Phil Druker/Department of English/UI

Analyze the writing situation before you write. Consider these issues:

The readers:

Who are they?
What do they already know?
What is their level of technical expertise?
What is their position in the organization/company?
What is their attitude toward the subject?
How will they receive the information (format)?

The readers’ purpose:

Why are they reading this?
      Why are they reading your document?
What do they need to know
      This may be different from what they want to know.
What do they need/want to do with the information?

Your (the writer’s) purpose:

Overt purpose:

What do you want to say ?
Do you want to analyze, explain, teach, persuade? (a combination is common)
What response do you want?
What do you want your readers to do?
What do you want your readers to know?
What facts do you need to impart?

Covert purpose:

Examples: a raise, a better job, a good grade/evaluation….

What role do you want to play?
    Friendly, impersonal, authoritative, persuasive....

*Remember:

**Writing is for readers.**

**Write to communicate new information.**