Spring 2004

English 101.10 -- Language and Composition I

Paper 2: Writing for an Audience

Part I

For this assignment, you will focus on writing an essay that is tailored to the needs and interests of a specific audience. In class, we worked on identifying combinations of topics or issues and potential audiences that you found interesting or significant.

First, you will need to spend some time learning more about the topic and audience you chose. Do some research to find answers to the following questions:

• Who belongs to the audience or is associated with it?
  
• What are the needs of the audience?
  
• What issues are important to the audience?
  
• What controversies are related to those issues?
  
• What information exists about the topic/issue you have chosen to focus on?
  
• What misinformation exists about the topic or issue?
  
• What problems does your audience need to solve and what challenges do they face? (How might these problems look to outsiders?)
  
• What attitudes, values, or accomplishments does the audience emphasize or celebrate?
  
• How is the audeince viewed by those who are not a part of it, and why?
  
• What actions or attitudes are viewed negatively by the audience and why?
  

Depending on the audience you chose, some of these questions will be more applicable than others: Focus on the ones that make the most sense for your particular topic. Add your own questions to this list as needed. Write down what you learned about your audience and topic in a discovery draft and brainstorm possible directions. What is the group likely to need? What might you say, and how might you say it?

Part II

Write an essay *to* the audience/group that attempts to inform, persuade, or offer a new perspective or suggestion in regard to one of the issues or concerns that is important to them.

Your process writing should describe in detail all the decisions you made about presenting the material to your audience, including the format and tone you chose to use.

The paper should be 5-7 pages, double spaced in a 10-12 point font. See the Course Requirements page for more information about what needs to be turned in with your paper in order for it to be considered complete.

The final unit draft of this paper is due on Friday, at the end of the fourth week of class. Bring your rough drafts in progress with you each day to class until then.