A Catalogue of the Purposes of Writing
The list of some of the more common purposes of writing that follows may help you identify
the purposes of pieces of writing you read. Whenever you read a piece of writing, ask yourself
what its purpose is and whether it fits in any of these categories. For example, the list of stock
market prices in this morning's newspaper clearly belongs in the category “the conduct of
business” and in the subcategory “to report information needed for making new decisions.” An
editorial in the same paper might be considered “instigation of public thought and action,”
specifically “to criticize the actions” of a particular public official. The comic strips would be
“entertainment,” perhaps in any of the three subcategories. Textbooks, including this one, are for
the “transmission of knowledge to a wider audience” either “to provide an introduction to an area
of knowledge” or “to instruct rigorously.”
As you try to categorize actual pieces of writing that you have read, you may find that one
piece of writing may serve several purposes; an amusing parody of a political candidate aims to
influence your vote even as it entertains you. You may also find that you need to add categories or
subcategories to fit the special text you are examining.
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