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