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Subject:RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken From:"Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 5 May 2008 08:16:33 -0700
I think Lauren has done a good job proving her case, and if we are going
to draw synthetic distinctions, there are only four types of writing:
Narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive.
Leonard C. Porrello
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Lauren
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 11:44 PM
To: 'Michael West'; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken
However, my argument is that technical writing and business writing are
not
the same. Of course there is overlap between the two as there is
overlap
between most classes of writing; nobody has argued against that.
Naturally,
a good writer of business and technical documents can write both
technical
and business documents; there was never a controversy here.
My point has always been that the two are different because they have
different focuses and different purposes. Nobody has argued against my
conclusion, people are nitpicking over one example that I provided about
the
difference of risk. If the issue of risk is removed from my argument,
then
my argument stands unaffected and we are back to my original claim, the
two
classes of writing are different.
Technical writing is not a sub-class of business writing and business
writing is certainly not a sub-class of technical writing. The two are
different.
Lauren
________________________________
From: Michael West [mailto:WestM -at- conwag -dot- com]
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:46 PM
To: lauren -at- writeco -dot- net; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken
Cheers,
Mike
"Lauren" wrote:
> > From: Michael West
>
> > I don't believe that "business writing" and "technical
writing"
are
> > necessarily mutually exclusive.
>
> What? But they are different and I could not really see a
business writer
> diving-in to do technical writing or a technical writer
diving-in
and doing
> business writing.
A careful writer who is attentive to the needs of the business
and
the audience can do both successfully. I have done many successful
communications projects that would not fit neatly into one category
without
bits that overhang into the other.
A common example is policy and procedure writing.
> The risks of an unsuccessful technical document are lower than
the
risks of
> an unsuccessful business document, although the detail of
technical
> documents is greater than that of business documents. Risks
are
lower for
> technical writing ...
Don't kid yourself. Badly executed technical documents can --
and
have -- led to catastrophes including loss of life.
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