You already spot relationship cues every day: a one-word reply, a subject-change, a "we" instead of "I". Today you put that skill to work on three short written exchanges: a friendship transcript, sibling messages, and an advice reply in the letter-plus-reply layout you see in weekend Irish papers and magazines.
You will mark cues, pull out key facts, and write one sentence on what the bond is doing in each pair. That Communication Comprehension Sheet goes into your Communication Portfolio.
Before each exchange, choose how you will read it (skim, scan or close read). Then hunt for relationship cues, not just the topic.
| Term | What it means for you | Real example |
|---|---|---|
| How you read: skim, scan or close read | Pick one before you start each exchange | Scanning a chat for the one line that names the problem |
| Inference: working out what is not said | Your relationship sentence is an inference, not a guess | Jordan says "It's grand" after being left out; the shrug plus the subject-change shows he wants the topic closed |
| Relationship cue: a detail that shows the bond | Mark the words that prove how close they are, not just the topic | Someone answering with one word after three long messages |
Exemplar (marked): "Fine. Do what you want." Short, final, no question back. Cue: the speaker is shutting the conversation down, not agreeing.
Watch the clip of the two friends, then read the same conversation written out underneath it. Both were made up for this lesson.
Drag across any words that show what the friendship is doing, name the kind of cue, and write one sentence on how close these two are. Four cues is a good target.
This is practice for the sheet you build in the next step.
What the friendship is doing between the lines
You’re making: your Communication Comprehension Sheet, three short exchanges.
Where: on this page. Answer on each exchange as you go.
When you’re done: copy it into your Communication Portfolio folder as m1_l6_comprehension_sheet_AB.
This is the Portfolio Build. Your only Portfolio entry from today is the Communication Comprehension Sheet below.
Minimum to bank today: Text 1 and Text 2 complete on the sheet; Text 3 started. Finish Text 3 before the next class if you run out of time.
Text 1 — friendship transcript (transfer from practice)
Carry across the strategy and relationship sentence you already built. Source is printed on the sheet.
Text 2 — sibling messages (Maya and Liam)
Fresh read. Strategy, three key facts, one relationship sentence.
Text 3 — advice exchange (Sam and the adviser)
Same move as Aoife and Jordan: answer the questions on this exchange, then fill Text 3 on the sheet (strategy, three key facts, one relationship sentence). Source is on the marker and on the sheet.
Save this sheet into your Communication Portfolio (use the filename m1_l6_comprehension_sheet_AB (AB stands for your own initials).txt so your teacher can find it).
Advice column: what is really going on
Talk this through with the person beside you:
- Which of the three exchanges felt hardest to read for relationship, and why?
- Where did a one-word reply, a "we" instead of "I", or a subject-change tell you something this week: group chat, work placement, or at home?
If you want a longer think, put two sentences in your Reflective Journal tonight: one cue you trust, and one you nearly misread.
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