Lecture 1-TW Definition

8/9/2019 Lecture 1-TW Definition

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WHAT IS

TECHNICAL WRITING?


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DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL

WRITINGA practical writing , a part of ones job.

It aims to get work done, to change

people by changing the way they dothings.

The most critical skill required in the

world of business presently, i.e. the

ability to communicate verbally aswell as in writing.


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C ti

A exp sit ry writi g used t c veyi f rmati r t c vi ce thers f r a y tech ical r busi ess assista ce.

A type f writi g c mp sed f specifici f rmati ab ut a particular subject,craft, bject, ccupati etc. F rexample:

creating computer manuals orwriting text books etc.


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A writing to communicate specificinformation in the form of adescription, e.g. directions orinstructions for computer operation, foroperating a video cassette, taperecorder or any other technicalequipment.

A process of transforming andtranslating technical ideas into writtenoutput that a target audience willunderstand.


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C ti

A esse tially writte expla ati f

scie tific a d ther specialized

subject related t scie ces

Is a style/f rm f f rmal writi g

equally addressi g tech ical a d

tech ical audie ce


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Three key concepts

Technical writing is:

1. Audience centered2. Presentational

3. Responsible


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Audience Centered

Deals with specific information

Makes reader ready to act/respond

Exists within a community

Has a definite purpose

Is interactive


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Technical Writing Is Audience

Centeredfocuses on audiences need (to find

out the desired material)________

need can be satisfied if the messageis_______

clear(no connotative meanings, no

complex sentence structure) &_______

c ncise (to the point, no irrelevantdetails, no redundancies).


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Example:

e a e : tim l

Dire ti / : a ti

I tr ti


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Deals with specific situation

The writer aims to consider

Is this all from the course of the students?

Does it match with the knowledge level of

the students?

Is my way of asking question explicit?

Am I making the right use of vocabulary

and terminologies that go with theknowledge level and course of the

students?


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Example:

it ati : reparati f q e ti

paper

riter : ea er

ie e: t e t


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Enables readers to act

An effective piece of technical

writing makes the readers to:

nderstand t e essa econ enientl

ta e effecti e actions accordin l


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Example:

i c (st ts) cti :

1. Proper understanding2. Successful replies


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Occurs within a community

rit r nows

the psyche of the community he wants to

address

the physical appearance, tone, the people

of a particular community understands

rit r hi hly consi rs

community valuesrit r coll cts

Site information


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c ti...

Writ r

up t date k wledge

Writ r i t

with a tech ique based se se fc mmu ity


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According to the previous

example

nvironment academic

ommunit teacher& students

oleseacher jot down the questions in a proper

format related to the subject from

examination point of viewtudent : act according to the requirements

of the paper and give satisfactory

answers


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Interactive

Report presented by the writer creates a

situation of analysis/ critical analysis

The words of information/ report interact

with the past ideas/ information/experiences of the reader thus developing

a comparison (past & present)

Reader develops a response as

anticipating future issues/ problems

a le

A day to day report during the construction of

a building (commercial, private)


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Example

Workers of a company need to knowtheir duties and their details

sers need technical description ofthe new machine

House wives need the instructionaldetails to use new electronic

device/applianceompany management wants theresults of an experiment


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Technical writing is

presentationalFormatting is given as much importance as

is given to the other components in the

preparation of the document because:

the balanced l adds effectiveness toyour writing,

it makes writing comprehensi e,

the chronology helps the reader to get

familiarized at once with the structure of

the document as well as its individual units.


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Presentational devices

1. Use top down method; fr i

i s t s r i t i s . .

ll ti .

2. Headings; sk tc t/ t r

riti .

3. Chunks ; i isi s it i t

riti , li f t i s.


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6. Use plain and objective language;

t t i t, r sit ,

c l str ct r s, c si r

i c k l l l.


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Lecture 1-TW Definition