Project Analysis

Before this project, I understood that writing should be appropriate for the person reading it, but I did not always think deeply about the reader’s needs, values, or background. This project helped me understand that technical writing is not only about giving information. It is also about understanding who will receive the information and how they may respond to it. This was especially important for my Gucci project because the topic involved race, diversity, equality, and inclusion.

One strategy I used was thinking about the different readers for each document. In my complaint letter, I wrote as a customer who was concerned about Gucci’s product. I used reasoning-based persuasion by explaining the cause and effect of the sweater’s design. I explained that the sweater covered most of the face, had an opening around the mouth, and had large red lips. I also pointed out that it was being sold during Black History Month, which made the situation more serious. This helped me explain why the product could be offensive instead of simply saying that I did not like it.

I also used values-based persuasion by focusing on shared values such as “respect, diversity, equality, and inclusion.” This was one of the important ideas from my project planning and rough draft work. Another challenge was discussing a sensitive topic without making the writing too emotional or disrespectful. I adjusted my writing by focusing on facts, the effects on customers, and Gucci’s responsibility as a company.

In the future, I would spend more time researching the different perspectives of the audience before writing. I would also continue using audience analysis because it helped me choose better arguments and a more appropriate tone. This project showed me that understanding the reader can make technical writing much more effective.