G&L Chapter 3, "Providing Audiences with Usable Information"

A document's usability is...

• a statement of the point you are trying to prove

• the measure of how well that document fulfills the information needs of its audience.

• claims about what the facts are, what the facts mean, and what should be done

• a clear purpose statement

• an outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter

Whatever their specific goals and concerns in using a particular document, readers must be able to do at least three things: _(1)_ the information they need __(2)__; _(3)__ the information __(4)__; and use the information __(5)__ and successfully.

• 1) locate; 2) easily; 3) safely; 4) immediately; 5) understand

• 1) safely; 2) easily; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) locate

• 1) easily; 2) locate; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) safely

• 1) locate; 2) easily; 3) understand; 4) immediately; 5) safely

To prepare a usable document, you must first analyze the document's...

• task

• audience

• purpose

• information

Next, you must determine the document's...

• task

• audience

• purpose

• information

Third, you should create a(n) _____ analysis for the document.

• task

• audience

• purpose

• information

Fourth, you should consider the...

• constraints (e.g., time, organizational, legal, ethical, social, and psychological)

• outline based on the previous considerations in this chapter

• clear purpose statement

• setting, potential problems, length, format, timing, and budget

• organization, style, layout and visuals, and ethical, legal, and cultural considerations

Fifth, you should develop an _____ plan for the document.

• task

• audience

• purpose

• informational

Finally, you should __(1)__, __(2)___, and __(3)__ the document.

• 1) what; 2) who; 3) entrenched

• 1) write; 2) test; 3) revise

• 1) write; 2) who; 3) entrenched

• 1) write; 2) test; 3) entrenched

What is the very first question you should ask when you begin to create a document?

• Who is the main audience for this document?

• Who else is likely to read it?

• What will readers do with this information?

• How much information is enough?

What is another important question to consider at the start?

• Who is the main audience for this document?

• Who else is likely to read it?

• How much information is enough?

• What will readers do with this information?