Begin by taking a look at the writing situation in which you find yourself. What exactly are you writing? What are the expectations for this kind of writing?
Elements of the writing situation
In many writing situations, part of your challenge will be determining your purpose, or your reason, for writing. The wording of an assignment may suggest its purpose. If no guidelines are given, you may need to ask yourself, “Why am I communicating with my readers?” or “What do I want to accomplish?”
College writers most often write for the following purposes:
|
to inform |
to analyze |
|
to explain |
to synthesize |
|
to summarize |
to propose |
|
to recommend |
to call readers to action |
|
to evaluate |
to change attitudes |
|
to persuade |
to express feelings |
Audience analysis can often help you determine how to accomplish your purpose—how much detail or explanation to provide, what kind of tone and language to use, and what potential objections to address.
You may need to consider multiple audiences. The audience for a business report, for example, might include readers who want details and those who prefer a quick overview. For a service learning course, the audience for a proposal might include both your instructor and the supervisor at the organization at which you volunteered.
Checklist for assessing the writing situation
Approaching assignments in the disciplines
Exercise: Purpose and audience
Related topics:
Understanding the assignment
Exploring the subject