Understanding Letters: Audience and Purpose

What is the definition of purpose in writing?

• the meaning of life

• a Justin Bieber album

• the reason the text is written

• the reader the text is intended for

What is the definition of audience in writing?

• the readers the text is intended for

• a group of people listening to a concert

• anyone, everyone

• the reason the text is written

It's important to know your audience, because... (select all that apply)

• the writer should match the argument to the audience

• the writer should match the formality of their writing to their audience

• the writer should make sure they are amusing their audience

• the writer should match the purpose of their writing to their audience

What is the purpose of this writing?

• To show the amenities of the airplane

• To entertain airplane passengers

• To sell duty-free items

• To explain procedures for the flight rules and emergencies

How would a charity handout differ from the in-flight emergency document?

• The charity handout would contain more information than the in-flight document

• The charity handout would be more persuasive than the in-flight document

• The in-flight document would be more persuasive than the charity handout

You are writing a letter to explore your future goals and how to achieve them. Who is the audience?

• The world

• A general audience

• A teacher

• You

Answer explanation

Look at the prompt and, based on the task, purpose, and audience, decide if the language should be formal or informal:

Write an article to your university newspaper about the best shows to watch over the summer break.

• Formal language should be used

• Informal language should be used

What is this text's main purpose?

• To instruct readers on the proper way to mix ingredients

• To convince readers of the best muffin recipe

• To inform readers how to make blueberry muffins

How can knowing your purpose and audience affect your writing? (select all that apply)

• It can affect how formal/informal my tone is

• It can affect whether I finish the assignment

• It can affect my choice of vocabulary

• It can affect the structure of my writing

How important do you think audience is?

• Meh. Not so important

• Sometimes important, but not necessary to think about

• It can be important, but not always

• It is vital to think about who is reading my writing