Anthony’s Dilemma digital story

 GEN105 Week 2 Checkpoint

Resource: Anthony’s Dilemma digital story

 Due Date: Day 5 [Individual] forum

 View the digital story located on the student web page at http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/axia/gen105/email_01.html. In this story an Axia student describes how he offended a classmate by not using the writing principle of inclusive language during discussion in his class forum.

 Coach Anthony on why it is important to use inclusive language when communicating in his class forum. Suggest how he could have avoided his mistakes, and offer three pointers for how he can prevent repeating his mistakes in the future. Respond in 200 to 300 words.

The importance of using inclusive language is to eliminate the usage of terms that could seem gender specific.  By using gender specific terminology you run the risk of offending someone.  Especially thru an email or forum discussion where there are no voice inflections or facial features to accompany your words.   You can avoid making mistakes by using gender-neutral language such as they or them for him or her.   Eliminating phrases such as “good old boys” and “managers and their wives” would also be appropriate.  With these terms you could seem to imply only men can be managers. 

One thing you can do to prevent any future mistakes would be to attend a netiquette workshop.  Netiquette is a term for online, or “net”, etiquette.  It can help with learning the appropriate terms to use when typing class discussion answers or emails to classmates or instructors.  Another way of preventing any offense terminology is to take your time typing out an answer, don’t rush it.  Read and reread and even read your response out loud before sending.  I usually try to have someone else read my posts out loud before I hit submit so I can hear what it sounds like to someone else.  One more way of preventing misunderstandings is just to use gender neutral words such as ‘business professional” instead of “business lady”, or postal carrier instead of mailman.     

You should always keep in mind to use inclusive language whenever talking to classmates, instructors or other business professionals.