TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
RE: creative writing and technical writing processes
Subject:RE: creative writing and technical writing processes From:"Mike Frasciello" <MJFrasci -at- uc -dot- syr -dot- edu> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 21 Mar 2002 10:34:19 -0500
This debate has been raging since "alternative" writing courses were
developed at land-grant colleges in the late 1880s. "Intercom" and
"Technical Communication" have carried articles by George Hayhoe and
others who argue that writing process, as it is taught in the
composition classroom, does not accurately reflect the writing process
found in the "real" world. What's interesting about these arguments is
that they never show how the process differs across genres. We're given
anecdotal evidence that suggests "it's just different because technical
writers say it is."
Writing process theory is a fascinating aspect of our discipline.
Unfortunately, too many professional and technical writing programs (as
well as a good number of creative writing programs) fail to expose
students to the history and application of the theory.
For easy-to-read histories, see:
Adams, Katherine. A History of Professional Writing Instruction in
American Colleges. Southern Methodist University Press, 1993.
Connors, Robert. "The Rise of Technical Writing Instruction in
America." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 12.4 (1982):
329-352.
For a refresher in writing process theory as it applies to the "real
world," see:
Buchanan, Richard. "Design and the New Rhetoric: Productive Arts in
the Philosophy of Culture." Philosophy and Rhetoric 34.3 (2001):
183-206.
Corbett, Edward P.J. "Teaching Composition: Where We've Been and
Where We're Going." College Composition and Communication 38 (1987):
444-52.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PC Magazine gives RoboHelp Office 2002 five stars - a perfect score!
"The ultimate developer's tool for designing help systems. A product
no professional help designer should be without." Check out RoboHelp at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
