Audience & Purpose
Two of the most important things you should consider when writing anything are Audience and Purpose.
Know Your Audience – What is your relationship with your readers? Your professor may specify your audience. If not, choose your words and explanations with the general reader in mind. For example, if you use medical terminology or specialized vocabulary, you may need to define them. Similarly, identify other ideas, such as acronyms – initials that represent an entity – with which the reader may not be familiar. For example, if you write “SUNY,” identify its meaning: State University of New York. Simply stated, try to put yourself in your reader’s shoes.
Purpose – Your writing situation also relies on your purpose – and your purpose depends on your audience. As you understand your assignment, you must also make your intention clear. Are you writing to inform, to entertain, or to call for action? Will your readers accept or resist your ideas?