Watch out for:
	negative tone • bossy, hostile • legalistic, very formal • paternalistic, patronizing
	assumptions about who the reader is or what the reader knows
	not knowing the readers’ context

Why?
A negative tone can make the reader feel intimidated and uncomfortable. It does not encourage anyone to read on.

If you make assumptions about what the reader knows, you may miss explaining something that is important for the reader to understand. If you make assumptions about who the reader is, then your material may show class, gender or cultural bias.

It’s important to know the readers’ context for the material. Are they familiar with the information or is it totally new? Some information (like health information) may come to the reader at a time when she is feeling worried, or distracted. The context may make it hard to understand the message clearly the first time.

What makes material hard to read and understand — who decides?

It’s important for you to develop your ability to analyse material, and to encourage people in community programs and agencies to do so as well. However, the best people to tell you what’s hard to read will always be the people who are developing their reading skills. Whenever possible, involve the learners in your programs in assessing materials. Why?