Contextualizing Cyber Compositions for Cultures: A Usability-Based Approach to Composing Online for International Audiences

The global diffusion of online media means individuals are increasingly composing web texts for international readers. To do so effectively, writers need to understand the expectations and preferences cultural and national audiences associate with using online materials - particularly where they are used, when, and how. The usability concept of personas - or archetypes of an audience - can help writing students research and understand such aspects. Personas do so by focusing research on viewing readers/users as distinct groups within greater social and cultural contexts. This article explains how writing instructors can user persona-related activities to help composition students address contextual factors when writing online texts for international and intercultural audiences.