Module 4

Communication for
Various Purposes Prepared by:
Maria Teresa S.
Bonggot

Instructors:
Maria Teresa S.
Bonggot
Francis Ducusin

Module Duration:

Week 10 – 11

GE001

PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
 SAN MATEO MUNICIPAL COLLEGE
General Luna St., Guitnang Bayan I, San Mateo, Rizal
Tel. No. (02) 997-9070
www.smmc.edu.ph

MODULE 4
COMMUNICATION FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, the students are expected to:

 create a public service announcement regarding environmental disaster preparedness employing the concepts of
informative, persuasive, and argumentative communication;
 compare and contrast the different modes of delivering a speech;
 deliver effectively a message to an audience;
 write effective letters of inquiry;
 create incident report template; and provide information accurately.

INPUT INFORMATION

Lesson 1: Informative, Persuasive and Argumentative Communication

What do you
think does John
Locke mean?

In which aspect of your

field do you find Locke’s
idea most relevant?
Image Source: https://www.magicalquote.com/authorname/john-locke/

Communication is made for numerous purposes. The way messages are crafted depends highly on the intention of
the sender.

In a supermarket, a sales agent makes sure that the way a product is promoted gets consumers buying. A news
anchor delivers information in such a way that all the facts are clearly stated doing away with words that may cause confusion.
On the other hand, a criminal lawyer must design his arguments supported by facts to convince the judge and the jury.

Informative Communication involves giving than asking. As an informative communicator, you want receivers to
pay attention and understand, but not to change their behavior. By sharing information, ignorance is reduced, or better yet,
eliminated. The informative value of message is measured by how novel and relevant the information is or the kind of
understanding it provides receiver.

Osborn (2009) purports that informative communication arises out of three deep impulses:

a. We seek to expand our awareness of the world around us.

b. We seek to become more competent.
c. We have an abiding curiosity about how things work and how they are made.

When preparing for an informative exchange, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my topic note worthy to be considered informative?

2. What do my recipients already know about my topic?
3. What more do they have to know?
4. Am I knowledgeable enough of my topic to help my receivers understand it?
 Persuasive Communication is an art of gaining fair and favorable considerations for our point of view. It

a. provides a choice among options.

b. advocates something through a speaker.
c. uses supporting material to justify advice.
d. turn the audience into agents of change.
e. asks for strong audience commitment.
f. gives importance to the speaker’s credibility.
g. appeals to feelings.
h. has higher ethical obligation.

Argumentative Communication relies heavily on sound proof and reasoning. The nature of proof has been studied
since the Golden Age of Greece and has been improved through time. According to Aristotle, logos, ethos and pathos are the
three primary forms of proof. In our time, however, many scholars have confirmed the presence of a fourth dimension of
proof, mythos, which suggests that we respond to appeals to the traditions and values of our culture and to the legends and
folktales that embody them.

Lucas (2007) claims that to avoid defective argumentation, the following must be avoided:

1. Defective evidence

 Misuse of facts
 Statistical fallacies
 Defective Testimony
 Inappropriate evidence

2. Defective Patterns of reasoning

 Evidential fallacies
a. Slippery slope
b. Confusing facts with opinion
c. Red herring
d. Myth of the mean

 Flawed proofs
 Defective arguments

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Answer the following: (Group Activity)

1. What is the difference between an informative communication and a persuasive communication? Which do you
think is more challenging in terms of preparation and delivery?

2. In a table, list essential preparations when communicating to inform, to persuade, and to argue.

To Inform To Persuade To Argue

3. What ethical considerations must one bear in mind when informing, persuading, or arguing?

4. Have a journal of your communication activities for an entire day, making special note on all instances in which you
tried to inform, persuade or argue with someone. Choose one of those instances and prepare a brief analysis about it. In your
analysis, answer the following questions:

a. Who was the receiver of your message?

b. What was the specific purpose of your message?
 c. Was the message rehearsed or arose spontaneously?
d. Were you successful in achieving your purpose?
e. If faced with the same situation again, what changes would you make to be a better communicator?

5. Examine magazine advertisements and newspaper articles to find “informercials”. What alerts you to the
persuasive intent? In what respects does such communication possess the characteristics of persuasion and information?

6. Through a video, create a public service announcement regarding environmental disaster preparedness. Employ
the concepts learned about informative, argumentative and persuasive communication.

Lesson 2: Public Speaking

Do these statements apply to you?

1. I am excited at the thought of speaking in public.

2. I see myself speaking in public often in the future
3. I think I can be a very good speaker.
4. The thought of public speaking terrifies me.
5. I would avoid speaking in public as much as I can.
6. No amount of practice can make me a better speaker.

Items 1, 2 and 4,5 determine your public speaking

anxiety. If you answered 1 and 2 with a yes, you probably have
a low anxiety. If you answered 4 and 5 with a yes, you most
probably have a high public speaking anxiety. Items 3 and 6
determine your attitude toward public speaking. If you
answered item 3 with a yes, you have a growth mindset. If you
answered item 6 with a yes, you have a closed mindset. Image Source: https://executivesupportmagazine.com/public-
speaking-there-is-no-need-to-fear/

https://twitter.com/BrianTracy/status/95147202481 Image Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/13714485/

1180033
 https://www.facebook.com/wiziwizmagazine/photos/a.16554608911
96348/2560132334062528/?type=3

Image Source: https://quotesgram.com/img/speaker-quotes/6609638/

(Re-evaluate your answers after reading engagement)

You have probably delivered a speech before an audience once, twice, or thrice in high school in the forms of
reporting, research preparations, or creative presentations or you might have read Biblical passages in church. How did the
experience make you feel? If the experience made you wish to speak more in public or made you confident of yourself, then
you belong to the few who do not fear public speaking or who have overcome it. If the experience made you feel the opposite,
you are not alone. Jerry Seinfield was quoted saying:

“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two.
Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than delivering
a eulogy.”

Fear of public speaking is, therefore, common to most people, but despite this fact, many have turned public
speaking into their ticket to success. Brian Tracy phrased this idea in his statement below:

“Your ability to communicate with others will account for fully 85% of your success in your business and in your life.”

What apparently matters is your reaction to fear of public speaking. How should you handle fear? Mark Twain
suggests: “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”

Your awareness of your fear of public speaking is a good starting point. With your awareness, you acknowledge that
you need to take actions to overcome that fear.

You might also need a strong reason to overcome that fear. While it is true that not all professions require public
speaking skills, you must consider the fact that public speaking is an essential skill in your academic life. Also, in many
professions such as those in business, education, mass media etc., public speaking skills are a requirement. In some other
professions, public speaking skills are an advantage. Most importantly, public speaking has long been the tool for activism that
paved way for social and political changes.

By this time, you must have decided that public speaking is highly relevant to your academic, professional and
personal life.

1. You will be grouped with ten members. Let each member of the group share what his or her fear is .
The following questions will help structure the mini-speech within the group.
What is your greatest fear?
Why do you fear such?
Have you take actions to overcome your fear? What were these actions?
2. After the sharing within the group, choose a member who will report to the class the summary of
the fears of the members.

Public speaking is a process of speaking in a structured, deliberate manner to inform, influence or entertain an
audience.

Speech is the term used to refer to the body spoken expressions of information and ideas. A speech may be
delivered in any of the following modes: read from a manuscript, memorized and delivered extemporaneous or impromptu.
The choice of mode of speech delivery is determined by factors such as length of preparation, complexity of message,
purpose, and occasion.

Reading from a Manuscript is appropriate when the speech is long and when details are complicated and essential
such as they need to be given completely. Reading is also appropriate when one is asked to deliver a prepared speech on
behalf of another speaker. Reading may post the least challenge in public speaking but the speaker may be tricked into
thinking that no preparation is needed. When a message is delivered through reading, the force, naturalness, and eye contact
maybe diminished because the eyes have to travel from page to the audience and vice-versa.

Memorized speech requires a speaker to commit everything to memory. This method is excellent for short messages
although it is also used for long pieces in oratorical, declamation and other literary contests. Just like a read speech, a
memorized speech also poses challenge in naturalness. The worst experience one could have in delivering a memorized
speech is to forget the lines and fail to shift smoothly to another mode of delivery.

Extemporaneous speaking may have short or a long preparation. The speaker may use an outline to guide him
through his speech to achieve better organization and to avoid leaving out details. But unlike reading, extemporaneous
speaking necessitates the speaker to formulate his sentences while he is speaking. Extemporaneous is a method that most
lecturers and teachers use. A good extemporaneous speaker must be spontaneous.

Impromptu means speaking at the spur of the moment. Since there is very minimal or no time for preparation given
for impromptu, the content and organization may suffer. Impromptu may not deliver the best thought in the best way but it
brings out the most natural thing to say at the moment.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

A. Using the table below, compare and contrast extemporaneous speaking to/from impromptu by writing their similarities
and differences in the proper column.

Extemporaneous Speaking vs Impromptu Speaking

Similarities Differences

Do the same for read and memorized speech.

Read Speech vs Memorized Speech

Similarities Differences

B. Which mode of speech delivery has the least application? Why do you say so?
C. Which mode of speech delivery has the most application? Why do you say so?

D. Read with animation a 2-3 minute inspirational story.

Rubric for a read speech

Criteria 8-10 5-7 4-3 1-2

Eye Maintained eye Maintained eye Inconsistent eye Avoided eye contact
contact/connection contact with the contact most of the contact; somewhat with the audience;
audience throughout time, engaged engaged audience disengaged audience
the speech, engaged audience most of the
audience throughout time
the speech
Content Fully developed Developed topic/idea Some understanding Vague sense of the
topic/idea with unified with unified supporting of the topic with few topic or idea
substantial supporting details supporting details
detains
Language use Excellent command of Good command of the Understandable Inaccurate words and
the language, uses language, somewhat language yet lacks marked with grammar
varied and accurate accurate with few accuracy and with errors that affect the
words to express grammar errors some grammar errors message
ideas, and uses
grammatically correct
expressions
Vocal clarity and Very clear and Clear and varied voice Somewhat clear and Monotonous and
dynamics appropriately varied varied voice lacks vocal clarity
voice

E. On your own
1. Prepare a topic outline of a highly relevant topic.
2. Deliver you extemporaneous speech.

Rubric for extemporaneous speech

Criteria 8-10 5-7 4-3 1-2

Content Fully developed Developed topic/idea Some understanding Vague sense of the
topic/idea with unified with unified supporting of the topic with few topic or idea
substantial supporting details supporting details
details
Language use Excellent command of Good command of the Understandable Inaccurate words and
the language, uses language, somewhat language yet lacks marked with grammar
varied and accurate accurate and with few accuracy and with errors that affect the
words to express grammar errors some grammar errors message
ideas, grammatically
correct expressions
Spontaneity and Very natural and Natural and Somewhat natural Marked with long
naturalness spontaneous with spontaneous with with some awkward awkward pauses
appropriate pauses some awkward pauses
pauses
Vocal clarity and Very clear and Clear and varied voice Somewhat clear and Monotonous and
dynamics appropriate varied varied voice lacks vocal clarity
voice
Eye Maintains eye contact Maintain eye contact Inconsistent eye Avoids eye contact
contact/connection with the audience most of the time contact with the audience
throughout the speech
Relevance of the Very relevant and Relevant to the Somewhat relevant to Of little relevance to
chosen topic useful to the majority majority of the the majority of the the audience
of the audience audience audience

E. On the spot

1. Pick from the teacher’s box/number a quote or a question. From either a quotation or question, develop a
minute of impromptu speech. You may explain, argue, support and/or illustrate the quote you picked.

2. Answer the following questions:

a. What is the most difficult part of being a teenager or a college student today?
b. How has the social media affected you?
c. What is the kindest gesture you have experienced from a stranger?
d. Are there times when you feel people misjudge you? Cite an example.
e. Was there an instance when you misjudged someone? Give details of that instance.

Lesson 3: Making Inquiries

Do these statements apply to you?

1. I have effective techniques in seeking for information online.

2. I can easily ask for information from anyone.
3. I can easily start a conversation with other people.
 4. I feel that people easily comprehend what I say.
5. I am confident I can write a formal inquiry letter.
6. I avoid writing letters as much as I can.
7. I would rather call people than write them.

Do you agree or disagree?

1. You need not observe the writing conventions in writing e-mails.

2. English is the best language for interviews.
3. Emails are informal.
4. Abbreviations are encouraged in emails.

You probably texted or called people to obtain information you needed several times already. Did you get the
information you needed? Did you use the same language and tone in all your queries through phone calls and text messages?

You might have also received queries via text messages, conversations, and phone calls. Were there times when
you felt the language or the tone of the caller or message sender was inappropriate? Were you able to provide the information
sought satisfactorily?

Both obtaining and giving information are a part of our daily activities. Information provide individuals basis for
actions, plans, and decisions. An individual’s skill in finding information helps him save time and make well-informed
decisions, and actions. Likewise, giving information effectively is of great help to others.

Inquiry Letter

An inquiry letter is written when a person needs more information about products, services, internships,
scholarships, or job vacancies offered by companies, associations, or individuals. Often, inquiry letters are sent when a person
has specific questions that are not addressed by the general information available provided brochures, websites,
advertisements, classified ads. Etc.

An inquiry may also be in the form of telephone or personal interview of telephone or personal interview.

Depending on the immediacy and specificity of the need, one of these modes may prove more responsive to your
need, one of those modes may prove more responsive to your need.

Both interview and letter require correct and appropriate language use. Both correctness, conciseness, clarity of
language, and courtesy. While letters require correctness of spelling, punctuations, capitalizations, indentions, margins, etc.,
interviews require clarity of words, correct pronunciation, intonation and pauses, spontaneity, pleasing personality, and
confidence.

Content and Organization of Letter of Inquiry

Just like any business letter, letter of inquiry has the following basic parts:

A. Heading or Letterhead
B. Inside address
C. Salutation
D. Body of the letter

First Paragraph: It provides a background of your inquiry such as how, where, and when you first learned
of the information. Sate your purpose in one or two sentences.

Middle Paragraph: This section should specify the information you are seeking.

Final Paragraph: Express your expectation from your addressee and thank him in advance for his
favorable action.

E. Complimentary close
F. Signature

Format
 The format of an inquiry letter follows any of the following most commonly used formats: pure/full block, semi-block or
modified block.

The format below illustrates the basic business letter content using the pure/full block format.
Emails
 More frequently used now in inquiry are emails. Emails gained popularity because of speed and convenience.

Generally, email messages are less formal than letters, although there are still expectations for appropriate and
effective email communication. The formality is determined by the sender’s familiarity and relationship to the receiver, the
classification and objective of the message to be sent, and other factors that shape the context of communication. In academic
emails, for example, it is more appropriate to sound formal and professional. The use of ‘wanna, gonna’, and abbreviations
such as “tnx” and gbu, and emoticons is inappropriate. In other informal contexts, however, abbreviations and emoticons may
be effective. In academic and other more formal emails, correctness and other qualities that apply to business letters should
be observed.

For more effective email communications (and also letters), remember the following:

1. Be courteous. Courtesy does not only mean greeting, thanking, or using polite expressions. It also means
considering the feelings of the receiver; thus, the writer needs to use the appropriate or positive tone.
2. Keep messages as concise and clear as possible.
3. Proofread and spellcheck before sending.
4. Provide a short but descriptive subject line.
5. Although some parts of the email are optional, it is enabling to know all the other parts.

Below is the list of all parts of an email. The style may vary depending on the system you use.

Elements of an Email Message

When you think of an email message, you might think of the person you’re sending it to and what you’re going to say.
However, an effective email has many more elements than these few. Double check these parts before sending your next
email.

1. Subject Line

What is the email about? A good subject line summarizes the email and makes it sound important enough for the
reader to open. Subject lines like “Hello” or “Meeting” are vague and make it difficult to know what the email will be about.

2. Sender
The email address of the person who sent the message appears here. Most email services display the person’s
name before their email address to make it easier to identify them. When you press “reply,” your email will only go to this
person.

3. Recipient

If you are receiving the message, your email address probably won’t appear here. Instead, you might see wording
like “to me.” Message recipients might also include email addresses in these sections:

Carbon Copy (CC) – people who receive the email for their own information, but who are not expected to reply. When
you press “reply all,” all of these addresses receive your response.

Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) – people who receive the email but are not listed as recipients. Senders use the BCC
section if they don’t want recipients to know who else has received the email. They do not receive “reply all” responses.

4. Salutation

After the subject line, your email salutation, or greeting, is the next part that the recipient will see. It should match the
tone you’re trying to set in the rest of your email. Don’t skip this part unless you are emailing back and forth quickly with
someone in a virtual conversation.

5. Email Body

The email body contains the message of the email. Effective emails keep their email bodies short and add more
extensive information to the attachments. For formal emails, such as messages to an employer or emails to your teacher, it’s
best to avoid common email abbreviations.
6. Closing

If an email message is an electronic letter, it’s polite to end it with a closing. The closing you choose should match
the tone of the rest of the email. Formal closings include “Sincerely” and “Thank you,” while more friendly messages can use
“Talk to you soon!” or “See you later!”

7. Signature

Friendly letters might sign off with the sender’s name. But many business email accounts have signature sections
that include the sender’s position, company and even company logo. These extended signatures are helpful when reaching
out to clients or employees from other companies.

8. Attachments

An email might include an attachment that provides more information. The attachment could be a document for
review, a picture to share or any other file type. Most email accounts have limits on the size of attachments, so the sender
might add the file to the email body itself rather than attaching it.

Image source: https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/email-message-parts

Interview

Interview is a special type of purposive conversation. Interviews are classified into different are classified into
different types according to purpose, but basic to all types of interviews is to obtain desired information.

Interview requires real time for both the interviewee and interviewer.

Whatever your specific purpose is, it is always advantageous to consider the following tips in conducting an interview.

Before the interview

1. Remember that if you are seeking for information from people (e.g., interview for research), you are asking them a
favor; thus, make appointments with your interviewee at their most convenient time.
2. Prepare the list of questions.

During the interview

1. Be punctual.
 2. Wear appropriate attire.
3. Observe good manners.
4. Speak clearly and be attentive.
5. If you have follow-up questions, ask politely. Ask the interviewee to validate your notes.
6. Allow the interviewee sufficient time to answer.
7. Rephrase questions to clarify vague points.
8. Acknowledge answers of the interviewee to assure him of your attention.
9. Graciously thank the interviewee for his time.

Parts of the Interview

Opening

The opening includes the initial contact of the interviewer and the interviewee. Rapport should be
established by creating positive impression. Although introduction might have been done during the appointment,
introduce yourself briefly.

Body
The body includes several questions to achieve your specific objectives.

Conclusion

The conclusion includes expressing gratitude and hope of meeting the interviewee again in the future.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Write an email/letter regarding an inquiry asking for more details about the public service announcement below and
send it to your teacher’s email/upload a copy of the same letter in your Google Classroom.

10 slots available for scholarship grants for college education

Candidate requirements

o Weighted average: 87
o Age: 17 – 20
o Combined income of parents should not be more that
P500,000 annually
o Income Tax Return both parents

Benefits include the following:

o 100% free tuition and miscellaneous fees

o P10,000 for book allowance

ASSIGNMENT

Answer the following

1. In Lesson 1, I learned that informative, persuasive and argumentative communication…

2. In a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, what rating do you give yourself? Why?
3. In what area of public speaking do you feel you need the most improvement?
4. Prepare specific interview questions for your district representative concerning his 6-year plan for the
province/district, his vision, proposals, etc.

EVALUATION
 A 30-item quiz will be provided. [Google Form link to be uploaded in the Google Classroom]

LEARNING RESOURCES

 Wakat, G. S., Caroy, A. A., Paulino F. B., Jose, M. J., Ordonio, M. M., Palangyos, A. C., Palangyos, M. S., Dizon, E.
J., Dela Cruz, A. E., Sao-an M. B., (2018). Purposive communication. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing.
 https://www.magicalquote.com/authorname/john-locke/
 https://executivesupportmagazine.com/public-speaking-there-is-no-need-to-fear/
 https://johnspencerellis.com/agree-disagree-will-ruffle-feathers/
 https://twitter.com/BrianTracy/status/951472024811180033
 https://slideplayer.com/slide/13714485/
 https://quotesgram.com/img/speaker-quotes/6609638/
 https://www.facebook.com/wiziwizmagazine/photos/a.1655460891196348/2560132334062528/?type=3
 https://www.slideshare.net/deepshikhagarg562/layout-of-business-letters
 https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/email-message-parts