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Text Message Analysis

The document discusses analyzing text messages by examining the relationship between the sender, message, and receiver. It defines key terms like sender, style, receiver, and message. Examples are provided of text messages with specific rhetorical choices like punctuation, spelling, emojis. The effect of these choices on the receiver's perception and meaning of the message is described. The document also has the reader rewrite example texts to alter the intended meaning and explain the changes. Finally, it has the reader analyze a sample text message by discussing the sender's purpose and how the receiver may interpret it based on rhetorical choices.

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159 views

Text Message Analysis

The document discusses analyzing text messages by examining the relationship between the sender, message, and receiver. It defines key terms like sender, style, receiver, and message. Examples are provided of text messages with specific rhetorical choices like punctuation, spelling, emojis. The effect of these choices on the receiver's perception and meaning of the message is described. The document also has the reader rewrite example texts to alter the intended meaning and explain the changes. Finally, it has the reader analyze a sample text message by discussing the sender's purpose and how the receiver may interpret it based on rhetorical choices.

Uploaded by

api-525670044
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Text Message Analysis

What is the sender/message/receiver relationship?


How is this relationship impacted by stylistic decisions made by the sender?

Part 1: Vocabulary
Define the terms below.

Sender: Style:
A person who sends the message The vibe a text gives off based on word
choice, punctuation, and grammar.
Receiver: Analysis:
a person who receives the message the conclusion the receiver comes to from
the text based off it’s style.
Message:
information or just something that is sent
from the sender to receiver.

Part 2: Examples
Get out your phones and spend some time looking for messages that seem to have made specific
rhetorical choices: punctuation, unusual typing or spelling styles, abbreviations, emojis, etc. Type
them in the left column, describe the choice in the middle column, and describe the effect on the
receiver’s perception or on the meaning of the text.

Text Stylistic Choice Effect on perception/meaning


- wrong your wrong your and lowercase show
your fine. - all is lowercase that they don’t care that much, but
- the period the period shows anger.

- giant disaster is a shows passive aggressiveness and


If you could pick up the hyperbole kind of joking with the use sarcasm,
giant disaster you left in - grammatically but also totally serious with what
my car, i’d appreciate it. correct they need done.
- passive
aggressive
- capitalization The automatic capitalization and no
Are you sure you are - no period/ punctuation shows that not much
my son question mark thought was out into this text.
- sarcastic
(probably)
- no words the meaning of this given the
*kissy face emoji* - as a joke context, is a joke.

- dumbhead is I would think this is funny but only


you freakin Dumbhead capitalized in because the use of the words are
middle of not harsh at all. I would also find the
sentence use of harsh words funny but for a
- no punctuation different reason, it's the overly
- word choice is softness of this that makes it funny.
soft
- ergency I feel this is a nice and funny way of
can we come get - lack of question asking someone if they are finally
yooouuuuu mark ready.

Part 3: Altering Stylistic Choices


Rewrite three text messages from Part 2 and revise them to alter the intended or perceived
meaning. Explain the change you made and the desired effect on the receivers perception or the
meaning of the text.

Original Text Revised Text Changes you made and the


desired effect on
perception/meaning
I changed this telling of
someone that everything is
fine from something that
came off as a lie to
your fine. nah you're all good haha something more genuine.
The lack of punctuation
makes it seem more laid
back and same with the
“haha”

The use of punctuation,


capitalization, and proper
spelling makes it come off
more serious. The first one
has a sense of “haha hurry
can we come get yooouuuuu Could we come pick you up up”, my revised one seems
now? more polite and/ or
impatient.

the use of introduction with


“hey” and then a pause
makes it seem more serious
and a hard situation to bring
Are you sure you are my Hey, are you sure you are up. The punctuation also
son my son? makes it seem more serious.
my new text makes it sound
like someone is genuinely
asking.
Part 4: Apply your learning
Analyze the text message below, following all instructions in the prompt.

Context: My friend asked if he could interview me for a paper he was writing but he never
responded about a day and time. I sent him a text asking if he still wanted to interview me a
few days later and this is what he sent back:

Write a paragraph in the box below in which you analyze the rhetorical choices made by
the “speaker” of this text message. Be sure to address what the speaker’s purpose is, and
consider how the audience (receiver) may interpret the message based on the speaker’s
choices. Be sure to have a topic sentence!

Through the use of rhetorical choices used in this text it comes across that the sender is
mad but pretending not to be, while also trying to make the receiver feel guilty. The use
of words are all nice but in a passive aggressive way because they suggest places the
receiver may have done something differently. The constant dots also show either
sadness or just total anger with not being able to totally finish without pausing. The
“thanks” is the biggest show that the sender is trying to make the receiver guilty, because
they have a problem because of them but thanks them anyways.

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