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Academic language: a Practical Guide

Audience & purpose

Explore the nuances of Academic Language with our comprehensive guide.

Audience & purpose

When writing an academic text or presenting a piece of work to an academic audience, you must first consider your audience and purpose.


What do we mean by 'Audience'?


“Audience” refers to the people who will read your written work or listen to your presentation. 


The academic audience:

  • When writing an academic text, like an essay or thesis, the primary audience may be your lecturer or a panel of professors. 
  • You may also present an academic paper to a group of academics or ‘experts’ in your field. 
  • At times, you might address your peers with shared academic interests. 
  • Occasionally, academic writing targets an audience beyond one's own field, such as writing a grant proposal for interdisciplinary review. 

Understanding your audience is crucial as it shapes the content and style of your academic writing.



How to identify your audience

Ask yourself some questions about your audience:


  • Who will read/listen to this?
  • How much do they already know, and what do you need to tell them?
  • Why will they read/listen to what you write/say, and can you make them want to keep reading/listening?
  • How do you think they'll react?
  • Are you adding to ongoing research, filling in a gap in understanding, or challenging accepted ideas?
  • What writing style does your audience prefer?
  • Are there common ways of writing or a usual tone in your field?

The answers will affect what you write/say and how you present it.


What do we mean by 'Purpose'?


"Purpose" means why you are writing or presenting and what you intend to achieve. 


The purpose of academic writing:

  • In academic writing, the usual goals are to explain an idea, share research findings, and persuade readers or an audience that your explanation or theory is correct. 
  • The purpose of your paper is the reason behind writing your text or presenting your material, whether it is to persuade, inform, instruct, analyse, review, or something else. 
  • You may need to describe something or present a series of events. You must use examples, illustrations, stats, or quotations to help you achieve your goal.


How to identify your purpose

To better understand an assignment's purpose, think and answer the following prompts before you begin writing:


  • Write a short description of the assignment;
  • Identify the learning objectives or intended outcomes set for this assignment;
  • Determine what a reader should gain from reading the completed assignment;
  • Specify what you want the reader to learn or understand after they have read the assignment.
  • Define what you aim to learn or achieve by completing this assignment.

Reflecting on these prompts will help you align your writing with the assignment's objectives, ensuring clear and purposeful work.


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