Writing Effectively at The World Health Organization

Your purpose and the expected actions of readers

In Module 1, you considered the importance of purpose – that is, what you hope to achieve by writing your document. Along with this, you also considered the response you expect of your reader as a result of reading your report or proposal. These two concepts – writer’s intentions and readers’ expectations – are central to the planning process.

Your purpose

Expectations of your readers

What do you want to do with your report or proposal?

What do you want your reader to do as a result of reading your report?

Examples

  • Seek approval
  • Seek funding
  • Recommend
  • Assess
  • Describe expectations
  • Provide guidelines

Examples

  • Approve
  • Provide
  • Accept and implement recommendations
  • Take action
  • Follow instructions in carrying out an action

In order to achieve your purpose, your document will need to provide the readers with sufficient evidence to support the action you expect them to take. For instance, if you are writing to seek approval for a project, your report will have to provide evidence that the goals of the project are worthy, and that it is well planned and likely to succeed in its goals.

Look at the following document types and consider what you would hope to achieve from your readers with each of them:

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