Many students scratch their heads when they hear their instructor tell them anything from writing most of their sentences in active voice (rather than passive) to analyzing their audience. There are always new things to learn when it comes to writing essays, but one of the most important (and often neglected) aspects of writing an essay is this one: writing to a specific audience.
Why is it Important to Have a Specific Audience in Mind When Writing?
There are many reasons to write to a particular audience. When television shows or new products advertise to an "audience," they don't typically just target a general audience; they instead analyze the audience they want to target. For example, most people have heard of "demographics," which is basically a term signifying particular populations that marketing experts choose when they target their products. If these experts choose what audience they'd like to sell to, why shouldn't an essay writer "sell" his essay to his audience as well?
For any students still wondering why writing to a specific audience is important, consider these situations:
- How would a writer explain molecular biology to kindergarteners? If the youngster doesn't know what DNA or nucleic acid is, the writer needs to start with what the kindergartener knows. Obviously, if the writer directs his information to a general audience, he could lose his young audience quickly.
- On the other hand, how would a group of elderly people feel if a writer who has promised to share creative writing techniques begins the lesson by going over the alphabet and parts of speech?
These examples may be extreme, but they should illustrate why audience is important. Still have doubts? This particular article is written with students in mind, particularly students who question why the idea of audience matters. The information here is likely too advanced for second grade writers and could be insulting if presented to grad students.
How Can a Writer Determine an Audience for an Essay?
Knowing that audience is important to an essay is just the first step. The writer must next determine who her audience is. Only then can she shape her essay. Many times students write with the idea that either the instructor or fellow students (or both) are their audience, and sometimes that works out just fine. Other times, though, and more often, the instructor will be just as pleased if a student writes for a specific audience that does not include the instructor.
Some things to keep in mind when determining an audience include the following:
- Obviously, first and foremost, decide on the topic.
- Decide who might need to know the information that will be presented in the essay. What is the possible age range of the audience? Knowledge base? Education level?
- When the writer decides the potential audience, she will want to consider what her audience already knows about the subject.
- While actually writing the essay, the student will want to keep her audience in the back of her mind.
- While revising her essay, she'll want to make sure she isn't talking down to her audience or going over their heads.
Targeting an Audience Can Make an Essay Better
Sometimes when a student writes an essay, the audience is an afterthought. It's much better, though, when the audience is thought of from the beginning. Then the student can target his audience and make sure the information included in the essay is only what's relevant to the people who should be reading his paper. Targeting the audience makes an essay easier to read and write.
Cynthia Jones-Shoeman - Cynthia (“Cindy”) Jones-Shoeman earned her MA in English from Colorado State University in 2007; her thesis was "Toni ...
