2 Technical Writing Software Documentation m2 Slides PDF
2 Technical Writing Software Documentation m2 Slides PDF
Amber Israelsen
DEVELOPER, AUTHOR, TRAINER
www.amberisraelsen.com
Course Outline
Amber
Writing Styles by Audience
Technical Level Description Users Writing Style
Non-Technical • Novice user • Sales & Marketing • Step-by-step
• No experience with • Prospective clients instructions
the product or • New team members • Definitions
concept • Full explanations and
details
Semi-Technical • Intermediate user • Sales & Marketing • Facts and figures
• Some experience with • Existing clients • Brief explanations
the product or • Developers • Moderate amount of
concept detail
Technical • Advanced user • Developers • Limited definitions
• Very experienced • System admins and amount of detail
with product or • Testers • Step-by-step
concept instructions not
necessary
What if I have more than
one audience?
PRIMARY SECONDARY
AUDIENCE AUDIENCE
Target reader May come into contact with the
Requested the document document
Often a decision maker But not the intended reader
You may have to create
multiple documents
Plan Phase
Developers Users
The Purpose of Technical Writing
RESEARCH
Get information out …into the heads of
of the heads of the users in a way they
creators… can use it
Developers Users
RESEARCH
Interview Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Review Existing Documentation
Use the Software
RESEARCH
Interview Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Review Existing Documentation
Use the Software
Prepare interview questions
- Who, what, when, where, why, how
Preparing for - Open-ended
Walk away
Research
Summary - Get the information out of the heads
of the creators
Write
- Get it on paper
Review/Edit
- Recruit others to help
- Usability testing is key
Launch!
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