6. Writing to a specific audience


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Knowing the audience for your paper will allow you to craft a better argument. Start by considering how the issue or topic you’re researching affects your audience. If you personally are affected by the topic, consider what information you have from personal experience. Remember that audience members who do not share that experience might need background information that seems obvious to you. If the topic does not affect you personally, make sure to center your research on sources by authors who are affected and/or are experts on the issue. Make sure your sources represent a wide range of voices. Include information from experts who differ by race, culture, age, gender, class, ability, religion, and more, because varied perspectives give you the whole story. Your audience -- undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, scientific researchers, administrators, managers, investors, etc. -- will influence: the resources you choose to support your thesis, how you structure the content of your paper, and your word choice (e.g., plain language or technical terms).
Who is my audience? I am addressing my proposal or recommendation to ...? Who are the people most affected by my topic?
Students? Organic farmers? Campus administrators? Local residents? Local grocery retailers? Campus health administrators? And remember, no one is part of just ONE group! Check out this video for a great way to think of your audience as being complex people with many identities.
Do the people affected by my topic produce information I can reference? Articles in student newspapers? Information produced by the university's health center? Information produced about good nutrition by the U.S. government? Information produced by the organic food industry? Information produced by regional farmers markets? Information produced by the state? Or, local government? Where do I locate relevant information? On a U.S. government web site? Through a library database? Through a general or targeted search via Google? Through an arranged interview with an expert in this area? Plus, check out the Audience & Bias page in Quick Links for a list of relevant research tools!