Once your document reaches its intended destination, the recipient may place it in a stack for later reading; may skim it and then route it to the person responsible for action on it; may read it, copy it, and distribute it to readers unknown to you; may read it and use it as an agenda item in a meeting about related issues; or may read it carefully and later use it as a reference. Knowing how readers will use the documents they receive can often guide you in deciding not only what to include but also how to organize the information and arrange it on the page.

The Basic Parts of the Composing Process