1. I think the audience he is trying to appeal is people in general. For instance, people who are interested in writing, as well as those who are in school I feel like Baker choice of audience is that wants people to feel where he is coming from and how he wants to connect with the reader's. Baker wants the readers to connect with his point of views like in a way he talks about writing. It makes him more open to express how he is really passionate about it. Also, I feel like he is somewhat pushing people to do what they believe in and never be afraid to do it.
2. In the second paragraph baker brings up writing so passionately about how he expresses writing and how he knows that it is something he really wants to do. For instance, the way he always says that writing is what he would like to do as a career and also how he did a great job on his essay shows that he likes to showcase his skills. He tells the reader's repeatedly that writing is his way out. He never gives up no matter the circumstances, if people laugh at him it shows him that he will go through whatever to get to the top. I liked the statement where he says "most people don't agree with me being a writer but it's what I like to do." What he is trying to say is he wouldn't trade writing for anything in the world when you have a dream no matter what you do. Baker illustrates that perfectly at the end of the story to prove himself to the reader just a little work can pay off in a major way. This whole passage is basically talking about how an english course and a teacher impacted him largely. He doubted that his essay was any good and when it unexpectedly does he can't believe it. He discovers that he has a big passion and talent for writing.
3. The purpose for the author writing this essay is to express and reflect the memory of the time him being sixteen and wondering what to do with his life. He wrote this essay because it was a defining point in his life. It was such an event that had a huge impact and ended up changing his life. Baker wishes to share this lesson with others who are interested in writing. He wants to share to his readers how writing is the pathway to get away from other things and how it gives him true identity. He is expressing to his readers that no one is perfect and it takes times to find something you’re truly interested in. But it can also turn out to be something you don’t take interest in. It feels like Baker wants to tell us through this essay to never give up on our goal and never stop believing nor stop achieving.
4. In conclusion, the tone of voice in this essay comes across as informal and very casual. Since the essay is a autobiography and uses first person, we can determine that this has an informal tone of voice. In the 12th paragraph, he says “my words!” That sentence makes it informal because it is a short and simple sentence. Throughout the essay, he is using a first person point of view. His word choices are more vague and colloquial. “It wasn’t a question but an exclamation of mild surprise at our ignorance.” In that sentence, he uses contractions. In formal writing, contractions can not be present or else it will be informal.