Identifying a Writer’s Purpose & Audience
Introduction
Rhetorical context refers to the circumstances surrounding an act of reading and/or composition.
Rhetorical context includes:
- the author
- the author’s purpose for composing
- the topic
- the audience
- the occasion, or external motivation, for composing
Author Bias
Examining the rhetorical context in which a writer is operating helps you understand an author’s biases and agendas as well as the influences surrounding the writer that may have affected his or her composition.
To understand the rhetorical context of the speech, you must ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is the author, speaker, or composer?
- What is the author trying to accomplish? What is his or her purpose?
- What is the author writing about? What is his or her topic?
- Who is the audience?
- What is the occasion, or external motivation, for writing?
Your Potential Bias
Examining the rhetorical context in which you, as a reader/responder, are operating helps you situate the text rhetorically, become aware of your own position, and respond to the text appropriately.
Evaluating an Author’s Intent
The following video explores strategies for evaluating an author’s intent by assessing four aspects: point of view, purpose, intended audience, and tone.
Summary
To read critically, you must engage with your reading and evaluate the information being put in front of you. You should question the author’s intention, audience, purpose, point of view, and tone.
Sources:
“Rhetorical Context.” By Lumen Learning Writing Skills Lab. Retrieved from: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-writingskillslab/chapter/rhetorical-context/ Licensed under: CC-BY-SA
“Capitalization” By University of Minnesota. Retrieved from http://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/2-4-capitalization/ Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
“Evaluating an Author’s Intent.” By Excelsior Online Reading Lab. Retrieved from: https://owl.excelsior.edu/orc/what-to-do-after-reading/analyzing/evaluating-an-authors-intent/ Licensed under: CC-BY
