- State the assumed reading level in plain terms (e.g., “high school”, “first-year college”).
- State the assumed educational background (e.g., “no formal math after high school”).
- State the assumed math background explicitly (e.g., “knows algebra”, “does not know calculus”).
- State the assumed domain background (e.g., “no exposure to category theory or logic”).
- State the assumed vocabulary level (e.g., “no prior exposure to ‘functor’”).
- State the reader’s goal (e.g., “understand definitions”, “follow a proof”, “apply a tool”).
- State any language or accessibility assumptions (e.g., “plain English, no specialized jargon”).
- If any assumption is uncertain, choose the minimal assumption that still permits meaning.
- Default audience: adult reader with general literacy and no specialized background, per plain-language.md.
- If the audience is not the default, add an “Assumed audience” section near the top, per plain-language.md.
Example persona (general audience)
- Reading level: high school to early college.
- Educational background: generalist, not currently in a math program.
- Math background: basic arithmetic and algebra; no calculus or set theory.
- Domain background: no prior exposure to category theory, topology, or logic.
- Vocabulary: no assumed knowledge of “category”, “sheaf”, or “lattice”.
- Goal: understand the meaning of terms and why they are used.