1 | Technical Writing Reviewer (CHAPTER 1)
Understanding the Nature of Technical Writing  Instructional manuals are written to guide the
LESSON 1: What is Technical Writing?
According to Mills and Walter (1981)
Technical writing
o is writing about scientific subjects and about various
technical subjects associated with the sciences.
o characterized by certain formal elements, such as its
scientific and technical vocabulary, its use of
graphic aids, and its use of conventional report
forms.
o characterized by the maintenance of an attitude of
impartiality and objectivity, by extreme care to
convey information accurately and concisely, and by
the absence of any attempt to arouse emotion.
o there is relatively high concentration of certain
complex and important writing techniques, in
particular description of mechanisms, description of
process, definition, classification, and interpretation.
These are the products of technical writing:
 A business letter is a type of written
communication. It is written using formal language
and follows formal elements of letter writing. People
usually write business letters to communicate with
companies, organizations or individuals with the
purpose of applying for a job, making requests,
seeking appointments, etc.
 Contract is a written agreement between two people
under mutually agreed terms.
 Monograph is a detailed essay or book on a very
specific topic. It is usually written by professionals
or academicians on topics of interest concerning
their specific fields.
 Printed action memo is a ready-format
memorandum that only requires a checkmark on the
appropriate box that contains the message. This is
especially useful for busy people who need to make
quick decisions and act on the circumstance or
situation.
 Graphic aids are drawings, sketches and
illustrations that aid the readers in understanding the
presented data.
readers on how to assemble, maintain, and operate
an apparatus, machine or gadget.
 Brochures are pamphlets or flyers that endorse a
product in such a way that the potential customer
will be convinced that the product is effective and
eventually avail of the product.
 Proposals are written suggestions on how to make
the company or organization more productive and
successful. Most companies and organizations
require this before an agreement is reached.
 Memoranda are inter-office written communication
used to disseminate information.
FIVE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES in GOOD
TECHNICAL WRITING
1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real or
imaginary, when you are writing a report. Always
assume that he is intelligent, but uninformed.
2. Before you start to write, always decide what the
exact purpose of your report is, and make sure that
every paragraph, every sentence, every word makes
a clear contribution to that purpose.
3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.
4. At the beginning and end of every section of your
report, check your writing according to this
principle: "First you tell the reader what you're going
to tell him, then you tell him what you've told him."
5. Make your report attractive.
Purposes of technical writing
1. It serves as basis for management decision.
2. It furnishes needed information.
3. It gives instructions.
4. It records business transactions through proposals.
5. It procures business proposals.
6. It serves as basis for public relations.
7. It provides report to stockholders of companies.
Properties of technical writing/considerations when
writing technical reports
1. Subject matter. In writing technical papers, you
must ask the question, "What will I write about?"
The subject matter is an essential element in technical
report writing. Some examples of this are description of
a process, writing about a theory, or submitting a policy.
2. Audience. When thinking about the audience, ask
"Whom am I writing for? Or who are my intended
2 | Technical Writing Reviewer (CHAPTER 1)

readers?" This is a property which pertains to a
particular reader of a technical literature.
3. Expression. This property refers to two basic
modes in which a technical report has to be
delivered-writing it or reading it. Your expression of
the content will depend on your awareness of your
audience's reader's psychology and your style in
writing to be able to reach your audience's/ reader's
understanding.
4. Style. This refers to how the material is written. A
technical writer uses clear, specific point of view,
objective,
5. impartial, and unemotional style in writing.
6. Arrangement of materials. This pertains to how
ideas should be organized in chronological, spatial
or logical order, from general to specific or specific
to general, and use illustrations to present the
information.
2. Trademark law pertains to federal protection
(different from registered trademarks).
3. Contract law warranties. covers written warranties
or their implied
4. Liability law pertains to responsibilities or
obligations of writers especially claims they made
on their paper.
Principles of Ethical Communication
Do's of Technical Communication
 Abide by relevant laws.
 Abide by the appropriate corporate or professional
code of conduct.
 Tell the truth.
 Be clear.
 Avoid discriminatory language.
 Acknowledge assistance from others
Don'ts of Technical Communication

Five basic types of writing:

 False implications - assuming the outcome of a
project or making sweeping generalizations.
 Technical writing conveys specific information
 Exaggerations proportions. expressing situations
about a technical subject to a specific audience for a
in extreme
specific purpose.
 Euphemisms writing about situations in seemingly
 Creative writing is fiction-poetry, short stories,
good conditions even though they are not.
plays, and novels and far different from technical
 Don't mislead your readers.
writing.
 Expressive writing is a subjective response to a
LESSON 3: WRITING PROCESS.
personal experience journals and diaries whereas
technical writing might be objective observations of
Three basic stages:
a work-related experience or research.
 Expository writing "exposes" a topic analytically
 Pre-Writing Stage
and objectively, such as news reports. Like technical
writing. the goal of expository writing is to explain
This is the first stage in the writing process. It is what
or reveal knowledge, but expository writing does not
the writer does before he writes the first draft.
necessarily expect a response or action from the
reader.
In this stage, the writer composes or supplies
 Persuasive writing depends on emotional appeal. information pertaining to:
Its goal is to change one's attitudes or motivate
him/her to action. Technical Creative Writing
Writing
Differences between Technical Writing and Creative
Writing Content factual, straight- imaginative,
forward metaphoric or symbolic

Audience specific general

LESSON 2: Legal and ethical considerations relevant Purpose inform, instruct, entertain, provoka,
to technical writing persuade captivate

Style formal standard, informal, artistic,

Legal and ethical considerations when preparing
academic figurative
technical papers.
Tone objective subjective
1. Copyright law covers the protection of the rights of
the author Vocabulary specialized general, evocative

Organizatio sequential, arbitrary, artistic

n systematic
3 | Technical Writing Reviewer (CHAPTER 1)

 here is organization and coherence in the

A. Purpose of the paper. This is necessary to arrangement of the ideas, and
determine the content of the paper to be included,  grammar and mechanics are clearly observed
the organization and style of the paper.
B. Choice of topic. A writer has to explain or justify
his/her chosen topic.
C. Gathering information. A writer must be able to
find sources of information to enrich his/her topic.

Pre-writing Techniques:

1. Keep a writer's journal by recording personal

experiences, perceptions, and ideas.
2. Do free writing. Write about whatever comes to
mind,
3. Brainstorm by listing ideas as quickly as they occur.
4. Cluster by drawing lines and circles to show
connections between ideas. It is also called webbing
or making connections.
5. Ask questions using the news reporter's SWs-Who?
What? Where? Why? When? and How?
6. Read with focus. This entails reading efficiently to
locate and collect specific information.
7. Listen with focus. This means listening efficiently to
locate and collect specific information.
8. Observe by noticing details around you through the
senses.
9. Imagine. Probe your imagination for ideas, often use
a "what if?" approach.

 Writing Stage

The writing stage is the part where we begin to write our

first draft. We know that not everything that we write is
perfect at the first go. Hence, you must remember what
to do and what not to do during this stage.

Do's and Don'ts of Writing a First Draft

 Don't overanalyze your writing.

 Do feel free to follow the flow of ideas where it is
leading you, even if it is not what you initially
planned.
 Don't exaggerate details.
 Do work on the details as much as possible to keep
the story fresh in your mind.
 Don't worry yet about how good your writing is.
 Do have fun!

 Re-Writing Stage

This stage is also known as the "revision" stage. We

revise to ensure that:

 the content of the paper is relevant;