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Subject:Re: **Defining Tech Comm* From:Romay Jean Sitze <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU> Date:Tue, 22 Nov 1994 20:50:06 -0700
One of the most important messages I try to leave with my tech writing
students is the importance of "audience awareness." I constantly stress
the importance of choosing vocabulary, content level, visuals, even type
size, which best fit the needs of the particular audience being addressed.
As part of this awareness, I have my students analyze a journal in their
major field. They must look through several issues over a period of 5
years and look at vocabulary, technical detail, formatting choices,
reading ease, and so on to determine the nature and variety of audience
the journal is best suited to. Many of the students find journals which
are obviously targeted to a PhD level. Others can be read and understood
by people from a broader spectrum. The exercise helps the students to see
at least some of what I am trying to teach in action.
