Rhetorical questions Analysis

A. Identifying and Naming:

1. What would you call this genre?

Formal Business Email

2. Think about our nesting dolls analogy. Can this genre be broadened? Narrowed? If so, how?

Letter, business letter, Email, Formal Business Email

B. Context and Function:

3. If genre is a typified response to a recurring social situation (Miller, 1984), then what is the “recurring social situation” of this genre?

Communication between two coworkers or other businesses

4. In what physical or digital setting(s) does this genre appear? Where are examples of this genre usually found?

Emails are usually always found in a digital format but they can be printed out for some people who prefer that style.

5. What subjects does this genre usually include? What questions, ideas, and issues does this genre usually address?

This type of communication usually leads to problem resolving and also requests and questions between coworkers about business related issues.

6. Who are the participants? Who uses this genre? Who usually writes and reads this genre?

These emails tend to be read bight presidents of the company and also people in charge of day to day decision making within each company.

7. What roles do these participants play? Under what circumstances do writers write and readers read this genre?

To come to solutions that best help both parties included in the email to create the best solution for both.

8. When and why is this genre used? What purposes does it fulfill for those who use it? What do readers and writers get out of it?

This genre is used between businesses to quickly communicate in an official documented way to resolve issues and create plans between coworkers and other companies.

C. Textual Features:

9. What are the unique conventions of this genre? What textual patterns, characteristics, or ingredients do examples of this genre share? Using Miller’s (1984) definition of genre, what are the “typified responses” that writers use when they invoke this genre?

These types of emails are usually very formal with classic headers and footers to end the email. The is usually no slang or shorthand writing involved and is very important to have correct grammar when talking to another company.

10. What content is usually included?  What’s excluded?

Content including due dates, progress information, customer requests, and normal communication can be included. What usually is not included is accusations or any animosity as these emails are to help each company resolve issues not make more of them.

11. What counts as evidence?

Emails can also be counted as evidence because they are tracked and can be seen by both parties. They tend to be filled with information that is important for both companies.

12. What rhetorical appeals are commonly used? How do writers attempt to persuade readers? The use of logos is most dominant in a professional setting and usually leaves feelings and emotions out of the conversation.
13. How are texts in this genre organized and structured?

Formal emails tend to have strict construction with defined paragraphs and also a formal salutation and goodbye.

14. Is there a standard format, layout, and length?
15. Length can be changed depending on how much information needs to be send. Format and layout on the other hand tend to be pretty structured but also depends on what information is being sent between the two communicating.
16. What types of sentences are common in this genre?

You will usually see a sentence explaining who the sender is to validate himself in his writing.

17. What do you notice about word choice and voice of the author? Is there a type of jargon, slang, or specialized vocabulary?

No slang is usually used in this type of this formal writing. Usually you will see polished emails with clear points and straightforward responses.

D. Implied or Assumed Features

18. What do readers and writers have to know or believe to understand, appreciate, or participate in this genre?

They need to know their audience in writing the type of email that will get the most out of the email. Getting as much useful information within an email saves time and energy between the two messengers.

19. Who is invited into the genre, and who is excluded?

Usually this type of writing is between a select few within the company if talking to other companies about issues or resolutions. These people then relay the info to who else needs to know about the information in the company.

20. What values, beliefs, goals, and assumptions underlie this genre’s patterns?

The goals are to communicate efficiently and also to not anger the other party communicating with you.

21. What content or topics are privileged in this genre? What content is considered most important? What content (topics and/or details) is ignored or dismissed?

There is usually sensitive information that is sent between emails which only people of power need to see so by sending it into an email pool with the correct people is necessary as getting powerful information into the wrong hands can be devastation to companies.

22. What are possible outcomes of this genre? What actions does this genre help make possible? What actions does this genre make difficult?

The main goal is to either send useful information to the other party or to persuade the other party to do business with them by providing useful information about how you can help them.

23. What is the writer’s attitude toward the reader? What is the writer assuming about the reader? The writer is assuming the reader is someone who can make decisions within the company and has power to make sure the email will be acknowledged and be sent to the right hands for future business between the company.
24. What is the writer’s attitude toward the world? How can you characterize their stance?

The writer is usually passive and also wants to provide information but not offend anyone at the same time. It is important to not make anyone angry through accusations as text is hard to leave a tone within it.