lesson 2 and 3 literary vs. technical writing and the technical writer
TRANSCRIPT
TOPIC:
Literary writing vs. Technical writing
Objectives for this lesson:
1. Compare and contrast technical writing from academic, business, and professional writing.
2. Differentiate technical writing from literary writing.
Differences between academic, business and professional writing
Academic Writing The difference between academic writing and technical writing is in the presentation, audience, and approach. Academic writing includes paragraphs – usually an introductory paragraph, paragraphs that develop a thesis (a statement of purpose), and a concluding paragraph. It is written for an academic audience – instructors, classmates, or a group of interested scholars.
Differences between academic, business and professional writing
Business Writing It deals with the type of writing and style of documents used by corporations, small business, and organizations. A business writer is conveying information, but with the additional purpose of persuading the reader to agree with the author by the end of the document.
For example: A business proposal. It is designed to persuade the audience (usually another business or organization) to accept a bid to complete a work project.
Differences between academic, business and professional writing
Professional Writing It refers to written communication commonly used in the workplace, which includes documents such as résumés, cover letters, personal statements, emails, and memos.
For example: a résumé and cover letter work together to convince the hiring manager that the candidate is right for the job.
Differences between academic, business and professional writing
Technical writing is not literature; it’s neither prose which recounts the fictional tales of characters nor poetry which expresses deeply felt, universal emotions through similes and metaphors. Technical writing is neither an expressive essay narrating an occurrence nor an expository essay analyzing a topic. Technical writing is not journalism, written to report the news. Technical writing does not focus on poetic images, describe personal experiences, or report who won the basketball game.
Differences between academic, business and professional writing
Instead, technical writing is: —an instructional manual for repairing machinery —a memo listing meeting agendas —a letter from a vendor to a client —a recommendation report proposing a new computer system
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
1. Primary purpose
Literary writing is to entertain or amuse the reader. To suggest the writer’s message, to impart a lesson and to broaden a person’s outlook.
Technical writing aims to provide useful information. Technical writing asserts to convey the writer’s ideas directly, to give directions and to serve as a basis for decision making.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
2. Subject Matter
Focuses on man’s experience and life including the intricacies of the human heart.
Technical writing deals with subject related to business industry, science and technology.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
3. Language
The language of literary writing is figurative and uses the imaginary vocabulary. The words and expressions used are beautifully and rhythmically interwoven to produce a poetic interpretation of life.
Technical writing makes use of formal and serious technical or scientific terminologies suited for its purposes and style.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
4. Point of View
In literary writing, the writer may use the first or the third person point of view or even from the point of view of the observer known as the third person omniscient.
The technical writer usually employs the third person point of view: the researcher, the proponent, the author or the writer.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
5. Tone
Literary writing is personal, subjective and definitely emotional.
The tone is predominantly objective, impersonal and unbiased.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
6. Style
Literary works adopt complicated and sophisticated styles.
Technical writing utilizes standard forms or preconceived designs and little variations from the standards form.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
7. Content
The contents of literary works
are suggestive and creative - it
is usually dramatic and
imaginative.
Nontechnical writing contains
specialized topics for selected
types of audience.
Technical writing deals with a lot of topics. Technical writing does not only tell you outright the information needed but also limits interpretation to one. It is factual, impersonal and free from emotions and distortions.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
8. Use of Visual Aids
Literature seldom employs
visual aids since the literary
writer is armed with words
that can fully narrate or
describe what he wants to
put across.
On the other hand, technical writing uses visual aids such as tables, drawings, graphs, charts, and others to facilitate comprehension of statistics and interpretation of data.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
Literary writing Technical writing
8. Use of Visual Aids
Literature seldom employs
visual aids since the literary
writer is armed with words
that can fully narrate or
describe what he wants to
put across.
On the other hand, technical writing uses visual aids such as tables, drawings, graphs, charts, and others to facilitate comprehension of statistics and interpretation of data.
Difference Between Literary writing and Technical writing
TOPIC:
The Technical Writer
Objectives for this lesson:
1. Describe the role of the technical writer.
2. Enumerate the characteristics of an effective technical writer.
3. Identify the qualities of a good technical report.
The Role of a Technical Writer A good technical writer possesses insights, perceptiveness, quick to determine probabilities and the ability to adapt to requirements. He must not only possess the technical writing ability and technical expertise, he must also have the capability to grasp, analyze and interpret unexpected events and situations that occurred during the writing of the technical report.
The Role of a Technical Writer
The technical writer should have the ability to state facts clearly and accurately to organize a variety of elements into a unified structure, and to describe logical generalizations.
Hallmarks of an Effective Technical Writer
R – Resourceful E – Energetic P – Patient O – Observant R – Responsible T – Trustworthy E – Evaluative R – Responsive
Effective Technical Communication
1. Accuracy Technical communication conveys information that is crucial to the success of real-world tasks. It results in decisions being made or machinery being constructed. Because of that, technical documents must be highly accurate.
Effective Technical Communication
Effective Technical Communication
2. Clarity If a document such as an instruction set or a report does not contain clear information, the reader cannot comprehend the writer’s intent or complete the necessary task. Clear writing will prevent confusion and give the audience direction on completion of the task.
Effective Technical Communication
2. Clarity
Effective Technical Communication
3. Conciseness Technical writing is characterized by direct language the gets right to the point. It avoids flowery descriptions that can obscure the meaning. All technical communication should include everything the reader or listener needs in an organized, no frills fashion.
Effective Technical Communication
3. Conciseness
Effective Technical Communication
Once students are employed, will they have to write on the
job? The answer is a resounding YES!
One reason for teaching technical writing is so students will know
the types of documents they will write on the job.
Effective Technical Communication
Is technical writing a necessary component of every employee’s professional skill? Daily, newspapers tell us that employers want to hire people who can communicate effectively, both in writing and orally. Career counselors reiterate this.
Effective Technical Communication
In fact, we are told that on the job, an employee will spend at least 20 percent of his or her time writing. This number increases as an employee’s responsibilities increase. Managers spend up to 50 percent of their time writing. CEOs spend between 80 and 100 percent of their work week communicating.