College of Teacher Education

Second Semester, A.Y. 2021-2022

MODULE 1
Understanding the Nature of Technical Writing

Technical Writing
Course Code: __________
Name: ________________________________________________________Course& Year:
_______________________ Date and Time Allotment: _______________________

Introduction
When the world ushered in the 21st century, many things changed and advanced in the various fields and disciplines. These
changes and advancements were prompted by the rapid pace of technology.

In the field of language teaching, the effective use and teaching of technical language becomes more pronounced most
specially in the science information technology, and engineering and technology fields. Thus, a course or a program
intended for the teaching of Technical Report Writing seems to be the best answer to the clamor for a more appropriate
form of language teaching that meets the specific vocabulary of professional and technical programs.

Objectives:
After working on this module, you should be able to:
1. define technical writing;
2. enumerate the end products of technical writing;
3. use as guide the principles of technical writing;
4. define technical communication

Lecture

Acclaimed proponents of technical writing Mills and Walter (1981) gave several definitions to aid us in understanding the
nature of technical writing. According to them:

Technical writing is writing about scientific subjects and about various technical subjects associated with sciences.

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 forms.

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 the absence of any attempt to arouse emotion.

Technical writing is writing in which there is relatively high concentration of certain complex and important writing techniques
in particular description of mechanisms, description of process, definition, classification and interpretation.

These are the products to technical writing:

∙ Business letter
∙ Contract
∙ Monograph
∙ Printed action memo
∙ Graphic aids
∙ Instructional manuals
∙ Brochures
∙ Proposals
∙ Memoranda

Five Important Principles in Good Technical Writing

1. Always have in mind a specific reader, real or imaginary, when you are writing 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 on 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.

Purposes of Technical Writing

1. It serves as basis for management decision.
2. It furnishes needed information.
3. It gives instruction.
4. It records business transactions through proposals.
5. It procures business proposals.
6. It serves as basis for public relations.
7. It provides report to stockholders of companies.

Properties of Technical Writing

1. Subject matter. In writing technical papers, you must ask the question, “What will I write about?” 2. Audience. When
thinking about the audience, ask “Whom am I writing for? Or who are my intended readers?” 3. Expressions. This property
refers to two basic modes in which a technical report has to be delivered—writing it or reading it.
4. Style. This refers to how the material is written.
5. Arrangement of materials. This pertains to how ideas should be organized.

Writing can be grouped into five basic types:

∙ Technical writing
∙ Creative writing
∙ Expressive writing
∙ Expository writing
∙ Persuasive writing

Difference between Technical Writing and 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, figurative

Tone Objective Subjective

Vocabulary Specialized General, evocative

Organization Sequential, systematic Arbitrary, artistic

Relevant Laws and Ethical Considerations Related to Technical Writing

There are four bodies of law that are relevant to technical communication. Technical writers must be aware of legal and
ethical considerations when preparing technical papers.
1. Copyright law- covers the protection of the rights of the author
2. Trademark law- pertains to federal protection
3. Contract law- covers written warranties or their implied warranties
4. Liability law- pertains to responsibilities or obligations of writers especially claims they made on their

paper. Principles of Ethical Communication

Do’s of Technical Communication

∙ Abide by relevant laws.
∙ Abide by the appropriate corporate or professional code of conduct
∙ Tell the truth.
∙ Be clear.
 ∙ Avoid discriminatory language.
∙ Acknowledge assistance from others.
Don’ts of Technical Communication
∙ False implications

∙ Exaggeration
∙ Euphemisms
∙ Don’t mislead your reader.

Activity 1
Read the passage below. Identify its subject, audience, purpose, style, arrangement of materials and vocabulary in tabular
form.

Passage
THE WHORF-SAPIR VIEW OF LANGUAGE

Studies by anthropologies reveal that language guides our perceptions. The language of the Hopi Indians makes no
distinction between objects and actions, whereas English uses nouns and verbs, respectively. The English word snow is the
only word we need to define frozen white precipitation that falls in winter. Arctic cultures, where snow is a major aspect of
life, have a rich snow vocabulary, with words for powdery snow, icy snow, wet snow, and so forth. The distinctions are
important to designate snow that affect wildlife, travel conditions, and so forth (Whorf, 1956 in Wood 2001).

The Writing Process

Let us review some of the things that we know when it comes to the WRITING PROCESS. There are three basic stages:

Pre-Writing Stage
This is the first stage in the writing process. It is what the writer does before he writes the first draft. In this stage the writer
composes or supplies information pertaining to:
a. Purpose of the paper
b. Choice of topic
c. Gathering information

Pre-writing techniques:
1. Keep a writer’s journal by recording personal experiences, perceptions, and ideas.
2. Do free writing. Write about whatever comes to mind.
3. Brainstorm by listing ideas as quickly as they occur.
4. Cluster by drawing lines and circles to show connections between ideas. It is also called webbing or making
connections. 5. Ask questions using the news reporter’s 5Ws
6. Read with focus.
7. Listen with focus.
8. Observe by noticing details around you through the senses.
9. Imagine.

Writing Stage
The writing stage is the part where we begin to write our first draft.

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a First Draft

1. Don’t overanalyze your writing.
2. Do feel free to follow the flow of ideas where it is leading you, even if it is not what you initially planned.
3. Don’t exaggerate details.
4. Do work on the details as much as possible to keep the story fresh in your mind.
5. Don’t worry yet about how good your writing is.
6. Do have fun!

Re-Writing Stage
This stage is also known as the “revision” stage. We revise to ensure that:
1. the content of the paper is relevant;
2. there is organization and coherence in the arrangement of the ideas; and
3. grammar and mechanics are clearly observed.
Reinforcement
Write a short essay of about two hundred (200) words about the three reasons why you have chosen to enroll in your
program and elaborate by explaining or giving examples. Remember the pointers in each writing phase. Use the margins of
your paper to mark which of the pointers you followed in each phase (pre-writing, writing, and re-writing).
Rubrics for Short Essay

10 8 7 6 5 Score

Content The essay The essay The essay The essay The essay did
contains the contains the mentioned contains one not mention a
purpose, purpose, some of the purpose and purpose; any
information and information purpose, with one information or
elaboration of and few one or two information but elaboration
the chosen elaborations information no elaboration about the
topic. All these of the chosen and few of the chosen chosen topic
are discussed topic. elaboration of topic. is not evident.
completely. the chosen
topic.

Organization The ideas flow There is an One or two More than two There is no
freely and there effort for ideas ideas flow ideas seem to free flow of
are no to flow smoothly but be ideas.
exaggerations. smoothly and there are disconnected Exaggeration
The ideas are there is no exaggerations. and is evident.
coherent. attempt to One or two exaggerated. Ideas are
exaggerate. ideas are More than incoherent.
The ideas are incoherent. three ideas
coherent. are
incoherent.

Mechanics Punctuation One or two Three to four Five to six Too many
marks, spelling, errors in errors in errors in errors in
and margins are punctuation punctuation punctuation punctuation,
perfect. marks and marks, marks, spelling and
misspelled misspelled misspelled margin.
words. Margin words. Margin words. Error in
is correct. is correct. margins.

Total

Reference:
Roberts, S.L. (1999). Business writing for dummies. Forster City, C.A.: IDG Books Worldwide
Rosales, M.J.D.,Espirida, PMH., Maynes, DT. & Destacamento, MPA. (2009). Technical writing. Quiapo, Manila: Mary Jo
Publishing Inc.
Tangpermpoon, Thanatkun. “Integrated approaches to improve students’ writing skills
Lannon, J.M. (2000). Technical Communication, 8 th Ed. New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc.
Lyons, L.H, Heasley B. (1991). Study writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Magpayo, E.R. (2005). Effective technical and business communication. Quezon City: Bookman,
Inc. Mills and Walter (1981). Technical writing. Manila: National Bookstore.
Thorn and Badrick (1990). An introduction to technical writing. London: Cambridge University Press.