2.2: Messages
Read this section, which discusses categorizing messages based on their importance. It also introduces the five common elements in any message, some of which you will recognize from the discussion about communication models, and all of which you will encounter later when you examine how a speech is organized. After you read, try the exercises at the end of the section.
Messages are at the heart of communication. Knowing what your message is, refining it to be clear, and tailoring it for specific audiences are key skills. These videos present how messages must be presented: clearly and concisely. This video focuses on reasoning, which is directly connected to messages: your reasoning becomes your messages' content. "Faulty reasoning" results in weak or erroneous messages.
This video introduces storytelling, which is the latest popular technique for developing business messages.
After you watch, consider this scenario. Your business sells sleeper sofas that can open up to become a bed for one person. Add details to the product if you need to, but focus on creating a story that would get people interested in trying or buying the sofa. Refer to the storytelling examples in the video and follow their structure in your own story. This may be an opportunity for you to use the discussion forum to interact with other students taking this course. See if your story is effective by trying it out on your colleagues.