The following video demonstrates how external factors influence a piece of writing, even before the first word is written down.
The video focuses on the use of rhetoric from the viewpoint as a writer. As you watch, consider how the same elements hold true from the viewpoint as a reader.
As a reader, pay attention to these factors that shaped the document. Consider:
- What do I know about the author, just by reading this text? How does the author’s experience or education shape the reading?
- What do I know about the goals for this work, just by reading this text? How do these goals influence what actually appears in the text?
- What do I know about the intended audience for this work? Am I a member of that intended audience?