Identify audience and purpose

Learning Objectives Define 'audience' and 'purpose' in the context of literary and rhetorical analysis. Identify the intended audience of a text by analyzing diction, syntax, and content. Determine an author's primary purpose (to persuade, inform, or entertain) using the P.I.E. method. Analyze how an author's stylistic choices are deliberately shaped by their intended audience and purpose. Explain the direct relationship between audience, purpose, and the resulting tone of a text. Differentiate between a primary audience and a secondary audience. Why does a formal email to your principal sound completely different from a text to your best friend? 🤔 The answer lies in two of the most powerful concepts in writing! This tutorial will teach you ho...

TermDefinitionExample AudienceThe specific person or group of people the author intends to reach with their writing.The audience for a new video game review is likely teenagers and young adults who play video games, not senior citizens who have never used a controller. PurposeThe author's primary reason for writing the text; what they want to achieve.The purpose of a recipe is to inform the reader how to cook a specific dish. The purpose of a movie trailer is to persuade the audience to see the film. ToneThe author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and sentence structure.A letter complaining about a faulty product would have a formal and frustrated tone, while a thank-you note would have a warm and appreciative tone. DictionThe author's...

The P.I.E. Method for Purpose Authors write to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. This is a foundational tool for identifying purpose. Ask yourself: Is the author primarily trying to convince me of something (Persuade)? Are they teaching me facts (Inform)? Or are they telling a story for my enjoyment (Entertain)? Often, purposes can overlap, but one is usually primary. The Audience-Purpose Connection Audience determines choices; choices reveal purpose. An author's choices in diction, syntax, evidence, and tone are made *with a specific audience in mind* in order to achieve their purpose. If you can identify the choices (e.g., complex vocabulary), you can infer the intended audience (e.g., experts) and the purpose (e.g., to inform with precision). The Textual Clues Chec...