Checklist for assessing the writing situation

Subject

  • Has the subject (or a range of possible subjects) been assigned to you, or are you free to choose your own?
  • What interests you about your subject? What questions would you like to explore?
  • Why is your subject worth writing about? How might readers benefit?
  • Do you need to narrow your subject (because of length restrictions, for instance)?

Purpose and audience

  • Why are you writing: To inform readers? To persuade them? To call them to action? To offer an interpretation of a text?
  • Who are your readers? How well informed are they about the subject? What do you want them to learn?
  • How interested and attentive are your readers likely to be? Will they resist any of your ideas? What possible objections will you need to anticipate and counter?
  • What is your relationship to your readers: Student to instructor? Citizen to citizen? Expert to novice? Employee to supervisor?

Genre

  • What genre (type of writing) does your assignment require: A report? A proposal? An analysis of data? An essay?
  • If the genre is not assigned, what genre is appropriate for your subject, purpose, and audience?
  • What are the expectations and conventions of your assigned genre? For instance, what type of evidence is typically used in the genre?
  • Does the genre require a specific design format or method of organization?
  • Does the genre require or benefit from visuals, such as photos, drawings, or graphs?

Sources of information

  • Where will your information come from: Reading? Research? Direct observation? Interviews? Questionnaires?
  • What type of evidence suits your subject, purpose, audience, and genre?
  • What documentation style is required: MLA? APA? Chicago?

Length and document design

  • Do you have any length specifications? If not, what length seems appropriate, given your subject, purpose, audience, and genre?
  • Is a particular document format required? If so, do you have guidelines to follow or examples to consult?
  • How might visuals—charts, graphs, tables—help you convey information and support your purpose?

Reviewers and deadlines

  • Who will be reviewing your draft: Your instructor? A writing center tutor? One or more classmates?
  • What are your deadlines? How much time will you need to allow for the various stages of writing, including proofreading and printing or posting the final draft?
  • Will you be sharing a draft electronically or in hard copy? If electronically, will your readers be able to handle your file's size and format?