Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is essential to know about your audience when creating a report?
What two things do all audiences have in common?
What is a common purpose of a report?
What should you do as soon as possible when writing a report?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is it essential to identify your audience before writing a report?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the result of a report that doesn't answer the questions of cost and time required?
Signup and view all the answers
What is another common purpose of a report?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is it important to express the purpose of the report?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the benefit of drafting the table of contents early in the report-writing process?
Signup and view all the answers
When should you start writing the sections of the report?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Identifying Audiences
- There are three main categories of audiences for a technical report: Technical, Non-Technical, and Mixed.
Technical Audiences
- Made up of people in the same field as the writer.
- Includes people like other computer scientists and technicians.
- They may work within the same organization or outside.
- Their interests may include other things, but they are likely to have an interest in the subject of the report.
Non-Technical Audiences
- Include citizen advisory boards, financial experts, legal or administrative readers, and many others.
- Their needs are different from technical readers.
- As a technical writer, you need to provide what they are looking for.
Mixed Audiences
- A combination of technical and non-technical readers.
- The most common type of audience.
- More difficult to write for, but can be achieved with good report design principles.
Overcoming Audience Challenges
- One of the challenges is overcoming the natural reaction of readers.
- This can be done by designing the report properly.
- Principles of good report design will be covered later in the course.
Identifying and Analyzing Audiences
- Define the purpose of the report and the key information it needs to convey.
- Define the audience and their level of technical understanding.
- Determine the level of detail necessary for the report.
- Organize the data.
Working with a Team
- Assign tasks to each team member.
- Let each team member know the level of detail required, the audience, and the deadlines.
- Follow up with each author to ensure commitment and to identify potential problems.
- Select an editor to enhance the final document and ensure consistency.
Meeting Deadlines
- Deadlines should be clear and committed to in writing.
- Managing the document is a project management task that requires frequent contact with all members.
- Plan for some leeway in the schedule to accommodate late members.
- Tools like Microsoft Project can help monitor progress.
Understanding Your Audience
- Know your audience's technical background, function in the organization, interests, and required level of detail.
- Your report should answer two common questions: what will your idea cost, and how long will it take to accomplish?
Report Purposes
- To convince the reader of something.
- To encourage the reader to do something.
Getting Started
- Begin writing the report sections as soon as possible.
- Draft the table of contents early in the process to provide an overview of the document.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz covers the three broad categories of audiences for a technical report, including technical, non-technical, and mixed audiences. It also explains the characteristics of technical audiences.
