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>>Unless, of course, they have *journalism degrees*, or techwriting degrees
based in the *school of journalism* rather than the English department, in
which case they are TAUGHT these skills, along with how to get to work and
get the job done.
<snip>
[T]ying the levels to years of experience is often inappropriate.
<<end>>
As innappropriate, perhaps, as targeting those of us who have English degrees
as being less competent than people with journalism-based training. I believe
this type of allegation is called A HASTY GENERALIZATION. If I were to judge
journalism as a discipline by the hackwork I see in many newspapers, I would
be discrediting many excellent writers and editors with journalism backgrounds.
Please don't make the same error concerning people with training in English
departments.
BTW, the technical communications program at the local university here (Boise
State University) is part of the English department. I've seen excellent
examples of work from many of these people--and just as many examples of
garbage from people who claim to have many years of technical writing
experience.
Bill Burns *
Assm. Technical Writer/Editor *
Micron Technology, Inc. * MY opinions, not Micron's.
Boise, ID *
WBURNS -at- VAX -dot- MICRON -dot- COM *
