The Planning Chart The chart is a map or template of your writing assignment. It focuses on five important Writing Variables: 1. Central idea 2. Form 3. Purpose 4. Audience 5. Context Writing Variables must be described clearly and specifically.  

Planning and Developing Your Text – The Writing Variables Form Central Idea Purpose Public Audience Context

Central Idea The main idea around which your writing is organized. What is your writing piece about? The main idea around which your writing is organized. i.e. – An essay has a thesis A letter has a focus An article has a controlling idea or opinion A story has a subject

Form What form will your writing take?   What form will your writing take? You may choose any of the following forms of writing: Essay –Persuasive, Argumentative, etc. Speech Memoir Article Short Story Poem Play Script Monologue Letter Other

Form (continued) Different forms of writing, such as letters, diaries, reports, essays, research papers, etc., have specific requirements. Decide on the form your writing will take, and then make sure you know the requirements for that form of writing. Once you choose a particular form, you are expected to follow the conventions of that particular form. i.e. – A speech begins with a greeting that recognizes the people who are present, and identifies the speaker’s subject and credentials.

Purpose   Why are you writing ? What are you trying to accomplish with your writing. Have a clear purpose in mind before starting your paper. Keeping your purpose in mind as you write will result in a paper that is focused and consistent. Will your text inform, entertain, teach, and persuade, etc. your audience? To figure out your purpose, you must answer the following questions: “What do I hope my text will accomplish with my audience” “What do I want the audience to think or feel after reading my text?”

Audience (must be public)   Who will be reading/hearing your text? You must be specific and describe the characteristics of your audience Your audience must be appropriate for your chosen Form and Central Idea. i.e. - An essay about drug use is not appropriate for Grade 3 students.  Try and be as specific as possible, as relating to everyone, is more often than not, difficult.

Audience (Continued) The key idea is to describe your Audience, and not simply identify it. Include information about their interest level, prior knowledge, experience and attitude towards the topic i.e. – The Audience for my Speech will be Grade 12 students, from Garden City Collegiate. As they will soon be turning 18 and /or graduating from high school, listening to a speech about Drinking and Driving is very beneficial. Young people often look forward to the day they can legally drink, yet very few think about the negative side of drinking. Your audience must be public. Therefore listing the following as your audience will result in a mark of zero. The teacher marking my exam The teacher  

Context Where and when will your audience experience your text? Context is defined as the situation in which audience will experience your text. (Where and when)   i.e. - My audience will hear my speech in the Gymnasium of the High School during the Mothers against Drunk Driving anti-drinking campaign. Be sure to remember your Audience and Form. i.e. - You would not perform a stand-up routine at a funeral