Technical

Writing Process

By
Deler Singh
Different from Other Forms of Writing

• No emotional content and personal thought

process
• Economical
• Reader oriented
• Simplicity
• Quality not quantity matters
 Characteristics of Good Writing
• Choosing the Right Words
• Forming Correct Sentences
• Getting the Paragraphs Right
 Choosing the Right Words

• Familiar Words:
• Examples: I fail to contemplate what makes me vulnerable to
such dispiriting behaviour of the management. My
contemporaries who on the other hand have been mediocre, have
been bestowed with better rewards.
• Garrulous: Talkative
• Pertinent: relevant
• Concurrent: Simultaneous
• Disseminating info: giving info
• Avoid SMS language
 Choosing the Right Words
Contd..
Simple Words
• Pursuit Search
• Audacity Courage
• Anomaly Irregularity
• Apropos regarding
• Anguish pain
• Alacrity eagerness
 Choosing the Right Words
Contd..
Concise Words:
• We Lost money last year
• Our losses were rs 100000 last year.
• The Employee turnover was significant.
• The Employee turnover was 10%.
• Lets meet next week.
• Lets meet next Monday at 10 am.
 Choosing the Right Words
Contd..
Unbiased words
• Gender:
• E.g. If an employee violates the internet security policy, he is
liable to be terminated.
• A violation of the internet security policy will lead to termination.
• Race or Religion:
My assistant who is a Tamilian, is really hardworking
• Disability: Physically handicapped Mary is a good employee.
• Age bias: Young people in the office have spoilt the work
culture.
 Few more points to remember
• Restrict the use of negative words
• E.g. This kind of callous and indifferent behavior is not
expected of you.
• Company expects more commitment and better conduct from
you.
• Use Right Set of Words
• His attitude on the issue of discrimination is noteworthy.
• He has completely wrong attitude about himself.
• His attitude towards work should be more positive.
 Forming Correct Sentence
Core ideas put together logically
• Step 1: Collect all the information
• Raja has worked in the company for quite a
few years. He has decided to quit the
company and we have decided to give him a
farewell this month-end. We may plan a gift
for him.
 Forming Correct Sentence
• Step2: Plan What You Want to Write:
• Kumar is very hard working. He has been absent for last
couple of days. This is due to his bad health. His
performance has also come down.
• Kumar has been absent for the last three days due to his
bad health. Although an extremely hard worker, he has not
been able to maintain his performance levels like before.
• Kumar is extremely hardworking; however, he has not been
performing like before. Due to his bad health, he is absent
for the last three days.
 Forming Correct Sentence
Step 3 Construct the Sentence:
• Should not be too long or choppy
• The employee turnover for the year 2009-10 has
been extremely high with over 2500 employees
leaving the company which may have been higher
than the previous years.
• The employee turnover for the year 2009-10 has
been extremely high. Many employees have left the
organization. This is higher than the previous year.
 Forming Correct Sentence
• The restaurant served excellent food. It was
only two years old.

• The restaurant, which was only two years old,

served excellent food.
 Forming Correct Sentence
Step 4. Connect the sentences:
Do not overexpress
• We would like to reassure you about the fact that your shipment
will be on time.
• We assure you that you will be receiving your shipment on time.
Do not Beat about the Bush
• As far as we understand all our dues have been cleared till date
and we should be able to get a fresh sanction of the loan.
• All our dues have been cleared and we are looking for a fresh
loan.
 Forming Correct Sentence
Put related ideas together
• John’s performance has declined. He has
bought a new car.
• John’s performance declined after he bought a
car.
Getting the Paragraphs Right
 Types
• Narrative: tell about a scene or event, usually
chronological
• Descriptive: vivid descriptions of one subject,
appeals to senses
• Expository: provide information/explains a
process
• Persuasive: gets the reader to accept a
particular point of view, facts/research
 Basic Elements
• Unity: related to topic sentence
• Related to the theme and the related ideas

• Order: chronological, order of importance,

any other logical sequence
• Follows a pattern
 Basic Elements
• Coherence: Sentences interconnected and form a
whole together
• Use of transitional words and sentences provides
coherence
• E.g.: Order (first, second, third) ; Spatial relation
(above, below); logic (further, in fact, in addition), etc.

• Completeness: Clarity and sentences support main

idea
 Components
• Topic Sentence
• Supporting Details
• Concluding Sentence
• Transitional Words
 Topic Sentence

• Single controlling idea

• To grab Readers’ attention
• What to come
• Must be catchy
• Title: The Hazards of Movie-going
• Topic Sentence: I like watching movies but I
prefer watching them at home.
 Supporting Details
• Facts
• Descriptions
• Examples
• First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): just
getting to the theater presents difficulties
• bad weather
• long drive and limited parking space
• long waiting to buy ticket
 Supporting Details
• Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): facing the problems
of the theater itself
• old theater's problems such as smelly carpet, worn-out seat,
etc.
• new theater's problems such as smaller size, noise from next
movie theater, etc.
 
• Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): Some of the patrons
are annoying
• bad behavior such as running, talking loud, etc.
• human noise and disturbance
 Concluding Sentence
• Driving final point home
• Restate the claims made in topic sentence
• Reinforces the central point
• Restate thesis: I prefer to watch movies at
home where it is comfortable, clean and safe.
 Transitional Words
• Transition to the next point
• Transitional words between sentences builds
unity and coherence E.g.: next, similarly, for
instance, etc.
 Example
• Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I like it because on Sunday, I watch

football. On other days, I also get to watch football but not all day. There

are other sports on other days to watch on TV. Sunday lunch is a favorite of

mine because I eat with my father in front of the TV. All the other days, I

have to eat at the table which is less fun. Some days my dad doesn’t make

it home from work until after I’m in bed. Some weeks my dad travels, and

I don’t see him for several days. The highlight of the day is when we watch

the Dolphins play. Dad and I get so excited, we yell and cheer together.

The thing that I like to do best in the world is watch TV with my dad.
 Example
• After – Revised Draft
• Sunday is my favorite day because I spend the day
watching football with my dad. On Sunday, unlike the
other days of the week when he works, my dad spends
the whole day with me watching football on TV. We even
eat lunch together while watching. The highlight of the
day is watching the Dolphins game. Dad and I get so
excited, we yell and cheer together. On Sundays, I get to
combine watching my favorite sport and spending time
with my favorite person—what a great day!