Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Analyzing audience involves understanding who will be reading or listening to your message and tailoring it accordingly. It requires considering their demographics, interests, beliefs, values, and expectations.
Related terms
Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos/Pathos/Logos): Rhetorical appeals are persuasive strategies used to appeal to an audience's emotions (pathos), credibility (ethos), or logic (logos). They help shape arguments based on what will resonate most with the intended audience.
Tone refers to the attitude or mood conveyed in a piece of writing. Analyzing audience helps determine the appropriate tone to use, whether it be formal, informal, persuasive, or informative.
Cultural context refers to the social and cultural factors that influence how a message is received by an audience. Analyzing audience involves considering these contextual elements to ensure effective communication.