CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
1.1 – WHAT IS TECHNICAL WRITING?: You are probably wondering what this
“technical writing thing” is. Someone may even have told you “It’s this course
where they make you write about computers, rocket science, and brain surgery.”
Well, not really, as you will see in a moment.
Technical writing is an audience-centered means of communication
that provides a reader with clear and easy access to information so
they understand both the document’s and the author’s purpose and
respond accordingly. The technical writer and reader have a vis-à-
vis relationship. The writer recognizes, respects, and addresses
the importance of the audience’s time by being clear, concise, and
accessible. The writer strives for effective and efficient
communication by providing documents written in specific formats,
using unambiguous language to convey clearly accessible
information. The reader in turn thoroughly processes the
information in order to give a thoughtful response or take
appropriate action.
Technical writing courses introduce you to the skills, genres, and
other important aspects of writing in the worlds of science,
technology, and business – in other words, the kind of writing that
scientists, nurses, doctors, construction managers, computer
specialists, government officials, engineers, and other professionals
do as a part of their regular work. The skills learned in technical
writing courses are useful in a broad spectrum of fields, including
education and social sciences.
To learn how to write effectively for the professional world, you will
study common types of reports, special format items such as lists
and headings, simple techniques for creating and using graphics in
reports, and some techniques for producing professional-looking
final copies. This book focuses on skills and genres. The idea is
that while you learn the conventions that govern one genre, such as
technical instructions, you will also practice skills such as the
appropriate use of graphics and design to facilitate communication.
It is important to build a strong foundation of skills and genre
knowledge so that you can more efficiently complete writing tasks
when they arise. This approach will allow you to apply what you
learn here to a variety of situations.
The skills and genre knowledge you will acquire in this book should be flexible
and adaptable. Sometimes technical writing is formulaic, which can be a good
thing if you need to communicate something with great clarity and efficiency.
However, do not let formulaic writing sap the energy out of everything you write.
o RHETORICAL SITUATION: One of the most important skills you will
practice is analyzing and understanding the rhetorical situation of your
writing task. Essentially, the rhetorical situation describes the
relationships between and among the audience, writer, content, and
, context of communication. That might sound complicated right now, but it
can basically be broken down into an awareness and sensitivity to the
needs of your audience. What does your audience already know? What
do they want out of your document? Where, when, and how are they
going to use the document you create? These are some of the questions
you want to ask yourself before you begin any writing task. There is more
on audience below, and throughout this book.
Without even knowing it, you may be familiar with these concepts
from your college, or even high school, composition course. If you
have ever heard of the terms ethos, logos, or pathos, you know
something about classical (Aristotelian) rhetoric and what is often
called the rhetorical situation. If your writing is based on logos, you
would be using facts, reason, and logic to communicate your
message; if your argument is based on ethos, you would be relying
on your credibility as a writer to communicate your message; and if
your writing is based on pathos, you are attempting to appeal to
your audience’s emotions (joy, fear, hope, anger, pride, etc.).
Technical writing courses build on what you have learned in other
writing courses. You will have an opportunity to dust off those
writing tools, and practice the art and craft of communication.
However, there is plenty new to learn! If you currently have a job in
which you do some writing, you will discover that you can put what
you learn in your technical writing course to immediate use.
o ABOUT TECHNICAL WRITING: While technical communication is
essential in a wide range of fields and occupations, technical writing is
also a fully professional field of its own with degree programs,
certifications, and even theory. There are no fewer than five scholarly
journals that are devoted completely or in part to publishing articles related
to technical writing; what it is, how it works, how it is changing, and how to
teach it. The journals include: Technical Communication Quarterly;
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication; Journal of Business and
Technical Communication; English for Specific Purposes; and Issues in
Writing. Technical writing is a field with a lot of growth and income
potential, and an introductory technical writing course is a good way to
determine if you are interested in a career in this field or work in which
writing is a major component.
o WORKPLACE WRITING: Many students of technical writing courses are
not necessarily planning for a career as a technical writer or instructor.
However, the course will provide you with an introduction to the kinds of
writing skills you need in practically any professional career. No matter
what sort of work you do, you are likely to do some writing – and much of
it may be technical in nature. Furthermore, if you hope to advance in your
career and eventually manage people or open your own business, having
technical writing skills is a critical communication tool that will save you
time and money. If you lack these skills, you may not be able to properly
assess the quality of a report you have assigned someone to write, or you
1.1 – WHAT IS TECHNICAL WRITING?: You are probably wondering what this
“technical writing thing” is. Someone may even have told you “It’s this course
where they make you write about computers, rocket science, and brain surgery.”
Well, not really, as you will see in a moment.
Technical writing is an audience-centered means of communication
that provides a reader with clear and easy access to information so
they understand both the document’s and the author’s purpose and
respond accordingly. The technical writer and reader have a vis-à-
vis relationship. The writer recognizes, respects, and addresses
the importance of the audience’s time by being clear, concise, and
accessible. The writer strives for effective and efficient
communication by providing documents written in specific formats,
using unambiguous language to convey clearly accessible
information. The reader in turn thoroughly processes the
information in order to give a thoughtful response or take
appropriate action.
Technical writing courses introduce you to the skills, genres, and
other important aspects of writing in the worlds of science,
technology, and business – in other words, the kind of writing that
scientists, nurses, doctors, construction managers, computer
specialists, government officials, engineers, and other professionals
do as a part of their regular work. The skills learned in technical
writing courses are useful in a broad spectrum of fields, including
education and social sciences.
To learn how to write effectively for the professional world, you will
study common types of reports, special format items such as lists
and headings, simple techniques for creating and using graphics in
reports, and some techniques for producing professional-looking
final copies. This book focuses on skills and genres. The idea is
that while you learn the conventions that govern one genre, such as
technical instructions, you will also practice skills such as the
appropriate use of graphics and design to facilitate communication.
It is important to build a strong foundation of skills and genre
knowledge so that you can more efficiently complete writing tasks
when they arise. This approach will allow you to apply what you
learn here to a variety of situations.
The skills and genre knowledge you will acquire in this book should be flexible
and adaptable. Sometimes technical writing is formulaic, which can be a good
thing if you need to communicate something with great clarity and efficiency.
However, do not let formulaic writing sap the energy out of everything you write.
o RHETORICAL SITUATION: One of the most important skills you will
practice is analyzing and understanding the rhetorical situation of your
writing task. Essentially, the rhetorical situation describes the
relationships between and among the audience, writer, content, and
, context of communication. That might sound complicated right now, but it
can basically be broken down into an awareness and sensitivity to the
needs of your audience. What does your audience already know? What
do they want out of your document? Where, when, and how are they
going to use the document you create? These are some of the questions
you want to ask yourself before you begin any writing task. There is more
on audience below, and throughout this book.
Without even knowing it, you may be familiar with these concepts
from your college, or even high school, composition course. If you
have ever heard of the terms ethos, logos, or pathos, you know
something about classical (Aristotelian) rhetoric and what is often
called the rhetorical situation. If your writing is based on logos, you
would be using facts, reason, and logic to communicate your
message; if your argument is based on ethos, you would be relying
on your credibility as a writer to communicate your message; and if
your writing is based on pathos, you are attempting to appeal to
your audience’s emotions (joy, fear, hope, anger, pride, etc.).
Technical writing courses build on what you have learned in other
writing courses. You will have an opportunity to dust off those
writing tools, and practice the art and craft of communication.
However, there is plenty new to learn! If you currently have a job in
which you do some writing, you will discover that you can put what
you learn in your technical writing course to immediate use.
o ABOUT TECHNICAL WRITING: While technical communication is
essential in a wide range of fields and occupations, technical writing is
also a fully professional field of its own with degree programs,
certifications, and even theory. There are no fewer than five scholarly
journals that are devoted completely or in part to publishing articles related
to technical writing; what it is, how it works, how it is changing, and how to
teach it. The journals include: Technical Communication Quarterly;
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication; Journal of Business and
Technical Communication; English for Specific Purposes; and Issues in
Writing. Technical writing is a field with a lot of growth and income
potential, and an introductory technical writing course is a good way to
determine if you are interested in a career in this field or work in which
writing is a major component.
o WORKPLACE WRITING: Many students of technical writing courses are
not necessarily planning for a career as a technical writer or instructor.
However, the course will provide you with an introduction to the kinds of
writing skills you need in practically any professional career. No matter
what sort of work you do, you are likely to do some writing – and much of
it may be technical in nature. Furthermore, if you hope to advance in your
career and eventually manage people or open your own business, having
technical writing skills is a critical communication tool that will save you
time and money. If you lack these skills, you may not be able to properly
assess the quality of a report you have assigned someone to write, or you
