Second Look At Email

Description

Jen Robinson Message

• Contains header info
  • From
  • Subject
    • The subject reads "ENGL 3177/5177: Blogs and Wikis and my blog"
  • Date
  • To
• A salutation to no one specific (Hello there!) and there is no space between this line and the beginning line of the message
• The message is 3 paragraphs long with approximately 10 sentences total
  • There are several compound sentences
  • There is the use of some acronyms or abbreviations (MLIS, YA)
  • There is the use of terms like: blog, wiki, deli.cio.us, fickr, myspace, friendster, etc.
  • There are 2 web addressess in the message
  • There is the use of underlining
  • There is the use of all capitals letters
  • Additional punctuation includes the @ symbol, dashes, parentheses, semicolons, slashes, quotations and question marks.
  • "Endevour" is spelled incorrectly
• The message closes with a sign-off (Best Regards) and the sender's first and last name.

M Morgan Response

• Contains header info
  • From
  • Subject
    • The subject reads "Re: ENGL 3177/5177: Blogs and Wikis and my blog"
  • Date
  • To
• There is a salutation (Hi Jen-)
• There is a space between the salutation and the beginning of the message
• There are 3 paragraphs in the message
  • There are approximately 13 sentences
  • There is the use of terms like: snoopbloggyblog, blogger, pre web 2.0 hype, pre delicious, etc.
  • There is the use of abbreviations and all caps(LUC, YALit?, N, url)
  • There is the use of slang: newbies
  • Various punctuation symbols are used: ellipses, dashes (see what - and how - other), parentheses, asterisks (what else they *can* do)
  • Sentences are mostly complete, some are compound
• The sign-off is included in the last paragraph (Luck)
• The message closes with the author's name in lowercase with a preceding dash (- michael)
• The previous message is included in this message
• The sender's signature is included
  • Includes sender's name, title, place of work, contact information, a web address, and below that is a line with 3 choices listed and the box for "bloggable" is x'ed.

Analysis

The email messages are an exchange between Jen Robinson and Michael Morgan. The Robinson message was sent on June 29th 2006 and Morgan replied 4 days later on July 2, 2006. Robinson's message includes a salutation, but does not specifically name a person. In the first paragraph, Robinson is explaining the purpose of her message and informing Morgan where to find her blog that has moved. In the second and third paragraphs she gives some information about herself, her current situation and comments on the web and blogs. She closes off her message with "Best Regards" and her name.

The topics discussed in Robinson's email ranges from somewhat personal to academic. She uses terminology specific to electronic social networking resources and also specific library terms such as MLIS and YALit?. The tone and language is informal.

Morgan's email response to Robinson is also 3 paragraphs long and generally follows the same pattern. He addresses some of the issues on comments that Robinson makes, adds some of his own and asks if he can pass her blog url to others to use. He signs off with his name in lower case "michael." Morgan appears to understand most of Robinson's references to social networking resources as well as library terminology. He also writes informally, and includes a signature file with his full title, contact information and a questionnaire-like line with "bloggable" selected.

Interpretation

This appears to be an exchange of email messages from two people who seem to know of each other, but have not actually met. As indicated by the subject line, Robinson is refering a blog that was most likely used in an English course taught by Morgan (ENGL 3177/5177).

In Robinson's message, she opens with a generic "Hello there," a choice which possibly reflects that she and Morgan are not acquaintances and is not sure of how to address Morgan (Professor, Mike, Michael?). She explains her motivation for emailing and inquires if Morgan is still using her blog in his class. She makes several comments about her theories and ideas about blogs and social networking. Robinson also comments on how she is using blogs in her current profession.

Throughout her message, Robinson uses a wide variety of stylistic elements which reflect an informality in her writing (many commas, all caps for emphasis, dashes to signify elaboration). She also exhibits a high level of candor; she admits she was performing "vanity" searches on herself, reveals much about her experience working with blogs and what she wishes to accomplish in her profession as a Young Adult Librarian. Her reference to the many other social networking programs (deli.cio.us, friendster, myspace, etc.) reflects her involvement in working with this medium. Though it appears some underlining had been done throughout Robinson's message, it is most likely caused by a feature in her email program, and not intentional.

Morgan's response is friendly and informal, though not as candid as Robinson, except for mentioning his having been at LUC. He most likely does not know Robinson personally, but it appears he has used her blog in his classes and is probably familiar with what she has written about her life. This is indicated in his first paragraph when he makes reference to Robinson being in Paddington Station the same time he was heading to Heathrow. This is information he would likely have gotten from her Snoopbloggy Blog.

Morgan also uses different stylist elements throughout his message (dashes, elipses, capitalizing "Way Back", etc.). In the second paragraph, Morgan chooses to emphasis the word "can" with asterisks; he appears to want the reader to pay special attention to the concept in which this word is being used. He continues to offer his own observations and thoughts on blog usage.

His last paragraph closes the "conversation" and Morgan asks permission to pass Robinson's new blog url to other colleauges. He closes with a friendly comment and simply signs off with "Luck" and his name in lower case; this makes it apparent that he is not expecting a response back, but he includes his signature file, which gives Robinson plenty of information about him.

Evaluation (optional)

Considering how the two are not familiar with each other, it is easy to see how Baron's theory of "Presentation of public self" comes into play. The authors of these emails use stylistic and linguistic characteristics which allow for the messages to appear "more speech-like." Robinson's message is effective in that it allowed her to update Morgan on her blog. However, one might wonder if this was also sent to others who were using her blog as well.