Who Are You Writing For?

English · Writing Composition · ages 9-10

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which form fits best for telling a made-up adventure with characters?
- An instruction sheet
- A story
- A formal letter
Before Maya starts writing, what should she think about first?
- Who will read it and why she's writing
- How many pages it should be
- What color pen to use
The same piece of writing should sound exactly the same no matter who reads it.
Circle one: True False
Which sentence uses the right, more formal tone for a letter to the principal?
- I am writing to ask if I could have extra time to complete my homework.
- Hey, gimme more time for homework please!
- lol can i get more time
Sam wants to explain the steps for planting a seed. Which form should he use?
- A poem
- A persuasive letter
- Instructions
A review written to persuade people to watch a movie should use a friendly, convincing tone.
Circle one: True False
Jake explains his science project to his little sister, then writes a report on it for his teacher. Why might these look very different?
- Because the topic is different each time
- Because reports must always be shorter than explanations
- Because the audience and purpose differ, so the form, tone, and words should change
Priya wrote a story for kindergartners using long sentences and difficult words. What mistake did she make?
- She chose the wrong form, a story instead of a report
- She matched the wrong vocabulary and sentence length to her young audience
- She forgot to include a purpose

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

A story · Stories are the right form for entertaining readers with a made-up adventure.
Who will read it and why she's writing · Thinking about your audience and purpose first shapes every choice you make while writing.
False · Good writers change their words and tone to fit each different audience.
I am writing to ask if I could have extra time to complete my homework. · A letter to the principal calls for polite, formal words, not casual slang.
Instructions · Instructions are the form for explaining steps clearly, matching Sam's purpose.
True · Reviews aim to persuade, so a friendly, convincing tone fits the purpose well.
Because the audience and purpose differ, so the form, tone, and words should change · Even with the same topic, a different audience and purpose call for a different form and tone.
She matched the wrong vocabulary and sentence length to her young audience · Younger readers need simple words and short sentences, so her writing did not fit her audience.