Writing Non-fiction 1

Your intended audience determines what sort of language you use. 

Formal or informal tone?

Informally- to people you know, chatty language. HOWEVER, don't use abbreviations or text language. 

It can be appropriate to talk informally to people you don't know too- like an agony aunt in a teen mag.

For everything else- write formally. 

Be aware of audience's interests and points of view.

Purpse of writing is to express your point of view. The wording of the task may give a slightly different emphasis. 

For example, 'argue' sounds more passionate than 'explain', 'persuade' has emphasis on audience.

Start with powerful opening. Grab reader's attention. Make point clear.

Offer a number of points in support of your arguement, starting new paragraph for each. 

Acknowledge other points of view,

but then give your counter-arguement, point out why they're wrong. 

Structure in logical order, using discourse markers to 'SIGNPOST' the development of arguement. 

Back up with evidence, USE ANECDOTES 

Address audience directly, 'you', 'I', 'we'.

Rhetorical devices e.g hyperbole.

Variety of sentence structures, PASSIVE AS WELL AS ACTIVE VOICE.

Conclusion, summing up main points and strongly stating opinion.