Considering what your readers know about the topic

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>> For your research project, you need to consider your audience. If you know who your readers are, you can find ways to interest them in your ideas and keep them engaged. Many times your only reader is your instructor. In that case, consider the kind of thinking your instructor values. What kinds of evidence will she find most convincing? General statements followed by supporting ones? Or maybe examples tied together by a generalization? College instructors look for reasonable evidence to back up your claims. Suppose you're writing about how the value of a dollar has changed over time. Using a story about your friend's experience won't keep your instructor's attention for long. Instead she'll want to see firsthand accounts, quotations from experts, and examples and statistics from the time period you're writing about. Some instructors may expect you to write for a wider audience. Then your task gets more complex. You have to imagine who your readers are, what they know, and what they want to learn from your paper. Think about who will be interested in your ideas when they read your paper. What background will readers bring with them? What personal experiences? Could your ideas somehow effect the lives of the readers? Suppose you're writing about the need for better training for daycare providers. Some of the people who care about your ideas are daycare providers. I can't pay for training. I don't make much money. Parents who send their children to daycare, help providers treat my child in a positive, loving way. And the staff at the state agency that licenses daycare providers. It's our duty to protect children from harm. To write a research project that will persuade each of these groups, you'll need to acknowledge their current positions. Once your readers know you've considered their views, they'll be more willing to consider yours.

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