Re: Technical Writing Certifications

["Damien Braniff" <Damien -dot- Braniff -at- asg -dot- com>]

As others have said - Certificates and Certification are two different
things. Certification would be difficult because of the breadth of TWing
so one option is to certify the basics that everyone should have (may TC
certificates already cover this) with optional add-ons for specific
industries etc. Not totally convinced we can even agree on the basics
but, personally, I think they should cover (definitely not definitive!):
	Information gathering - research techniques,
interviewing/listening skills, basic psychology, basic scientific
methods (e.g. test/use product!)

	Rhetoric - we need the framework/techniques to describe complex
ideas, craft balanced arguments, inform, persuade, warn... So we might
need composition skills, rhetoric, logic etc.

	Science and technology - basics in maths/physics, electronics,
programming, modeling, flowcharting.

	Graphic design - we're not graphics designers but we need to
know the basics. So maybe design basics, layers/color, tools
(Photoshop/Paintshop pro/whatever), diagram types, web design...

	Business basics - we need a basic understanding of business as
our great works are only a part of the overall business picture. Perhaps
it could cover marketing/branding, economics/finance, business
management, time management.

	TW basics - layout, tools, usability, planning audience/task
analysis, grammar/editing, English (!).

To this you could add specialist modules on a pick 'n' mix basis -
proposal writing, telecoms etc. Many of these may already be available
via other routes as Gene suggested.

I see the Basic Course as that - a start then you start learning once
you get a job :-)


Damien Braniff
Sr. Technical Writer
damienb -at- asg -dot- com

Waterfront Plaza
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Belfast, N. Ireland BT! 3LR
Tel: +44 (0) 28.9072.3124
Fax: +44 (0) 28.9072.3324

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