities
Task 1 : By group of 3 – Vlog Making
1. Prepare a 1-to-2-minute vlog about the Bible verse that
will be assigned to you (the Bible verses will be given to
the Beadles)
2. Post your vlog online and submit the link (web address)
to your Beadle
3. Make sure to share your vlog to your friends. The
number of engagement to your vlog is part of the
grading criteria
 Grading Criteria for Vlog
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Engagement 20 points
(based on reacts, shares and comments)

Content Quality 20 points

(reflective and impactful)

Diction and Grammar 20 points

Video Quality 20 points
Sound Quality 20 points
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Class Activities
Task 2: Organize a program
1. Assign the overall leader of your group.

2. Your group will be divided into three

A – Assigned in the preliminary preparation of the program
(these are the people who will send letters to people who
are in-charge)
a. Letter of inquiry
b. Letter requesting approval
c. Letter of invitation
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Class Activities
Task 2: Organize a program
B – Assigned in the preparation of the program (these are
the participants of the program)
C – Assigned in the aesthetic preparation of the program
(posters, invitation cards: must contain the flow of the
program, stage decoration)
*** the leader must make sure that the letters are properly
edited before these are given to the recipients.
*** a copy signed by the recipients will be submitted to the
leader for compilation
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Class Activities

Task 2: Organize a program

3. The leader will compile all sample materials and submit
along with the leader’s report (a sample leader’s report
will be provided) --- Deadline of reports: July 21, 2023
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Class Activities
Task 3: Prepare for a Debate

▪ A video orientation on the Modified Austro-Asian debate

will be sent to your class beadles this week.
▪ You will have a face-off debate with other sections on July
18-20, 2023 – motions will be pre-assigned.
▪ Groupings, motions and schedule for debate will be given
on Friday via class beadles/representatives
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References

▪ https://southeast.iu.edu/writing-center/files/essay-
construction.pdf