Question
Write a 1-2 page e-mail or memo to me, describing your understanding of technical writing.
NOTE: Remember, memos or e-mails should have four basic pieces of information: sender’s name or e-mail address, recipient’s name or e-mail address, date, and subject line.
Include your definition of technical writing, some examples of technical writing, and the importance of purpose, audience, and format in technical documents.
Please remember to follow block format and include at least one design element (bullets, headings, numbers, etc.) in your document. If you use any evidence, remember to cite within the text and on a Work(s) Cited or Reference(s) page using MLA or APA format.
Grading Rubric
Design: Follows formatting guidelines including the following: Uses block format and single-spaces text and double spaces between paragraphs (not indenting paragraphs); Uses a standard font and point size for all documents; Follows required format for all documents
Content: Follows word count or page requirements and uses specific content and examples. (Writing assignments should be a minimum of one page); follows the directions; includes a beginning, middle, and end.
Organization: Follows the organizational guidelines including the following: Organizes ideas in a logical way, using topic sentences where needed; Groups information accordingly, using consistent headings where needed; Uses bullets to arrange items in non-sequential order.
Audience: Remembers that different assignments require different audiences; directed at specified audience; uses language and tone appropriate for audience.
Style: Follows APA or MLA rules; writes clear paragraphs, clear, concise, and precise sentences, and clear and specific words; avoids wordiness; uses active voice and parallelism; writes sentences that are grammatically and mechanically correct.
| Subject | Functional Writing | Pages | 3 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Date:
To:
From:
Subject: Technical Writing
Technical writing can be described as a method of drafting technical information for communication purposes in occupational and technical fields. Technical writing is meant to convey complex content in the most effective, concise, and clear manner that will ensure the intended message is received. This form of writing is common in biotechnology, consumer electronics, medical, finance, robotics, aeronautics, chemistry, engineering, computer software, and computer hardware fields (Gould, 2016). For an individual measure up as a good technical writer, they must be highly knowledgeable in the subject content that needs to be communicated.
Examples of Technical Writing
Technical writing can take any of three forms namely technological marketing communications, traditional technical writing and end-user documentation (Gould, 2016). End-user documentation mainly deals with the drafting of working or installation manuals for various appliances. Technological marketing communications, on the other hand, incorporates writing informative content to lure potential consumers. Traditional technical writing which is the most common is an analysis of content to provide a simplified summary such that others can go through and understand the information with ease. These forms can be used to present various technical writing assignments such as online articles, promotional brochures, operational guides, and training manuals among others.
Importance of Technical Writing
The purpose of technical writing is to translate specialized information into simple instructions in the workplace. Its importance can be seen in both the industrial environment and consumer products. Lack of precise writing to give directions to use and specifications for products, they become dangerous and meaningless to use. This implies that technical writing offers product or process context and facilitates their safe use. Technical writing is also used in industries to pitch virgin ideas or products. Therefore, technical writing is a necessity whether an individual is trying to write a grant proposal or develop a new business manual among others. Technical writing also provides information about specific equipment such as their installation, operation, maintenance, and characteristics (Gould, 2016).
The audience in Technical Writing
In technical writing, the audience includes non-specialists, executives, technicians, and experts respectively in order on their technical know-how. When drafting technical documents, it is crucial to understand the category for which the document is written. The knowledge base, training, and experience of the audience informed on the technicality of terms to be used in the documents. Besides, the document should be planned to meet the interests and needs of the target audience such as their expectation and intended use of the information. The design of a technical document may also be influenced by the demographic characteristics of the audience such as their political preferences, sex, residence, or age-group among others (Gould, 2016). Technical writing can target more than one audience such as technicians and experts. In such cases, the writer can decide whether to write in sections for specific audiences or combine the whole information if it is common knowledge for all the varying audiences. Thus, the target audience forms a crucial aspect of writing technical documents.
The format for Technical Documents
technical documentation follows different formats depending on the organization’s methodology and technology and external and internal stakeholder needs. However, every technical document should contain a revision log, executive summary, risks, assumptions and dependencies, functional requirements, references and a glossary (Gould, 2016).
Technical writing is an essential tool for every organization. It should be utilized to pass technical information to various audiences in an organization in a language they understand. Besides, it should follow a specific format depending on which the company finds efficient.
References
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Gould, J. R. (2016). Directions in Technical Writing and Communication (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Appendix
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