Nature and Requirements of Technical Writing

Technical Writing Defined:

- is communication in any field the primary aim of which is
to convey a particular piece of information for a particular
purpose to a particular reader or group readers.
- exposition essentially about scientific subjects and about
various technical subjects associated with the sciences; hence
its scientific and technical vocabulary, its use of tables,
graphs and figures to clarify ands support textual discussion,
and its use of conventional report forms.
- presents factual data, statistics and measurable elements
- leaves no room for conflicting interpretation; leaves its
readers specific knowledge entirely different from creative
writing which leaves powerful feelings or emotions.
**Technical the formal aspect of any field from a scientific point
of view.
Qualities of Technical Writing
-

objective
clear
accurate
concise
unemotional in its presentation of facts

Techniques in Technical Writing

-

definitions
descriptions of mechanisms
descriptions of process
classifications
interpretation

Purposes of Technical Writing

1. Gives information that leads to the accomplishment of specific
tasks and in the making of needed decisions
2. Analyzes events and their implications, the failure of certain
systems as educational, socio-economic, political, etc. and the
needed changes
3. Persuades and influences decision by showing how a business or
an industry succeeds
Subject Matter of Technical Writing
-

business
science
engineering
industry

The Writing Process

1. Planning
2. Gathering Information
3. Drafting
4. Revising
5. Editing

Principles of Technical Writing:

1. A writer must always have a purpose.
- stating differences by contrasting or giving similarities by
comparing two concepts or ideas, objects, or persons;
- defining terms;
- expanding definitions by giving examples or illustrations;
- describing processes or mechanisms;
- giving an effect and discussing its causes or vice versa; that
is, explaining the causes that lead to an effect.
Example of Comparison and Contrast:
Generic drugs are not as expensive as branded ones. Although they
are cheaper, their quality is almost as good as that of the more
expensive ones. Our government has encouraged the manufacture
and the importation of these generic drugs to help people who
belong to average-income groups.
Example of Definition of Terms and Expanding Definitions by
Giving Examples or Illustrations:
Computer assisted language learning (CALL) is an approach in
teaching languages especially to second language learners to make
learning a language easier for them. Students select the language
that they are interested in, enroll in the course, and secure the discs
that contain the lessons. Using the computers in the computers in
the computer laboratories of the school, the students study and
master the language by themselves. Teachers, however, make
themselves available for consultation. This approach is used in
most schools in Europe and in the United States.

2. Technical writing uses simple, precise, and formal language.

Example:
An effective leader exudes sincerity, credibility, and confidence.
These are traits that are exceptionally efficacious in making
members of a group feel equally respected and important. They are
also readily communicated through voice, facial expressions, eye
contact, and body movements. The totality of these qualities and
other character personality traits like objectivity, sense of humor,
emotional maturity, and courage contributes to the development of
charisma.
3. A technical or a scientific paper usually follows any of the
following general patterns:
1. Problem Solution
2. Topic-Restrictions- Illustrations
4. The subject matter may be anything that is related to science,
technology, business, humanities, or any other useful and relevant
issue or phenomenon.

Distinguishing Literary Texts from Technical Texts

Literary Works or Technical Write-Up?
1. Jack C Richards and Daniel Hurley (1986) discuss extensively
the crucial factors in the development of language programs. One
of the important considerations that they mention is the implication
for program design of these crucial factors such as the linguistic
proficiency of the students and the interactional and cognitive
demands of mainstream classes using a second language.