Genre Analysis and Business Communication

1. Genre Analysis and Business Communication

2. Business Communication Business communication adheres to certain standards. How well you conform to those standards will determine how successful your communication will be.

3. Genres Each type of Business communication has its own special set of standards, or conventions. Each special set of conventions constitutes a genre.

4. Business Genres Voice • job interview Telephone • sales call Writing • memo

5. Business Writing Genres • Memos • Complaint letters • Adjustment letters • Cover letters • Recommendation letters • Resignation Letters • Reports • Proposals

6. Successful Communication Message • Identify the message you want to send • Determine desired feedback Example • apply for job • interview

7. Successful Communication Receiver • Consider the receiver Example A • HR manager in large corporation Example B • friend’s father in family-run business

8. Successful Communication Medium • Choose the most appropriate medium Example A • letter Example B • telephone call

9. Genre Analysis Medium • Determine if medium has accepted genres. Example A • cover letter and résumé Example B • no accepted genre

10. Genre Analysis • Find model(s) of the genre. • Read the model(s) thoroughly. • Determine the content. • Determine the organization (structure). • Determine the style. • Determine the register (type of language). • Determine the effect on the reader.

12. Content • What is the message conveyed? • What information or ideas are included?

13. Content: General • Why candidate should be hired

14. Content: Specific

16. Content: Specific • Information about the position • what, where , when • Information about educational qualifications • what, where, when • Information about previous employment • what, where, when • Suitability for the job • personality and familiarity with products/service • Goodwill Closing • what should happen in the future

17. Organization • Layout (format) • Paragraphing (formula)

18. Organization Layout (format) • visual look • information included • placement of information • top/bottom • before/after • left/right/centre • justification

26. Organization Sample Layout • letterhead • date • inside address • salutation • body • complimentary closing • signature group

27. Organization Paragraphing (formula) • number of paragraphs • info in each paragraph • determine if there is a formula with multiple models

32. Organization Sample organization • position applying for • education and experience • why suited • goodwill closing

33. Style • Formal • Neutral • Informal

35. Style Sample style • formal

36. Register • Vocabulary • Grammar

37. Register • vocabulary specific to field

39. Register Vocabulary specific to field • sales representative • language teaching materials • sales assistant

40. Register • vocabulary specific to field • vocabulary specific to genre

42. Register Vocabulary specific to genre • apply • position • enclosed • CV/résumé • employed • experience

43. Register • vocabulary specific to field • vocabulary specific to genre • set expressions

45. Register Set expressions • I am writing to apply for the position of... • ...which was advertised in... • As you can see from my enclosed... • I obtained a degree in... • I am interested in working... • Please do not hesitate to contact me... • I look forward to hearing from you.

46. Register Grammatical forms • verb tenses

48. Register Grammatical forms • verb tenses • past tense (2)

50. Register Grammatical forms • verb tenses • past tense (2) • present continuous (1)