Ian is preparing for a speech that he was invited to deliver in front of an entire elementary school about racism in America. In order to be well prepared for his speech, he wants to phone the principal of the school ahead of time to find out more about his audience. Which types of questions should he ask?

To tailor his speech to elementary-school students, Ian should learn about audience characteristics such as their ages and backgrounds. Asking about age, gender, ethnicity, and cultural background can help him choose appropriate language and examples. Questions about occupations and expertise are less suited to a school audience, and sending a lengthy survey would not be a practical way to prepare.

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