Introduction
Remember the communication model for this exercise. In what way will your message change if the medium you use to convey the message changes or the person you are sending it to? Below you can find a number of examples which will make it dear that a different approach for each situation is important.
Preparation
Choose at least two situations of part A, B and C. In all cases you have to think carefully about the following:
The written parts should be laid out like they would in a real life situation. It may help in the first two assignments, to use the actual means of communication.
Cases
A. You have to cancel:
1. a dinner appointment with an old friend. You use the answering machine.
2. weekend plans with your new girlfriend/boyfriend. You use the phone.
3. dinner at home. Write a short note for your mother.
4. tomorrow's really important meeting with your boss. Decide which means of communication would be best. Explain your choice and write your text.
5. tomorrow's really, really important meeting with a promising new client. Use e-mail.
B. You have to explain being late to:
1. a classmate who is now addressing your audience for a presentation all by himself. Send a texts using your cell phone.
2. an important client. Everyone is present now, everyone is really busy and cannot afford to wait. Use the phone.
3. your parents for being home after 12 on a Saturday night. Use the answering machine.
C. You messed up really good. You took your mother's car, despite the fact that you weren't allowed to. Things went terribly wrong: you had an accident and wrecked it. It is a total loss. Fortunately no one was hurt. You have a few scratches and bruises only. What will you tell:
1. the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident;
2. the person you hit with your car (in the other car);
3. your mother and your father;
4. your friends at school;
5. your boss at the restaurant the next day. He wonders about your bruises and thinks that you shouldn't work until your bruises have healed. Since you are waiting tables, he doesn't think it would be right to confront people with your present looks over dinner.
Remember the communication model for this exercise. In what way will your message change if the medium you use to convey the message changes or the person you are sending it to? Below you can find a number of examples which will make it dear that a different approach for each situation is important.
Preparation
Choose at least two situations of part A, B and C. In all cases you have to think carefully about the following:
- What are you going to say?
- How are you going to phrase it?
- Will you leave out certain things?
- How will you feel in each case?
The written parts should be laid out like they would in a real life situation. It may help in the first two assignments, to use the actual means of communication.
Cases
A. You have to cancel:
1. a dinner appointment with an old friend. You use the answering machine.
2. weekend plans with your new girlfriend/boyfriend. You use the phone.
3. dinner at home. Write a short note for your mother.
4. tomorrow's really important meeting with your boss. Decide which means of communication would be best. Explain your choice and write your text.
5. tomorrow's really, really important meeting with a promising new client. Use e-mail.
B. You have to explain being late to:
1. a classmate who is now addressing your audience for a presentation all by himself. Send a texts using your cell phone.
2. an important client. Everyone is present now, everyone is really busy and cannot afford to wait. Use the phone.
3. your parents for being home after 12 on a Saturday night. Use the answering machine.
C. You messed up really good. You took your mother's car, despite the fact that you weren't allowed to. Things went terribly wrong: you had an accident and wrecked it. It is a total loss. Fortunately no one was hurt. You have a few scratches and bruises only. What will you tell:
1. the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident;
2. the person you hit with your car (in the other car);
3. your mother and your father;
4. your friends at school;
5. your boss at the restaurant the next day. He wonders about your bruises and thinks that you shouldn't work until your bruises have healed. Since you are waiting tables, he doesn't think it would be right to confront people with your present looks over dinner.