description

1st reply message

• author used abbreviations throughout text, including the subject line
• author used a dash instead of using a comma after the initial greeting
• no capitalization of name in closing (mike)
• initial message embedded in text of reply
• writer signs off with "we'll talk soon"

2nd reply message

• reply email is written informallly: uses quotations, smileys, abbreviations
• author used dashes instead of a new paragraph after greeting
• pronouns dropped from many sentences (Get your first..., Looks like..., Hope they...)
• commas dropped in descriptive sequence (big shiny new...)
• capitalization of "Fall" mid-sentence
• use of quoted words throughout: "retro" "wiki writing text"
• refers to "passable office"

analysis

The e-mail exchange began with a formal announcement from Matt Barton "call for papers" sent out to a number of people ("I had you guys in mind..."). The first reply from Morgan casts aside all formality with the first two lines: "What a deal! Get you first book started before you even started teaching." Which would seem to be an informal way of saying "congratulations." Morgan does briefly hit on the main topic of Barton's initial message (I'm working on a wiki writing text, so I'll get something together for your book in the next month), but immediately goes back off topic to inquire how Barton is doing in his new surroundings (Hope they gave you a passable office and a big shiny new computer classroom.) Morgan's message is brief, but hits on the main topic while also branching the conversation out.

Barton's reply is quick in coming, a mere 22 minutes after Morgan's message. The message's opening disregards standard letter-writing practice and is more conversational by using dashes within its greeting. The message is structured to reply first off to the second paragraph of Morgan's e-mail, the initial message content is delayed to the seond paragraph here, while Barton catches Morgan up on how he is doing. The catch-up portion has quoted material ("retro") in describing Barton's office, and references a supposedly shared symbolic description of what it looks like (50s-era detective style). Barton also uses exclamation point-ended senctences emphasize the point of the preceding sentences in a call-and-response manner. Barton also does not sign off the message, it just ends with "maybe we can share some resources."

interpretation

In reading the two messages that follow the initial "call for paper" announcement, it is clear that both parties believe the others insight is wanted and needs to be furthered (We'll talk soon and maybe we can share some resources), and that they have an existing relationship that allows them to not to be bothered by writing briefly back and forth without hitting on the initial message's content in great detail; both writers touched on the main topic in two sentences of their messages.