Technical Writing Part 1-Technical Writing I Handout

Technical Writing I Handout
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Technical writing is a type of writing that aims to convey scientific information clearly and accurately. It focuses solely on presenting facts and appeals to intellect rather than emotions or imagination. Technical writing is different from other types of writing such as literature or persuasive writing because it does not cross the line between science and advocacy.<br /><br />When approaching technical writing, it is important to consider some initial questions, such as how to get your ideas across and what you want to accomplish with your writing. It is also necessary to consider the readers of your writing, their level of knowledge and specialization, and their command of English and understanding of the culture.<br /><br />Structuring your report is crucial for organizing your ideas and guiding both the writer and reader. This can be done through an outline, where the topics are arranged in a logical sequence that leads to a conclusion. There are different methods of organizing your report, such as chronological, geographical or spatial, functional, order of importance, elimination of possible solutions, general to particular, particular to general, simple to complex, pro and con, cause and effect, and psychological.<br /><br />Writing style in technical writing is straightforward, clear, objective, and factual. It should use minimal metaphors and jargon, and definitions should be precise and avoid using the term in its own definition. There are resources available for reference, such as report templates, author guidelines, and style manuals.<br /><br />Ethical and legal considerations include starting your investigation with a hypothesis rather than a conclusion, sticking to the facts, avoiding speculation, reporting all findings even if they do not support your viewpoint, and not using publications to provide credibility for personal interests. Authorship should be based on significant intellectual or scholarly contributions, and acknowledgments should be used to thank those who contributed but are not considered authors. Avoiding plagiarism is crucial, and appropriate attribution should be given for quoted or cited work. Finally, acknowledgments should be used to thank organizations, sponsors, and individuals who contributed to the work.
Keywords
Technical writing
Scientific information
Facts
Intellect
Emotions
Imagination
Readers
Structuring
Writing style
Ethical considerations