{"id":2931,"date":"2021-02-28T19:54:04","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T01:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crpa-acrp-bulletin.ca\/?p=2931"},"modified":"2021-02-28T19:54:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T01:54:04","slug":"soyons-clairs-rediger-en-ayant-son-lectorat-en-tete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crpa-acrp-bulletin.ca\/fr\/2021\/02\/28\/soyons-clairs-rediger-en-ayant-son-lectorat-en-tete\/","title":{"rendered":"Soyons clairs : r\u00e9diger en ayant son lectorat en t\u00eate"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

In the first article<\/a> in this series, we established that, like it or not, clear and effective writing is becoming an increasingly important skill in a science career. Unfortunately, writing doesn\u2019t come easily for many scientists. This series aims to provide practical advice to help scientists write with more confidence.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explore the communication process and your role in that process as a writer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Written communication is a process that involves a number of steps. Clear and effective communication happens only if each step is completed successfully:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The writer comes up with an idea (message) they want to share with others.<\/li>\n
  2. The writer encodes (writes) their message in order to share their idea.<\/li>\n
  3. The reader decodes (reads) the message and tries to understand what the writer was trying to share.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Ideally, the reader will also have an opportunity to provide feedback to the writer to confirm that they have understood (decoded) the message correctly. If there is something in the message that the reader didn\u2019t understand, that feedback may take the form of questions\u2014asking for more information.<\/p>\n

    In the ideal situation, the cycle of encoding, decoding, and feedback continues until the message is understood correctly. Success!<\/p>\n

    Unfortunately, written communication is often a one-way process, so if the writer does not do their job well, the process breaks down and will not be successful. As a writer, there are things you can do to improve the outcome for your readers. A good place to begin is to consider the perspective of your readers.<\/p>\n

    Understanding your audience<\/h2>\n

    Knowing your audience (your readers) determines what information you present and how you present it. But how do you get to know your audience?<\/p>\n

    The first step is to consider whom you\u2019re trying to communicate with. By knowing more about your audience, you can craft your message to suit their needs, which will increase the likelihood that you will communicate successfully.<\/p>\n

    For example, if you were preparing a presentation for people in your department at work, you would probably know your colleagues and what they expect from you. You would know their backgrounds and levels of education, and you could be sure they would all understand your company-specific jargon.<\/p>\n

    On the other hand, if you were preparing a presentation for a funding agency, you might need to do a little bit of homework to figure out who your readers would be and what they would expect from you.<\/p>\n

    To ensure you\u2019re focusing on the needs of your audience, begin by asking yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n