English 421Y: Technical Writing Online

One of the main points that Chapter 3: Readers and Context of Use stressed was the fact that different types of readers are looking for different things when reading. For example, the author states that the primary user is generally "raiding" the information for what they want. They are looking for the information required to make a decision or take action. Everything else just gets in the way.

After reading Chapter 3-Readers and Contexts of Use, I began to look back on past experiences that I had at my internship over the past three summers. There were several instances when I was asked to write a technical document such as a project bid or problem report. While writing these documents, I had to think about the different people who I was targeting the document towards. For example, with project bids, I had to target the document to potential clients.

     Chapter 3 of "Readers and Contexts of Use" introduces the concept of profiling the target audience as a preliminary planning phase to anticipate the goals and requirements of the final documents. It suggests that “the knowledge gained in profiling your audience is essential to effective technical communication” (TCT). I agree fully; as times change and technology evolves, people often take on busier schedules which yield a desire and demand for simplicity in every aspect of their lives.

While reading Chapter 3: Readers and Contexts of Use, I found the main points and descriptions very interesting. It seems that before writing a technical document, knowing the reader and profiling them into categories will always help the document to be successful. The systematic approach to profiling a reader will help the document to be understandable and flow smoothly. In following the guidelines listed in the reading about profiling a reader, the different types of readers could be analyzed and mastered.

After gathering information from Chapter 3 in our text book, Technical Communication Today, I realized that the ideas discussed could be apply to many different situations. Chapter 3 is titled "Readers and Context of Use" the context of the chapter focuses on Knowing your audience as a writer, getting your point across with the most efficient layout, and how your writing will be analyzed. I will focus on how the information in chapter 3 can be in the manufacturing world.

Chapter three of Technical Communications Today explains the many different audiences that a writer has and how to address each through charts, tables, and examples of documents used for two different readers.

I’ve learned from personal experience that audience analysis is very important in any type of communication, especially technical writing. While working as a web designer for a local internet service provider I was tasked with writing a document that explained to our users how to install anti-virus software on their PC’s. I had explained the steps to several customers before, both in person when they brought their machines in, and over the phone when I helped with technical support.

Chapter 3, "Readers and Context of Use" stresses how important it is to know one's readers and write with that knowledge in mind.
I found the section on profiling readers quite useful. It breaks down the profiling process into six basic questions that the writer can ask himself: who, what, where, when, why, and how. If the writer correctly answers these questions to himself, his work will be much better tailored towards his readers.

Chapter 3, Readers and Context of Use, dealt primarily with the importance of understating your target audience, and tailoring your writing style and presentation to best coincide with their needs and norms. The reading suggested ways to create a concise profile about your readers (primary, secondary, tertiary, and gatekeepers) by examining their needs as it pertains to the information you will be presenting, their overall company values, and their attitudes towards you and the information you will be presenting.

After reading the categories of audiences and types of contexts of technical writing, your work can effectively influence the proper type of person accordingly. The several types of categories explained in Chapter 3 are to benefit the writer to be more aware of the potential individuals evaluating their work. It is important to keep everyone in mind while completing a piece of work because often many people write unintentional inappropriate things. The type of audience that I was most concerned about was the tertiary reader.