Authors and Corporations: | |
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In: | Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 10, 1980, 1, p. 3-10 |
published: |
SAGE Publications
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Media Type: | Article, E-Article |
Physical Description: | 3-10 |
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ISSN: |
1541-3780
0047-2816 |
DOI: | 10.2190/8rct-j0af-59bu-m1de |
published in: | Journal of Technical Writing and Communication |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Collection: | SAGE Publications (CrossRef) |
<jats:p> Audience and definition are the two foundation concepts of technical writing, for all technical writing is, in a broad sense, definition. Reports that classify, partition, analyze, describe, illustrate, compare, and contrast essentially define a concept or problem. Thus, classification, partition, description, illustration, comparison, and contrast represent seven of fifteen devices which can be used to expand definitions. The expanded definition, as a beginning assignment (after audience analysis), can show how these same devices are embedded in the major ways of organizing information for reports, technical descriptions, process analyses, and instructions — topics later introduced in the course. Furthermore, developing content about these specific devices helps students to catalogue mentally information about a subject and to organize and present this information precisely. </jats:p> |