INTRODUCTION TO
TECHNICAL
WRITING
Understanding the Nature and Purpose of Technical Writing
Professor: RYAN A. BRADECINA
SPELLING QUIZ
10 ITEMS ONLY
(RECORDED)
SPELLING QUIZ
redundancies
obscure
jargon
SPELLING QUIZ
comprehensible
doable
restraint
SPELLING QUIZ
reliable
polishing
humorous
SPELLING QUIZ
flurry
INTRODUCTIO
N TO
TECHNICAL
WRITING
Understanding the Nature and Purpose of
Technical Writing
Professionals and
specialists need to write
for their world of work.
They will need knowledge, skills
and techniques for their message
to be readable and comprehensible
by their fellow professionals.
ASPECTS OF
TECHNICAL
WRITING
Nature of Technical Writing
OTECHNICAL – is a term that
refers to knowledge or specific
discipline that is more the line
of experts and specialists.
O (For short, a professional
JARGON/language.)
Nature of Technical Writing
OTECHNICAL
COMMUNICATION OR
TECHNICAL WRITING – is the
transfer of information to
readers in a way that is aligned
to their need, level of
understanding and background.
Nature of Technical Writing
OThe focus of Technical Writing
is to communicate
professionally in an
organizational system.
It involves accurate, precise,
logical arrangement and
organized preparation of
information.
Nature of Technical Writing
OIt is also a problem solving
process within an organization.
OThey investigate, find solutions
and write reports in a structured
manner to provide information as
basis decision making and to fulfill
the organization’s purpose.
Language of Technical
Writing
O Technical style – tone and attitude
of the communication of the
specialists
joyful, serious, humorous, sad, threatening,
formal, informal, pessimistic, and optimistic
OBUT TECHNICAL WRITING USES
FORMAL TONE
Language of Technical
Writing
OFormal Tone - characterized
by restraint and objectivity
impersonal
impartial
do not allow the use of feelings
no biases in interpretation of data
FIVE STEPS OF
TECHNICAL
WRITING
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
1)Identify the audience
2)Determine purpose/
objectives
3)Gather information
4)Organize data
5)Edit, revise and finalize
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
1)Identify the audience
Knowing your readers in terms of
background, needs and knowledge to
adapt to their level of understanding.
To communicate more effectively and
address the needs of your reader.
Ex. You are writing to a busy boss, thus
you need to make your letter/report brief
and straight to the point.
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
2) Determine
purpose/objectives
Helps the writer know what and how to
write a given subject matter.
You can write to record important
events, inform, explain, complain,
appeal, request or propose.
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
3) Gather information
It helps the writer choose
important and accurate data
to use to meet the objectives
of the report.
It makes the report more
reliable and effective.
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
4) Organize data
Putting the essential parts of the
report in their proper places and
logical order.
Using appropriate visual aids to
present data more effectively.
THE TECHNICAL
WRITING PROCESS
5) Edit, revise and finalize
Like any form of writing this is
essential in the polishing of the
product
We need this to make sure we don’t
have grammar and spelling errors.
Any formal writing with multiple
errors is unreliable.
PRINCIPLE
S OF
TECHNICA
L WRITING
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
OThese principles will make
technical writing easy and an
effective tool of
communication in an
organization.
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
1) A technical report is
designed to meet
specific needs of
individuals in the
organization.
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
2) Technical writers need
knowledge and skills
to be able to
communicate their
ideas specifically and
effectively.
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
3) Technical writers write
in appropriate style
and have a scientific
attitude.
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
4) Technical writing has a
specific reader,
purpose and organized
data to fulfill the
specific objectives.
PRINCIPLES OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
5) Technical writing helps
influence decision for
change and
betterment of
individuals and
organization.
TECHNICAL
WRITING
VS
LITERARY WRITING
Group activity:
OCount off to 5.
OBe seated according
to groups.
Group activity:
COMPARE LITERARY TECHNICAL
WRITING WRITING
DEFINE
EACH TOPIC
GIVE THE
PURPOSE OF
EACH TYPE OF
WRITING
GIVE 10
EXAMPLES
FOR EACH
TYPE
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OTechnical writing differs from
literary writing in content,
purpose, language and
appeal.
OIt is about facts, ideas for a
particular audience and it
reports results to an
experiment or investigation
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OTechnical writers focus on
matters about science,
technology, industry and
business.
OOutputs are usually very
purposive, factual and
provide vital information
to an organization.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OTechnical reports are used as
basis for actions and
decisions in organizations.
(ex. Field report, memo)
OWriters strictly observe
grammar rules and use
scientific terminologies/
jargon.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OTechnical professionals
make readers think,
analyze and criticize.
OThey appeal to intellect
and reasoning.
OThey are very objective,
formal and impersonal.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OLiterary writing on the
other hand includes
poetry, short stories,
novels, essays, fiction,
prose, drama, tragedy,
play, parable, pun,
comedy and many more.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OLiterary writers, also
known as creative writers
or artists, talk about
experiences in life, the
problems of human
existence, philosophy and
the desires of the human
heart.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
O These creative writers aim
to entertain and amuse
their audience from all
walks of life and different
professions.
O Literary writings are used to
give lessons, change
outlook in life and transport
the spiritual being to a
higher level.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OLiterary pieces are used
to stir both the senses
and emotions, language
is used to appeal to the
imagination by using
figures of speech.
LITERARY vs.
TECHNICAL WRITING
OFigurative language
used has meaning
beyond the literal level
which makes the tone of
the writer very personal
and subjective.
Try to analyze the
example
CONFUCIU
S
LITERARY ANALYSIS
OCOPY AND ANALYZE EACH
LINE ACCORDING TO
YOUR UNDERSTANDING
OUSE THE DICTIONARY TO
SUPPORT YOUR ANSWERS
CONFUCIUS
OWRITE ABOUT THE LIFE
OF CONFUCIUS USE
TECHNICAL WRITING
AND RESEARCH FOR
FACTS
CONFUCIUS
Confucius or Kung Fu-
tzu, 551-479 B.C., was the
Chinese sage who founded
Confucianism. Born of a
poor but aristocratic family
in the state of Lu, he was
orphaned at an early age.
CONFUCIUS
As a young man, he held
several minor government
posts; in later years he
advanced to become minister of
justice in his home state. But he
held these positions only
intermittently and for short
periods because of conflicts
with his superiors.
CONFUCIUS
Throughout his life, he
was best known as a
teacher. When he died at
the age of 72, he had
taught a total of 3,000
disciples who carried on his
teaching.
Distinctions of Technical Writing
from other Kinds of Writing
O There are many types of
writing, including literary
writing, expressive writing,
expository writing, persuasive,
and technical writing (Gerson &
Gerson, 1999 p. 1& 2 cited by
Abelos et al., 2005, p. 1-3)
O 1. Literary writing includes poetry,
fiction (short stories and novel), plays,
and essay. The authors might draw on
experience to create their text, but the
writing is purely imaginative. Creative
writing often employs figures of speech,
imagery, dialect, symbolism, and
fictitious characters to present a
message.
O 2. Expressive writing records a
subjective, emotional response to a
personal experience (a tragic incident, a
joyful meeting with a person not seen
for 20 years, a wonderful experience in a
basketball championship, a rewarding on
the job training, etc.). Journal and diary
entries are expressive. The goal of
expressive writing is to express one's
feelings through description and
narration. Students in composition
classes often write expressive essays,
O 3. Expository writing analyzes a topic
objectively. Most essays in composition
classes are expository. The goal of
expository writing is to explain, hence
reveals you the knowledge of a
particular subject. In expository writing,
you don't usually expect a response
from your reader even if you explained
the topic.
O 4. Persuasive writing, in some ways,
combines the emotionalism of
expressive writing with the analytical
traits of expository writing. Editorials are
a good example of persuasive writing.
The goal of persuasive writing is to
convince your audience's emotional
attitude toward a topic.
Comparison Between Technical
Writing and Literary Writing
O We all know that literary writers cater
man’s affective sense; technical writers
cater to man’s cognitive sense. For
contrastive analysis, technical writing
differs from literary writing in some
aspects:
Purpose of Technical
Writing
O The purpose of technical writing is often
determined by the audience, which then affects
the tone of the correspondence (Gerson &
Gerson, 1999, p.3). In fact, understanding the
interrelationship among purpose, audience,
and tone is essential to answer the question,
“Why do we write technical correspondence?”
OThis is a common technical writing
situation, but it is not the only
environment in which technical
writing is generated. In summary,
your purpose in technical writing is
determined by your audience’s
needs. This sense of audience then
affects tone. Within these
parameters, the purpose of
technical writing is wide-ranging.
O1. Technical writing is used to
request action. If you are writing to
a supervisor or manager (audience)
about scheduling and manpower
distribution, then you are
requesting a direct action.
O2. Technical writing is used to
propose action. When you write to
your city Engineer about the
transfer of the garbage dump, then
you are proposing an action.
O3. Technical writing is used to
recommend action. When you write
to your Production Manager to
increase the volume of t-shirt
production bound to Hongkong and
Macau, due to increase of orders
from your market threat, then you
are recommending an action.
O4. Technical writing is used to
inform. It is written to make
another person to understand or do
something. It is designed to fulfil a
need to tell and need to know.
O5. Technical writing is used to
analyse events and their
complications. It will explain how
certain systems failed. This may
include education, socioeconomic,
political and the need to change.
O6. Technical writing is used to
persuade and influence decisions.
It will show how a business, or an
industry succeed.
Importance of Technical Writing
Technical writing is a significant factor for your work experience for several
reasons. (Gerson & Gerson, 1999, p. 3 cited by Abelos, 2005, p. 4)
O1. Technical writing conducts
business.
O2. Technical writing takes time.
O3. Technical writing costs money.
O4. Technical writing is an expression
of your interpersonal
communication skills.
Basic Principles of Effective
Technical Writing
1. Understanding the Reader
2. Knowing the Purpose of Each
Technical Report
3. Knowing the Subject Matter
4. Using Correct Format
5. Writing Objectively
Basic Principles of Effective
Technical Writing
1. Understanding the Reader
2. Knowing the Purpose of Each
Technical Report
3. Knowing the Subject Matter
4. Using Correct Format
5. Writing Objectively
6. Adopting Ethical Standards
Characteristics of Technical
Writing
Technical writing, just as any other form of
writing, has certain characteristics
which distinguish it from other types of
writing. It is very different from writing
opinion pieces, essays, prose, non-fiction
or fiction.
Characteristics of Technical
Writing
Technical writing, just as any other form of
writing, has certain characteristics
which distinguish it from other types of
writing. It is very different from writing
opinion pieces, essays, prose, non-fiction
or fiction.
1. It is clear and straight forward. If you
are interested in technical writing for
professional purposes, it is very important
to know that this type of writing requires
that the writer stick to the subject matter
and relay information in a clear and
concise manner.
2. The language is very direct and straight
to the point. The writing will avoid words
that people do not understand and will
avoid an eloquent writing style.
3. It is very detailed and informative. The
perfect example of technical writing is a
textbook. The written content of most
textbooks is geared to providing
information by describing the subject
matter as fully as possible.
4. It is very structured. This type of writing
has a very obvious composition that
makes it easy for the reader to follow
along. Solid structure is needed with
technical writing as it allows the audience
to easily access the information as
needed.
Uses of Technical Writing
With understanding the characteristics of
technical writing, you can better
comprehend how this type of writing is
used. Technical writing is found
everywhere.There are a variety of
different types of writing which use a
technical style.
Classification of Technical Writing
Technical writing is useful for any theory,
software or hardware that needs an
explanation. Industries that require
technical writing include science,
medicine, engineering, mechanics and
law.
