ENG 121 Week 9 Discussion

Audience Analysis Assignment

To complete this assignment, you must first determine which publication you will write your Commentary Article toward from the list of choices in the Commentary Article assignment page.  Then, be sure to review the lesson on “The Importance of Audience Awareness.”

Part I (2 paragraph minimum): In a Word document, name the publication choice and explain the target audience’s demographics.  Use the following categories to help guide you:

• Age
• Gender
• Income level
• Education level
• Political affiliation
• Beliefs
• Values
• Motivations

Remember: the publication may not directly state information regarding their target audience.   Your strong analysis of the publication should help guide your understanding of the target audience.  Provide support to explain why you have come to your determinations about the reader’s demographics, beliefs, values, etc.

Part II (3 paragraph minimum): Now take your overall audience understanding and explain how you will use it to guide your writing choices from the Commentary Article.  Think about your specific topic and the new directions you plan to take with this essay, and explain the audience’s expectations and needs by answering the following questions:

• What do my readers know about the topic?
• What are their current beliefs about the topic?
• What will they want to know?  What is their purpose in reading my article?
• How can I build their understanding of my topic in a compelling way?  (Think about writing strategies, use of support, etc.)
• What might my readers be skeptical about?  How will I handle this skepticism?
• What choices can I make in terms of style, tone, and word choice to connect with my readers?

ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Label the Word document with Part I and Part II and use paragraph formatting rather than bullet points.  The questions provided are intended to guide your responses.  Note paragraph length requirements above.
• Use 12-point Times New Roman font and double space.  A title page, running heads, and an abstract are not required.
• Document any researched information or direct quotes in APA style.
• Write in complete sentences with fully-developed paragraphs, paying attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation.