Reading Response Week 4
After reading about writing and rhetoric in the context from Thomson Handbook, I once again realized the importance of knowing well about my audiences and having the right tone of addressing my words to them effectively. Especially the JetBlue situation was a good example of showing these two key points that should be neatly organized in the writing. I think being in the reader’s perspective as much as I can trying to understand their situation and what they would want to hear from me would eventually create better letter than just explaining my position. The project checklist was helpful to go over before I actually start writing because it was a great guideline to begin thinking about the ways that context can shape my project.
The video I found from Youtube is about a journey of three friends waiting for flight for 2 days and 45 minutes after initial arrival at the JFK Airport. Their interviews showed how frustrating and upsetting it could be just waiting on and on without having any guarantee of flight back to their destination. I had a similar experience last winter in Chicago O’Hare Airport waiting for 7 hours of delay, because of problem in the radar and it was some kind of an experience that I would never want to go over again. The video also points out the difficulty of getting a refund or voucher back from JetBlue by showing the long line all the way to the end.
The audience that I am addressing in my letter will be passengers who had to experience the crisis on February 14-18, 2007 at JKF Airport. To those affected by the event will receive sincere apology as well the promise of proper compensation to satisfy their requirements. I will try to be consistent with my tone, apologetic and sorry for the inconvenience to passengers and explain clearly about their compensation. Also I will keep avoid using vague and unsure words that can bring misinterpretation. Using straight words still being polite having the apologetic manner being fully responsible for this situation will be the way I address my words to passengers who had to go through this crisis.
Comments
Reply
I agree with you, I think it is really important to be in the reader’s perspective also. You are also right you have to be well organized and write what the reader wants to hear. If you first sit down and think about what you believe the reader or in other words the customer that was affected in the situation wants to hear you will have a better letter and a satisfied customer. It is also a very good idea to use very apologetic words when writing your letter that is what the reader and customer want to hear in this situation.
Reply to RR4
You are correct. You must always consider your audience in any presentation. It is important to know who your audience is and how they will be addressed. One must also keep in mind to try and not offend anyone. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but you cant please everyone all the time. It seems you have the right idea when you are ready to write your letter. Just remember to keep your tone in an apologetic manner and remember who your audience is. Being straight forward and understanding should give you the best results in a real life setting.
Reply
I agree with you that being organized and understanding your audience is important in a letter like this. I also like your point about how to avoid being vague and unsure words because it could bring about a misinterpretation. I think a good example of this is in the book with the JFK analogy. People of course wouldn’t think he meant he was a jelly donut, but those that didn’t like him found it to be something to make fun of him about. These people are mad at us, and it is important to be able to communicate with them effectively. If we watched the same video it was surprising to me that they weren't more mad.
Reply
I think your right. It is easy to get wrapped up in yourself and write something that you would like reading. Its easy to forget about the people who actually matter in what you are writing, so it is important to always remember your audience. You could write the best letter in the world, but if you had it geared toward the wrong person, you would fail in your goals of the letter. I think you also did a good job at analyzing they type of person that you are writing to. If you keep these things in mind, i think you will have a good letter to write.
Reply
I too found the checklist very insightful. I will use it to my advantage as a way to critique my letter after I have written it. I also experienced a long delay at the Indianapolis airport about 6 months ago. I was taking the last flight out to go home for Christmas break and before we even boarded something had malfunctioned on the plane. The customer service rep came over the p.a. and announced that there might not be a guarantee we will fly out tonight but gave us the option to take a voucher for a free night at a hotel. With the lack of patience I have I waited for about 30 minutes and took that voucher, stayed at the Extended Stay Suites, and flew out the next morning with no problems. Now this does not compare to the JetBlue crisis but it shows that they could have handled the situation a lot better.