Making text decisions
Central idea
Purpose
Audience
Context
Form
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What are you writing about?
This is the topic of your writing.
Your entire text should relate back to the
central idea/theme/thesis.
What is the central idea of the chocolate milk article?
Brainstorm “central ideas” that people like you would
be interested in reading/writing.
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Why am I writing?
These are the reasons why the author writes.
Knowing purpose helps to determine format,
focus, organization, style and length.
Brainstorm various purposes. Why do people write
specific texts?
Make a list of the kinds of writing you have done in and
outside of school. What do they have in common? What
has the purpose been? Pair share
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Who am I writing for? Who will read?
You need to adjust your writing for your
reader: peers, employer, 6 year old....
Vocabulary, content, complexity of
sentences, format, all change for the
audience.
Write about what you did last weekend for a peer.
Now write about the same events for your parent....
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Where and when will this be read?
In what situation will the text be interpreted?
Sports text for yearbook? For scout?
Rodeo article for Tribune? For 4H club?
List the main points of MCI you would
communicate for the following contexts:
Grade 9 freshie class
Grad meeting
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How will I write to be most effective?
Purpose and audience influence form
Individually brainstorm as many forms of writing as you
can.
Now match 5 of those forms with a particular audience.
Example: Persuasive speech to parent audience as you
convince them to ....
Assignment: Choose a topic that you are interested in
sharing.
Explain the writing variables you would use to most effectively
communicate your ideas .
Central idea
Purpose
Audience
Context
Form