Key Points
The author’s thesis is that audiences of specific written discourse determine the writers’ technique to create a reality based on their needs. The statement is considered a thesis because it appears in the first paragraph and predicts what the article’s discussion. The article’s main point is that some writers fail to portray physical reality to readers because they don’t know their expectations. Ede & Lunsford (1984) encourages writers to analyze their audience and adapt discourse to meet their needs.
Another point is that writers use sematic and systematic language to provide cues for the reader. These cues help define the role the writer wishes the reader to perform in responding to the text. The article emphasizes that the writer’s audience is usually fiction. Thus, scholars have developed various models to teach students about audience analysis.
Moreover, the article argues that there are significant distinctions between a writer’s and the speaker’s audience. For example, the speaker’s audience involves a collectivity due to audience engagement. However, speakers and writers may encounter the challenge of lacking relevant knowledge of their audience.
How the Argument is Structured
The argument is systematically structured to develop argumentative points, drawing examples and evidence to support the author’s ideas. In essence, the text begins with an introductory paragraph that provides background information to enhance the reader’s understanding of the argument. For example, the first sentence suggests that the audience determines the writer’s technique to create reality. The sentence develops the text’s thesis from which the author can conclude whether the audience affects writing styles or not. The introductory paragraph also predicts the writer’s conclusion. For example, a sentence suggests that writers should analyze their audience to meet their needs. Thus, the sentence shows that the article’s findings and conclusion support the thesis statement.
After building the introductory paragraph and thesis, the author develops several body paragraphs, supporting arguments with relevant models. After the introductions, the first paragraph describes Russel Long’s audience analysis model, suggesting that the writer’s audience is often fiction. Long’s concept supports the article’s thesis, as it encourages writers to analyze their audience. The article’s argument continues in several body paragraphs, supporting the thesis. The author concludes that the audience determines the writer’s message.
The text reveals the introduction, body, and conclusion pattern, which has allowed the author to meet the reader’s expectations. The author uses transition sentences to develop the paragraphs, building the reader’s attention throughout the text. We can use this structure in argumentative writing to support points and enhance the reader’s morale and understanding.
Key Vocabulary
Fiction is key vocabulary, meaning the writer’s imagination of the audience. Writers often develop arguments based on their imaginations of readers’ needs and expectations. Fiction helps writers address real-life situations of the audience by analyzing their needs. Most importantly, fiction allows the writer to apply psychological and physical aspects to catch the reader’s attention.
A Discussion Question
The article suggests that the writer should consider the two most important things: the audience and purpose. Communication cannot occur without the audience, and it is useless without a specific agenda. Writers develop meaningful information by identifying their audiences and addressing their needs and expectations. Thus, the class should discuss how a writer can meet audience needs: Which factors should the writer consider when analyzing the audience’s needs?
The question reflects the audience’s role in writing and evaluates students’ ability to tailor their message according to the audience.