1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. K_AUD1.txt File Contents

K_AUD1.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

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Audience and Purpose 1

Have you heard the old expression, "Don't put the cart before the horse"? Sometimes when we write, we become so anxious about what and how to write, we forget to ask, "Who are we writing for? Who is our audience?" Putting what and how before who, puts the writing cart before the horse. Let's look at some specific examples.

Suppose your topic is the word "heart." You might begin by giving an explanation.

Explanation 1:

The heart is a hollow muscular organ that acts by rhythmic contraction to pump the blood through the circulatory system of the body.

List any item in Explanation 1 that must be understood, if the explanation is to be clear to the reader.

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Explanation 2:

The heart is a busy machine that pumps blood to all parts of the body.

List any item in the Explanation 2 that must be understood, if the explanation is to be clear to the reader:

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Explanation 3:

The heart can be thought of as the vital center of one's being, emotions, and sensibilities; the repository of the emotions.

List any item in Explanation 3 that must be understood, if the explanation is to be clear to the reader.

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Which explanation would you give a child of six -- 1, 2, or 3?

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Which explanation would you give to your anatomy teacher?

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Which explanation is figurative?

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Write brief explanations of some other part of the body. Write one explanation for a very young audience. Write another explanation for an older audience. Write a third explanation using figurative language.

Before writing your explanation, consider who you are writing for -- don't put the cart before the horse.

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Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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What Is Your Purpose

How we describe "heart" or any other topic can vary with the age and experience of our audience, and something else: the purpose. Your purpose may be to explain, to inform, to persuade, or to entertain.

You've just worked with three short explanations of the word "heart." Now, suppose your purpose in writing is to inform. You are to give information to a chain smoker you know about the health risks of smoking; one of them is heart disease.

List five or six facts about smoking and the risks to health. (If you don't know, ask a writing partner, or a teacher, or check with the librarian for pamphlets on smoking.)

Fact list

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Using your facts, write an informative paragraph about health risks due to smoking. Inform your reader by setting forth ideas in a straightforward, nonjudgemental manner. In other words, be objective.

Here are some examples of objective statements that set forth facts:

Objective statement:

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemical substances, many of which have been linked to the development of diseases.

Objective statement:

The rate of death from cancer and heart disease is twice as high among smokers than among nonsmokers.

Health Risks Due to Smoking

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On the same topic, smoking, write a paragraph to persuade a younger brother or sister, a relative, or a friend that smoking is dangerous to his/her health. Persuade your young reader in language that he/she can understand. Persuasive language is descriptive; it links the reader to the topic. Here is an example:

Persuasive statement:

You've seen black, ugly smoke rise from a chimney. Would you want your nose to be a chimney? No! Of course you wouldn't. So, don't smoke!

Persuasive Paragraph

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Smoking is not very entertaining, so let's change the topic. Your purpose in writing your next paragraph will be to entertain your reader. Writing to entertain is not always humorous. Writing can entertain or involve readers without being funny.

Here are some topic ideas, but feel free to think of your own:

Topics (to entertain):

My worst moment ever (or someone else's)

The time I played big shot and fell flat on my face (or the time your friend did)

What happened the day I shut off the alarm and fell back to sleep (or when someone else overslept)

Visiting a national park, museum, or place of interest

Before you begin to write: Decide who you are writing for. Keep in mind your purpose is to entertain; to keep your reader involved and interested.

Your audience is:

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Your topic to entertain is:

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Entertaining Paragraph

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Share the writing you've done in consideration of audience and purpose with a writing partner. Ask for reactions to how you have succeeded in explaining, informing, persuading,or entertaining. Ask if the choice of language suits your intended audience. Make revisions as you see fit.


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
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