Audience Identity and Needs

• Primary reader(s): Students who enrolled in Dr. McLaughlin’s English 317 Technical Writing class.
  
• Secondary readers(s): All others who want to write a simple home page.
  
• Relationship: Classmates or most likely none
  
• Intended use of document: Show how to write a simple home page that has a scanned photo image and a short biography of the author.
  
• Prior knowledge about this topic: Basic knowledge of using Mac computers such as opening an application (double clicking on the icon) and minimal typing would be helpful.
  
• Additional information needed: Having used a World Wide Web browser such as Netscape is a plus.
  
• Probable questions: What is home page? How to write one?
  

Audience’s Probable Attitude and Personality

• Attitude toward topic: Possibly interested.
  
• Probable objections: The process might sound too complicated for beginners.
  
• Probable attitude toward this writer: Perhaps understanding (hopefully), or mildly encouraging.
  
• Organization climate: Possibly receptive.
  
• Persons most affected by this document: Those who read it and write their first home pages.
  
• Temperament: Relaxed and friendly.
  
• Probable reaction to document: Approval. Acquired new information.
  
• Risk of alienating anyone: Those who have never used computers before might feel left out (no detailed explanation is provided here).
  

Audience Expectation About the Document

• Reason document originated : Class assignment, but students haven’t found a use for the scanned photo so far.
  
• Acceptable length: Short and to-the-point, no lengthy explanation.
  
• Material important to this audience: What to do and how to do without being overwhelmed by new information.
  
• Most useful arrangement: Chronological order (do this, and do that).
  
• Tone: Friendly as if talking to colleagues, but not too much.
  
• Intended effect on this audience: Make a use for the scanned photo at last, and let the world know who the person on the photo.