Many factors influence the kind of document you compose— what you write and how you express your ideas. Your writing context is an essential consideration for effective communication, and taking a few moments to reflect on the situation you find yourself in as a writer can save you time and help you draft more effective documents. The context in which you need to write or speak—that is to say, the reason you have to communicate in the first place—impacts factors such as the style, formality, organization, formatting, and tone of your speech or document. Should you write an email… or a memo? Send a letter… or a text message? Use sophisticated vocabulary… or conversational language? RELATED PODCAST: The Importance of Context (TWDP-001) Understanding the writing context can help you answer those questions—and failing to consider it may lead to awkwardness or misunderstanding. Context is a fairly broad concept that will be explored over the course of several articles. This post concerns one particular contextual consideration: how the context you find yourself in as a writer dictates what and how you write. It will examine the RAFT model—an acronym for four key factors shaped by the context of a communication—and explore document conventions, house styles, and why you should reflect on your purpose for writing in the first place. Considering Your Own Writing Situation Before you begin to outline your document, you should think about the reason you’re writing in the first place and who will be reading it. The answers to these questions will help you decide, among other matters, what kind of style to adopt. While this might be a simple task in some situations—a legally-binding contract would naturally employ precise, formal language, while a letter to your grandma would likely be more friendly and colloquial—it is often beneficial…
