Lesson 8 — Activity 1: Communicating with a Purpose
Lesson 8 — Activity 1: Communicating with a Purpose
Purpose
- refers to the reason you are writing, speaking, or representing: what is the point you are trying to get across?
Generally, the purpose for communication falls into one of these categories —
To inform:
- used when you want to teach how to do something
- used to share information about a topic
Here's an example:
There are many creatures living in the sea. Some live in shallow water; some live in the deepest areas of the sea. These creatures come in many different shapes, colours, and sizes. Do you know that even today, many new creatures are still being discovered?
Image courtesy of www.imagesgoogle.com
To persuade:
- used when you want people to think a certain way about a topic
Here's an example:
To describe:
-
used when you want people to see something you saw or to get a sense of an experience you've had
Here's an example:
To entertain:
- used when you want people to have an emotional response to your communication
- can be something funny or amusing
- can also be something that affects the audience by creating other feelings such as sadness, amazement, or sympathy
Here's an example of a funny poem:
"Messy Room" by Shel Silverstein
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or--
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!