Technical Writing Lecture 1
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Questions and Answers

What kind of writing is technical writing considered to be?

  • Creative writing
  • Formal business writing (correct)
  • Academic writing
  • Informal personal writing

    • What is the primary goal of technical writing?

  • To entertain the audience
  • To persuade the audience
  • To inform and educate the audience (correct)
  • To convince the audience of a point of view

    • Which of the following is an example of technical writing?

  • Technical specifications for manufacturing a shoe (correct)
  • A blog post about personal experiences
  • A short story about a character
  • A poem about a tennis shoe

    • What is the key skill required of a technical communicator?

    <p>Ability to translate technical information to non-specialists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is understanding the audience important in technical writing?

    <p>Because it helps to adapt the information to their needs and level of understanding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is cultural communication in the context of technical writing?

    <p>Awareness of differences in behavior, norms, and values of specific cultures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a challenge faced by technology companies?

    <p>Finding effective ways to help customers understand their products</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of rapid technological development?

    <p>People falling behind and becoming technologically illiterate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major issue that arises when members of one culture apply the rules to another culture?

    <p>Problems occur</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the norms, beliefs, and values of a culture that are not easily observed?

    <p>People Culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Cultural Iceberg model?

    <p>To identify barriers to successful communication</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should technical writers avoid using emotional words and phrases?

    <p>To promote justifiable reasoning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of supplemental material in a technical document?

    <p>To provide readers with additional information when needed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using valid references in technical writing?

    <p>To add credibility to ideas and strategies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important for a technical document to be 'reader friendly'?

    <p>So the reader can quickly identify the writer's organizational pattern</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to report accurate numbers in technical writing?

    <p>To provide a clear understanding of the data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of using appropriate language in a technical document?

    <p>It provides the reader with a thorough understanding of the document's purpose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the responsibility of technical writers when using sources of information?

    <p>To credit the accurate sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a primary reader in a technical document?

    <p>To read the entire report and provide feedback</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of headings in a technical document?

    <p>To help the reader quickly find specific information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of referencing sources accurately in technical writing?

    <p>To avoid plagiarism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of technical writing?

    <p>To inform, instruct, or persuade an audience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do technical writers often do to develop documents?

    <p>Collaborate with others to develop documents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of using appropriate formatting in a technical document?

    <p>The reader can quickly identify the writer's organizational pattern</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concept in technical communication?

    <p>The audience and purpose determine everything about how you communicate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the presenter of the Technical Writing lecture?

    <p>Dr. Sara Dakrory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of technical writing?

    <p>To inform, instruct, and persuade the audience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of content might a technical writer create?

    <p>Instructions or explanations of technical concepts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of technical writing?

    <p>It is written for users in technical fields</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to consider the audience in technical writing?

    <p>To determine the language and tone used in the communication</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of technical writing in business and industry?

    <p>To focus on products and services, and how to manufacture, market, manage, deliver, and use them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome of technical writing?

    <p>The audience is informed, instructed, and persuaded</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a potential issue with using the phrase 'full-court press' in communication with Japanese readers?

    <p>It is an idiomatic expression that may not translate well</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using the active voice in technical writing for non-native English speakers?

    <p>It is easier to understand than the passive voice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should you be careful with graphics in technical writing?

    <p>They can be culturally-specific and may not translate well</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to have someone from the target culture review your document?

    <p>To ensure that the content is relevant and meaningful to the target audience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of reader-centered technical writing?

    <p>To provide information in a clear and concise manner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key characteristic of accessible technical writing?

    <p>It is easy to understand and follow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary benefit of using concise language in technical writing?

    <p>It saves the reader time and effort</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using headings, numbered or bulleted lists, and tables in technical writing?

    <p>To help the reader navigate through the material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Technical Writing

    • Technical writing is a form of communication that professionals use to convey information about specialized topics.
    • It is designed for users in technical fields such as engineering, chemistry, computer information software and systems, medical professions, aeronautics, robotics, automotive, etc.

    Key Concepts in Technical Writing

    • The key concept in technical communication is that audience and purpose determine everything about how you communicate on the job.
    • Technical writing is designed to inform, instruct, or persuade an audience.
    • It is informative and concise.

    Characteristics of Technical Documents

    • Technical documents must be reader-centered.
    • They value the reader's time by using the following features:
      • Accessible
      • Collaborative
      • Concise
      • Efficient page design
      • Logical organization
      • Meaningful content
      • Supplemental material
      • Visual elements

    Importance of Audience

    • Technical communication is the delivery of technical information to readers in a manner that is adapted to their needs, level of understanding, and background.
    • The ability to "translate" technical information to non-specialists is a key skill to any technical communicator.

    Cultural Communication

    • Technical writers need to be aware of the differences between the behavior and the norms, beliefs, and values of specific cultures.
    • The Cultural Iceberg illustrates patterns of world communication, showing indicators of Institutional Culture (the obvious behavior of a culture) and People Culture (the norms, beliefs and values of a culture).

    Ethics

    • Technical writers must use words that demonstrate valid appeals to reason, avoiding emotional words and phrases that appeal to basic emotion instead of justifiable reasoning.
    • They must use valid references to support ideas and strategies, avoiding referencing non-experts to sway readers' support.
    • They must use accurate numbers to report data, avoiding charts and tables that skew data.

    Features of Technical Writing

    • Technical documents are reader-friendly, with a clear organizational pattern.
    • They use appropriate language to provide the reader with a thorough understanding of the purpose of the document, how the document relates to the reader's needs, and what action is expected of the reader.

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    Quiz Team

    Description

    This quiz covers the introduction to technical writing, including its definition and importance, characteristics of different audiences, and common types of technical documents.

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