Audience
Questions to consider
Before writing ask yourself the following:
- What do you want the writing to achieve – what is your purpose? How do you want your reader to feel as a result of reading it? Is it important that they are brought to agree with your viewpoint and ideas?
- How could the layout of the text help you achieve the way you want your reader to feel or react?
- What language and style choices might help to ensure that your reader can understand and follow the ideas contained within your writing, and react in the specific way that you want them to?
The table below shows what kind of style and language might be included when writing a particular type of text. For example, the purpose of a tourist guide is to get customers to visit a particular place. The layout and the language should reflect this by being lively throughout, and especially at the very start of the guide. Additions like a catchy slogan will help to make the place memorable.
| Text-type | Purpose | Content suggestions | Language |
| Letter to complain about a poor holiday experience | For the reader to sympathise and to offer compensation | Be polite but firm. Use the closing paragraph to request compensation | Use language that is clear and to the point, eg at the end, ‘I really must ask that you deal with this matter immediately...’ |
| Article for a teenage magazine giving your views on reality TV programmes | For the reader to agree with the viewpoint | A counter argument to show the positive or negative side of reality TV (depending on what viewpoint you’re going with) | Use a lively style along with persuasive techniques, eg ‘Reality? This is as far from reality as finding a unicorn in a chip shop.’ |
| Guide to attract tourists to a local zoo | For the reader to want to visit the zoo | Include the most exciting information at the start | Use a slogan, eg ‘It’s time to get wild!’ |
| Text-type | Letter to complain about a poor holiday experience |
|---|---|
| Purpose | For the reader to sympathise and to offer compensation |
| Content suggestions | Be polite but firm. Use the closing paragraph to request compensation |
| Language | Use language that is clear and to the point, eg at the end, ‘I really must ask that you deal with this matter immediately...’ |
| Text-type | Article for a teenage magazine giving your views on reality TV programmes |
|---|---|
| Purpose | For the reader to agree with the viewpoint |
| Content suggestions | A counter argument to show the positive or negative side of reality TV (depending on what viewpoint you’re going with) |
| Language | Use a lively style along with persuasive techniques, eg ‘Reality? This is as far from reality as finding a unicorn in a chip shop.’ |
| Text-type | Guide to attract tourists to a local zoo |
|---|---|
| Purpose | For the reader to want to visit the zoo |
| Content suggestions | Include the most exciting information at the start |
| Language | Use a slogan, eg ‘It’s time to get wild!’ |