1. Thesis, Purpose, and Audience

2. Definition
A thesis statement (also referred to as a major claim) is the argument a writer or speaker is attempting to make.
Thesis statements can either be explicit or implicit

3. Explicit thesis statement:
a clearly stated argument of debatable quality (ie: you can directly point it out in an author’s writing)

4. Implicit thesis statement:
does not have a defined thesis. You infer the thesis from the body of writing, which supports the unstated thesis.  

5. Purpose
While a thesis is the argument an author tries to make, the PURPOSE is what the author wants the audience to DO.
Examples:
To persuade that __________
To justify _________
To call to action
To describe ________ as ___________________
To change _____________________
To advocate for ________________________

6. Audience
The audience is never defined as all readers, everyone, the reader, or anyone. There is ALWAYS an audience, whether it is a real audience or an intended audience
Real audience: actually present for the writing/speaking occasion (ie: audience at a speech, a letter, etc.)
Intended audience: the audience an author imagines he is writing or speaking to

7. Determining the intended audience
If you need help determining the audience, first decide whether it is sympathetic or hostile.
Sympathetic audience: would most likely agree with the author’s thesis before hearing his argument
Hostile audience: would most likely disagree with the author’s thesis before hearing his argument

8. Determining the intended audience
After that point, you can further define the intended audience by their beliefs, knowledge, and/or attitudes in a “people who _______” format
Examples:
People who believe _______________
People who fear ________________
People who think ________________

9. In your pod:
Using your notes on précis, thesis, purpose, and audience, determine the following elements of Adler’s “How to Mark a Book.”
Thesis
Support/evidence
Purpose
Audience