LESSON 1:

WHAT IS TECHNICAL
WRITING?

Ma. Lourdes G. Olegario

Instructor

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Technical writing is a written
communication about various
technical subjects in sciences,
engineering, and technology.

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It is a specialized, structured way of
writing as in the use of scientific
and technical vocabulary, its use
of graphic aids and its use of
conventional report forms.

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It is ideally characterized by an
attitude of impartiality and
objectivity for accuracy and
precision of information.

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 Examples of technical writing:
Sales catalogs
Business letters
Financial reports
Standard operating procedures
Medical research studies
Laboratory reports

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 Difference between technical and literary
writing
Technical Literary
Subject Scientific/technical Generally about life
Readership Specific General
Format Formal Informal
Purpose Informative/ Informative/entertaining
instructional
Language Literal/direct/ Figurative/indirect/
denotative connotative
Style Impersonal/simple Personal/elaborated
Tone Serious/unemotional Light/conversational

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Content Objective/neutral Subjective/opinionated
Technical writing or literary writing?

1. Essay
2. Syllabus
3. Skit
4. Minutes of Meeting
5. Poem
6. Deed of sale
7. Progress Report
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Which of the following statements would you expect to
come from a technical writing document?

1. My memory of her will never fade. She brought

music into my life.
2. There are two types of computer random-
access memory (RAM): static RAM and
dynamic RAM.
3. Most intriguing is the adoption of Corvette Z52
calipers to the car.
4. The mist peeked over the marshland.
5. Once upon a time there was a princess who
ruled a vast country.

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 Characteristics of Effective Technical
Writing
The four Cs:
Clarity -- it is easily understood by your
intended audience
Comprehensiveness -- all of the
necessary information is present
Conciseness -- it is clear without
excess verbiage
Correctness -- it is grammatical and it
follows conventions Page 9
Clarity

1. Avoid using jargons (a

vocabulary particular to a place
of work)
2. Avoid using abbreviations and
slang words

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Which one is properly written?

For the first year, the links with SDPC and

the HAC were not connected, and all
required OCS input data were artificially
loaded. Thus CATCH22 and MERWIN
were not available.

Because some of the links in the computer

system were not connected the first year,
we could not run all the software codes.

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3. Define the unfamiliar
If you must abbreviate, define the term in
its first occurrence, and put abbreviations
in parentheses
Example:
Edgartown Great Pond (EGP) is a vital
body of water. Unfortunately, due to an
unpredictable influx of saltwater, the
delicate ecosystem is in danger of
destabilizing.
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 Italicize first occurrence of
unfamiliar terms and define them
right away

Ex: Retina is a light-sensitive tissue,

found at the back of the eye, that
converts light impulses to nerve
impulses.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO
SUCCEED AS A TECHNICAL
WRITER
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1. Show respect for your reader.

Write with a positive attitude, not with

arrogance
Dont write in upper case for more
than A WORD OR TWO.
Write positive language.
Avoid sexist language by referring to
men and women the same way.
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Which one is properly written?

Access to student information is authorized only

for Enrollment Services purposes. Employees
who have access to student information are
required to protect and keep it confidential.

Access to student information is not authorized

for any parties except Enrollment Services.
Employees who have access to student
information are not allowed to share that
information with non-affiliated third parties if you
have not authorized it.
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2. Know your readers and their
requirements.
You often write a technical
document for a diverse group of
readers.
Understand their needs
The needs and wants of your
readers dictate every decision
you make as a writer.
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Categories of readers:
1. LAY READER: a general reader
without expert knowledge but with an
interest in a subject
2. TECHNICIAN: a person with skilled
knowledge in an area who
implements the ideas or plans of the
expert. They read manuals,
blueprints, and technical reports.

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3. EXPERT: an authority in a particular
field who is highly skilled and
professional, perhaps with an
advanced degree.
4. MANAGER: a person who organizes
a personnel and is responsible for
the day-to-day operations as well as
long-range planning.

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COMPONENTS OF TECHNICAL
WRITING
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 1. Context
2. Message
3. Language
4. Purpose
5. Audience
6. Product

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Context
refers to the situation in which
technical writing exists
it may include personal
relationships with the intended
audience, time and place, and
interferences that may influence
the writing

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Message
refers to the content
it includes facts, issues, and
relevant details to clear and
effective communication

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Language
the channel used to convey the
message
in the context of technical
writing, the language is usually
formal and standard

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Purpose
refers to the reason why the
technical writer is
communicating and reactions
he/she wants to elicit from the
target audience
can be to inform or to persuade

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Audience
the receiver of the information
can be classified as primary or
secondary
to understand the audience, you
need to know their purpose,
desires, motivation, attitude, and
level of understanding about the
subject
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Product
refers to the physical form of
the message influenced by
context, purpose, message,
language, and audience
may include letters, memos,
reports, proposals, abstracts
and summaries, and resumes

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 Group Task

Try to understand your audience by

identifying the:
a) purpose
b) demographic information
c) product

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 Example:
You are working as a Human
Resources Director in a private firm.
You want to implement a new policy on
wearing of uniforms during weekdays.

a) purpose?
b) demographic information?
c) product/media?

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1. You want members of your
scuba diving club to know the
latest diving news.
2. You are responsible for selling
manufactured homes in your
territory.
3. The Barangay Health Center
wants to tell the public how to
prevent the flu.
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4. You and your friends are opening
a milk tea shop in the university
belt.
5. You are working in a consumer
company that is launching a new
brand of shampoo.

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END OF LESSON 1

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