Preparation: Reader analysis

You will remember that in Module 1, you considered both primary and secondary readers for documents. Your report or proposal is likely to be read by a number of different readers, both primary and secondary. Although your focus should be on your primary readers and the key decision-maker, it is wise to keep other readers in mind.

This reader analysis form provides a structured way for you to reflect on the needs of your primary and secondary readers, and the potential barriers that might prevent them from accepting your main message.

Your reader analysis is a major component of your Report/Proposal Planning Document. You have already included your purpose statement in this document. Complete the reader analysis component of this planning document now.

You will notice there is a place on the form for you to record your report’s main message, but you will do that later. So keep this document on hand as you continue through the module.

This planning document is part of your assignment (Part A). You will submit it to your tutor for feedback once you have completed the Organizing section of this module.

Note: Please do not include your tutor as a reader in the reader analysis. Your tutor’s role is different from that of other readers; he or she is there to coach you, not to be persuaded by your message.

© WHO 2011