Technical Blog

The third chapter of the text focuses on defining the communication’s objective in a writing piece. The idea is to concentrate on affecting the reading in ways necessary to bring about a change. This is done continuously while the readers are reading. To help achieve that goal, the text came up with ten guidelines for the writer to follow. This process is design to help the writer "develop expertise in defining objectives to make sound decisions about the content and design of your communications."

Guideline 1: Focus on what you want to happen while your readers are reading.

• What should be given extra attention to, the details in the report itself or the readers of the report?

Guideline 2: Define your usability goal: analyze your readers' reading task.

• What are the questions the reader will ask? What will the outcome/action of the reader after reading your report?

Guideline 3: Define your persuasive goal: analyze your readers' attitudes.

• How do you get your reader's outcome to match with yours?

Guideline 4: Learn your readers' personal characteristics.

• Who will read your report? What are their function within the company? How familiar are they with respect to the subject?

Guideline 5: Global Guideline: Learn your readers' cultural characteristics.

• Does the reader have any communication preferences to take into account?

Guideline 6: Study the context in which your readers will read.

• Consider the condition surrounding the workplace as you are writing the report.

Guideline 7: Ask others to help you understand your readers and their context.

• Ask for a second opinion

Guideline 8: Learn who all your readers will be.

• Who else might read the report?

Guideline 9: Identify any constraints on the way you write.

• What other factors should the write take into account before sending out the report?

Guideline 10: Ethics Guideline: Identify your communication's stakeholders.

• Stakeholders are individuals who stand to gain or lose some sort of value as the result of the report. It is important to always consider them when writing the report.