When writing your blog, it is hugely important to establish who your audience is and tailor your writing towards this group. You wouldn’t write a blog aimed at children in the same way that you would write a blog aimed at academics; different backgrounds necessitate different styles of writing.

Firstly, let’s think about the assessment criteria for the Public History outputs. As with any piece of work, it’s useful to keep referring back to these criteria. Once you have finished your writing, you may want to ‘mark’ your own work by judging it against each point. Under ‘Audience and Communication’, meeting the following requirements will consider your work first class:

Exceptionally clear and detailed understanding of target audience, including prior knowledge, skills and interests. Deploys language, tone and style of communication ideally suited to that audience.

Offers a clear, consistent and sophisticated line of argument throughout all parts of the work.

Demonstrates a sophisticated conceptual and practical understanding of how to communicate historical material to non-specialist audiences while maintaining historical accuracy.

All outputs designed and delivered to the highest professional standards.

All outputs demonstrate an excellent understanding of the brief.

The mark scheme clearly places great emphasis on tailoring your writing to the readers whom you expect to engage with your text. Therefore, you must decide your audience long before putting a pen to paper. Decide on your audience by considering factors such as: age, gender, political affiliations, culture, nationality, specialist knowledge, and hobbies.

Although it will obviously be an academic from UCL marking your blog, try to forget about this. Never assume knowledge on the part of the reader, especially when writing for a younger audience.

Considering some of these questions may help you to write in a more targeted way:

• How much does the reader know about your topic?
• How would the reader’s background influence their thoughts about this topic?
• Would the reader have any pre-existing notions about your topic? Do you want to refute or reinforce these?
• What new and insightful information can you offer your audience?
• What will this reader be most and least interested in?
• Would they be familiar with terminology from this topic or would this need to be explained?
• Are there any references or examples that the reader would be familiar with?
• What would you like the reader to do or think about after reading your blog?
• What tone and style of writing would engage the reader most?
• Do you want to convince your audience of anything? If so, what?

Before posting, wait a day and come back to your blog. Read it through the eyes of your audience and ask a family member or friend to do so as well. Would you understand your blog if you were the intended reader? Would you find it engaging and informative?

Bearing these questions in mind alongside the mark scheme will ensure that you have more specific understandings of your target group and that your message is tailored towards them.