Audience Awareness
Why might a speech to high school students about social media sound different than one to parents about the same topic?
The writer tailors tone, examples, and language to each audience’s experiences and values.
Which appeal (ethos, logos, pathos) does this sentence primarily use: “As a doctor, I can assure you vaccines are safe”?
Ethos—credibility.
What’s one reason a writer might include a short personal anecdote as evidence?
To clarify or illustrate a point vividly for the reader.
Define “thesis” in your own words.
The writer’s central claim that reasoning and evidence defend.
What makes evidence sufficient?
Enough quality and quantity to convincingly support the claim.
“We’ve all pulled an all-nighter before, watching the clock tick past midnight while our essay still stares blankly back at us. But imagine a system that values learning over lost sleep.”
Identify one way the author’s word choice reflects awareness of the audience’s background or needs.
The writer uses “we’ve all” and “all-nighter” to connect with students’ shared experiences, building camaraderie and understanding.
“Every morning, before the bell rings, teachers pour their energy into creating lessons that might just spark curiosity in one more student.”
Identify an example of pathos in this passage and explain what emotion it targets.
“Pour their energy” evokes compassion and admiration for teachers’ dedication.
"The cafeteria hummed with the low buzz of microwaves and chatter. The smell of reheated pizza filled the air. Another lunch forgotten on the tray line."
Which piece of evidence best sets a mood here, and how?
Sensory imagery (“smell of reheated pizza”) sets a dreary, unappetizing mood that critiques the school lunch quality.
“When we scroll endlessly through highlight reels of other people’s lives, we begin to mistake performance for reality. Our worth shrinks to the size of a screen.”
What seems to be the implied thesis of this passage?
Social media distorts people’s sense of self-worth by promoting unrealistic comparisons.
How can weak or irrelevant evidence damage ethos?
It undermines credibility and reasoning.
A writer addressing climate change uses humor and self-deprecation. What audience perception might motivate this choice?
They perceive the audience as skeptical or fatigued by the topic and want to disarm resistance.
“Last year, 3,500 city residents lost power during the coldest week of winter. One mother wrapped her children in coats to sleep by candlelight.”
How do the appeals in this passage work together?
The statistic (logos) gives a scope; the anecdote (pathos) humanizes the data to strengthen the argument for infrastructure reform.
Explain how evidence could amplify a point rather than just prove it.
It emphasizes magnitude. Like, piling on examples for emotional or logical weight.
Why might a writer not state a thesis directly?
To invite readers to infer meaning or emphasize tone over structure.
Passage A: “Most teens love TikTok.”
Passage B: “According to a 2024 Pew Research survey, 68% of teens use TikTok daily, often for over an hour.”
Which statement offers stronger evidence and why?
Passage B is stronger. It’s quantifiable, recent, and sourced, increasing credibility (ethos) and logical appeal (logos).
You’re writing to convince school administrators to extend lunch. What background info about your audience would shape your rhetorical approach?
They care about schedules, supervision, and academic time. So we should use evidence on student focus or cafeteria efficiency, not just student happiness.
Revise this flat sentence to appeal emotionally to teachers about grading reform:
“Teachers need more time to grade.”
Did you effectively apply an emotional appeal? Here's an example answer:
“After 10 hours in the classroom, teachers still face stacks of essays that follow them home ungraded and unending.”
“Dr. Hernandez, a pediatric nutritionist, calls processed cafeteria food a ‘slow erosion of student health.’”
How does this evidence associate the argument with particular values?
Quoting a doctor connects the argument to health-conscious, credible authority. It aligns with an audience valuing expertise and student wellness.
Revise this vague thesis: “Social media affects teens.”
Make it arguable and specific.
Did you do it correct?
Example: “Social media erodes teens’ attention spans by conditioning them to crave instant feedback.”
Passage 1: “Some studies find that remote work boosts productivity by reducing commute stress.”
Passage 2: “Other researchers note that collaboration often suffers without in-person contact.”
By acknowledging complexity. They can show that the issue has tradeoffs, which strengthens an appeal to ethos through balanced reasoning.
How might misunderstanding an audience’s values harm an argument’s effectiveness?
It can alienate or offend the audience, like using slang or casual tone in a formal appeal to lawmakers.
Can an argument overuse pathos? How?
Yes.
If emotion replaces logic, the audience may see it as manipulative.
Create two fake evidence examples that support the same claim but appeal to different audiences.
Did you achieve the purpose?
Here's an example: “We need later start times.”
To students—sleep data;
To parents—academic performance studies.
Passage A: “School uniforms strip students of individuality and creativity.”
Passage B: “Though intended to unify, school uniforms erase the subtle expressions of identity that help students feel seen and respected.”
Which passage expresses a stronger thesis, and why?
Passage B. It's more precise, acknowledges counterpoint (“though intended to unify”), and articulates reasoning behind the claim.
Identify a piece of evidence that could backfire with a certain audience and explain why.
Did you do it correctly?
Example: Using celebrity endorsement for an academic audience undermines ethos.