UNIT 1 What is Technical Writing?

TECHNICAL WRITING…..WHY?
Good writers understand that they will not always know who is reading their
writing(esp. email) or how their writing will be used.
Technical documents can range from a half-page memo announcing the winner of a
sales competition to a 500 pages research grant proposal requesting money to test a
new drug for treating obesity.
The term technical writing describes documents produced in area such as business,
science, social science, engineering, and education.
Sales catalogs, business letter, financial report, standard operating procedure,
medical research studies, lab reports- all are example of technical writing.

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 ESSENTIAL IN WORKPLACE:
It allows readers to read and study at their convenience.
Easily pass along information to others.
Keep a permanent record for the future.
Whatever career you choose, you will write in the workplace.
According to Paul V. Anderson in Technical Communication: A reader- centered
Approach, conservative estimated suggest that you will spend at least 20% of your
time writing.
Professionals in engineering and technology careers spend 40 % of their time writing.

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In today’s business environment, employees can easily be overwhelmed by information

overload, with information competing for their attention from every direction- television,
radio, newspaper, magazine, books, emails, the internet, CD ROMs and DVDs.
Because of information overloads, you must be able to read documents quickly and
efficiently, understand them the first time you read them , and know that the information is
accurate.
Up-to-date information provides companies with a competitive edge, speeding critical
decision making and allowing job specialization.
Technical writers who help companies manage the information overload are essential.
They understand that their readers must be able to skim or skip text, find important
information quickly.
The technical writer faces a challenging, exciting and rewarding future.

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DIFFERENT CAREER
DIFFERENT REPORTS:
Nurses/ doctors- chart a patient’s medical condition so that the next shift’s nurse can continue
patient care.
police- accident reports record facts to comply in court later.
Chemists and engineers- document procedures to comply with government regulations
Accountants- annual client reports
Sales representative- sales proposals
Professors- grant proposals
Park rangers- safety precautions
Travel agent- design brochures
Public relation officers- news releases, letters, speeches

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When you write, you demonstrate your ability to analyze, solve problems,
understand technical processes.
Earn colleagues respect
All career rely on technical communication to get the job done.
Technical writing is the great connector- the written link- connecting technology to
user, professional to client, colleagues, supervisor to employee, and individual to
community,
No matter what career you are- read or compose emails, send accompanying
attachments, give and receive phone messages, and explain procedures.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF
TECHNICAL WRITING:
Subject:
Expressive writing -created to convey personal observations and feelings.
Expository writing- research writing, research papers are factual papers written on
topics that are interesting and to fulfill the need.
field research- survey and interview, persuade or inform,
Technical writing relies on data presented with precision and accuracy.

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Audience:
The writer of the research paper may be interested in the subject and hopes that a reader
will read the research paper for its facts.
Organization:
Headings to help –perceive the organization at a single glance, questions- provides
information, headings- give opportunity to read what you want.
Style :
Gives idea what type of document it is.
Technical document uses a simple, concise, straightforward style easy to understand.
Jargons, the highly specialized language of the particular discipline or technical field is
used.

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9 HOW TECHNICAL WRITING
COMPARES TO OTHER WRITING
the difference between academic writing and technical writing is the presentation,
audience and approach.

Technical writing Academic writing

Includes paragraph- begins with introduction, Includes paragraphs- introductory paragraph,
closes with conclusion paragraph that develop thesis(a statement of
Includes headings, itemized lists, boldfaced type purpose) and a concluding paragraph.
and graphics

Written for specific audience Written for academic audience- an instructor,

classmates or a group of interested scholars.

Purpose- subject is generally technical, business Purpose- expand on an idea or make observation
related, or scientifically oriented about human experience.

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WARM UP
From your experience with writing what characteristics does good writing share? In
other words, how would you describe good writing?
Discuss the importance of technical writing in the workplace. How can writing affect
your chances for advancement?

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CHAPTER REVIEW:

1. You have probably used technical writing if you have given someone directions, written a recipe, explained
closing procedures.
2. Technical communication, whether a written document or an oral presentation, presents technical information
with a specific purpose and audience and a clear straightforward approach.
3. Required in all professions, technical writing is critical in the workplace.
4. Technical writing exhibits the following characteristics:
Subject: technical, factual
Audience: carefully considered, targeted
Organization: predictable, apparent
Style: concise, direct, specialized vocabulary
Tone: objective, businesslike
Special features: visual elements
5. Technical writing differs from academic writing in its presentation, approach to subject matter, audience,
language and from imaginative writing.

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