Experienced writers base their choice of genre on three primary factors: their purpose and role, the expectations of their readers, and the context in which their document will be written and read. In most cases, one of these factors will be more important than the others. For example, if your readers are unlikely to treat your document seriously unless it is presented in a particular genre, such as a scientific journal article, then you would be foolish to choose another genre. To choose an appropriate genre, analyze your assignment, reflect on your writing situation, and consider the resources you can draw on as you compose your document.