21 Self/Source/Audience- the three components of Tech Writing
Three components for understanding the process of technical writing:
Self (writer)
Recognize your role in the writer/reader relationship. Be familiar with these questions:
o Who am I (in the writing process)? Why am I communicating information?
o What are my goals? Where do I want to go (with the info I provide)?
o What is my purpose? Why do I want to go there?
o How am I going to achieve my goals and purposes? What method of communication will I use?
Source (organization)
Recognize the group/individual for which you are writing, whether it’s for a business, a non-profit group or your own personal needs.
§ Whom am I representing? What are their goals/purposes?
§ What position do I have with them?
§ How do I represent them? What resources do I need?
§ Why do they need representation?
Audience (reader)
Recognize the individual, group that you will be presenting information to.
What do they need to know? How do I decide?
How do I go about doing that? What tools do I need?
What is their level of understanding (knowledge)?
How do they feel about the topic and about me (attitude)?
Why are they involved with this written communication (purpose)?