Identify Purpose, Audience and Context

Factual Texts: Identify purpose, audience and context

by Minky Buys

​PURPOSE

(Reason why something was written)

​We write to either

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1. ​inform

2. ​persuade

3. ​entertain

​When we write to inform, we share information.

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To inform means to tell or

​to let someone know.

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​When we write to persuade, we try to convince people.

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Persuade means to try to make

​someone believe what we believe.

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​When we write to entertain, we want to amuse people.

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To entertain means to give pleasure.

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​AUDIENCE

(Who something was written for)

​The audience could be

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1. ​a single person

2. ​a group of people

3. ​the general public

​CONTEXT

(Where and in which situation a written text would appear)

​The context could be

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1. an employer emailing an employee

2. ​a news article in a newspaper

3. a historical recount in a book or history lesson

4. ​a webpage on the internet

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the 'Hand Hygiene' text?

• To give information on the importance of washing and drying hands.

• To persuade people to wash and dry their hands.

• To entertain people.

Multiple Choice

Who is the 'Hand Hygiene' text written for?

• The text was written for children in Kinder.

• The text was written by an employer to a worker.

• The text was written for the general public.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of audience?

• the readers that the text is intended for

• a group of people listening at a concert

• anyone who is reading the text

• the reason the text is written

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of purpose?

• the meaning of life

• a Justin Bieber album

• the reason the text is written (to entertain, inform, or persuade)

• the reader the text is intended for

Multiple Choice

What is the audience/purpose of this text: A book of over 1,000 knock-knock jokes.

• parents / inform

• college students / entertain

• doctors / persuade

• kids / entertain

Multiple Choice

What is the audience / purpose of this text: An article comparing and contrasting American and Swedish health care systems.

• students / entertain

• doctors / inform

• babies / persuade

• teachers / inform

Multiple Choice

Who is the target audience for this image?

• Males

• Children

• Adults

• Females

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of this document?

• Advertise

• Educate

• Inform

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

Who is the target audience?

• Children

• Young Adults

• Older Adults

• Females

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of this image?

• Promote

• Inform

• Educate

• Entertain

Multiple Choice

First-time car buyers need to learn about interest rates and how to spot a con or a great deal.

Who is the intended audience for this piece of writing?

• Anyone who has not purchased a car before.

• People who arrange car loans

• Older customers who are looking for a luxury car

• Local car dealers

Multiple Choice

A student is writing a report for her teacher about a recent field trip the entire class took. What is the most likely purpose of the report?

• To entertain readers with funny stories of past field trips

• To provide information about how to choose the perfect field trip location

• To explain what she saw and learned on the field trip

• To convince the school administration to support more field trips

Multiple Choice

Identify the Audience:

You are writing a text message to a friend to see what homework you missed.

• You

• your friend

• your teacher

• a text message

Multiple Choice

True or False:

When writing an academic essay, you should assume that your audience knows all about the topic you are writing about.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Imagine Arjun, Henry, and Abigail are having a debate. If Arjun is trying to write a persuasive essay, what would be his main purpose?

• To inform his friends about a topic

• To convince his friends to agree with his point of view

• To entertain his friends with a funny story

• To confuse his friends with complex ideas

Multiple Choice

If you are writing a review of different movies in the same series, your writing most likely belongs to which genre of writing?

• opinion

• informational

• narrative

• explanatory

Multiple Choice

If you are writing a report on sharks, your sources will mostly be found in which genre of writing?

• Informational 
• Narrative
• Opinion 
• Explanatory 

Multiple Choice

Think about a book that made you laugh. Write a letter to the author explaining why the book is so funny to you.
Which underlined section best identifies the audience?

• Think about the book
• Explain why the book is funny
• The author
• Write a letter 

Multiple Choice

Think about a book that made you laugh. Write a letter to the author explaining why the book is so funny to you.
Which underlined section best identifies the purpose?

• Think about the book
• Explain why the book is funny
• The author 
• Write a letter