Context
The situation or setting related to the message.
What is context?
What is Audience?
The reason for crafting a message.
Purpose
What is the most common type of medium used in the workplace?
Add information to meet the audience's needs.
What type of information do you need to include in the message?
So we can create a message that will meet the audience's needs.
Why is knowing the context important?
Background knowledge, experience, training
What are some of the considerations you need to consider when analyzing the audience?
In the workplace, you "write to create change" (Tebeaux & Dragga, 2014).
What is the purpose for writing in the workplace?
Letter, report, and proposal
What is (usually) the most formal media?
Change sentence length and style to be clearer and more concise.
Be aware of different formats indicating time and date, humor, and figurative language like "hit a home run."
What do we need to consider when our audience is from a different culture?
What is the most (usually) informal?
Use headings and section introductions to help your audiences understand the message content and know what to focus on and what to avoid.
Cost and time involved in printing, stuffing, sealing, and affixing postage stamps.
What are some weaknesses of a business letter?
Focus on the majority of the audience and meet their needs. You can also add supplemental information in appendices at the end of the report.
What do you do if you audience has wide variability?