EL 108 TECHNNICAL WRITING PRELIMS
TECHNICAL WRITING
Communication written for and about
business and industry, focusing on products
and services: how to manufacture them,
market them, manage them, deliver
them, and use them.
technical writing is:
—an instructional manual for repairing
machinery.
—a memo listing meeting agendas
—a letter from a vendor to a client
—a recommendation report proposing
a new computer system
TECHNICAL WRITING VS. ESSAY
Development
Technical Writing and Essay
Uses examples,
anecdotes, testimony,
data, research
Grammar
Both important
Organization
Technical Writing provides an introduction,
body and conclusion.
-uses a subject line vs. a thesis and
itemization of point vs. transitional words
-Uses topic sentences only when needed,
dependent upon the type and length of
correspondence
Essays provides an introduction, thesis
statement, body paragraphs, transitional
words, and topic sentences
Style
Technical Writing uses short, denotative
words; short sentences;
and short paragraphs
Essay uses longer connotative words; longer
sentences; and longer paragraphs
Document design
Technical Writing uses highlighting
techniques, such as graphics, headings,
subheadings, various fonts, white space,
bullets, etc.
Essays (not a factor)
COMMUNICATION CONTINUUM
What is communication?
process of transmitting or exchanging
information.
What is Continuum?
-borrowed from Medieval Latin word
“Continuus” or CONTINUOUS.
-something that keeps on changing slowly
over time
Communication continuum
-the range of communication methods and
channels used
-useful tool to categorized and understand the
type of communication we use.
Type of writing
 Creative Writing
The art of making things up (POEMS,
PLAYS, STORIES)
 Expressive Writing
Individuals write about their thoughts
and feelings (NARRATIVES &
DESCRIPTIONS)
 Expository Writing
Seeks to explain or expose
(COMPARISON & CONTRAST,
ANALYSIS, CAUSE & EFFECT,
ARGUMENTS, AND PERSUASION)
 Journalism
Used to report news stories in a
variety of media formats
 Technical Writing
Type of writing about a particular
subject
\
5 Components of Technical Writing
 Development
 Grammar
 Organization
 Style
 Document Design
NATURE OF TECHNICAL WRITING
The Society of Technical Communications
(STC) defines technical communication as a
broad field that includes any form of
communication that is about technical or
specialized topics, that uses technology such
as web pages or help files, or that
provides instruction about how to do
something.
“TECHNICAL” refers to specialized
knowledge that is held by experts and
specialists.
Characteristics of Technical Writing
CLARITY
Technical document must convey a single
meaning that the reader can understand.
ACCURACY
Unclear writing can cause many problems
and even inaccuracy in the report. Slightest
error can confuse or even annoy the reader of
the report.
COMPREHENSIVENESS
When writing technically, all the information
should be provided, its background must be
described and clear description of any
process, or method of carrying out a specific
work, should also be given
ACCESSIBILITY
It means the ease with which the readers can
locate the information they seek
CONCISENESS
Free from excess verbiage
Uses of Technical Writing
• Technical Writing for Instructing
It is used to instruct people.
• Technical Writing for
Communication
It makes communication smoother possible
because it simplifies all the points.
• Ensuring Consistency
It is used to secure consistency in operations.
• Promoting Products and Services
It is often used in marketing materials like
brochures and flyers to promote products and
services
• Persuading Audiences
It persuades audiences to take action or
support a particular idea or project.
• Technical Writing for arguing
to make valid arguments is to have the
ultimate power in your hand
5 TRAITS OF TECHNICAL WRITING
CLARITY
In writing, clarity refers to how easy it is to
understand something. Among the five traits
of technical writing, clarity is the most
important.
Two Ways to Attain Clarity In Technical
Writing (Gerson, 2013)
1. Reporter’s Questions:
Who: Audience
What: Action
When: Timetable or Schedule
Where: Place
Why: Rationale
How: Process
2. Specificity
CONCISENESS
Being clear and does not include
unnecessary or vague words or language.
Ways To Achieve Conciseness
• Use short words.
• Use short sentences.
• Avoid redundancy, prepositional
phrases, and passive voice.
ACCESSIBILITY 5-TRAIT RUBRIC
The ease of which the readers can locate the
information they seek.

AUDIENCE RECOGNITION
Effective technical writers understand that
they can only attain clarity by recognizing
their audiences. Basically, you will write to
either High Tech Peers, Low Tech Peers, or
Lay Readers. Writing effectively to these
three types of audience levels requires
different techniques.

High Tech Peers know just as much about a

subject as you do. They have the same
education, same job title, same level of
expertise, and the same years of experience.

Low Tech Peers who work inside your

company know something about the subject.
They may not have the same education, job
title, level of expertise, or years of
experience.

Lay Readers are your customers. They are

completely out of the loop.

ACCURACY
Successful technical writing must be
accurate, whether grammatically,
electronically, etc.
• Use your computer’s spell check—
remember, however, that a spell
check will not catch from if you mean
form, too if you mean to, or accept if
you mean except.
• Let it sit—for days or weeks. When
your document is icy, you are more
objective about your own writing.
• Use peer evaluations—others will
see the errors you miss.
• Read it aloud—sometimes, you can
hear errors.
• Read it backward—then you read
words out of context. You cannot
anticipate the next word