How much information does your audience need?

1. What does your audience know about your subject material?
   Be sure to define terms and concepts that may not be understood by your specific audience. Some audiences may understand many concepts from your subject and may be insulted by over-explanation; other audiences may feel lost in a document that does not fully explain / define the concepts it discusses because of their lack of understanding of those concepts.
2. Has your audience gained its knowledge of the topic through reading or personal experience?
   There is a difference between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge. Information gained from experience tends to be more likely grasped than information that is simply read. Theoretical understanding of a subject can offer a good framework of understanding of a topic, but often times the practical experiences will cement that knowledge.
3. What specific concepts from your subject must your audience know to understand your writing?
   When referencing previously-defined concepts or terms in your writing, be sure to refer to those ideas consistently and clearly so your audience knows exactly what term or concept you are discussing, as to not force readers to review material each time a term appears in your document.

What types of writing does your audience prefer reading?

1. What style of writing does your audience prefer?
   Be sure to use an appropriate voice and level of diction for your audience. Children do not understand seven-syllable technical terms; adults do not like patronizing writing.
2. Are there terms or concepts that may disturb / offend your readers?
   Your audience may have a predisposition toward the subject material you are trying to present. Be sure to present your information with benefits to the reader as to show the value of your knowledge. (e.g. Many college students do not like English classes, so I must present my information in a manner that seems valuable to those students.)
3. Does your audience prefer direct or indirect writing?
   Different cultures prefer different organizations in writing. Some groups prefer direct writing, where you state your main point and follow that up with support and examples; other groups prefer indirect writing, where you use examples to develop a sort of pattern or genre, then use these examples to arrive at a main point. Be sure to use the appropriate pattern in your writing.
4. Are there elements of formatting that your audience expects in your writing?
   Instructions often have accompanying visuals to demonstrate the written concepts in a document; footnotes / captions provide readers with additional information about a given discussion or visual; many forms of writing use headings and spacing to define and separate chunks of information. Use these techniques to accommodate your readers.

How will your audience use your document?

1. In what setting will your audience use your document?
   Think about the differences between reading a document on paper and on the Internet: flipping through numerous pages or scrolling down a long screen; linear print reading or intertwined Web links; black and white or color. Also, visual elements such as lists, headings, and spacing can help readers scan documents in distracting environments.
2. What type of resource will your document become?
   For this class, we use a handbook that allows us to look up immediately pertinent information rather than having to read through a lengthy narrative to find the same information. This suits an audience interested in finding information quickly and easily, an audience who appreciates directness in writing.

Concepts adapted from Locker, 66-70.