English 9

Audience and PurposeAudience

In writing, audience refers to who you are writing for. Your writing will change depending on who you are writing for

- With friends we often write informally. Grammar, tense, and voice are not critical and slang and short form are completely acceptable.

ex. emails, text messages, notes

- For publications, applications, and graded assignments we write formally. Grammar, tense, and voice are critically important. There are specific protocols that need to be followed.

ex. cover letters, reports, term papers

How do I know my audience?

Ask relevant questions

- What age is my audience?

- What level of information/education are they at?

- What is the venue/context of the audience?

PurposeThe purpose of writing determines what sort of writing you will be doing. You answer the question Why am I writing?Assigned writing may be done for the following purposes:

Expository - to explain

Persuasive - to persuade

Demonstrative to demonstrate

Descriptive to describe

Narrative to tell a story with a moral

Biographical to tell someones life story

and moreDetermining the purpose of writing will tell you which form of writing you need to use.

Tips for formal writing

Do not ask rhetorical questions

ex. Do you know what I think? Isnt that horrible?

Do not use contractions

ex. write do not instead of dont

Do not write in first person

ex. Instead of I think use It is commonly thought or It is claimed

Avoid exclamation marks

ex. Thats a lot of ice cream!

Avoid clichs, slang, and overly casual language

ex. That would be a crying shame. The artifacts were jacked. That sure stinks.

Watch your grammar and spelling!

Read your writing aloud if it does not sound right, it probably is not.