Introduction to
TECHNICAL
WRITING
OBJECTIVES
Show where technical writing fits into the
spectrum of
interpersonal communications
Illustrate how technical writing differs from other
forms of writing
Pretest. True or False
1. A technical writer is exempted in following the conventions
and standards of good technical writing.
2. Purpose refers to the objective information that the writer
wants to convey.
3. Subject matter refers to the goals that the writer wants to
achieve in presenting his written outputs.
4. Technical writing is a skill that must be acquired by any
practitioner in a particular field of specialization.
5. Technical writing should be objective, clear and accurate,
concise, and unemotional in its presentation of facts.
Pretest. True or False
6. The more that a person is interested to develop his
writing skills, there is a higher possibility of a good
technical output.
7. Clarity is the quality of writing which is characterized
by the shortness or briefness of the writing material.
8. The most important aspect of communication is to
disseminate information.
9. Technical communication is the process of conveying
technical information through writing, speech, and
medium to an intended audience.
10. Completeness is the exactness and correctness of
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TECHNICAL WRITING
The word “technical” comes from
the Greek word ‘techne’ that
means “skill”.
What’s with Technical Writing?
Every practitioner,
either in different law
enforcement agencies, or
learners in the academe are
confronted with athat
The more variety of
a person
writing activities.
is inclined to learn and
develop his writing skill, the
higher is the positive result of
a good technical output.
TECHNICAL WRITING
Technical writing
encompasses all
documentation of complex
technical processes.
Alcantara and Espina (2003)
defined technical writing as a
communication in any field
where the primary aim of which
is to convey a particular piece
of information, for a particular
purpose, to a particular group
or group of readers.
Technical Writing
It is a form of It conveys a
particular piece
communication in
a specific field.
Criminology
01 02 of information.
Criminological Researches,
Police Reports, Blotter
Entries, Memorandum,
Circulars, Legal Documents
It conveys a It has a particular
particular purpose. group of Specific
03 04 Readers.
To research on a
problem Criminology
To investigate a Instructors
crime Director General
To record an Chief of Police
occurrence Prosecutor
To disseminate
information
Basic Principles
of Good
Technical Writing
Good technical writing is
not an instant process, it
does not happen overnight,
because it requires effort
and training on the part of
the writer in order to
produce a good output.
Basic Principles of Good
Technical Writing
The writer of a
report must have a
specific reader or
group of readers in
mind.
Basic Principles of Good
Technical Writing
The writer must decide
what the specific
purpose of his report is
and make sure that
every part of his report
contributes to that
purpose.
Basic Principles of Good
Technical Writing
The writer must use
specific, single,
concrete word and
familiar language that
will not be
misinterpreted.
Basic Principles of Good
Technical Writing
The writer must make
his report very
presentable in format.
The layout must
conform with the
standard forms of
writing.
Qualities of a Good
Technical Report
This is a result
from precision,
Not all readers conformity to
are well-versed grammar and
with specific adherence to
terminologies. writing
BREVITY CLARITY COMPLETENESS ACCURACY
standards.
Not all readers It must be free
have the luxury from
of time to read inconsistencies
and reread a and errors in any
particular text. form.
TWO IMPORTANT FACTORS OF
TECHNICAL WRITING
PURPOSE
Refers to the goals
SUBJECT MATTER that the writer wants
Refers to the objective to achieve for himself
information that the and his readers after
writer wants to convey presenting his written
output
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATIO
N
Technical
Medium
For communication to Communicator
be effective, it requires quality
content, language, and
format.
Technical
communication is the
process of conveying Feedback Receiver
technical information
through writing,
speech, and other
medium to an
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATOR
A person who:
prepares creates publishes
writes designs edits
TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATOR Knows the audience
well
A technical writer who know his/
her audience well, and is in his
position to suggest and implement
solutions to problems that nobody
A generator of
else identifies.
truth
A technical writer chooses what
will be written, with the full
knowledge that later readers will
depend on the accuracy of what
has been written
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATOR
A good teacher
He excels at explaining difficult
concepts for readers who will have
no time to read twice
Has an excellent
eye for details
He knows punctuations, syntax,
and style, and can explain the
rules governing them
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATOR Knows how to
coordinate
Though he works on his own much of
the time, he also knows how to
coordinate with the collaborative work of
graphic artists, programmers, printers,
and various
Has enoughsubject matter experts
expertise
He is an expert in understanding the
audience’s background and needs.
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATOR
Knows how to gather
information
He has a nose for information from
existing documents and from subject
matter
He experts
is respected and
credible
He is a person with credibility, and he is
also a valuable and reliable source of
information.
TECHNICAL
COMMUNICATOR
Has a strong language
skills
He understands the highly evolved
conventions of modern technical
communication
TECHNICAL
DOCUMENTATION
Technical communicators often
work hand in hand to create
written products or
deliverables.
These deliverable are technical
documents that contain
technical information.
The major types of documents in
technical writing can be grouped
into four major categories:
• Reports and communications in
day-to-day business
• Technical papers, magazine
articles, books, and theses for
purposes of education, teaching,
and the sharing of information and
knowledge
• Patents
• Operational manuals, instructions,
or procedures
A technical documentation is
useful if the readers can
understand and act on them
without having to decode
wordy and ambiguous words.
ATTRIBUTES OF TECHNICAL
DOCUMENTATION
• It pertains to a technical subject.
• It has a purpose.
• It has an objective.
• It conveys information/facts/data.
• It is impersonal.
• It is concise.
• It is directed.
• It is performed with a particular
style and in a particular format.
• It is archival.
• It cites contributions of others.
Resources
Bajado-Nano, Maria Cristina,
Pioquinto, Paulino Ventic (2014).
Technical Writing I for
Criminology Students. Wiseman’s
Book Trading, Inc. Unit 302, 3rd
Floor, DM Building, #32 Visayas
Ave. corrner Congressional Ave.
Project 6, Quezon City,
Philippines 1100
