Introduction to Technical Communication - Week 1-2 Lesson PDF

Summary

This document is a lesson on introduction to technical communication, outlining its purpose, audience, challenges, and various types of technical writing. It is provided as a lecture delivered by the University of Saint Louis.

Full Transcript

Introduction to Technical Communication Weeks 1 and 2 | Prelims Advanced Technical Communication LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the lesson, students should be able to: ▪ define technical communication ▪...

Introduction to Technical Communication Weeks 1 and 2 | Prelims Advanced Technical Communication LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the lesson, students should be able to: ▪ define technical communication ▪ differentiate technical writing from academic and creative writing; ▪ determine the challenges in producing technical documents; ▪ classify the types of technically written documents; ▪ explain the principles and characteristics of good technical writing; and ▪ demonstrate the qualities of an excellent technical writer UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION encompasses a set of activities that people do to discover, shape, and transmit information Four Basic Modes of Communication Listening Speaking Reading Writing Receptive and productive skills are interchangeably used to achieve communication goals, functions, and purposes. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Technical Writing vs. Other Types Technical Writing Academic Writing ▪ used in technical disciplines ▪ used in academic disciplines ▪ everyone can be an audience ▪ audience is mostly scholars Creative Writing ▪ show the viewers factual knowledge ▪ enthrall, entertain, and ▪ launched in a logical technique evoke a feeling ▪ written in author’s style UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Understanding Purpose Communication that helps others learn about a subject, carry out a task or make a decision. Communication that reinforces or changes attitudes and motivates readers to take action. Understanding Audience having a clearly defined audience, and getting to know the intended readers, viewers, or listeners to make the communication targeted and purposive UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Purpose Audience Setting The Challenges (Factors) of Producing Technical Communication Document Process UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Types of Technical Writing 1. Traditional Technical Writing – specifically written for professional audiences a. Science and Medical Papers – learning resources for practitioners to understand procedures and results b. Professional Reports and Review – written for business growth and educational institutions UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Types of Technical Writing 2. End-user Documentation – helps users understand and operate products correctly a. User Help Guides – give clear and sensible answers to common questions that may develop as use of software programs continue b. Product Manuals – highlight a product’s main features, general maintenance, and basic operation c. Assembly Guidelines – process of setting up UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Types of Technical Writing 3. Technical Marketing Content – attracts and retains audience to drive profitable customer action; to convince buyers to purchase a. Brochures – describe the main features of and specifications for a product’s use b. Newsletter and Magazines – periodicals that market jobs, products, and services c. Websites and Media Content – online advertisements that catch audience’s interest UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Basic Principles of Good Technical Writing 1. Think of a specific reader; considered as intelligent but uninformed. 2. Establish your purpose for writing. 3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar. 4. Check your writing; provide an overview and a reiteration. 5. Make your report presentable and accessible. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Qualities of Good Technical Writing Accurate – deals with verifiable facts Clear – easily understood Formal – conform to conventions in writing Graphical – visually represented Objective – impersonal/unbiased view/tone Practical – realistically applicable Procedural – systematic and methodical presentation UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Qualities of Good Technical Writing Special – inclined to be exclusive and selective of topic, language, methodology, and readers Diversionary – sensitive to pitfalls or hidden dangers arising from diversity Straightforward – direct presentation Authoritative – command action or enforce something on someone or a group of people Presentable – error-free, neat, logical, organized, and quality presentation UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Qualities of a Technical Writer 1. Adequate knowledge of the subject matter 2. Ability to compile information 3. Ability to organize facts or ideas 4. Ability to analyze and synthesize 5. Ability to learn and use specialized vocabulary 6. Ability to write at the readers’ comprehensive level 7. Ability to use inductive and deductive reasoning 8. Accuracy of language 9. Objectivity in presenting facts and issues UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Qualities of a Technical Writer 10. Ability to write concise prose 11. Ability to determine the effectiveness of words, sentences, and paragraphs. 12. Ability to conform to the code of ethics in the technical writing professions Which of these qualities do you already possess? Which ones do you need to develop or work on? UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS| Tuguegarao City, Cagayan MISSIO ET EXCELLENTIA Advanced Technical Communication - ENGL 1023 Thank you! Continue learning, improving, and growing! May God guide and bless you in your endeavors.

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser