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Technical Writing

Technical Writing

Definition:

A type of expository writing that addresses specific professional purposes and conveys technical information in a way suited to the level, needs and interests of its audience. Though the term refers to instructions, procedures or descriptions on any subject matter, it is a writing commonly associated with engineering, government, industry and science.

Purposes:

• To convey technical instructions and descriptions
• To provide an objective recording or summary of processes and procedures
• To disseminate useful information which can be easily understood and acted upon
• To convey specific information about a particular subject, craft or occupation (e.g. creating a computer manual or writing textbooks)

Characteristics:

• Objective, factual recording
• Summary of processes and procedures associated with a specific profession, or using a piece of equipment
• Presents facts clearly
• May use step by step format
• Vocabulary specific to the subject
• Impersonal voice
• Attention to audience, purpose, tone, sentence arrangement and length, word choice, sentence style, content and organization
• Attention to definitions needed to explain content
• Uses headings so that readers can overview and read selectively
• Lists, tables, cross-references and special emphasis (cautions and warnings)
• Strong transitions and overviews
• Shows how to solve a problem
• Results of a study or survey
• Explains the operation of a machine or program
• Include comparisons, specifications, appendix, detailed statistics to support text, headings, diagrams, tables, graphs, cited research and references
• Information is specific rather than general
• Avoids jargon
• Table of contents

Grade Level Instructional Scope for COMPREHENDING the Genre and Text of Technical Writing:

Booklists:

• Grade 8

Access to the Documents:

Complete K-8 Genre Project
From the Michigan Department of Education

Complete K-8 Genre Booklist
From Kent Intermediate School District