Introduction

Course Overview and Policy Statements

Syllabi

Portfolios?

Defining the Humanities

Text Analysis

Individual Topics

Reflective Writing


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Authors & Contributors

Audience Analysis - Kiefer

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As part of a thorough analysis of an argument, you can examine closely whom the writer targets for an argument. Sometimes an argument fails or is ineffective simply because the writer chooses the wrong reasons and evidence for the target audience. Answer the following questions based on the audience you think the writer is primarily writing to, even if you might not be a part of that target audience.

In what ways is the target audience limited by any of the following broad categories:
Age
Gender
Education
Occupation
Income
Moral or political stance
Urban or rural home
Background knowledge on this topic
Interest in this topic

From your reading of the argument, what does the writer assume about how the target audience might be uninformed or misinformed about the issue or the specific focus of the writer's argument? What are the writer's assumptions about the target audience's typical attitudes or stances toward the topic? What does the writer assume about how the target audience would like to see the problem, question, or issue resolved, answered, or handled? Why? That is, what personal stake does the writer assume readers have in the topic? In what larger framework--religious, ethical, political, economic--does the target audience seem to place the topic? That is, what general beliefs and values are involved, according to the writer's approach? After reading the argument, what opinions might readers have about the topic and the writer's position? How are target readers' reactions likely to differ from your reaction to the argument? Will this be a fruitful area for you to pursue in your analysis paper for portfolio 3?