Stages in the
Writing Process
DR CECILIA OSYANJU
In "An Introduction to Technical Writing" by Sharon J. Gerson, audience awareness plays a
crucial role in decision-making at each stage of the writing process. The significance and
impact of audience awareness can be understood in terms of how it influences the writer's
choices in content, style, organization, and tone.
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Key Stages
in the writing process
Prewriting
Drafting
Prewriting stage is
vital as it helps the
writer define the
It helps in
determining the most
effective way to
purpose and goals of
communicate the
the document. It sets
the tone for the entire
writing process.
information to the
intended audience.
Revising
Editing and
Proofreading
It involves refining
the document to ensure
it meets the
expectations and needs
Editing and
proofreading involve
refining the document to
meet the specific
of the audience.
conventions and
preferences of the
audience.
Prewriting Stage:
Significance: Understanding the audience at the prewriting stage is vital as it helps the
writer define the purpose and goals of the document. It sets the tone for the entire writing
process.
Impact: Writers need to consider the knowledge, expectations, and needs of the audience.
This influences decisions about what information to include, how much detail to provide,
and the level of technicality or complexity in language.
Elements
Drafting Stage:
Significance: Audience awareness guides the writer in structuring the content logically and
coherently. It helps in determining the most effective way to communicate the
information to the intended audience.
Impact: The writer must make decisions about the organization of ideas and the use of
language that align with the audience's level of expertise. This includes choosing
appropriate examples, analogies, and technical terms.
Revising Stage:
Significance: Revising with the audience in mind allows the writer to evaluate the clarity
and effectiveness of the communication. It involves refining the document to ensure it
meets the expectations and needs of the audience.
Impact: Writers may need to adjust the structure, tone, and level of detail based on
feedback or a
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critical review of how well the document addresses the audience's concerns or questions.
Revisions may also focus on enhancing readability and overall comprehension.
Editing and Proofreading Stage:
Significance: At this stage, attention to detail is crucial. The writer must ensure that the
language, grammar, and formatting choices align with the audience's expectations and
standards.
Impact: Editing and proofreading involve refining the document to meet the specific
conventions and preferences of the audience. This includes eliminating jargon or
technical terms that may be unclear to the intended readers.
By consistently considering the audience throughout the writing process, a technical
writer can create a document that is not only accurate and informative but also tailored
to the needs and expectations of the specific audience. This audience-centered approach
enhances the overall effectiveness of technical writing as it maximizes the likelihood that
the information will be understood and valued by the intended readers.
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Important Considerations
1
Pre-Writing
3
Revision
Research, brainstorm, and
outline your ideas before you
start writing.
Review your draft for
clarity, coherence, and
conciseness.
2
Drafting
4
Editing and
Proofreading
Let your ideas flow without
worrying too much about
perfection.
Correct grammar, spelling,
and punctuation errors, and
refine your writing for a
polished final version.
Stage 1 : Research, brainstorm, and outline your ideas before you start writing.
Stage 2 : Let your ideas flow without worrying too much about perfection.
Stage 3 : Review your draft for clarity, coherence, and conciseness.
Stage 4: Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and refine your writing for a
polished final version.
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Audience Awareness
Audience awareness refers to the writer's conscious
understanding and consideration of the characteristics,
needs, expectations, and background of the intended
audience for a piece of writing.
I want to lay emphasis on Audience awareness refers to the writer's conscious
understanding and consideration of the characteristics, needs, expectations, and
background of the intended audience for a piece of writing.
It involves recognizing that different audiences have varying levels of knowledge,
interests, and perspectives, and tailoring the content, style, and tone of the writing to
effectively communicate with and engage that particular audience.
In the context of writing, whether it be technical, persuasive, informative, or any other
genre, being audience-aware means acknowledging the diversity among readers and
adjusting the communication approach accordingly.
Writers who possess strong audience awareness can make informed decisions about what
information to include, how to present it, and the language to use, ensuring that the
message resonates with and is accessible to the target audience. This awareness is crucial
in creating documents that are not only accurate and well-structured but also effectively
cater to the needs and expectations of the readers.
Lets have a look at some examples....
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Clarity of Message
Language and Vocabulary
This ensures that the information is easily
understood, minimizing the risk of
miscommunication.
Audience awareness affects the choice of
language and vocabulary.
Relevance of Content
This ensures that the information is
meaningful and valuable to the audience,
enhancing their engagement.
Tone and Style
It helps in establishing the appropriate
level of formality, friendliness, or
technicality, creating a tone that
resonates with the audience.
Organization and Structure
This influences decisions about the order of
ideas, use of headings, and overall
document structure, ensuring that the
content flows logically and is easy to follow.
Impact of
Audience
Awareness
Engagement and Interest
Writers can create content that captures and
maintains the readers' attention. This increases
the likelihood that the audience will find the
information compelling and valuable.
Create content that is not
only accurate and wellcrafted but also specifically
tailored to the needs,
preferences, and
expectations of the
intended audience.
Adaptation to Feedback
Writers who are aware of their audience are
better equipped to interpret feedback & make
informed revisions, address any concerns or
suggestions to meet audience expectations.
Credibility and Trust
Aligning the writing with the audience's
expectations enhances the credibility of
the author.
1.Clarity of Message:
Impact: Writers who are aware of their audience can craft a clear and focused message
that aligns with the readers' knowledge level and expectations. This ensures that the
information is easily understood, minimizing the risk of miscommunication.
2. Relevance of Content:
Impact: Audience awareness guides writers in selecting and presenting content that is
relevant to the readers' interests and needs. This ensures that the information is
meaningful and valuable to the audience, enhancing their engagement.
3. Tone and Style:
Impact: Adjusting the tone and style of writing based on audience characteristics fosters a
connection between the writer and reader. It helps in establishing the appropriate level of
formality, friendliness, or technicality, creating a tone that resonates with the audience.
4. Organization and Structure:
Impact: Writers consider the audience's preferences and expectations when organizing
information. This influences decisions about the order of ideas, use of headings, and
overall document structure, ensuring that the content flows logically and is easy to
follow.
5.Language and Vocabulary:
Impact: Audience awareness affects the choice of language and vocabulary. Writers tailor
their use of terminology and jargon to match the audience's familiarity with technical
terms, avoiding
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confusion and enhancing the overall accessibility of the content.
6. Engagement and Interest:
Impact: By understanding the audience's interests and motivations, writers can create
content that captures and maintains the readers' attention. This promotes engagement
and increases the likelihood that the audience will find the information compelling and
valuable.
7. Adaptation to Feedback:
Impact: Writers who are aware of their audience are better equipped to interpret
feedback. This allows them to make informed revisions, addressing any concerns or
suggestions from the readers and further refining the document to meet audience
expectations.
8. Credibility and Trust:
Impact: Aligning the writing with the audience's expectations enhances the credibility of
the author. When readers feel that the writer understands and respects their perspective,
it builds trust and increases the likelihood that the audience will accept and value the
information presented.
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Language and Vocabulary
Clarity of Message
In a medical brochure intended for patients, medical
professionals might use layman's terms to explain a
complex procedure, ensuring that the audience
without a medical background can comprehend the
information without feeling overwhelmed.
If you're writing a step-by-step guide for
assembling a computer, consider using clear and
concise language, breaking down each step into
simple actions that a novice user can easily follow.
Engagement and Interest
Relevance of Content
In a marketing email targeting potential
customers, the writer might emphasize
benefits and features of a product that are
most likely to appeal to the specific needs and
preferences of the target audience.
Tone and Style
A company's internal memo to employees about a
policy change might adopt a formal and informative
tone to convey the seriousness of the matter, whereas
a social media post for the same audience could be
more conversational and engaging.
Organization and Structure
When writing a user manual for a software application, the
writer may organize the content based on the typical
workflow of the target users, ensuring that the information is
presented in a logical sequence that matches their likely
usage patterns..
When crafting a blog post about sustainable living for
an environmentally conscious audience, the writer
might include real-life examples, personal anecdotes,
and practical tips to keep the readers engaged and
motivated to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Applying
Audience
Awareness as a
Technical
Writer
(Examples)
Adaptation to Feedback
In response to user feedback requesting more
visual guidance, a cooking recipe app updates
its content with additional high-quality images
and infographics, enhancing the overall user
experience.
Credibility and Trust
When writing a technical research paper, cite
reputable sources and provide clear references to
build credibility. Use a formal and objective tone
to establish trust in the accuracy and reliability of
your information.
Clarity of Message:
Example: If you're writing a step-by-step guide for assembling a computer, consider using
clear and concise language, breaking down each step into simple actions that a novice
user can easily f ollow.
Relevance of Content:
Example: In a marketing email targeting potential customers, the writer might emphasize
benefits and features of a product that are most likely to appeal to the specific needs and
preferences of the target audience.
Tone and Style:
Example: A company's internal memo to employees about a policy change might adopt a
formal and informative tone to convey the seriousness of the matter, whereas a social
media post for the same audience could be more conversational and engaging.
Organization and Structure:
Example: When writing a user manual for a software application, the writer may organize
the content based on the typical workflow of the target users, ensuring that the
information is presented in a logical sequence that matches their likely usage patterns.
Language and Vocabulary:
Example: In a medical brochure intended for patients, medical professionals might use
layman's
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terms to explain a complex procedure, ensuring that the audience without a medical
background can comprehend the information without feeling overwhelmed.
Engagement and Interest:
Example: When crafting a blog post about sustainable living for an environmentally
conscious audience, the writer might include real-life examples, personal anecdotes, and
practical tips to keep the readers engaged and motivated to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Adaptation to Feedback
In response to user feedback requesting more visual guidance, a cooking recipe app
updates its content with additional high-quality images and infographics, enhancing the
overall user experienc e.
Credibility and Trust:
Example: When writing a technical research paper, cite reputable sources and provide
clear references to build credibility. Use a formal and objective tone to establish trust in
the accuracy and reliability of your information.
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Thank You!
Thank you for your attention.
I would be delighted to hear your thoughts and questions.
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