In an unseen extract, which approach best identifies the writer's purpose and audience?

• A. Read carefully for tone, diction, structure, register, context clues, and explicit statements about purpose and audience.
• B. Rely on instinct and memorize key phrases.
• C. Focus only on plot and ignore stylistic features.
• D. Assume the purpose is always to entertain.

Answer: (A)

When identifying writer's purpose and audience in an unseen extract, the strongest approach is to read for how the language and structure reveal why the text was written and who it is meant for. Tone shows the writer’s attitude toward the subject and reader, giving clues about whether the aim is to persuade, inform, or entertain. Diction reveals formality and the level of accessibility, hinting at the likely reader. Structure and organization show how the message is built to guide or influence the audience, while register indicates the formality and setting. Context clues—such as references to time, place, or culture—and any explicit statements about purpose or audience provide direct evidence. Putting these together helps you judge not just what the text says, but how its choices shape who should read it and why. Relying on instinct or memorized phrases misses the evidence written into the text, focusing only on plot ignores style and rhetoric, and assuming the purpose is always to entertain overlooks other legitimate aims the writer might have.