Re: Obsession with University Degrees?

[Helen Whitehead <ga42 -at- DIAL -dot- PIPEX -dot- COM>]

Techwhirlers...

Degree or no degree? I find myself agreeing with both sides on this
subject.

I suspect that in the US there are a lot more degrees related to
technical writing than there are over here in the UK (as evidenced by
the Schools thread).

I've had interviews where they seemed to think I couldn't write if I
didn't have an English degree: however that's easy to refute by showing
some actual writing. I wrote an essay a week for my biochemistry degree
(unusual in science), that's how I knew I wanted to be a tech writer. And
I have to extrapolate from that that people with no degrees at all can
write just as well, if that's their talent (your talent?).

I've leaned the other way. IMHO, writing (and spelling and grammar) is a
skill you can be born with, but I've been sceptical that people who
haven't had any sci or tech training could research/understand and then
write about tech matters. The people on this list are beginning to
convince me otherwise!

I'm now starting an MA in Writing so that I can satisfy all expectations.
I guess (to use an Americanism!) when the courses in tech writing
mushroom over here (as they're starting to) I hope to be in line for a
little lecturing!

Helen
--
Helen Whitehead         Final Draft Editorial and Writing Services
h -dot- whitehead -at- dial -dot- pipex -dot- com
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/h.whitehead/
<*>  <*>  <*> "Just shut up and write!" Natalie Goldberg <*>  <*>  <*>