The Essential Elements

Writer

"How do I demonstrate my authority?"

Audience

"Who are my readers and how are they likely to respond to my ideas, my writing, and to me?"

Subject

"What is my main idea, is it sound, and what evidence do I have that supports it?"

Purpose

"What do I hope to achieve by writing this and how can make my writing do that?

Situation

"How do the circumstances in which I 'm writing determine all of the above for me?"