Understanding the Audience for Non-Fiction Texts

An audience refers to the people or groups who interact with a text, like reading, listening, or watching, such as an advertisement or a documentary.

When authors create a text, they picture an ideal reader – someone who will respond in a way that fulfils the purpose of the writing. For example, a travel guide aims to inform and persuade readers to explore a particular destination.

Texts are crafted to resonate with their target audience. For instance, an article discussing trends in social media usage is geared towards teenagers. Moreover, texts may cater to multiple audiences, like children's books, which are enjoyed by both kids and the adults who buy them. Writers shape their writing for the audience by considering:

Language: Using simple words and sentence structures suits younger readers, while technical terms are used for specific topics. For example, a science website such as Revision Science for GCSE and A-Level students might use complex scientific terminology.

Style: A conversational, informal style appeals to young adults, while a more formal tone is suitable for academic papers. For instance, a blog post about fashion trends might adopt a casual tone, whereas a research paper on climate change would be more formal.

Layout and Organisation: The layout guides the audience through the text, highlighting key points. For instance, an advert for a theme park might feature vibrant images and clear headings to entice families to visit.

Analysis

You can identify the intended audience by examining:

Content: Who would find the information relevant? For instance, an in-depth article on investment strategies is targeted at individuals interested in finance.

Tone: Is it friendly or serious? A social media post about a new video game might have an upbeat tone, while a government report on public health would be more serious.

Language Usage: Does it include technical jargon or everyday language? For example, a medical journal article would use specialised medical terminology, while a lifestyle magazine article would use everyday language.

Language Variation: Does it use formal or informal language? An academic essay would typically use formal language, while a blog post might use informal language.

Use of Personal Pronouns: Does it include words like "we," "our," "I," and "you"? Using these pronouns can create a sense of connection with the audience. For instance, a blog post about personal fitness goals might use "you" to engage the reader.

Layout Design: How does the layout help convey the message? For example, a newspaper article might use bold headlines and bullet points to make key information stand out.

It is important to understand who the writer is writing for when analysing non-fiction texts. You may be asked in an exam to identify the intended audience for a given piece of non fiction text.