Karen S. Wright

Purpose

VoiceAudience

Topic

The Writing The Writing TriangleTriangle

Ask the Right Questions Before You Begin to Write

•What am I trying to say?

•What effect do I hope to achieve?

•What main point do I want to make?

•What form/type of writing will I use?

•What is my purpose?

Your strategy becomes the purpose and the goal you wish to reach with your paper.

Description Narration Compare/Contrast Process Argument

A Narrative tells a personal storyThe narrative is told from first or third person point-of-view

It’s important to follow a clear sequence of events.

A descriptive paper will put into words what you want your reader to see in his or her mind.

Using concrete examples are very important in a descriptive essay.

Process

A process paper says what is to be done and in what order.

The process paper will include the steps necessary to reach a goal.

Compare/contrast papers can present one side at a time or it can present point by point.If you were writing an essay comparing city traffic to small town traffic, you would begin with a general statement and then compare one type of traffic then the other or present it point by point.

•All of our lives we have tried to persuade someone to do something or to think like we do…that is the beginning of an argument paper.

•Your reader won’t believe you, just because you say something is true.•Most usually, the argument requires research to support your thinking.

Voice is the identity the writer adopts and his/her credibility as an authority.

Do you want to--

…tell a story …be descriptive … tell how to do something … compare and contrast ideas …be sincere and persuasive

A piece of writing is often judged by how effectively it reaches its intended audience.

Here are some questions to consider about audience: 1. Who are your readers (age, sex, income, belief systems, potential biases)? 2. Are your readers novices or experts on the subject? 3. What are your readers likely to know about your topic?

The writing process involves the way you define and combine the various components of the writing situation: your purpose for writing, your voice or how you wish to come across to your readers, and your audience.