Purpose, Audience & Context

Every piece of rhetoric is shaped by its purpose (what the writer wants to achieve), its intended audience, and the context surrounding it.

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Overview

Before analyzing HOW a writer makes an argument, identify WHY: what is the writer's purpose, who is the audience, and what situational context (occasion) prompted the piece? These three elements explain the writer's specific rhetorical choices.

Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 1Score so far: 0/0

A newspaper editorial uses statistics and formal language to argue for a policy change. What can you infer about its intended audience?