Module 2b —
Report Writing
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Assignment Preparation task 4: Analysing your readers
Your report is likely to be read by a number of different readers. In this instance, your tutor will be one of your readers, but please do not include your tutor in the reader analysis. Complete the exercise on the assumption that your report will be used at work.
You will have primary readers, probably including a key decision maker, and then you are likely to have other readers (secondary readers). Although your focus should be on your primary readers and the key decision-maker, it is wise to keep other readers in mind. (Some of these readers can be particularly important to you in your career.)
Reader Analysis Form
Complete a Reader Analysis Form introduced in Module 1. You will need to submit this with your assignment report.
Click here for the Reader Analysis Form.
Reader questions
Let's take this one step further. Think about the route your report will take through the ILO. Think about its possible uses by other sections of the organization. Identify readers along the route and try to work out their specific needs and agendas. In this exercise you should keep in mind that some of your readers (and in particular, the busiest of them) may not know much about the subject area of your report. What implications does this have for your writing?
Write down some of the questions that you think your various classes of readers will have about the contents of your report. Click here for the reader's questionnaire document.
Record your impressions in the Reflections File you started with the previous Assignment Preparation Task.