Portrait of a Technical Writer: An Annotated Bibliography

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-303
Author(s):  
Heather E. Keeler
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
Technical Writer ◽  
The Subject

This annotated bibliography identifies and summarizes sixteen current articles portraying the technical writer. Despite the abundance of literature on the subject of technical communication, there is scant literature that describes and humanizes the technical writers—the skills they value, products they produce, roles they play, or industries they serve. The sixteen articles listed here, all published since 1980, paint a picture which may be of use to practitioners, students, educators, authors, and researchers.

Feedforward (ff) en Metaforische Transfer (mt) -Dimensies Van Technical Writers'

1984 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 116-124
Author(s):  
J.W. Broer
Keyword(s):  
Professional Identity ◽  
Technical Communication ◽  
Technical Writing ◽  
Visual Elements ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Writing Problems ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
The World ◽  
Technical Writer ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

A map of the world of 'technical' communication shows the (a, ß)-universe, flat country filled with language experts and scientists, including engineers. In the centre Technical Writing is situated, a territory in turmoil, on the border of α-land and ß-land. In the U.S.A. the territory is developing fast as the professional core of a new skill. As emigrants, many people of an α-type or ß-type nature end up in the territory. Having a problem of professional identity they possess a hy-brid personality. The attention paid to this problem causes them to lose sight of the two 'natural' forces of an emigrating individual, that is to say feedforward — an anticipative composition principle — and metaphoric transfer — 'as-if use of knowledge from the individual's professional past, to solve the communication problems met at present. Feedforward (Ivor A. Richards, 1893-1979) is a principle of creative action, proceeding from more generic to less (a top-down hier-archy); a number of 'formators' (Charles W. Morris and Bess Sondel), the tools for making text according to the feedforward scheme, are discussed. Nowadays visual elements as formators receive more emphasis. Text is seen as a distribution of three types of elements ('knowing', 'feeling', 'acting') glued into a unit, the communicative 'whole', by the formators. The textual whole should match the type of readers as originally anticipated by the technical writer (27 types, a classification based upon estimating three levels of knowing, feeling, acting; examples are included). Some prescriptions for solving Technical Writing problems found by metaphoric transfer are discussed. To illustrate the traffic of ideas arising from metaphoric transfer, a detailed map of the border area science/ technical writing is shown.

The Relativity of Communication: Albert Einstein as Technical Writer

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Baresich
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Albert Einstein ◽  
Special Theory ◽  
Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Special Theory Of Relativity ◽  
Audience Analysis ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
Technical Writer ◽  
Efficient Information ◽  
Relative Differences

Efficient information flow in technical communication depends upon accurate audience analysis. The presentation of information must be adjusted relative to the knowledge and interests of the writer's audience. Problems arise when the relative differences in audiences are slight, but nonetheless important. Albert Einstein's writing can be used as an example of skillful adaptation of material for audiences with subtle differences. A prime example is his special theory of relativity, which he published in three versions for technical, semitechnical, and nontechnical audiences. Students, teachers, and technical writers can learn much from the way Einstein uses tone, personal address, varying levels of diction, definitions, and concrete examples of each of the three expositions of his special theory of relativity.

Career Opportunities for Teachers of Technical Writing: A Survey of Programs in Technical Communication

1978 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul V. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Technical Writing ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Experienced Teachers ◽  
Promotion And Tenure ◽  
Formal Study ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
Technical Writer

In response to a mail survey of the career opportunities they offer teachers of technical writing, twenty-four programs that prepare students for careers as technical writers and editors indicated that their technical writing faculty enjoy about the same teaching loads, salaries, and chances for promotion and tenure as do equally qualified and experienced teachers of literature at their schools. The programs also indicated that they have a growing number of openings on their faculties for teachers of technical writing. Finally, the programs ranked and rated seventeen qualifications that might be offered by applicants for those positions; the most significant conclusion drawn from the rankings and ratings is that the programs look more favorably upon experience — both in teaching and in working as a technical writer or editor — than they do upon formal study of technical writing or the teaching of it.

Selected studies of the Menopause

1973 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja M. McKinlay ◽  
John B. McKinlay
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Observation ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
The Past ◽  
General Report ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
The Subject

SummaryLiterature on the subject of the menopause, primarily from the past three decades, is selectively reviewed in the form of an annotated bibliography. In order to highlight particular methodological problems, the review is presented in three sections, each preceded by a brief discussion, as follows: (a) the general report of clinical observation or experience, (b) the survey, and (c) the clinical trial. Several recommendations are also made for further research in this field.

An Annotated Bibliography of the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 1978–1980

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Richard Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Technical Writing ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Applied Theory

This annotated bibliography includes all articles published in the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 1978–1980. The articles are divided into the following categories: 1) The Profession, 2) Education and Pedagogy, 3) Preparation and Presentation of Technical Information, and 4) Applied Theory in Technical Communication.

Photo-Journalism: An Annotated Bibliography

1947 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-249
Author(s):  
Roland E. Wolseley
Keyword(s):  
Assistant Professor ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
State University ◽  
Technological Changes ◽  
Graphic Arts ◽  
Kent State University ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Syracuse University ◽  
Radio News

The brevity of this bibliography can be blamed, not on its compiler's unwillingness to search the photography and journalism publications or the book shelves of numerous libraries and supply shops, but upon the editor's explicit instructions and the scarcity of material. Professor Arpan's specific orders were: “The bibliography should contain references to photo-journalism only and should skip photography in general.” Precisely that was done, although “photo-journalism” was interpreted broadly. It meant that a few general books of special help should be included; it meant, also, a little attention to television and the news reel. Having prepared a bibliography in the field of general journalism, the compiler knew that little had been written on photo-journalism. He was not prepared, however, for the realization that most writing on the subject is either badly out-of-date or superficial. Articles in such journals as Camera, American Photographer, Editor and Publisher, and Popular Photography usually are topical and timely but therefore highly perishable. So many technological changes have occurred in the past few years that whole books have become mere curiosities. Popular taste has affected photo-journalism also, stimulated by the growth of the picture magazine. Photo-journalism, like newspaper circulation, radio news writing, and country journalism, is wide open for up-to-date and thorough treatment by textbook authors. At this writing there is no single book, dated later than 1939, which is intended as a basic text in a photo-journalism course or at least suitable for such use. The compiler wishes to thank James Fosdick, assistant professor of photography, Kent State University, and C. Wesley Brewster, instructor in graphic arts, Syracuse University, for their suggestions.

scholarly journals The First 20 Years of Radiocarbon Dating: An Annotated Bibliography, 1948-68; A Pilot Study

Radiocarbon ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 997-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilette Polach
Keyword(s):  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Data Bases ◽  
Computer Data ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Number Of Publications

A bibliography of the radiocarbon dating literature for the years 1948-68, which is in the process of compilation, is examined and a format is proposed. A survey of literature growth has also been undertaken. This enables projections of the numbers of publications referring to radiocarbon dating to be made. The estimated number of publications for the year 1978 is compared to literature retrieval obtained by interrogating eight relevant computer data bases. It is concluded that computer information retrieval is not satisfactory. Bibliographic control of radiocarbon dating literature would be best achieved by a bibliography dedicated to the subject and updated at regular intervals.

Procedures, Instructions, and Specifications: A Challenge in Audience Analysis

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary M. Lay
Keyword(s):  
Audience Analysis ◽  
Communication Task ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
Technical Writer

Procedures, instructions, and specifications demand precise and imaginative audience analysis. Although these three communications tasks ask an audience to participate in an operation, the specific purpose and audience of each is unique. Recognizing this uniqueness provides the technical communications teacher with challenging student assignments and the technical writer and editor with useful questions to ask in analyzing these audiences. This article describes the audiences that read procedures, instructions, and specifications, provides examples of each communication task, suggests assignments in each for technical communications teachers, and lists questions for technical writers and editors to ask about audiences of each task.

Interviewing for Information

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Leslie Levine
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Major Task ◽  
Technical Writers ◽  
Interviewing Skills ◽  
Technical Writer

Gathering information is a major task of the technical writer. All too often, however, writers take this important skill for granted. Successful interviewing often is, however, the technical writer's key to writing good technical prose. Whether the writer is seeking the theory behind an engineering design or preparing an annual report, the techniques that writer uses for successful interviewing will be the same. Further, by developing good interviewing skills, a writer will improve his or her organization and writing techniques. Yet the most important aspect of good interviewing is obtaining accurate information. If technical writers want to be considered professionals in their field, they must become expert interviewers as well as good technical translators.

Fictional Techniques in Technical Writing

1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-98
Author(s):  
Richard S. Ruch ◽  
Jan C. Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Technical Communication ◽  
Technical Writing ◽  
Intended Audience ◽  
Technical Writer

Technical papers should be constructed as coherent wholes, using those organizational, stylistic, and informational devices necessary to communicate their intended message to the intended audience. Since messages and audience vary tremendously, so also must techniques of technical writing. The technical writer will find that techniques normally associated with the writing of fiction, including creation of hypothetical situations, composite characters, invented dialogue, and dramatic story lines, aid greatly in achieving improved technical communication.

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