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.
Are there any efforts to set up a certification of
>technical writers?
>By "certification", I mean the process of granting
>a certificate of technical competence.
I received a mailing in September from the Educational Testing Service
asking my involvement (and my students') in the testing of a new
examination called Technical Writing. Sections included (1) theory and
practice, (2) purpose, content, and organizational patterns, (3) elements
of technical reports and (4) technical editing.
I did not participate for a couple of reasons. First, I have a real problem
with quantifying writing ability. Writing--good writing--involves skills
and ways of thinking that can in no way be adequately measured by such a
test. And is there a hidden pejorative in assuming that TECHNICAL writing
can be quantified? Second, the materials came too late to work into my
curriculum--even as a short sample test.
(Also, sorry for inadvertently sending a private message on the list
recently (re: a hard drive.) I did not mean to post it to this list.
Lee
Lee Brasseur
Assistant Professor
4240 Department of English
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61761-6901
