Message Writing: An Art with Logic

Why do we need to write a message or not forward it?

Here, the question will rise in the tech-savvy generation’s mind that which message I am talking about. The one they don’t even type and forward to most of their friend, sometimes even without reading what it is about; or the other one which they have not written to anyone for anything and also do not feel any need of learning how to write it, and still CBSE or other Boards expect them to learn for no reasons. The answer is simple. I am talking about the later ones.

I completely agree with the way today’s Y-generation’s way of thinking. Why to learn something which is already out of date? Why to learn something which they would not use in their practical life? Why to write a message with a pen and paper if they can type faster on QWERTY keypad of their mobiles? Most of the times, parents and even teachers fail to answer these questions. You will find parents and teachers answering in the same manner. Most expected answers:

Jitna bola hai utna karo. It’s useful. (Do what you are asked to do. It’s good for you if you listen to me without asking anything or face the consequences.

It is always good to learn something or the other. (But still a big WHY)

Always remember, whatever we are made to learn in the school, has some or the other benefit. First benefit is scoring marks, and second benefit is not being dependent on technology which has n numbers of limitations.

When or why do we write a message?

Let’s study the following situation.

Aakash Sharma is a Class X student. He is getting ready to go to his friend Vishal’s Birthday Party. His sister Yami is not at home. Aakash got a call on his landline number. He picks up the call and the conversation starts:

Aakash: Hello?

Voice: Hi! Can I talk to Yami?

Aakash: May I know who is this on line?

Voice: This is Rashi, Yami’s college friend. Can I talk to Yami, please?

Aakash: I am really sorry. Yami is not at home. She has gone out with mum for shopping.

Voice: Oh … Can you please tell her that she is supposed to come at my place at Banjara Hills Road by 6.30 in the evening? All the other girls who have participated in the College’s Annual show in dance are also coming to practice at my place today. And yes, also ask her to get her tape recorder.

Aakash: Yami is not here. But I will give your message to her.

Now, Aakash tries Yami’s cell phone which is showing out of range. He also tries his mother’s phone, which is ringing but is not picked up. He is in rush to go to his friend’s birthday party. He also has to give this message to Yami.

What would you have done in this situation?

Truly speaking, and logically thinking, no smart phone would have helped Aakash in this situation. He is left with only one solution. Can you guess it?

If I were Aakash, I would have taken a stick notes from the stationary drawer. I would have written a message and would have stuck it on Yami’s desktop’s monitor or on the main door lock, so that she would get the message as early as possible.

From this instance, we can say that technology will not help you out in each and every situation. So, it is necessary to equip yourself with the skills of writing a message. If I were Aakash, I would have written the message as given below:

MESSAGE

February 14, 2014

5:00 PM

Yami,

Your friend Rashi has called up and has asked you to come to her home at 6.30 PM at Banjara Hills today to practice dance for the College’s Annual Show. She has told that all the other participants in the dance program would also be present. She has asked you to carry our tape recorder.

Aakash

If you look and study this message, you will understand that Aakash has mentioned all the points mentioned by Rashi in the conversation. Now, let’s learn about how and why to write in a proper format.

The best thing to study is to understand what to write and what not to write.

What is a message?

According to dictionary, a message is a verbal, written, or recorded communication sent to or left for a recipient who cannot be contacted directly.

What should be included in a message and why should it be included?

The title ‘Message’

It is very important to mention the title ‘Message’ on the paper on which you are writing a message or in the exam paper in which you are writing a message for getting three marks.

Suppose, in the above situation, if Aakash would have not written ‘Message’ in bold letters in the first line, his sister would not even have looked at that piece of paper thinking that it could be one of the usual crap in the room. The first word ‘Message’ would make the reader realize that this is not a common crap or piece of paper. It is something important. So, it is very necessary to write ‘Message’ on the top of the piece of paper on which we are writing.

Why should date and time be mentioned?

It is always better to be accurate in giving the idea to the reader of the message about the urgency of the message. When we write date and time, the receiver of the message would come to know the severity of the message. He or she (the receiver) would also come to know that this would not be one of the previous messages which you have written for you.

What should we write in the message?

You should mention all the points of the speaker who wants to give the message. But remember, you are the third person. So, whatever message you will write, it is to be written in Indirect or Reported Speech because you are not the one involve in the conversation.

You can use the phrases like ‘said that’, ‘told that’, ‘mentioned that’, ‘called you up to say that’, etc.

Use the rule of wwww for the first sentence. These four Ws stand for

Who

What

Whom

Why

If we see the sample message written by Aakash to his sister Yami, and compare it with these four Ws, we can form a simple introductory sentence.

For example:

Who: Rashi

What: has called

Whom: to you (Yami)

Why: to tell you to come to her home for dance practice for College’s Annual Show.

What is not to be done in message writing?

Never mention that this is a message.

For an example:

I am writing this message to you to tell you that your friend Rashi has called …..

If it is a clear message, also, if it is written on the top in bold that it is a ‘Message’, then why to write this again?

Don’t think that writing more means getting more marks.

The purpose of writing a message in real life as well as in the exam is to communicate something in a simple language and in shorter way. This means that a message should not be long.

In the exam, the word limit given for the message is around 50 to 60 words.

Never use the salutation.

We write salutation in letter writing, application writing, etc. Salutations like ‘Dear Sir/ Madam’, ‘Respected Sir/Madam’, ‘Dear mother’ …etc are very prevalent. We have the habit of writing such salutations in all the writing skills which demands communicating something.

Avoid using such salutation. As the message is written because the person writing a message is in rush and so he does have time to use salutation.

Also, in the end, don’t use remarks like ‘Yours truly’, ‘Yours lovingly’, etc. Write your name and it is done.

Don’t make paragraph.

A Message is a small piece of writing. It cannot be longer that 3 to 5 sentences. You have to talk directly on the topic. So, it is to be written in one paragraph.

Avoid being a creative writer while writing a message.

Sorry to say, but there is no scope for creativity for writing a message. You have to follow a particular format. You have to think of all the Dos and Don’ts mentioned in the previous texts. Avoid use of figurative language. Avoid explaining things in detail.

Box it.

Always write the message in a box while writing it in the examination. Making a box and writing the message in the box means you have written something very important.

Format of message writing

The format to be followed in the school and board examinations is as given below:

Always Remember

·         Write a title in Capital and bold letters as MESSAGE

·         In the actual body, don’t mention that this is a message.

·         Don’t use figurative language.

·         Make it short, sweet and easy to understand.

·         Don’t make paragraph.

·         Don’t forget to make a box.

·         The rule of WWWW