Technical Writing:

Real-World Writing

What do YOU write?

At home? At work? For learning?

What is Technical Writing?

Technical Writing AKA

Business Writing
Workplace Writing Professional Writing Informational Writing

What is Technical Writing?

It is the type of everyday writing that surrounds us from the time we wake until we climb in bed at night.
Directions on the toothpaste tube Nutrition benefits on the cereal box Business letters and catalogs that come in the mail Written instructions for assembling a new product Tax receipts and notices Product safety information

How is Technical Writing Different?

The information is organized, presented and communicated in a specific format. The writing is concise, clear and accurate. The writing takes into account the audiences needs, biases and prior understanding. The writing presents information to help readers solve a problem or gain a better understanding of a situation. The writing conveys technical, complex, or specialized information in a way that is easy for a non-technical reader to understand.

Definition/Purpose of Course
It gives information in decision making and task accomplishments.
It analyzes events and their implications, the failure

of systems. It persuades and influences decision making.

Accessibility
Accuracy no errors of fact or grammar
Clarity no ambiguity Completeness all necessary information is present

Dictionappropriate and grammatically correct language

Organizationlogical arrangement of parts

Visual effectiveness page/screen design, graphics

Usability
Allows audience to perform the task or

retrieve the information they need Studies design of table of contents, index, headings, etc. Keeps learning curve short

Relevance
Focus on your audiences need for

information. Give only whats needed. Use language that fits your audience and situation and is consistent.

On-the-job Writing
Communicate expertise to clients, customers,

and the public Report tech activities to supervisors and others Write proposals Instruct lay people Correspond with colleagues and clients

Tech Communicators Skills

Facility with language
Use of critical thinking skills to solve

problems Ability to assess situations, determine what the most important issues and the subsidiary ones are Ability to organize a document that presents the information clearly

Skills, continued
Awareness of the persuasive nature of

writing and ability to compose documents that convince your reader(s) to act as you suggest or to trust your point of view Ethical behavior shown by avoiding deceptive graphics, presenting information truthfully, balancing ethical and moral beliefs with the demands of the job

Three-Part Foundation needed on the

job
Basic Skills (reads, writes, performs mathematical operations, listens and speaks) Thinking Skills (Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn, and reasons) Personal Qualities (Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, selfmanagement, and integrity and honesty)

 Five Workplace Competencies

Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans and allocates resources Interpersonal: Works with others Information: Acquires and uses information Systems: Understands complex interrelationships Technology: Works with a variety of technologies

Possessing basic writing skills means that students need to communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing; and create documents such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts.

Academic Writing
Descriptive Writing

Technical Writing
Job Description, Incident Report, Rsum, Process Explanation Observation Report, Progress Report Performance Evaluation, Feasibility Report Analytical Report, Product Field Test Report Product Comparison, Feasibility Report Proposal, Action Plan

Narrative Writing Analysis Cause and Effect Compare-Contrast Persuasive Writing

Examples of Technical Writing:

Action

Plans Advertisement Agenda Audit Report Book Review Brochure Budget Business Letter Business Plan Catalog Contract Critique Data Book or Display

Description Diagram, Chart, or Graph Editorial Email Feasibility Report Field Test Report Incident Report Informational Form Informational Poster Informative Summary Instructions Interview Questions Itinerary

Examples of Technical Writing:

Job Application Job Description Lesson Plan Letter of Inquiry Letter of Recommendation Magazine/Newspaper Article Marketing Plan Memo Meeting Minutes Newsletter Observation Report Performance Evaluations Persuasive Proposal Position Paper Product Comparison Proposal Questionnaire Research Report Rsum/Portfolio Scientific Paper/Report Survey Test Transcription Training Manual Travel Guide Web Page Work Order

Properties of Technical Writing

Accuracy
Brevity Coherence

Judgement
Knowledge Logic

Objectivity
Qualifications Thoroughness

Dignity
Emphasis

Mechanical neatness

Unity
Veracity Viewpoint You-point

Grammatical Normal

correctness Honesty Illustrations

procedure

Questions and Comments

Reflection
Things I learned Things I confirmed Question I still have