Chapter 6
Tasks with Readers
Introduction
Identifying the Class
Addressing the Class
Extending the Class
What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
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Introduction
This chapter explains the general tasks that a writer does with readers. There
are three such tasks for a writer. First, it is necessary to identify (to know, or
estimate as well as possible) the class or group into which your readers fall
and the extent of their understanding of the subject. Second, once the class of
readers and their level of understanding are identified, it is necessary to
address the text to this class. That is, you must write your text in a way that
this class of reader can understand. Third, it may be that you can extend the
class of readers with only a little extra effort, so consider this possibility.
This advice about readers operates retrospectively on advice given about
writing in earlier chapters. The manner and extent to which this preceding
advice on writing law is put into practice in a particular case depends very
much on the writer’s effort in determining the class of readers to which the text
will be addressed. It is only when the class of readers of a text is identified that
the advice on writing given in those chapters can be properly and specifically
implemented.
Identifying the Class
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Introduction
The first step is to identify the class of people for whom your work is
intended.
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This is a fundamental element of communication and is frequently
___________________
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Dr Samuel Johnson
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Gilbert Keith Chesterton
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See McDowell (1990).
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