Conducting a rhetorical context evaluation about writing you are assigned in college.

1. Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

2. ●All Writing, from grocery lists to lengthy
books, is constrained by the factors
surrounding it.
●These factors are known as the Rhetorical
Context.
oWho the author is
oWho the intended audience is
oWhat purpose it’s written for
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

3. Author
Audience Purpose
Written
Text
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

4. ●Consider the 3 sides of the triangle as a
prewriting strategy for writing you do in
college
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

5. Author
Audience Purpose
Written
Text
●What unique experiences or
knowledge do you have about this
subject matter?
●Why is this subject important to
you?
●Why did you select this subject, in
particular?
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College
Think about yourself as the author…

6. Author
Audience Purpose
Written
Text
Authors usually have a specific group, or
TARGET AUDIENCE, in mind as they write.
This does not mean that other groups cannot
understand the text, or benefit from reading it.
The TARGET AUDIENCE is the
group that is going to be most
directly affected by the text’s thesis,
or purpose.
Examples: mothers of toddlers; teenagers interested
in martial arts; your grandfather, yourself…
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College
Think about who you envision as
your reading audience…

7. ●THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “GENERAL
AUDIENCE” !
●All audiences are constrained by certain elements:
oLanguage the text is written in (only people who can
understand the language can read it)
oEducation level demanded by vocabulary (differences
between what a 4th grader can understand, vs. someone in
high school, vs. someone with higher degrees in Physics)
oExamples or references made in the text (someone in
Wisconsin would have no idea what “Bumbershoot” is, for
instance) Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

8. Author
Audience
Purpose
Written
Text
What is the reason you’re writing
this text?
Something you write for yourself will
look different than something you
write with others in mind.
Most college writing’s purpose will
connect directly with the assignment
you’ve been given.
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College
Think about the purpose you have
for writing…

9. ●There are
quick answers
to the “author/
audience/
purpose roles:
For most writing assignments you’ll
have in college,
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

10. Author
Audience Purpose
Written
Text
Why does who you are matter
to the essay you’ve written?
For one thing, the thesis statement
will be your personal opinion (though
that opinion will be supported by
evidence).
You’ll also be making personalized
choices at every stage of the writing
process: which prewriting you find
effective, which sources you consult
first, and so forth.
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

11. Author
Audience
Written
Text
Purpose
In defining the audience, the most
obvious answer is your professor
who assigned the essay.
But who else would benefit from reading your work
here?
THAT’S the audience you should direct your text
towards. Your professor will assess how well you
meet the needs of the target audience, not how well
you speak to him or her directly in the essay.
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College

12. Author
Audience
Written
Text
Purpose
And, of course you want to get an
“A” on your paper. That’s a good
goal to have.
Larger than that consideration,
though, what is the purpose of this
assignment? Why does the
professor want you to learn or
discover through this process?
Grading rubrics can provide good
insight to this, if they’re available.
Class conversation is also a good
clue. If you’re unsure about the
purpose, talking directly to your
instructor about it is advisable.
Alexis McMillan-Clifton
Tacoma Community College