Subject, Purpose,

Audience
Dr. Gerald Lucas
Subject, Purpose,
Audience
 Subject, Purpose,
Audience
Assess the rhetorical situation
 Subject, Purpose,
Audience
Assess the rhetorical situation

Begin with clear and precise definitions

 Subject, Purpose,
Audience
Assess the rhetorical situation

Begin with clear and precise definitions

Know what you’ll do up front

 Subject, Purpose,
Audience
Assess the rhetorical situation

Begin with clear and precise definitions

Know what you’ll do up front

Make a flexible guideline

 Subject, Purpose,
Audience
Assess the rhetorical situation

Begin with clear and precise definitions

Know what you’ll do up front

Make a flexible guideline

Suggest a direction: thesis statement

All writing is persuasive
Writing Appeals to
 Writing Appeals to

Reason (“Logos”)

Feeling (“Pathos”)

Character (“Ethos”)
Topic
 Topic

General question or concern

 Topic

General question or concern

Must narrow and focus

 Topic

General question or concern

Must narrow and focus

Must pick an assertion

Sample Topics
 Sample Topics
What is one game that is physically or
intellectually challenging
 Sample Topics
What is one game that is physically or
intellectually challenging

Identify a particular type of dishonesty that

is generally tolerated
 Sample Topics
What is one game that is physically or
intellectually challenging

Identify a particular type of dishonesty that

is generally tolerated

What is your favorite piece of furniture

Subject
 Subject
A problem, concern, or aspect of the topic
 Subject
A problem, concern, or aspect of the topic

Makes an assertion about the topic

 Subject
A problem, concern, or aspect of the topic

Makes an assertion about the topic

Contains the subject and assertion

 Subject
A problem, concern, or aspect of the topic

Makes an assertion about the topic

Contains the subject and assertion

Addresses something unique and worthy

Subject Examples
 Subject Examples

Chess is a game that is intellectually

challenging
 Subject Examples

Chess is a game that is intellectually

challenging

Lying is a type of dishonesty that is generally

tolerated
 Subject Examples

Chess is a game that is intellectually

challenging

Lying is a type of dishonesty that is generally

tolerated

My footlocker is my favorite piece of

furniture
 A subject is not
complete without a
SUBJECT and an
ASSERTION!
Purpose
 Purpose

WHY are you writing?

 Purpose

WHY are you writing?

WHAT are you arguing? (Look to assertion)

 Purpose

WHY are you writing?

WHAT are you arguing? (Look to assertion)

ALL college essays persuade — ALL!

Purpose
 Purpose

States what you’re arguing

 Purpose

States what you’re arguing

States why you’re arguing it

Purpose Examples
 Purpose Examples
to argue that chess is intellectually
challenging because it makes players focus
and logically consider each move
 Purpose Examples
to argue that chess is intellectually
challenging because it makes players focus
and logically consider each move

to argue that lying is generally tolerated

because people would rather be deceived
than know the harsh truth
 Purpose Examples
to argue that chess is intellectually
challenging because it makes players focus
and logically consider each move

to argue that lying is generally tolerated

because people would rather be deceived
than know the harsh truth

to argue that my footlocker is my favorite

piece of furniture because it contains all my
hopes and dreams
Audience
 Audience
To WHOM are you writing?
 Audience
To WHOM are you writing?

Who would most benefit from your essay?

 Audience
To WHOM are you writing?

Who would most benefit from your essay?

What is your relationship to them?

 Audience
To WHOM are you writing?

Who would most benefit from your essay?

What is your relationship to them?

What is their attention span? knowledge of

subject? level of interest? attitudes about
the subject?
Audience
 Audience
Write to those you know
 Audience
Write to those you know

Use language, tone, and style that would

appeal
 Audience
Write to those you know

Use language, tone, and style that would

appeal

Modify your subject and purpose to fit

 Audience
Write to those you know

Use language, tone, and style that would

appeal

Modify your subject and purpose to fit

Do not preach to the choir

Audience Examples
 Audience Examples
Parents looking for a challenging hobby for
their anti-social boy
 Audience Examples
Parents looking for a challenging hobby for
their anti-social boy

Men in my church, 18-25, who think honesty

is always the best policy, even when it hurts
 Audience Examples
Parents looking for a challenging hobby for
their anti-social boy

Men in my church, 18-25, who think honesty

is always the best policy, even when it hurts

Teenagers who may not understand the value

of saving memories
Subject, Purpose,
Audience
 Subject, Purpose,
Audience

Suggests focus and scope

 Subject, Purpose,
Audience

Suggests focus and scope

Most important part of your essay

 Subject, Purpose,
Audience

Suggests focus and scope

Most important part of your essay

Write these at the top of your paper for all

essays in this course