Summary
Highlights
This video covers Chapter 2 of Technical Writing 215, focusing on audience and purpose. It will discuss meeting audience needs and planning document purpose, scope, and medium. Aristotle's four communication methods (logos, ethos, pathos, chyros) are introduced, with technical writing primarily focusing on logos and ethos, avoiding pathos.
Technical writers need to identify different reader types: lay readers (no technical knowledge), technicians (some knowledge, understand manuals), experts (highly skilled, seek to learn and contribute), and managers (need high-level overviews, prioritize quick understanding, often prefer visuals). Each type requires a different approach to documentation.
To understand a specific audience, analyze their knowledge level (what they know, need to know, and want to know), interest level (why they are reading the document, e.g., to be informed, make decisions, or for fun), and role (manager, peer, or supervisee, which dictates their need for detail or overview). Cultural background and personality are also crucial considerations to avoid offense and tailor communication style (analytical, outgoing, big picture vs. details).
Assignment 2A involves analyzing an audience based on a scenario where a security officer, Gavin, must write a memo to a new executive about her security pass. Students are asked to consider the executive's knowledge level, interests, role, cultural background, and personality, and how these factors should influence the language and content of the memo.
When dealing with multiple audiences, prioritize the primary audience—those who requested the document and will make decisions or take action based on it. Secondary audiences, who are affected by or interested in the document but not primary decision-makers, also need consideration, often through summaries or selected sections. Strategies include avoiding stereotypes, biased language, and developing plans for each reader type.
Before writing, clearly define the document's purpose (to inform, persuade, or both), scope (what information to include and exclude), and medium (how the information will be conveyed, e.g., print, online, TV, radio). The choice of medium should align with the audience's typical usage, message, purpose, and resource availability, ensuring effective delivery.
Assignment 2B requires practicing writing purpose statements, defining scope (what to include and exclude), and choosing appropriate media for various scenarios. An example provided is writing to persuade the public to vote for a specific candidate for senator, including considerations for content inclusion/exclusion and potential media choices.