Purpose and Audience

Writers Notebook
Think about the last movie you rented or saw at the movie theater.
Who do you think the intended audience was? Why do you think that? What do you think the purpose or point of the movie was? How do you know? Write page for full credit.

As a reader and as a writer, the first time you approach a text it is important to think about purpose and audience.
Purpose: An authors purpose is his or her main reason for writing. Think: What is this for? Audience: An authors audience is the particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. Think: Who is this for?

Identifying Purpose
There are 3 broad purposes for writing:
1. To inform. Example: John Steinbeck wrote the novella Of Mice and Men in 1937 and the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Grapes of Wrath in 1939. 2. To persuade. Example: Creative Medias brand new Futuro mp3 player is far superior to any mp3 player on the market, including the Ipod. We promise that you will be more than satisfied with its appearance, functionality and performance.

3. To entertain. Example: Marcus was beyond upset. His sister had made the honor roll again and he hadnt. This meant she would be hanging out with her friends all weekend while he studied. Just thinking about it was enough to make him kick his dresser in anger.

me an my moms r goin 2 da store 2 night so i cant come ovr. i am gonna get those new nikes tho!

To inform

r u watchin amer idol? there is this dude on there an he is crzy! lol!

To entertain

u have to go 2 homecoming or u will b sad when evry1 is talking bout it da next day. dont b silly.

To persuade

me & raymond are drivin down brdway and just saw this man get pulled ovr. he looked like he was yellin at the police officer. ray wuz lookin so hard he almst hit da car n front of us!

To entertain

did u hear michelle and david broke up? idk y but she is so mad.

To inform

i promise i didnt tell ne1 wat u told me. y wood i do that? besides i didnt c jenny last wk an she is da 1 tellin evry1.

To persuade

Group Activity

Identifying Audience
The audience an author is addressing should be reflected in almost every aspect of a texts appearance and language. Examples: Layout Formality What are some other ways the audience of a piece might be reflected? Diction or Word Choice Content or Subject Matter Length

Identifying Audience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzykVhaEOPg&feat ure=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCPjPAV_U c0 1. What is the intended purpose of each these videos? 2. How do you know? 3. Who is the intended audience of each of these videos? 4. How do you know?

Exit Slip
Get out one sheet of paper and fold it in half. Think of the most fun youve ever had with one of your friends.

One the top half, write about a time when you have had the most fun youve ever had with one of your friends. Write as if you were describing this to another peer. Be sure to think about your purpose, and your audience, and how youll reflect that in your writing.

One the bottom half, write about that same experience, but this time write as if you were describing this to your parent, guardian, or another adult. Be sure to think about the different ways that you can change what youve already written to reflect a different purpose and audience.