Defining Your Purpose

Writing with purpose means writing while paying attention to the final outcome of your document: you need to work out what you want your reader to do. Simply answering that fundamental question about why your reader needs your document should help you determine your purpose.

As a result of reading my message (report, letter, email, briefing note), my reader will …

Examples

As a result of reading my letter,	my supervisor will arrange for training for the department.
As a result of reading my email,	my colleague will meet me at the airport.
As a result of reading my proposal,	our donors will provide additional funding.

Once you have identified the kind of response you want, you will find it easier to focus your minutes, letter, report, or proposal to get what you want the first time. As you work your way through the production of your document, your purpose gives you a constant point of reference. It keeps you on track and helps you produce brief, reader-focused writing.