Audience and purpose

Audience is defined as “the intended group of readers, listeners or viewers that the writer, designer, filmmaker or speaker is addressing.” (English K-10 syllabus glossary) 

Purposes are “in very broad terms, to entertain, to inform or to persuade different audiences in different contexts. Composers use a number of ways to achieve these purposes: persuading through emotive language, analysis or factual recount; entertaining through description, imaginative writing or humour, and so on.” (NSW English K-10 Glossary) 

The resources below provide targeted teaching strategies to support student improvement in this skill. 

Each downloadable lesson activity includes:

• learning intentions 

• a list of required resources 

• a step-by-step lesson sequence 

• printable classroom materials

Select the download all icon to download all available activities or select each activity separately. 

The feedback for a Level 3 performance in the HSC minimum standard online writing test states: 

Individuals performing at this level typically “sequence writing to produce cohesive texts and vary language to suit the audience and purpose.” 

Students’ understanding of audience and purpose contributes to the relevance of writing to the topic as they meaningfully create texts appropriate for an identified audience and purpose.  

The progressions describe a typical developmental sequence of literacy and numeracy learning. The literacy progression sub-elements, levels and indicators relevant to audience and purpose are provided here to assist teachers to identify students’ capabilities and needs to support targeted teaching.  

Element: Writing 

Sub-elements: Creating texts (CrT)