Writing 101 - Assume the reader knows nothing.

[Doreen Peri]

When writing an essay or a story or any type of prose, I always learned that the writing is clearer when you begin with the assumption that the reader knows nothing (without talking to them like they're stupid, of course!)

By first clearly explaining the details of what the reader doesn't know (as assumed,) then you can go on to develop your argument or story, make your points, and tell the reader something new.

What do you think of the validity of these statements?

[Lightning Rod]

I say that the reader needs to bring something with him if he wants to take something home.

It's not my job to do research for him.

If I lose audience this way, so be it.

[mousey1]

From my personal viewpoint I like to assume and presume that neither writer nor reader knows anything at all. That way I can start from scratch, expand voluminously on all that I don't know and allow the reader, who knows nothing either, to be none the wiser.

So, er...yes...I agree with the validity of these statements!