TECHNICAL WRITING

Technical writing transfers information about a situation, product, service, or concept, by written means, to audiences of different levels of technical knowledge, so that each member of the audience clearly understands the message. Some features of technical writing are given below

Transfers information, utilitarian or occupational, employing appropriate vocabularies and styles Is related to the workplace Seeks to produce action/reaction in or for a clearly defined audience Seeks to approach a single meaning It is practical writing, done in response to a request, an invitation, or a need, for a specific named audience Has optimal readability and special packaging

Effective Technical Writing It can be described as incorporating the elements of writing in such a way that a reader can experience the writer's intended meaning, understand the writer's premise, and accept or reject the writer's point of view. Some Prominent Features of Effective Writing: Technical writing:

is focused on the topic and does not contain extraneous or loosely related information; has an organizational pattern that enables the reader to follow the flow of ideas because it contains a beginning, middle, and end and uses transitional devices; contains supporting ideas that are developed through the use of details, examples, vivid language, and mature word choice; and follows the conventions of standard written English (i.e., punctuation, capitalization, and spelling) and has variation in sentence structure. Uses effective language to encourage productive relationships between technologies and their users Presents information within the world of work for a specific audience, purpose, and application.

Guidelines for Good Technical Writing 1. 2. 3. 4. Focus on why you are writing Focus on your readers. Satisfy document specifications Get to the point

5. Provide accurate information 6. Present your material logically 7. Express yourself clearly 8. Use efficient wording 9. Make your ideas accessible. 10. Use lists for some information 11. Format your pages carefully 12. Manage your time efficiently

The Nature of the Writing Process Writing is a complex process that allows writers to explore thoughts and ideas, and make them visible and concrete. Writing encourages thinking and learning for it motivates communication and makes thought available for reflection. When thought is written down, ideas can be examined, reconsidered, added to, rearranged, and changed.