Aldo Giannattasio

WRRH Major
2019 Scandling Center,
Hobart College, Geneva, NY 14456
1/7/18

Professor Ben Ristow

WRRH Professor
216 Smith Hall
Hobart College, Geneva, NY 14456

Dear Professor Ristow,

We all remember as a child exchanging texts on our T-Mobile slide phone back
when everyone wanted the razr flip phone and doing our basic algebra, writing
summaries on stories, and learning facts about U.S. history when entering middle school.
However, what stuck with me the most was my middle school teacher Mr.
Steenson who made us as students pursue writing him an email as a homework
assignment but in more of a letter format. At the time I don’t think I had known what
email was and didn’t even have my own computer. The style of writing was one that
completely contrasted any sort of writing that I had done up to that point in my life and
was my first introduction to structure and word choice. Now you might be saying that
writing a letter is not a form of techno-literacy but techno-literacy can be any sort of
writing or reading that occurs through digital means. According to Self and Hawisher
techno-literacy is “the practices of reading and writing, and exchanging information in
online environments, as well as the values associated with such practices- cultural, social,
political and educational.” When looking at the email though it was not just an
assignment that was meant to educate us but in fact allowed for us to be introduced to a
different side of the digital realm and to become more techno-literate. Therefore email is
something that is able to bridge the gap into becoming literate from a cultural and
educational standpoint.
It is around 1:00 p.m. and we have all just finished having our lunch and the 15-
minute recess break, which encompasses a game of backyard tackle football. Stumbling
back to Mr. Steenson’s room with my muddied pants I try and conceal the dark stain that
lines the tan caci’s from the fresh mulch. Sitting in the pale classroom, the white
fluorescent bulb shines down on me as if I am about to be interrogated by Mr. Steenson
about what we were doing. As we all sit there waiting for class to resume again Nino says
“Your a bunch of ******* cheaters”, only to be meet with the response “Whatever
Anotonian” by Pascius and Maloney. The door opens and Mr. Steenson tells us to follow
him to the upper schools computer room. Steenson is a short man and has come to be
known as the white catholic version of Mr. T. Upon sitting down at the computer table
Mr. Steenson gives us the instruction to turn our computer on and to write him a an email
in the form of a letter. The red, green, blue and yellow flag pops up and the bars fade
followed by the soft start up noise. After being aided by Pascius I get onto my email with
a blank inbox and click onto new message to see the blank page. I begin to type.
Through writing in email I was introduced to forming sentences in a structured
manner from what previously seemed like clumps of thoughts carelessly placed on paper.
Writing this way forced me as a student to learn how to form all of my questions and
thoughts in an organized manner. One of our rules was to always start out by asking
someone a personal question and then following up with more succinct writing. This
allowed for me to understand that within an email there exists a kind of introduction
followed by body paragraphs and then a few concluding sentences. That then
demonstrated in a way not only what basic educational essays were but also the daily
skills needed in the digital world in order to function within a society. By having to use
email also very much was an introduction to the technology itself from a side not
consisting of games. The need to write on a computer forced me to become literate with
the keyboard in many senses such as being able to type and understanding small
grammatical nuances such as commas and question marks.

Running to my locker, I search for the book with the letters physics in bold. With
the locker door propped open with my bag, I throw my books into the abyss and pull out
my physics textbook. Quickly walking through the hall I try to escape the looming bell.
As I open the door to class, I narrowly escape the bell as it rings. Sitting in class our
teacher tells us to open up to chapter 16. None of us really are thinking about physics
though as it is Friday and we all often mingle about what we are going to do this
weekend. After opening our books half of us slide our phone between the book and desk.
In a uniform manner most of the guys start to flip through social media, tweet, or text. As
the red number one pops up to signify a new message, I open up my email and notice a
response from an employer asking me if I finished doing a task for them.
Using email makes ones not just literate from an educational standpoint but also
helps one enter into society. In this sense having to write an email is very much a lesson
about providing someone what he or she wants or trying to get what you want. In the end
though the email is primarily about improving the position of oneself. For example if you
want something from someone the structure of the email suggests that you start out with
something personal followed with what your actual message is and then concluding with
a personal statement again. This format is one where there is the sense of concern for the
other and makes one more willing to want to do something for you. On the other hand if
it is for someone like your boss it often takes on the format of stating something followed
by an explanation of what you did and then reverting back to the assignment. When
looking at the process though of an email exchange, it also teaches one the importance of
listening. Although it only involves visual processing, it forces us to always pay attention
in that you have to remember things about the person and what they are saying to you in
order to not become repetitive. As adults this is an important skill in being able to
remember key things from our interactions with others. It not only shows the other a
general interest in what they say but also prevents repetitiveness within our interactions.

It is 2:00 p.m. and the bell has just sounded signaling there is one more class until
the weekend begins. Waiting in class for others to arrive I open up my email and see a
few emails pertaining to my flight. At the top of my inbox I notice a message from my
cousin asking me when I will be coming over to his house.
Email functions as a means that hones ones ability to write in an effective manner
taking into consideration our audience. One learns to always think about the choice of
their words when constructing an email to someone and what the meaning is behind our
choices. As a writer you have to always contemplate what the actions of what you are
saying have on the person you are writing to. Just in looking at ending emails one can
notice multiple types, all of which take on different meanings. Sincerely, or regards
symbolizes distance and therefore is the most formal style. While best regards or
cordially symbolize a more personal knowledge of the person. There is also the usage of
warm regards or best wishes, which symbolizes a connection with the person. Practicing
this makes the everyday requirement of acknowledging and recognizing hierarchy easier
through the digital realm of email. Finally an email is also in a sense is a source that
allows for us to connect with others we normally would not have the ability to and serves
as a means to form new bonds or to maintain old ones.

Sitting in the cool air-conditioned room all I can here is the soft sound of air
flowing through the vents along with the movement of my hands across the keyboard. As
I sit there typing away an email, my mind is not thinking of technologies impact on
literacy or even the different ways that I can write the email. Instead all I am doing is
unconsciously writing an email. No longer is techno-literacy something that has to be
calculated but instead is now just something that has become as naturalized as either
reading or writing. I don’t think of where I am using inflection when reading aloud nor
do I think about how I am going to write the email anymore. The process is just an
unconscious everyday task that now is seen as a requirement in order to function within
our own culture and society.

Sincerely,

Aldo Giannattasio