Karen S. Wright

Purpose

VoiceAudience

Topic

The The Writing Writing TriangleTriangle

Ask the Right Questions Before You Begin to Write

•What am I trying to say?

•What effect do I hope to achieve?

•What main point do I want to make?

•What form/type of writing will I use?

•What is my purpose?

Your strategy becomes the purpose and the goal you wish to reach with your paper.

Description Narration Compare/Contrast Process Argument

A descriptive essay will put into words what you want your reader to see in his or her mind.

Using concrete examples are very important in a descriptive essay.

A Narrative tells a personal storyThe narrative essay is told from first or third person point-of-viewIt’s important to follow a clear sequence of events.

Process

A process essay says what something is to be done and in what order.The process essay will include the steps necessary to reach a goal.

Compare/contrast essays can present one side at a time or it can present point by point.

If you were writing an essay comparing city traffic to small town traffic, you would begin with a general statement and then compare one type of traffic then the other or present it point by point.

•All of our lives we have tried to persuade someone to do something or to think like we do…that is the beginning of an argument paper.

•Your reader won’t believe you, just because you say something is true.•The argument requires research to support your thinking.

When you consider the purpose of your essay, consider the following: 1. What problem is suggested by the topic? 2. What are your writing goals? 3. What is your intent--persuasive, argumentative, informative?

Voice is the identity the writer adopts and his/her credibility as an authority.

Do you want to sound-- …objective and fair …heated and passionate …sincere and persuasive …informative and impartial

A piece of writing is often judged by how effectively it reaches its intended audience.

Here are some questions to consider about audience: 1. Who are your readers (age, sex, income, belief systems, potential biases)? 2. Are your readers novices or experts on the subject? 3. What are your readers likely to know (education level, prior knowledge)?

The writing process involves the way you define and combine the various components of the writing situation: your purpose for writing, your voice or how you wish to come across to your readers, and your audience.