Text Audience and Purpose What am I writing

Text, Audience and Purpose What am I writing? Who am I writing for? Why am I writing?

Text � What is a text? � Text refers to the type of text you are being asked to write e. g. Letter, story, magazine article etc. � They all have particular features and you need to remember these to do well. � For instance, if you write a letter, it shouldn't read like a Harry Potter story. Also, your English coursework shouldn't be written like a text message.

Audience � Audience is who you are writing for. � This may be teenagers, adults or even children. � It helps to put yourself in your audience's point of view - so for example, if you are writing a letter informing parents about a school trip, it is likely that parents will want to know about cost, safety and key facts such as times and places. � Writing for adults doesn't necessarily mean you have to use long or complicated words - just make sure your writing is clear, sensible and interesting.

Purpose � Purpose refers to the point of the text and what it is aiming to do. � Persuasive texts often encourage readers to buy something, or back a particular cause (e. g. charity) so they need to use informative and emotive language. Whereas an entertainment text is likely to be more lighthearted. � Think about the reasons WHY you write?

Examples � The following article has appeared in your local paper: � Park or car park? � Ashfield Park is threatened with closure next month as a local business has applied for planning permission to turn the area into a car park. Local residents have begun a fierce campaign to save the park, which is a popular walking spot for young children and the elderly, as well as home to the War Memorial and many wildlife species. � What is the TAP?

Answer � Text - a letter to a paper. � Audience - it's for local people � Purpose - it's to argue and persuade. This means you want to influence other people and tell them what you think is right