COLEGIO DE SAN JOSE

Member: Daughters of Charity-St. Louise de Marillac Educational System

E. Lopez Street, Brgy. Our Lady of Fatima, Jaro, Iloilo City
HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

ENG 316: TECHNICAL WRITING

AY 2020-2021 - First Semester

Module 1

Student’s Name __________________________________ Course & Level ______________

I.D. Number _______________________ Date: _________________
Instructor: Miss Marina C. Panes MA Ed.

I. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
A. Explain the definition, characteristics, principles, and other aspects of technical
writing;
B. Differentiate literary writing from technical writing;
C. Stress the importance of direction of a communication, and
D. Show appreciation of technical writing in the different fields of human interest.

II. Learning Content

A. Definition, Characteristics, Functions and Principles of Technical Writing
B. Technical Writing Territory and Vocabulary
C. Technical Writing and Literary Writing
D. Other aspects of Technical Writing

III. Materials/Readings:
Alcantara, R. D. (1995). Technical writing for filipino students. Katha
Publishing Co.,
Inc.
Mosura, C.T. (1999). Contemporary technical writing styles. Mutya
Publishing
House. Valenzuelaa City
Villamarzo, P. C. (2003). Interactive technical writing. UST Publishing House.
Malate, Manila
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM53k7x_jjk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYlo2n-VTZI
youtube.com

IV. Overview
Technical writing plays a significant role in a society that experiences a
lot of scientific and technological breakthroughs and innovations almost every
day. In a somewhat parallel way, technical writing serves as an instrument for
keeping abreast with the latest events or landmarks in the world of business,
trade, industry, science and technology.

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V. Discussion
What is Technical Writing?
Technical Writing is a written communication which by nature has the
characteristics of business, science and technology. It focuses on audience
selection, makes use of precise, economical and unemotional language and
employs technical jargon, likewise it uses certain conventional and organizational
format. (Mosura, 1999)
Technical Writing is communication (in any field) the primary aim of
which is to convey a particular piece of information for a particular purpose to a
particular reader or audience. Technical writing is objective, clear, and accurate,
concise and unemotional in its presentation of facts. Certain special techniques
that a technical writer uses particularly often are definitions, descriptions of
mechanisms, descriptions of process, classifications, and interpretation.
(Alcantara, 1995)
Technical writing is exposition writing essentially about scientific subjects
and about various technical subjects associated with the sciences; hence its
scientific and technical vocabulary, its use of tables, graphs, and figures to clarify
and support textual discussion, and its use of conventional report forms.

Basic Characteristics: (Gordon & Walter, 1981)

1. Technical Writing is characterized by certain formal elements such as its
scientific and technical vocabulary, its use of graphic aids, and its use of
conventional report form;
2. Technical Writing is ideally characterized by the maintenance of attitude of
impartiality and objectivity by extreme care to convey information accurately
and concretely by the absence of any attempt to arouse emotion.
3. Technical Writing is writing in which there is relatively high concentration o
certain complex and important writing techniques – in particular – definition,
description of mechanism, description of a process, classification and
interpretation.
Corollary to this, the following are also considered fundamental
characteristics: (Conway, 1987)
a. Concrete Language as opposed to abstract language or meaning
b. Denotative Language refers to the direct or dictionary meaning
c. Objectivity as opposed to being partial, personal and emotional.
d. Targeted or Defined Audience helps the writer know what to write about
and how to write it.
e. Style is the manner by which ideas and thoughts are interwoven.
f. Common Format means using standard layout or format in writing

Technical Vocabulary
Technical writing deals with specialized subject matter, therefore, write ups
must be supported by the use of numbers, specialized vocabulary, abbreviation
or acronyms, careful and precise explanation, description and direction applicable
to the subject. Writing is designed to meet the language demands of those who
deal with business, science and technology.

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 Technical Writing Territory
A large part of professional work necessitates the knowledge of the
principle and practice of a kind of writing required of their particular profession.
As in all communications, the facts and ideas presented within a technical report
are intended to persuade the audience of readers and listeners to act or accept
these facts or ideas.
These special audiences are made up of managers, engineers, supervisors,
technologists, public officials, interest groups, potential customers, researchers,
scientists, investors and stockholders. Technical communications, therefore. are
tailored to meet the needs and interests of this particular audience.
The content of Technical Communications comes from science, technology,
and industry. These specialized communications require that the subject matter
be presented in a clear, concise, objective and logical way. To present this subject
matter, the framework of organizational or rhetorical patterns helps the writer
describe devices and processes, define terms, contrast alternatives, analyze
causes, analyze things, give instructions and interpret data in an easily accessible
form.

Comparison of Technical Writing and Literary Writing

Literary writers cater to man’s affective sense; technical writers cater to
man’s cognitive sense.
Literary Writing
Aspects
Purpose Entertains
Suggests the writer’s
message
Imparts a lesson
Broadens a person’s outlook
in life
Subject Focuses of man’s life or
Matter experience including the
intricacies of the human
heart
Languag Makes use of figurative or
e imaginative vocabulary or
language
Words or expressions are
beautifully interwoven so
that they are rhythmically
sounded.
Point of Writer may use I, he, she, it,
View we, you, they in treating the
subject.
Tone Emotional, personal,
subjective
Technical Writing
Provides useful information
Directly informs the writer’s
ideas or messages
Gives instructions or
directions
Serves as basis for
decision making
Focuses on the subject
related to business,
industry, science and
technology.
Employs specialized jargon
which includes technical, or
scientific terminologies.
Third person point of view is
preferred – the researcher,
the proponent, the writer,
the author, etc.
Objective, unbiased,
impersonal
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Functions of Technical Writing
“I see your point. Put it in writing”
Whether in technical conversation, in business or in scientific meetings
among peers, nothing becomes official and clear until it is on paper. It can be a
report, a scientific paper, a feasibility study or a proposal, unless it is written
precisely and as clearly as it should be, the commitment will not come. The
technical writer may not come face to face with everybody, but his written word
does and must do the explaining and convincing.
While we learn to talk naturally, no one learns to write automatically. One
cannot write a single letter of the alphabet without conscious effort of both mind
and hand; one must be shown how to form words, how to put words into
sentences and sue correct punctuation.
Writing then is a means of communication one must consciously learn.
What makes it hard to learn is that written words usually have to express one’s
meaning in one’s absence. On the other hand, when one speaks face to face with
a listener or an audience, you can raise or lower your pitch or volume of your
voice to emphasize one’s point, one can grin, frown, wink or shrug, use one’s
hands to shape out a meaning when one does not have words for it. But in
writing, one has to communicate without facial expression, gestures or body
language. One has to speak with words and punctuations alone.

Principles of Writing
1. The Transaction. Good writing should have an aliveness that keeps the
reader interested from one paragraph to another.
2. Simplicity. Strip every sentence to its cleanest components.
3. Clutter. Avoid long phrases that pushes out the short word which means
the same. Ex. At this point = now
4. Style. Be yourself. Relax. Sell yourself.
5. The audience. Who am I writing for?
6. Usage. Wise writers pick words wisely.
7. Tools. Words are tools. Learn to use them with originality and care.
8. The ending. Surprise is one of the most refreshing commodities in
writing.

Other Aspects of Technical Writing

The content of technical communications is specifically addressed to the
interests and concerns of the reader while the style of the communications such
as the vocabulary, the sentence structure, title, tone, sentence and paragraph

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structure is determined by the reader and the purpose. The choice of words
depends upon the reader’s experience and education, positions inside and
outside the company and the use of technical communication is according to the
direction of the communication.
The type of communication that one writes must consider the direction of a
communication which can be upward (to supervisors) lateral (to peers)
downward (to subordinates) and outward (to customers, public interest groups,
stockholders, the government and others) which also sometimes uses the upward
communication.

VI. Evaluation
(on separate answer sheet)

VII. Sources

Bouing, R. A. (2011). Effective business communication. Mandaluyong City. National

Bookstore

Clamor-Torneo, H. S. & Torneo, A. R. (2017). An introduction to quantitative research:

practical
research 2. Quezon City. Sibs publishing House, Inc.

Mogul, E. S. (2004). Technical writing. Quezon City. Unibooks

Mosura, C. T. (1999). Contemporary technical writing styles and strategies. Valenzuela

City.
Mutya Publishig House

Turabian, K. L. (1996). A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and

dissertations.Chicago Illinois.
University of Chicago Press.

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