What Is Technical Writing, Anyway?

Abstract

This article describes the effects of technical writing being ignored in many English departments and explains the problem of literature faculty who see the teaching of technical as beneath them. The author provides an overview of more than three decades of teaching technical writing and includes examples of poorly written documents and then revisions of these documents. To show how understanding and application of the rhetorical stance improves writing, particularly writing that must be read and used. The author and a science colleague have developed a plan for teaching science and “writing science” for middle school students. To interest these students in science and show them how to develop and write a basic technical report. The authors hope to interest middle school students in science before they enter high school and perhaps encourage them to seek college and graduate work in science. Recommendations follow the emerging trend of teaching the fundamentals of basic technical writing to middle school students. Substitute current science problems and issues for report topics. Use current science problems that will interest students in science via technical reports and PowerPoint presentations.