writing for an audience why we write and who we write for

Writing for an Audience

Why We Write and

Who We Write For

Common Purposes for Writing

To inform/explain-Expository To describe-Descriptive To entertain-Narrative To persuade-Persuasive

Common Audiences

EVERYONE WHO READS! Audiences differ depending on what is

being written about Tone of voice, formal/informal, vocabulary All writers have an intended audience Must take into account different audiences

Expository( aka Informative) Writing

Explains a topic Informs the reader Factual and is usually

written in 3rd person

Unbiased facts, balanced opinions

Uses specific details and examples to support

Clear, accurate and interesting

Examples:

most news articles letters

encyclopedias dictionaries

leaflets Biographies

essays

Writing to Persuade

Seeks to influence Wants to change your

mind Descriptive & detailed Presents solid

evidence by stating facts based on research

Examples: types of magazine

articles advertisements formal letters

speeches essays

Thesis Statements

Are found in Expository and Persuasive essays

Is a complete sentences found in the introductory paragraph

Is the main idea of the ENTIRE essay The controlling idea should be very clear Includes the divisions of the body paragraphs

(use examples to support your thesis)

Descriptive Writing

Vivid & original Detailed & descriptive Imagery- 5 senses,

emotions, feelings Precise vocabulary Showing, not telling

Examples: fiction novels

poetry short-stories

autobiographies menus

Narrative Writing

Telling a story Filled with sensory

details to grab the readers attention

Uses dialogue Plot/character/setting/

climax/ending Conflict/resolution Chronological order

Mystery Science fiction

Tall tales Animal stories

Fairy tales Just-So stories

Letters & E-mails

Can fall under any of the 4 categories Writing to friends, family- informal, to

describe or inform Writing to businesses, professionals-

formal, to inform, persuade or explain

Let’s Review!

What are the four most common types of writing?

What does informal mean? Formal? What does ‘audience’ mean? How do audiences differ? Can you determine the intended audience of

a piece of writing???