Technical Writing (Cont.)Strong applications, resumes, cover letters= jobsStats:- Writing remediations costs American businesses as much as $3.1 billion annually- 50% of private employers and 60% of state gov’t employers say writing skills influence promotion decisionsMost employees are expected to write (and frequently/almost always produce):Technical ReportsFormal ReportsMemos & CorrespondencePowerPoint PresentationsThings to think about when starting your paper:AudiencesFirst thing to identify: Who am I writing for? Who is my audience?Content experts:TechniciansDecision makers- need a strong argument and to show you have done your researchLay reader- various people from different backgrounds; translating message to a different audience; provide background information and definitionsCommunication Goals:Want reader(s) to understand your meaning exactly as you intendWant your writing to achieve its goal with the readersKeep the goodwill of those you communicate with (don’t want to make them mad; make them spend too much time on s/g when they are busy people; be considerate of your audience)Composing ProcessAnalyze situation/Plan documentWhat is this?What will I have to do?Determine contentWhat is your purpose?To persuade, inform, motivate, show understanding, recommendArrange ideasWhat are the main ideas? (Bullet points/sub-heads)DraftBegin writing!ReviseLogic (Don’t loose them!)CompletenessStyle and DesignVisualsDocumentEdit.Note: repeat each step as necessary until you get it right Qualities Of Good Technical WritingAccuracy- dealing with numbers/moneyClarity- so people don’t have questionsConciseness-Organization- so they can follow what you are trying to get acrossCorrectness/mechanics: use of Standard EnglishWorkplace Writing WarningsAnything created electronically can be seen by anyone and spread around.Text messages- If you ‘re using a company phone, they have the right to your messages you have sent on that phone.E-mail- Once it’s been sent in a text or e-mail, it’s legally considered “published”Blogs, Internet (users surfing), Social media, and Personal webpagesYou may not intend for your employers or coworkers to see these things, but they are available to the whole Internet and NEVER go away.JTC 300 1nd Edition Lecture 1 (August 27)Outline of Current Lecture I. Literary vs. News WritingII. Technical Writinga. Technical Writing vs. Academic WritingIII. Starting Your Papera. Workplace Writing WarningsCurrent LectureLiterary vs. News WritingLiterary: entertainment, escape, lessonso Not always direct, symbolism, metaphors, foreshadowing, varying sentences, longer paragraphsNews: inform, highlight, exposeo Direct, factual, timely, short sentences and paragraphsTechnical Writing- Educate, inform or persuade audiences- People read out of necessity- At work, no one wants to ready anything you write- Most times, they will not read ALL of what you writeo Practice condensing your writingTechnical VS. Academic Writing:Technical: Job goals achieved, variety of audiences, readers have different perspectives, readers “search for key points (ex: headers are helpful), indefinite time span (may last forever!), legal liability attachedThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Academic: Grade earned, limited audience, single perspective, various levels of reading and critiquing, semester time span, little liabilityTechnical Writing (Cont.)Strong applications, resumes, cover letters= jobsStats:- Writing remediations costs American businesses as much as $3.1 billion annually- 50% of private employers and 60% of state gov’t employers say writing skills influence promotion decisionsMost employees are expected to write (and frequently/almost always produce):- Technical Reports- Formal Reports- Memos & Correspondence- PowerPoint PresentationsThings to think about when starting your paper:AudiencesFirst thing to identify: Who am I writing for? Who is my audience?Content experts:- Technicians- Decision makers- need a strong argument and to show you have done your research- Lay reader- various people from different backgrounds; translating message to a different audience; provide background information and definitionsCommunication Goals:- Want reader(s) to understand your meaning exactly as you intend- Want your writing to achieve its goal with the readers- Keep the goodwill of those you communicate with (don’t want to make them mad; make them spend too much time on s/g when they are busy people; be considerate of your audience)Composing ProcessAnalyze situation/Plan document- What is this?- What will I have to do?Determine content- What is your purpose?o To persuade, inform, motivate, show understanding, recommendArrange ideas- What are the main ideas? (Bullet points/sub-heads)Draft- Begin writing!Revise- Logic (Don’t loose them!)- Completeness- Style and Design- Visuals- DocumentEdit.Note: repeat each step as necessary until you get it right Qualities Of Good Technical WritingAccuracy- dealing with numbers/moneyClarity- so people don’t have questionsConciseness- Organization- so they can follow what you are trying to get acrossCorrectness/mechanics: use of Standard EnglishWorkplace Writing WarningsAnything created electronically can be seen by anyone and spread around.- Text messages- If you ‘re using a company phone, they have the right to your messages you have sent on that phone.- E-mail- Once it’s been sent in a text or e-mail, it’s legally considered “published”- Blogs, Internet (users surfing), Social media, and Personal webpageso You may not intend for your employers or coworkers to see thesethings, but they are available to the whole Internet and NEVER go