“Communication” by Melissa Shaw-Smith
THEME (MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR) | PROOF | PROOF | PROOF |
The theme for this story is that when your away from your family you want communication to know how they are doing back at home without you.
| The father wants to know how his son Ryan is doing, but Ryan is just giving him short answers. For example the father says “How you been.” Ryan said “Its fine. Same old thing.” (Shaw-Smith 75) | The dad is on the phone with his son, and he tells him that he cant make phone calls anymore but he can go on the internet. He said “There’s one thing you could do for me. Its difficult to make calls, but I can get on the internet. I know mom had to cut of the service, but see if you can find a way to email me. It would mean a lot.” (Shaw-Smith 76) | Ryan went to the library to email his dad, but the librarian said “You can use the internet for research proposes only. No emailing. “ Ryan told the librarian that is was for his dad in the national guard over seas. The librarian said that we can make an exception. When he started he wrote “Dear dad- I pause. What to say?” (Shaw-Smith 78) |
2. What are the limitations or disadvantages of writing an email rather than talking to someone face to face? With your partner, brainstorm the limitations.
Disadvantages | Some disadvantages of talking electronically rather then in person are that you are unable to see their emotions or know how they are feeling.
| If you want to know something right away from the person it is easier to ask them in person rather then to wait for them to answer there facebook or cell phone. | Not all people answer there phones. If they are going out they might leave it at home and you won’t be able to get a hold of them until they come back. | Not everyone has a device such as a cell phone or facebook. You would be un able to contact them so you would have to do it in person. |
This letter below is from the short story Communication. In the story Ryans father went to war and asked his son to write him a letter. Ryan did not know what to write.
Dear Dad,
How are you doing up there? we are doing fine down here. Mom doesn’t think I’m doing a good job of being man of the house like you told me to be. In the first weeks I was rattling around the house like jumping beans, I tried really hard. I took out the garbage and I mowed the lawn. But when I sat in your easy chair with the TV remote, mom put her foot down. She said you may think you’re a big shot now, but I’m still in charge in this house. The next week I tried changing the oil in mom’s car. She came home and a stream of oil was running down the driveway and into the street. Mom screamed at me and sent me to my room. I felt so bad and useless that I punched the wall and left a big hole in the plasterboard. Mom had to cancel our internet service after you left- money is really tight. I was thinking of going over to Scotts house, but there computer is in the living room and there’s always kids running around. I also thought about asking Mr. Drake at the computer lab in school but he’s a creep. He said there was no after school internet access. So I thought about the library. The librarian told me that I could use the internet for research purposes only. I wasn’t allowed to email. I told the librarian that it was you I was emailing, and she said we could make some exceptions. As you can see we are all doing just fine here, no need to worry. We all hope your doing just fine as well. Be safe and we all love you very much.
Love, Ryan. xoxo
