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