In writing, the structure and context of the text are affected by the intended audience and its purpose. In Taylor Mali’s poem, What Teachers Make, he exhibits this learning outcome and molds his poem to fit the audience and purpose. In this poem, the purpose is to explain the significance of what teachers do and that one should not be judged on what they “make”. The audience in the poem is directed towards a doubtful and questioning dinner guest that seems to be talking down to Mali because of his income and his job choice. To reach the fullest effect in his writing, Mali chooses words that can be interpreted as rude and defensive. For example, in lines 47-49 Mali says, “I make them understand that if you got this (brains)/ then you follow this (heart)/ and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make/ you give them this (the finger)” to further prove his point. The audience shaped how Mali performed and wrote this poem because if, for example, his audience was someone who wasn’t criticizing his work or perhaps another teacher, he would definitely not seem to be on the offensive.
Throughout the text, Mali’s purpose is to prove the significance that teachers hold and to prove his point he uses examples from his life as a teacher and how he impacts the lives of his students. For example, through lines 32-38 he elaborates on the good things that result from teaching when he says, “I make parents see their children for who they are/ and what they can be./You want to know what I make?/I make kids wonder, /I make them question./ I make them criticize. / I make them apologize and mean it”. These examples lead the audience to side with Mali in the imaginary argument between him and the lawyer at the dinner table. Mali’s execution of the poem and his performance really makes the audience feel respect and admiration for teachers and the impact they have on their students. He uses persuasive techniques in his writing and word choice to persuade the audience when he draws from his experiences. Taylor Mali’s What Teachers Make exhibits the learning outcome that both audience and purpose of writing can mold the structure and context of the text.
