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Subject:Re: The Problem with STC From:Elizabeth Ross <beth -at- vcubed -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 11 Dec 2000 18:22:11 -0500
On 12/11/00 1:11 PM, Herman Holtz wrote:
>> Before we, as *technical* communicators, can clearly explain a complex
>> technical concept, we must thoroughly understand that concept. This
>> requires research, curiosity, and a thoroughgoing understanding of "first
>> principles," the fundamental mathematics and science behind the
> technology.
>
> But must we not cast any technical explanation in a framework of meaning
> for the reader? One would hardly go into quantum physics and calculus with
> a lay reader, but yet must make the techncial explanation a sensible one
> that the reader can appreciate and "understand" on some level. - Herm
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Herman, I think you've hit the crux of the matter: some of us write for a
lay reader. Some of us write for engineers, physicists, mathematicians, etc.
I'm in the second category--if I don't know how to read block diagrams and
understand the information they impart, I'm up the creek without a paddle,
regardless of the quality of my prosody.
Viewpoints differ based on situation.
--
Elizabeth Ross
Senior Technical Writer, V3 Semiconductor Corp.
mailto: beth -at- vcubed -dot- com http://www.vcubed.com
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum.
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