4. Using Expert Writing Techniques to Adapt to Your Audience

Once you have identified your purpose, profiled your audience, and selected your channel, your final prewriting task is to adapt your message to your audience.

For each of the following sentences, choose the option that makes the message more reader oriented.

Come to Barclays Furniture and see how low weve cut prices at our grand opening in Seattle!

A) No change necessary.

B) Weve cut prices just for you at the Barclay Furniture Seattle stores grand opening.

C) Youll save with major discounts at the Barclay Furniture Seattle stores grand opening.

Our affordable prices and great styles will make redecorating your home a breeze.

A) No change necessary.

B) Well help you redecorate your home with the latest styles and the most affordable prices.

C) Redecorate your home with the latest styles at an affordable price.

Well slash an additional 10 percent off living room sets if you shop by Tuesday.

A) If you dont shop by Tuesday, youll miss our additional 10 percent discount on living room sets.

B) No change necessary.

C) Shop by Tuesday and youll save an additional 10 percent on all living room sets.

Which of the following sentences is the most bias free?

A) Talk to the girl at the front desk, Ms. Parker, for directions.

B) The receptionist at the front desk, Ms. Parker, can give you directions.

C)The lady at the front desk, Ms. Parker, can give you directions.

Which sentences are expressed most positively? Check all that apply.

A) When you purchase a nonstop, roundtrip ticket, youll receive a discount.

B) You can get a discount with the purchase of a direct-flight, roundtrip ticket.

C) Unless you purchase a direct-flight, roundtrip ticket, you wont qualify for the discount.

D) One-way or layover flights do not qualify for a refund.

E) You dont qualify for the discount unless you purchase a nonstop, roundtrip ticket.

F) Nonstop, roundtrip tickets qualify for a generous discount.

Which is the most clear and precise sentence explaining what to do before submitting new content to a webmaster?

A) The Frequently Asked Questions web page will provide you with useful information when you are preparing new content to submit to the webmaster.

B) If you wish to submit new content to the webmaster, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions web page first.

C) Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions web page before submitting new content to the webmaster.

Which is the most clear and precise sentence explaining how to apply for a junior accountant position?

A) If you would like to apply for the junior accountant position, send your cover letter, your rsum, and your list of references to our Human Resources department. Send them to David Stone in the Human Resources department.

B) Our Human Resources Director, David Stone, will review all applications for the junior accountant position. If you want to apply for the position, you should include a cover letter, a rsum, and a list of references in your application, which should be sent to David Stone.

C) To apply for the junior accountant position, please send your cover letter, rsum, and list of references to David Stone, Human Resources.