Revising for Audience

What works with one audience can fall flat with another. Your organization, selection of details, word choice, and tone all affect your particular readers. Visualize one of them poring over the essay, reacting to what you have written. What expressions do you see on that reader’s face? Where does he or she have trouble understanding? Where have you hit the mark?

REVISION CHECKLIST

  • Who will read this essay?
  • Will your readers think you have told them something worth knowing?
  • Are there any places where readers might fall asleep? If so, can you shorten, delete, or liven up such passages?
  • Does the opening of the essay mislead your readers by promising something that the essay never delivers?
  • Do you unfold each idea in enough detail to make it clear and interesting?
  • Have you anticipated questions your audience might ask?
  • Where might readers raise objections? How might you answer them?
  • Have you used any specialized or technical language that your readers might not understand? If so, have you worked in brief definitions?
  • What is your attitude toward your audience? Are you chummy, angry, superior, apologetic, preachy? Should you revise to improve your attitude?