When a challenging writing assignment comes from the instructor in a class where you need to succeed, or from the boss you have to satisfy, shift your attention from yourself to your audience. Whether you feel confident, puzzled, or anxious, focus on what is expected. Apply your experience decoding past assignments to analyzing current ones. Do the same with your experience identifying a writing purpose and audience. Try writing notes on or about your assignment to help you tease out all the available clues about how to succeed.