1. Writer’s Notebook
• Think about the last movie you rented or saw
at the movie theater.
– Who do you think the intended audience was?
– Why do you think that?
– What do you think the purpose or point of the
movie was?
– How do you know?
– Write ½ page for full credit.

2. As a reader and as a writer, the first time you approach a text
it is important to think about purpose and audience.
Purpose:
An author’s purpose is his or her main reason for writing.
Think: What is this for?
Audience:
An author’s audience is the particular group of readers or
viewers that the writer is addressing.
Think: Who is this for?

3. Identifying Purpose
There are 3 broad purposes for writing:
1.To inform.
Example: John Steinbeck wrote the novella Of Mice and Men in 1937 and
the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Grapes of Wrath in 1939.
2.To persuade.
Example: Creative Media’s brand new Futuro mp3 player is far
superior to any mp3 player on the market, including the Ipod. We promise that
you will be more than satisfied with its appearance, functionality and
performance.
3.To entertain.
Example: Marcus was beyond upset. His sister had made the honor
roll again and he hadn’t. This meant she would be hanging out with her friends
all weekend while he studied. Just thinking about it was enough to make him
kick his dresser in anger.

4. Identifying Audience
The audience an author is addressing should be reflected in
almost every aspect of a text’s appearance and language.
Examples:
•Layout
•Formality
What are some other ways the audience of a piece might be
reflected?
•Diction or Word Choice
•Content or Subject Matter
•Length

5. Identifying Audience
1. What is the intended purpose of each these videos?
2. How do you know?
3. Who is the intended audience of each of these
videos?
4. How do you know?

6. Exit Slip
Get out one sheet of paper and fold it in half.
Think of the most fun you’ve ever had with one of your friends.
One the top half, write about a time when you have had the most fun you’ve ever had
with one of your friends. Write as if you were describing this to another peer. Be sure
to think about your purpose, and your audience, and how you’ll reflect that in your
writing.
One the bottom half, write about that same experience, but this time write as if you
were describing this to your parent, guardian, or another adult. Be sure to think about
the different ways that you can change what you’ve already written to reflect a
different purpose and audience.

7. Exit Slip
Get out one sheet of paper and fold it in half.
Think of the most fun you’ve ever had with one of your friends.
One the top half, write about a time when you have had the most fun you’ve ever had
with one of your friends. Write as if you were describing this to another peer. Be sure
to think about your purpose, and your audience, and how you’ll reflect that in your
writing.
One the bottom half, write about that same experience, but this time write as if you
were describing this to your parent, guardian, or another adult. Be sure to think about
the different ways that you can change what you’ve already written to reflect a
different purpose and audience.