Follow the structure of the technical document to discover how the writer communicates to an audience. For instance, a systematic instruction manual detailing basic steps usually applies to a general audience, whereas memos, letters and proposals of specific organizations tend to apply to a more industry-based audience.
Look for clues in the content of the document. For instance, a document on essay-writing steps communicates terms familiar to students, such as "research," "cite," "double-space" and "draft."
Determine the purpose of the document to discover how the writer varies his communication techniques. For example, if the purpose of a technical document is to instruct, the writer begins sentences using actionable verbs. If the purpose is to inform, however, the writer uses description and expositional words and phrases to his advantage.