Creating Multimodal Text

Multimodal text is a text that utilizes more

than one meaning-making system of
communication. Thoughts and feelings are
conveyed and shared using a combination of
the linguistic, visual audio, gestural and
spatial systems.
Linguistic systems – consist of spoken and
written language.
Visual system – includes color, saliency, page,
layouts, viewpoint, screen formats, subject
distance and angle and camera movement.
Audio system – concerns volume, pitch and
rhythm of music, sound effects, noises and
silence.
Gestural system – comprises body language.
Spatial system – concerns the use of distance,
direction, layout and position and
organization of objects in space.
Three Common Presentation
Programs
 Powerpoint – created by Robert Gaskins and
Dennis Austinat .
Is the program in the Microsoft Office Software
suite that allows you to make powerful and
customizable presentations.
 Prezi – Adam Somlai-Fisher, Peter Halacsy,

and Peter Arvai were responsible for the

estbalishment of Prezi in 2009.
 PowToon – was founded in 2012 in London,
UK by Ilya Spitalnki, Daniel Zaturansky, Sven
Hoffman and Oren Mashkovski.
Communication Strategies Using
Technology in School
1. Cloud Computing
2. Mobile Learning
3. Tablet Computing
4. MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses
5. Games and Gamification
Learning Management Systems (LMSs) – a
framework that handles all aspects of the
learning process.
Ex:
Open.edX
Canvas
Moodle
Schoology
Google Classroom
Informative and Persuasive
Communication
 Informative Communication is a written or
spoken communication that conveys
knowledge or ideas to audience in order to
develop understanding about a specific topic.
Some tips for Informative
Communication
 Analyze the audience
 Use appropriate language
 Explain the importance of the topic
 Express interest in the subject material
 show, don’t tell
 Be specific
Four primary methods of informing
 Definition entails defining concepts clearly and
concisely using synonyms and antonyms, use
or function, example or etymology
 Description entails creating detailed verbal
pictures for your audience.
 Demonstration entails sharing verbal
directions about how to do something while
also physically demonstrating the steps.
 Explanation entails sharing how something
works, how something came to be, or why
something happened.
Persuasive Communication
A kind of message that attempts to influence the
audience to adopt the communicator’s strong
perspective on a specific topic and to act upon
that belief.
Pathos – to appeal to the feelings and emotions of
the audience or to show empathy.
Ethos – to show the character of the speaker as
credible and worth listening to and;
Logos – to demonstrate the extent oaf knowledge
of the speaker that the audience believe him or
her to be well-informed about the topic.
 Proposition is a statement or assertion that
express a judgment or opinion. It is claim
that something is true or not, right or wrong,
and practicable, beneficial and necessary or
otherwise.
 Proposition of FACT
 Proposition of VALUE
 Proposition of POLICY
In addition, your persuasive approach should
be based on audience’s orientation toward the
proposition.
1. When audience members agree with the proposal,
focus on intensifying their agreement and moving
them to action.
2. When audience members are neutral in regards to
the proposition, provide background information
to better inform the, about the issue and present
information that demonstrates the relevance of the
topic to the audience.
3. When audience members disagree with the
proposal, focus on establishing your credibility,
build common grounds with the audience, and
incorporate counterarguments and refute them.
Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
Step 1: Attention
Step 2: Need
Step 3: Satisfaction
Step 4: Visualization
Step 5: Action
Communication for Work Purposes
Communication for Academic Purposes
What makes Workplace Communication Effective?

1. Build an atmosphere of trust.

2. Handle conflicts professionally.
3. Engage in face-to-face conversation whenever
possible
4. Respect cultural differences
5. Give good feedback
6. Keep personal information to yourself
7. Avoid passing on rumors and talking about
controversial issues.
Workplace Communication Documents
Writing Business Letters
 Business letter is a formal written
communication between, to or from business
and usually sent through the Post Office or
sometimes by courier. It is jokingly called
snail mail (in contrast to email which is faster)
Who writes Business Letter?
 Business Business
 Business Consumer
 Job Applicant Company
 Citizen Government Official
 Employer Employee
 Staff Member Staff Member
Why Write Business Letters?
 To persuade
 To inform
 To request
 To express appreciation
 To remind
 To apologize
 To congratulate
 To reject a proposal or offer
 To invite or welcome
 To follow up
 To formalize decisions
Parts of a Business Letter
1. Letter head or Return address – should be
readable, informative and attractive, BUT not
too attention occupying.
Mandatory elements:
Organization’s name
Address (Including Zip code and area code)
Telephone number
Email Address
Website (if any)
Optional elements:

Organization’s logo
The executive’s name and title
A list of officials or other governing bodies
2. Date Line – written below the sender’s
address, sometimes separated from it by a
space.

The common forms are:

September 24, 2013 (American)
24 September 2018 (British)
The months in never abbreviated, the day is
never spelled out, and endings for numbers
(27th) are not usually used.
3. Confidential or personal notation

The same notation should be put on the

envelope.
Written between the date line and the inside
address
Example: Private & Confidential
4. Inside Address

Always on the left and single spaced.

The recipient’s name (if stated) is followed by
the company’s name, the department or
division, the street address, city postal code
and country.
If there’s a line that is too long, encode half of
it on the next line with two or three spaced
indention.
ATTY. ENRICO F. CUENCA
General Manager, Golden Opportunity, Inc.
RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat Ave.
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1200
6. Attention Line

This is used when you do not know the name of the

person you are writing to.
This line can be printed before the address of the
company.

Example:
Attn: The General Manager
7. Subject line

Provides a further reference

Saves introducing the subject in the first
paragraph
Immediately draws attention to the topic of
the letter
Quickly identifies the purpose of the letter
Should not be more than one line/one or two
words
Example: Subject: New Policy on Office
Uniform
7. Salutation
Should be written below the address and with a
space of one or two lines before the body of
the letter.
It is followed by a comma (,) or a colon (;),
which is optional.

Example:
Dear Sir, or Dear Sir;
8. Body of the letter – contains the necessary
information you want to communicate.
- clear, informative, and accurate as possible.
- The length depends on:

The subject of the letter

The style and the language used
- The right length includes the right amount of

information.
- All the necessary points should be made in

logical sequence.
-Style
Avoid slang, jargon, elitist language.
Avoid the passive voice. Use the active voice and
active verbs.
Be brief. Give short but clear explanations,
instructions, reasons. Be specific. State the facts.
Be pleasant, positive, lively, and encouraging.
Use the word “you” in the opening sentence, but
avoid using too many “you” –s in your letter.
“I”-s should be used when you are speaking about
yourself.
“We”-s should be used when speaking on behalf
of your company or a group of associates.
First Paragraph – should include an
introduction to the purpose of the
letter.
Ex:

Dear Mr. Cuenca,

Thank you very much for writing us. It is

always a pleasure to be of service to our
costumers.
Second and following paragraph provide the
information of the letter, and build on the
main purpose in the introductory first
paragraph.

Please be informed that you must proceed to

our Meralco Business Center and submit your
proof of ownership …
Final Paragraph – should shortly summarize
the intent of the formal letter and end with
some call to action.

Please feel free to email us again or

contact us through our Call Center
hotiline 09665565202 for assistance.
9. Complimentary close
Formal Sign Off

Yours faithfully,
Faithfully yours,
Yours sincerely,
Sincerely yours,

Less Formal

Best wishes,
Best regards,
10. Signature Block

The signature block consists of your typed

name, your handwritten signature and your
position in the organization.
The handwritten signature should be between
the complimentary close and the typed name
and title.
11. Enclosures

Small enclosures (checks, folded flyers,

business cards) are placed inside the folds of
the letter.
Enclosures may include leaflets, prospectuses,
CVs.
Example:
TOR Photocopy
Lease Contract
12. Copies line – c.c. (carbon copies)

c.c. is written when aside from the identified

recipient, other people must be given the
same copy of the letter.
Put c.c. and list of other people receiving the
copies of the letter with their full name and
designation
b.c.c (blind carbon copies) is used if you do not
want the identified recipient to know that
other people have received copies.
13. Postscript

A brief message appended to the end of a

letter (following the signature) or other text
usually introduced by the letters P.S.

In certain types of business letters (in

particular, sales promotion letters,
postscripts are commonly used to make a
final persuasive pitch or offer an additional
incentive to a potential customer.

Ex: 20% discount awaits early registrants.

However there are only SEVEN basic parts of a
business Letter:

1. Heading/Return Address
2. Date
3. Inside address
4. Salutation
5. Body
6. Complimentary close
7. Signature block
Common types of Business Letter
 Application Letter
 Letter of Recommendation
 Letter of Resignation
 Inquiry Letter
 Follow-up Letter
 Sales Letter
 Order Letter
 Complaint Letter
 Adjustment Letter
 Acknowledgment Letter
 Cover Letter
TASK 1
Form a group of 10 members. Together brain
storm on a multimodal design on any of the
given topics below. Then, create a multimodal
presentation of your chosen topic using any
of the following programs: Powerpoint, Prezi
or Powtoon. Your presentation must contain
Filipino cultural values. Present your output in
the class using available technology.
TOPICS
 CLIMATE CHANGE
 SEXUAL ABUSE
 COSMETIC SURGERY
 CYBER CRIME
 STRESS MANAGEMENT
Rubrics for Grading
 Slide/Facts 20%
 Fact Sheet 20%
 Props/Animation 20%
 Images/Sound 20%
 Filipino Cultural Values 20%
TASK 2
Form a group of 5 to 6 members. Brain storm
on a multimodal design for your favorite
snack. Then create a 1 to 2 minutes TV
Commercial based on the agreed multimodal
design. Your TV commercial must contain
Filipino cultural values. Present your output in
class using available technology.