Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose Chapter 5 Presented By: Rachel Harkness Steven Butts Jon Band Chris Cordell June 6, 2006

Types of Readers Characteristics of Readers Cultural Factors Multiple Audiences, Purpose, and Management

Analyzing an Audience Thinking—take what you know and like Listening—talk to others Classifying—based on their knowledge on the subject Types of Readers

Identifying Audiences Primary Audience—have a direct roll in responding –Use the document in their job –Evaluate the document –Act on your recommendations Secondary Audience—needs to stay aware of developments Types of Readers

Basic Categories Expert—highly trained, theoretical and practical understanding Technician—builds, operates, maintains Manager—long range concerns; broad picture General Reader—self-interest Types of Readers

Characteristics of Readers Cultural Factors Multiple Audiences, Purpose, and Management

Individual Characteristics Who is your reader? What are the reader’s attitudes and expectations? How will the document be used? Characteristics of Readers

Who is your Reader? The Reader’s Education The Reader’s Professional Experience The Reader’s Job Responsibility Characteristics of Readers

Who is your Reader? Personal Characteristics Personal Preferences Cultural Characteristics Characteristics of Readers

What Are Your Reader’s Attitudes and Expectations? Attitude Towards You Attitude Towards Subject Expectations of Your Reader about the Document Characteristics of Readers

Why and How Will Your Reader Use Your Document? Reason for Reading the Document The Way the Document will be Read Reading Skills of Your Reader Physical Environment of the Reader Characteristics of Readers

Types of Readers Characteristics of Readers Cultural Factors Multiple Audiences, Purpose, and Management

Communicating Across Cultures Society and workforce are becoming increasingly diverse, both culturally and linguistically. Effective communication requires understanding of cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values that motivate behavior. Cultural Factors

Understanding Cultural Variables Communicating effectively with people from another culture requires understanding a set of variables that lie on the surface. –Political –Economic –Social –Religious –Educational –Technological –Linguistic Cultural Factors

Writing to Other Cultures Guidelines for Approaching Readers of Another Culture –Limit Your Vocabulary –Keep Sentences Short –Define Acronyms and Abbreviations in a Glossary –Avoid Jargon –Avoid Idioms and Slang –Use the Active Voice Whenever Possible –Be Careful with Graphics –Have Someone from the Target Culture Review Your Document Cultural Factors

Types of Readers Characteristics of Readers Cultural Factors Multiple Audiences, Purpose, and Management

Dealing with Multiple Audiences Will there be multiple types of readers using your document? Modular Document Multiple Audiences

Audience Profile Helps Analyze Your Readers Example on page 88 Multiple Audiences

Determining Purpose What is the document accomplishing? Verbs can help define purpose. –To describe –To inform –To outline –To define –To assess –To propose –To evaluate Purpose

Gaining Management’s Approval Are you on the right track? Do those with the final say agree? Management