• Describe strategies for analyzing your audience
• Explore ways to connect with your audience using tone, language, and rhetorical appeals

Shifting Your Tone for Different Audiences

You will read a situation, then rewrite a short persuasive message for three different audiences. Each version should reflect:

• The same goal
• The same main idea
• But a different tone, word choice, and approach based on who you’re talking to

The Scenario

You are writing a brief message encouraging people to support a new city proposal to turn a vacant lot into a community garden. The city council will vote on the proposal next month. The garden would offer free plots for residents, workshops on sustainable gardening, and volunteer opportunities for local youth. You strongly support the project because it promotes food security, environmental education, and community involvement.

You will need to create messages for several different audiences to convince them to support the community garden project.

For each one, think about:

• What kind of tone is appropriate?
• What language or examples will connect best with this group?
• What values or priorities might they care about most?
• What rhetorical appeals might be the most effective?

Then, craft your message to match that audience’s needs and expectations.

Audience 1

Your first audience consists of longtime residents at a neighborhood association meeting. Your goal is to encourage them to speak in favor of the garden at a public meeting.

Hint: Use a respectful, community-oriented tone. Appeal to shared values like neighborhood pride, beautification, and public health.

Audience 2

Your second audience is high school students looking for service opportunities. Your goal is to inspire them to get involved in the garden project.

Hint: Keep the tone upbeat and casual. Focus on hands-on experiences, making a difference, and learning something new.

Audience 3

Your third and final audience is a city council member who will vote on the proposal. Your goal is to persuade them that this is a worthwhile investment for the city.

Hint: Use a formal tone. Present clear, evidence-based benefits like the use of public space, sustainability, and civic engagement.

Think about how you adjusted your message for each audience. What changed in your tone, word choice, or the details you chose to emphasize? Which rhetorical appeals did you employ? Which version felt most natural to write—and which required more thought?

Understanding your audience is one of the most important tools in writing. It shapes not just what you say, but how you say it. Whether you’re trying to persuade, inform, or inspire, tailoring your message to the people you’re writing for makes your communication more effective, thoughtful, and impactful.