1.1 Identifying the purpose and intended audience of a text

4 MIN READ•JUNE 18, 2024

Welcome to 1.1! In this guide, you will learn how to identify a text's purpose and intended audience. 📖

Without hesitation, I would say that this topic sets the foundation for any English class. Identifying the purpose and the intended audience is essential to effectively evaluate a text. So, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the following tips and tricks!

What is Purpose?

The purpose refers to the specific intention or objective that the author had in mind when creating the work. It can vary depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some purposes commonly found in pieces of writing.

• Communicating information or ideas

• Persuading or convincing the reader to take a specific action or belief

• Entertaining or providing enjoyment to the reader

• Educating or teaching the reader about a specific topic

• Documenting historical events or personal experiences Understanding the purpose is essential to analyzing and interpreting a text's central idea. Additionally, you can notice how the purpose is conveyed through literary and rhetorical devices.

Remember that the purpose answers the question, "Why did the author write this text?" 🤔

Identifying the Purpose

There are several strategies to identify the purpose of a piece of writing, some of which include:

1. Examining the author's rhetorical choices: You can analyze how an author's use of rhetorical strategies, such as appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos, contribute to the overall purpose of the text.

2. Identifying literary devices: You should always look for the use of literary devices, such as imagery, symbolism, and characterization. For example, the use of descriptive language may indicate that the purpose is to create a vivid picture or to evoke an emotional response from the reader.

3. Examining the tone: The tone of a piece of writing can indicate the author's attitude or feelings towards the subject, which can give you a clue as to the purpose. For example, a tone of satire or irony might suggest that the purpose is to criticize or mock something.

4. Identifying patterns and themes: You should find repetitive patterns and themes in the text. For example, a piece of writing that repeatedly uses the imagery of nature may be attempting to convey a message about the importance of preserving the environment.

What is Intended Audience?

The intended audience in a piece of writing refers to the group of people or readers for whom the text is intended or directed. Identifying the intended audience is an important step in understanding the text, as it can affect the language, tone, and style of the writing, as well as the content and message being conveyed. The intended audience can be defined by various characteristics such as age, gender, education level, cultural background, interests, and so on.

Identifying the Intended Audience

To identify the intended audience, you can look at various factors such as the text's language, rhetorical strategies, and literary devices, along with the historical and cultural context, patterns and themes, and effectiveness of the text. For example, a piece of writing that uses technical language and complex sentence structures may be intended for an academic audience. In contrast, a piece that uses simple language and a conversational tone may be intended for a general audience.

You can also look at how the story is told; for example, a book that uses first-person narration, present tense, and simple vocabulary is most likely intended for a young audience. The intended audience can also be found by the subject matter and themes of the piece of writing; for example, a novel that deals with adult themes and mature subject matter would be intended for an adult audience.

In some cases, the intended audience may be specific (i.e., if the text is a business proposal or a legal document, while it may be more general (i.e., if the piece of writing is a news article or a novel) in other pieces of text. Understanding the intended audience is an essential step in analyzing and interpreting a piece of writing, as it can help you better understand the author's purpose and the meaning of the text.

1.2 Examining how evidence supports a claim

What is a Claim?

A claim is a statement or argument made in an essay or other written work. It can be a statement of fact, an interpretation, a value judgment, or a policy proposal. The purpose of making a claim is to take a stance on an issue and to support that stance with evidence and reasoning. The claim is typically the essay's central argument or main idea, and the rest of the essay is used to support and develop the claim.

What is Evidence?

Evidence refers to the facts, examples, statistics, or other information used to support a claim or argument in an essay or other written work. The purpose of using evidence is to strengthen the claim by providing specific and relevant information that supports the argument. Evidence can include direct quotations or summaries of information from primary texts, secondary sources, statistics, expert testimony, examples from personal experience or observations, and so on. The evidence must be incorporated logically and clearly and be credible and relevant to the claim.

How Does Evidence Support a Claim?

Evidence can support a claim by providing specific, relevant, and credible information that helps demonstrate the claim's truth or validity and advance an argument. 

To support a claim, evidence should be directly related to the claim. It should establish a causal relationship between the claim and the evidence. For example, if the claim is that a certain policy will reduce crime, evidence that crime rates have decreased in similar jurisdictions where the policy has been implemented can support the claim.

It is also essential to use different types of evidence, such as facts, statistics, expert opinions, and examples, to provide a well-rounded and convincing argument. Evidence should be used in a way that is logical and clear, with transitions between pieces of evidence that help to establish connections and build a strong argument.

TL;DR

It is important to use evidence in a way that is logical and clear, with transitions between pieces of evidence that help to establish connections and build a strong argument. Using evidence to support claims helps to demonstrate your understanding of the text in the AP exam's free-response section.

1.3 Developing paragraphs as part of an effective argument

What is the Purpose of Paragraphs?

Paragraphs are units of writing that are made up of a group of sentences that focus on a single topic or idea. These sentences are typically organized logically and coherently and work together to support the overall argument or main idea of the piece of writing. Paragraphs are used in various forms of writing, such as essays, research papers, and articles. They are important in organizing and developing ideas. They are also used to signal a change of topic or provide evidence supporting a thesis statement. Generally, a paragraph consists of a topic sentence, several supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.

Paragraph Structure

Each paragraph should follow the AEC structure. 

What is an Effective Argument?

An effective argument includes:

• A clear and specific thesis statement.

• Evidence that supports the thesis.

• Logical reasoning that connects the evidence to the thesis. Additionally, an effective argument often includes counterarguments and refutations, as well as an acknowledgment of the complexity of the issue being discussed. The language and style of the argument should be appropriate for the audience and purpose and be effectively organized and well-written. 📑

How to Develop Paragraphs as part of an Effective Argument

To develop effective paragraphs as part of an argument, you can follow these steps:

1. Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that relates to the thesis and previews the main point of the paragraph.

2. Provide evidence, examples, or anecdotes to support the topic sentence. This evidence should be relevant, credible, and appropriate for the audience and purpose.

3. Use logical reasoning to connect the evidence to the topic sentence and thesis. This will help strengthen the argument and clarify the connection between the evidence and the overall argument.

4. Include transition words and phrases to link the paragraphs together and to guide the reader through the argument.

5. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion paragraph. Instead, summarize the main points of the argument and restate the thesis.

6. Finally, proofread and edit your work for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. A polished and well-written argument will be more effective in persuading your audience.

It is essential to remember that the organization of your argument is key 🔑. Make sure to structure your argument in a way that is easy to follow and makes logical sense.