A Writer’s Purpose

1. A Writer’s Purpose What the speaker is hoping to accomplish

2. What is Purpose? • The author’s aim, goal, or intent in writing the piece. • The subject of a piece is what the writer is writing about—the message that he or she is trying to get across • Purpose relates to the subject because it deals with what the writer wants us to do with that information or what he or she hopes to accomplish

3. Purpose is at the center of the triangle Speaker Context Context Purpose/ Aim/ Intent Audience Subject

4. Purpose helps us understand • Rhetorical techniques • Which stylistic moves are going to help communicate the purpose to the audience? • Arrangement • How do I organize my ideas to achieve the desired outcome? • Context

5. How to find purpose • Read for more than words or ideas—read for what the writer is doing • Reconstruct the overall design of the writing • Think like a writer while you are reading • Use clues • Overt statements of purpose (easy) • Titles • Introductions • Knowledge of the publication • Knowledge about the author—reputation or editor’s info • Analysis of the text

6. Types of purpose • Entertainment • To amuse or delight • To arouse emotions or sympathies • To appeal to fantasy and imagination • Instigation of Public Thought and Acton • To raise questions • To criticize the actions of others • To weaken the support of opponents • To persuade to act, vote, donate, etc. • To inform of issues of concern

7. Types of purposes, cont. • Support a Community of Common Beliefs • To take a stand • To reinforce beliefs of a group • To share recent events or developments that are of mutual concern • To gain tolerance for one’s belief in the larger community • To gain approval • To recruit support • Conduct a Business or Government • To promote laws or guidelines • To report information needed for making new laws • To argue for certain lines of action • To request funds or support • To evaluate activities • To sell, advertise

8. Types, cont. • Transmission of Knowledge • To satisfy curiosity • To provide information for everyday use • To introduce an area of knowledge • To instruct • Scholarly Inquiry • To present new findings • To speculate • To draw conclusions about existing information • To shed light on relationships • To determine the truth of a matter Adapted from http://writing.colostate.edu/textbooks/informedwriter/chapter7.pdf

9. Application • In your small groups, read your assigned article. • Determine what we know about the main parts of the triangle: Speaker, Audience, Subject, Context, Purpose • How does the writer attempt to achieve this purpose? • Evaluate the effectiveness of the writer based on purpose. • Be prepared to present your article to the group.