PAM: The Heart of Communication
PAM is a concept that is critical as both a reader and a writer. It stands for Purpose, Audience, and Message and is a part of the rhetorical situation that exists in all communication, whether written, verbal, or visual. One of the keys to effective communication is being clear on your PAM, because if you are clear, then your reader will understand it as well. So let's unpack this a bit. The Purpose gives the WHY of your communication. Being clear on why you are communicating and what you hope to achieve will help you sort through your ideas later on and will help the reader understand your motivation and goal. Some key questions to ask yourself include: Why are you writing? What gave rise to the need for the communication? Are you trying to persuade, explain, or entertain your reader? What do you want the readers to do after they've read or listened to or seen your communication? The Audience gives the TO WHOM of your communication.