Understanding the Audience

NETA PowerPoint® Slides
to accompany
Copyright © 2015 by Nelson Education Ltd.
prepared by
Rhonda Dynes
Mohawk
College
1-1

Understanding the Audience,
Understanding
Yourself
Chapter 1
1-2

Addressing Your Readers
Before you start writing—an essay, a report,
an email message—you must have something to
write about (your subject) and someone to write for
(your audience).
How strongly related are these two concepts?
1-3

Addressing Your Readers cont’d
Ask yourself the following questions:
• How old are your readers? Might the readers’
generation change their perceptions?
• What is their level of education?
• What do they do for a living?
• Are your readers busy, or will they be able to give your
message a great deal of consideration?
• What is their cultural background? Their first language?
• Do they have any other specific traits that might affect
their perception of what they are reading?
1-4

Consider the following three questions
when you are deciding what
information your essay should include:
1. What does my reader know about my subject?
2. What is my reader’s attitude toward my subject?
3. What are my reader’s needs in regard to my
subject?
1-5

Readers’ Knowledge
The first question will help you choose the kind and
amount of information that you should include.
Are you writing for people who
know little about your subject or
for people with fairly detailed
knowledge? Telling readers things
they clearly already know can seem
demeaning and offensive, but not
telling them enough will confuse
them.
1-6

Readers’ Attitudes
The second question helps you decide how to
approach your subject, especially if it is controversial.
Will your readers be sympathetic to
what you have to say? If so, you will
aim to reinforce their agreement and
will probably state your opinion up
front. If, however, you think they may
be hostile to what you have to say,
you might lessen resistance by
providing support for your ideas
before revealing your point of view.
1-7

Readers’ Needs
The third question helps you to decide whether
to persuade or inform, to compare or classify, to
describe or analyze.
Do you intend to add to or reinforce
your audience’s general knowledge,
or do you want your readers to apply
your information only in specific
situations?
Does your reader need a push or are
you just helping someone make a
decision?
1-8

When you are deciding what role would
be most appropriate in a particular
communication situation, consider
the following three questions:
1. What is my purpose in writing?
2. What is my attitude toward my subject?
3. What are my readers’ expectations of me in this
communication?
1-9

Your Purpose in Writing
The most common purposes
of writing are
– to inform
– to persuade
– to entertain
1-10

Your Attitude Toward Your Subject
Thinking about how personal or
how objective you wish (or are able)
to be in presenting your ideas is an
important step.
If your views coincide with those of
your readers, then a fairly informal
approach may be appropriate; if
they differ, then an impersonal,
objective approach is preferable.
1-11

Your Readers’ Expectations of You
Consider the following three
questions when choosing your role:
1. If you write as an authority,
will you be credible?
2. If you write as a peer or
colleague, will you be
effective?
3. What are your readers likely to
expect from someone in your
position writing to them on
this subject?
1-12

Levels of Standard English Writing
Because writers have time to consider
what they want to say and how best to
say it, they can
• choose their words carefully
•arrange them in meaningful sentences
•organize ideas into logical paragraphs
1-13

cont’d
Good writing involves more than knowing
what words and sentences mean. It also
requires using appropriate language. This
means that the actual words you choose
will affect readers’ understanding of what
you are trying to say.
1-14

cont’d
1-15

cont’d
Your message, your audience,
and your purpose in writing
are what should determine
the level you choose.
1-16

No one level is “better” than another.
Each has its place and uses.
1-17

When you are reading ask yourself:
1. Who is the intended audience?
2. What is the writer’s role?
3. Why is the level of language appropriate?
1-18

Summary
• The relationship between you and your
audience depends on your understanding of
their knowledge, attitudes, and needs.
• Your decision about your role as a writer is
based on your purpose, attitude, and reader’s
expectations.
• The relationship between the two determines
the level of language that you use when
writing.
1-19

Understanding the Audience

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