noun, plural ex·i·gen·cies Exigence noun, plural ex·i·gen·cies 1. exigent state or character; urgency. 2. Usually, exigencies. the need, demand, or requirement intrinsic to a circumstance, condition, etc.: the exigencies of city life. 3. a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy; emergency: He promised help in any exigency.

Purpose An author’s purpose is the reason he/she writes a particular work. A writer’s purpose could be any one of the following:

1. To inform or explain: websites, newspaper or magazine articles, how-to instruction manuals Clues: * Facts and statistics * Steps in a process * Diagrams and charts

2. To persuade: speeches, TV or internet ads, newspaper or magazine editorials. Clues: * Opinions * Evidence * Emotional appeal * Call to action

3. To entertain: novels, short stories, plays, humorous essays, movies or TV scripts. Clues: * Suspenseful or exciting situations * Humorous or fascinating details * Interesting characters and story

4. Self Expression: diaries, journals, poems, personal essays. Clues: * Descriptions of real experiences * Observations about situations in life * Personal feelings and thoughts

You will learn about Logos (logical appeal), Pathos (emotional appeal), and Ethos (ethical appeal) next year. 

Organization/Structure/Form This six weeks we will focus on non-fiction. Nonfiction: writing that tells about real people, places, and events. The main purpose of nonfiction is to give information.

Features of Nonfiction: * Subheadings: smaller headings below the main title that break up the writing and tell what each section is about. * Graphic aids: diagrams, maps, or pictures that give more information. * Captions: words that explain a picture or photograph. * Numbered lists: numbers that show the order in which steps should be followed.

You have already been exposed to Diction, Syntax, and Figurative Language; therefore, I would like you to create two framework charts for the Sports Illustrated article on the following page:

In addition to top-ranked Duke, why were the Nos * In addition to top-ranked Duke, why were the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 teams given cover appearances, rather than No. 2 Texas? I am not a Longhorns fan--I'm a TCU graduate going to grad school at Texas A&M--but with Texas contending for championships in football and basketball, is that just too much burnt orange for SI? Courtney Wellmann College Station, Texas

* I'm not familiar with the hierarchy of a pro football team, but in Fallen Idols (Nov. 21), your story on the waning fortunes of the St. Louis Rams, I read about an owner, a team president, a general manager, a director of football operations, a director of football administration, a president of football operations and a vice president of player personnel. Oh, yeah, there's a coach, too. So who's on first? Simplify the football bureaucracy, and maybe the Rams can get back to their winning ways. Marcus Dunn, White Plains, Md.