Chapter 1: Exploring Technical Communication
Chapter Learning Objectives
This chapter will help you
- understand what technical writing is, why it’s important, and what it looks like;
- apply a “problem-solving” approach to communication tasks, starting by learning how to fully define the problem before looking for solutions;
- recognize the main conventions and characteristics of technical writing, and how they differ from other forms, such as academic and journalistic writing;
- understand the importance of your audience;
- appreciate the complexity and iterative nature of a writing process in determining what writing process works best for you; and
- apply what you have learned so far by examining “case studies” that demonstrate the costs of poor communication.
Chapter Overview
Writing in a technical environment requires a shift from the academic writing you have become accustomed to after a number of years in school. This shift requires a clear understanding of your audience, which may include individuals both within and outside of your organization. It may be helpful to frame technical writing tasks, like engineering tasks, by using a problem-solving approach and thinking through the task both systematically and iteratively.
This chapter will help you consider how you can ensure that you communicate effectively in a technical environment.
