CHAPTER 1

Understanding   
Technical Writing  

Source:Pexels 
Chapter 1  
Learning Outcomes  
• ​Define technical writing  
• ​Enumerate the end products of technical writing 
• ​Use as guide the principles of technical writing ​•
Define technical communication  

• ​Explain the qualities of a good English writer ​•

Apply the processes involved in technical writing 

Lesson 1
 “All good writing begins with terrible efforts.   
You need to start somewhere.”  
-Anne Lamott 
Technical Writing  Walter (1981)  
According to Mills ​and 
 certain formal elements, 
Technical    such as its scientific and 
technical vocabulary, its ​use 
Writing ​is writing ​about  of graphic aids, and ​its use of 
scientific subjects and about  conventional   
various ​technical subjects  report forms.  
associated with the science.  

Source:Pexels 

Technical Writing ​is 

characterized by   
Technical Writing ​is ideally characterized by the 
maintenance of an attitude of ​impartiality ​and 
objectivity​, by extreme care to convey information 
accurately ​and ​concisely​, and by absence of any 
attempt to arouse emotion.  

Technical Writing ​is writing in which there is a 

relatively high concentration of certain complex and 
important writing techniques, in particular ​description of 
mechanisms​,​ description of process​, ​definition, 
classification​, and ​interpretation​.  
Source:Pexels 

Products of Technical Writing

 1. Business Letter   6. Instructional 
2. Contract  
Manuals 7. Brochures  
3. Monograph  
4. Printed Action Memo  8. Proposals  

5. Graphic Aids   9. Memoranda 

Products of
Technical Writing
• ​Business letter ​is a type of   
written communication that   
uses formal language and   
follows formal elements of   
letter writing. It is usually   
written to communicate with   
companies, organizations, or   
individuals with the purpose of   
applying for a job, making   
requests, seeking   
appointment, etc.  
Image Source: https://businessletter.org/business-letter-example-for-a-company/ 
Products of Technical Writing 

• ​Contract ​is a written 

agreement   
between two people under   
mutually agreed terms.   

Definition from Merriam Webster:  

• ​Contract ​is ​a binding 
agreement   
between two or more persons or   
parties.  
• ​Contract ​is a business arrangement   
for the supply of goods or services at   
a fixed price​.  
 Image source: https://www.docsketch.com/contracts/  

Products of Technical 
Writing 

• ​Monograph ​is a detailed essay   

or book on a very specific 
topic.   
It is usually written by   
professionals or academicians   
on topics of interest 
concerning   
their specific fields.  
 Image Source: https://www.sampletemplates.com/business  
templates/monograph.html  

Products of technical writing  

• ​Brochures ​are pamphlets or   

flyers that endorse a product   
in such a way that the   
potential customer will be   
convinced that the product   
id effective and eventually   
avail of the product.  
 Image Source: http://stylewithtaren.com/current-avon-campaign  
brochures/ 

Products of technical writing  

Proposals ​are written   

suggestions on how to 
make   
the company or 
organization   
more productive and   
successful. Most companies   
and organizations require 
this   
before an agreement is   
reached.  

Image Source:   
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/745486544558571043/?nic_v2=1auZZnwbv 

Products of Technical Writing 

Memoranda ​are inter  

office written   
communication used to   
disseminate information.  
Image source:   
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/689402655438855574/?nic_v2=1auZZn  
wbv  

Products of technical writing  

• ​Printed action memo ​is a 
ready   
format memorandum that 
only   
requires a checkmark on the   
appropriate box that contains 
the   
message. This is especially 
 useful for   
busy people who need to make   
quick decisions and an act on the   
circumstance or situation.  

Image Source: http://www.compositionforum.com/issue/31/inventing  

metagenres.php  

• ​Graphic aids ​are drawings, sketches,   

and illustrations that aids the readers   
in understanding the presented data.   

Image Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/graphicaids2-  

150925094423-lva1-app6892/95/graphic-aids-2-14-638.jpg?cb=1443174370 

Products of Technical Writing 

• ​Instructional manuals ​are   

written to guide the readers on   
how to assemble, maintain, and   
operate an apparatus,   
machine or gadget.  

Image Source:   
https://www.pinterest.ph/eliseho/instruction-manual  
design/  

Five Important Principles in Good Technical Writing  

1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real and imaginary , when you are 
waiting a report. Always assume that he is intelligent, but uninformed.  

2. Before you start to write, always decide what the exact purpose of your 
report is, and make sure that every paragraph, every sentence, every word 
 makes a clear contribution to that purpose.  

3. Use language that is simple, concrete, and familiar.  

4.  At  the  beginning  and  end  of  every  section  of  your  report,  check  your  writing 
according  to  this  principle:  “First  you  tell  the reader what you’re going to tell 
him, then you tell him what you’ve told him.”  

5. Make your report attractive. 

 

1. It serves as basis for management decision. 

2. It furnishes needed information.  
3. It gives instructions.  
4. It records business transactions through 
proposals.  
5. It procures business proposals.  
6. It serves as basis for public relations. 
 Properties of Technical Writing  
7. It provides report to stockholders. 

1. ​Subject matter​. In writing technical papers,   

you must ask the questions, “What will I write   
about?”  
The subject matter is an essential element in   
technical report writing. Some examples of this   
are description of a process, writing about a   
theory, or submitting policy.  

2. ​Audience​. When thinking about an   

audience, ask “Whom am I writing for? 
Or   
who are my intended readers?” This is 
a   
property which pertains to a particular   
reader or a technical literature.  

Source:Pexels 

3. ​Expression​. This property refers to two 

basic modes in which technical report 
has to be delivered—writing it or 
reading it. Your expression of the 
content will depend on your awareness 
of your audience’s/ reader’s   
psychology and your style in writing to 
be able to reach your   
audience’s/reader’s understanding. 
4. ​Style​. This refers to 
how the material is   
 written. A 
technical writer 
uses clear,   
specific point of view, objective, 
impartial,   
and unemotional style 
in writing. 

5. ​Arrangement of materials​. This 

pertains to   

how ideas should be organized in   

chronological, spatial or logical 
order, from   
general to specific or specific to 
 general,   
and use illustrations o present the   
information.   
Earlier, technical writing is treated as a unique form of written communication 
because f its   
important qualities, purposes and properties. Let us elucidate it further by comparing this form 
of writing to other writing forms. For instance, writing can be grouped into five basics types: 
specific purpose.   response to a personal   
experience-journals and diaries 
•​Creative writing ​is a  whereas technical writing might 
fiction-poetry, short stories,  be objective observations of a 
•​Technical writing ​conveys  plays, and novels-and far  work-related experience or 
specific information about  different from technical  research.  
a technical subject to a  writing.  
specific audience for a  •​Expressive writing ​is a subjective 
knowledge, but expository writing does 
not necessarily ​expect a response or 
•​Expository writing ​“exposes” a topic  action from a reader.  
analytically and objectively, such as 
reports. Like technical writing, the goal  •​Persuasive writing ​depends on 
of expository    emotional appeal. Its goal is to change 
writing is to explain or reveal  one’s attitude or motivate him/her to 
 action.  
Technical Writing VS Creative Writing 
Technical Writing Creative Writing 
Content  factual, straight forward  imaginative, metaphoric or symbolic 

Audience  specific  general 

Purpose  Inform, instruct, persuade  Entertain, provoke, captivate 

Style  Formal, standard, academic  Informal artistic, captivate 

Tone  objective  subjective 

Vocabulary  specialized  General, evocative 

Organization  Sequential, systematic  Arbitrary, artistic 

Thank you for your participation!
Please proceed to your activity.  

 
Prepared by: Ricky Basilio  

Reference:  
Rosales, M.J., Galano, E. & Rivera, J.A.(2019). Technical Writing: A resource Guide 
to Writing Across Disciplines. Lorimar Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-621-8035-56-0