An overview of PAT using Postman Pat to explore Purpose, Audience and Text type for non-fiction analysis - good for KS3 and GCSE

1. Non Fiction - PAT
What’s it all about?

2. Purpose
Audience
Text type

3. Why?
Purpose
Audience
Who?
Text type
What?

4. Purpose
Audience
Text type

5. Audience – the central cog
The intended ‘consumer’ of a text shapes
its form and purpose –
•Age
•Gender
•Education
•Socio-economic status
•Hobbies and interests

6. Purpose
Audience
Text type

7. ‘Fit for purpose’

8. Non fiction – the ‘events’
•Inform
•Explain
•Describe
•Advise
•Persuade
•Argue
•Analyse
•Review
•Comment

9. To Inform
•To present new information to your audience

10. To Explain
•To reveal ‘how’ or ‘why’ processes or events
occur

11. To Describe
•To paint a multi-sensory and vivid picture of
a person, place or event

12. To Argue
•To encourage your audience to align
themselves with your opinion or point of view

13. To Persuade
•To convince your audience to take a specific
action or change their behaviour

14. To Advise
•To offer guidance in order to assist your
audience to overcome a challenge or improve
their lives in some way

15. To Analyse
•To objectively and critically evaluate, scrutinise
or deconstruct an object, experience or event

16. To Review
•To offer your opinion and/or judgement on an
object, experience or event which your
audience might also be considering in order to
help them arrive at a decision

17. To Comment
•To share your insights, opinions and
experiences on any matter of interest

18. Purpose
Audience
Text type

19. Just as you can determine the event
an athlete is likely to compete in by
studying their ‘form’...
You can identify the intended
audience and purpose of a non-
fiction text by studying its ‘form’–
even its title can give you clues

20. ‘The Crunch’ – identifying PAT

21. Title Text type Purpose
A guide to the inflation / deflation cycle Magazine article To explain
Today I lost my job Journal entry To describe
Where do we go from here? Editorial column in newspaper To comment
Why we should nationalise all banks now! Speech To argue
Which mortgage? Product guide To review
G20 Summit meets to solve credit crunch Newspaper report To inform
An investment opportunity not to be missed Advertisement To persuade
10 ways to beat the credit crunch Leaflet To advise
Annual financial review 2009 Report To analyse

22. Once you are able to identify
the distinctive features of
each text type according to
its audience and
purpose, you can use this
knowledge to both analyse
and write materials

23. You can think of the features
of a text as the basic kit
which the writer uses to
ensure that his/her text is ‘fit
for purpose’ and shaped
with a particular audience in
mind

26. By selecting the right kit (writing features)
the writer ensures that the audience can
relax and enjoy the event (the text)

27. If a writer uses the wrong techniques and
features – the text fails to meet its purpose
and will be unlikely to achieve its intended
effect on its audience!

28. You should aim to build a clear understanding
of the distinctive features and techniques
associated with each of the text types:
What makes an advert persuasive?
How can an agony aunt make sure the advice
offered is taken on board?
What are the differences between a tabloid and
broadsheet article and is one more
‘informative’ that the other?

29. Example 1

30. Manchester United confidently expect Louis Saha
to become the third signing in a week after the
French striker revealed last night that Fulham had
told him he could go. The 25 year old revealed the
fee would be £10m and described himself as ‘very
happy’, adding that joining the Premiership leaders
would be ‘like a dream’.
Adult reader with an interest in sport

31. Manchester United confidently expect Louis Saha
to become the third signing in a week after the
French striker revealed last night that Fulham had
told him he could go. The 25 year old revealed the
fee would be £10m and described himself as ‘very
happy’, adding that joining the Premiership leaders
would be ‘like a dream’.
•Use of a variety of facts
•Clear and accessible vocabulary
•Use of reported speech
•3rd person
•Standard English.

32. Manchester United confidently expect Louis Saha
to become the third signing in a week after the
French striker revealed last night that Fulham had
told him he could go. The 25 year old revealed the
fee would be £10m and described himself as ‘very
happy’, adding that joining the Premiership leaders
would be ‘like a dream’.
To inform

33. Example 2

34. Without the help of animal lovers like you, the
RSPCA would be powerless in the war against
cruelty and suffering. See for yourself how your
donation can help save the lives of animals who
have known only fear, pain and suffering. Locked
in a room for weeks without food, 10 year old
retriever Marley was just half his recommended
weight when the RSPCA found him. The vet said
he would have been dead within days if we hadn’t
rescued him...
Adult reader with disposable income
and a desire to make a difference

35. Without the help of animal lovers like you, the
RSPCA would be powerless in the war against
cruelty and suffering. See for yourself how your
donation can help save the lives of animals who
have known only fear, pain and suffering. Locked
in a room for weeks without food, 10 year old
retriever Marley was just half his recommended
weight when the RSPCA found him. The vet said
he would have been dead within days if we hadn’t
rescued him...
•Dramatic, emotive language
•Direct address and flattery
•Use of exemplar anecdote
•Rule of three

36. Without the help of animal lovers like you, the
RSPCA would be powerless in the war against
cruelty and suffering. See for yourself how your
donation can help save the lives of animals who
have known only fear, pain and suffering. Locked
in a room for weeks without food, 10 year old
retriever Marley was just half his recommended
weight when the RSPCA found him. The vet said
he would have been dead within days if we hadn’t
rescued him...
To persuade

37. Some athletes are capable of
competing in more than one ‘event’
and in the same way, some texts
can fulfil more than one purpose or
appeal to a broad audience

38. •Inform
•Explain
•Describe
•Advise
•Persuade
•Argue
•Analyse
•Review
•Comment

39. As you might expect, these kind of
‘hybrid’ texts contain a blend of
writing features suited to each
purpose

40. Example 3
This is a 3 way hybrid text – can you
identify which triplet of purposes it
meets?

41. The Canon 350D is one of the best selling digital
SLR cameras on the market. The ability to employ
a range of interchangeable lenses allows the user
to replicate many of the traditional effects
achieved with 35mm cameras. The robust outer
casing with its easy-grip texturing is a useful
feature and at just under 0.5 kg, the model is
certainly designed with comfort in mind. Unlike
similarly priced cameras by Nikon and
Olympus, the 350D has an advanced red-eye
reduction filter which comes as standard. It is
without doubt the smart choice for the aspiring
photographer seeking to step into the digital era.

42. What is its P.A.T.?

43. •To inform – new information is given
•To persuade – you are encouraged to buy it!
•To review – its features and benefits are considered
Adult reader considering purchasing a
new camera or photography enthusiast
It is likely to have appeared in a product
review section of a magazine or as part
of a shop product information sheet

44. So remember, when you are
analysing a text or planning
to write non-fiction, start
with PAT