Audience

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Correctly identifying who the reader of your text will be is one of the most important things you can do as a writer. Writers with a weak or nonexistent connection to their readers cannot inform, persuade, or entertain effectively. Writers who have a strong voice which speaks directly to their audience, however, are well on their way to becoming exceptional writers.

Note: For a further discussion on developing a strong voice, see the handout Voice.

Consider the following questions in order to communicate more effectively with your audience.

Who is your reader?

Are you writing for your professor, your classmates, or someone else? For example, using colloquial expressions such as "It was totally awesome!" is probably not appropriate when writing a paper for your professor.

What effect do you wish to have on your audience?

Do you wish to persuade, excite, inform, or something else? Reflecting on what your audience will find interesting and effective will dramatically increase your ability to speak to your audience in a way that both you and they will enjoy. Remember, if your topic or writing style is boring to you, it will likely also be boring to your readers.

How much does your reader know about your topic?

Is the reader an expert, someone at your own level of learning, or a novice? For example, a paper that is intended to inform your classmates of the structure of DNA will be less technical than a paper on the same subject intended for your biology professor. Similarly, if you are writing a literary analysis for your classmates on a book you have all read, you do not need to spend time explaining the plot, except as it relates to your specific analysis.

How well are you communicating?

Is there anything in your paper that is difficult to follow? Ideas that make sense in your mind do not necessarily translate to a clear argument on paper. Read your paper out loud and ask a candid friend to review it and give you honest feedback about the impressions he or she receives.

Could anything in your paper be offensive to the audience or members of the greater discourse?

When dealing with race, gender, social class, or other controversial issues, you must be careful to not insult any group of people involved in the issue. Prejudiced attitudes can be shown in generalized statements and omissions (for example, using "he" to describe a person whose gender is not specified), as well as outright attacks. Reviewing your paper will help you catch offensive language.

What would your most severe critics say if they read your paper?

Your audience is generally more critical of your ideas than you are. Do you go too far or not far enough in any of your assertions? As you review your paper, critically assess each point your paper makes, watching for weak connections. But, don't stop there—get an opinion from an outside source, such as a knowledgeable friend or a tutor at the Writing Center.

Danny Nelson, summer 2005
Based on a handout by Nick Mason, Feb. 1993