Anticipating the Needs of Your Readers

To consider your reader when forming your purpose, you should first ask, Who is my reader? It is a deceptively simple question, but on closer inspection, you will find it provokes some complex responses. It is most likely that you will have multiple readers for your writing. Some (like your immediate supervisor or a funder) will be primary readers, and others will be secondary readers, but still need to be kept in mind. It is also useful to identify the key decision maker among your readers. For example, if action is to be taken, ask yourself, Who can authorize the action I want taken?

• For proposals, this will be the person or persons who may be approving the idea, supplying funds, or both. 
• For sector reports, this may be the sector manager.
• For mission reports, this may be the appropriate authorities, the task team, or both.