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SPARK: Thinking Like a Reader

A resource for students wanting to improve their academic and research skills.

Thinking Like a Reader

The most obvious occasion for revision comes with the completion of the first draft of an essay. An excellent way to re-see your draft is to imagine how it will look from the perspective of a reader.

Before reviewing your draft take some time to consider:

  • Why might your reader be interested in your essay, or what might attract your reader’s interest?
  • What do you need to tell your reader in order for them to be able to understand your ideas, and what can you assume is already known and does not need to be said?
  • What type of evidence is your reader likely to find most and least compelling?

You may wish to review the Writing Strategies module to learn more about addressing the needs of your reader.