Technical Writing:

 A type of writing where the author is writing about a particular subject that
requires direction, instruction and explanation.

Technical Writing:

• Not Literature
• Not an essay
• Not Journalism
• Does not have personal experiences.

CONNOTATIVE TYPES OF WRITING EXAMPLES TRAITS

/EXPRESSIVE Connotative and
1. CREATIVE Expressive words,
Poems, plays, stories
WRITING fictional characters,
imagery, and plots
Subjective, based on
2. EXPRESSIVE personal experiences,
Narratives, descriptions
WRITING connotative and
expressive words
Comparison/contrast,
3. EXPOSITORY Objective, connotative
analysis, cause/effect,
WRITING and denotative words
argument, persuasion
Objective, written from
factual observation,
News Stories, features, short sentences and
4. JOURNALISM
editorials paragraphs, some
connotative but more
denotative words
Objective, written
about products or
Memos, letters, reports,
5. TECHNICAL services, short
DENOTATIVE/ instructions, resumès,
WRITING sentences and
web pages
paragraphs,
OBJECTIVE denotative words
 TECHINCAL
COMPONENTS ESSAY SUMMARY
WRITING
Uses examples, Uses examples
anecdotes, anecdotes,
1. DEVELOPMENT Same for both
testimony, data, testimony, data,
research research

2. GRAMMAR It is important It is important. Same for both

• Provides an
introduction,
body, and
conclusion
• Provides an
• Uses a subject
introduction,
line vs. a thesis
thesis
and itemization
statement,
of points vs. Similar in some
body
3. ORGANIZATION transitional words ways, different in
paragraphs,
others.
transitional
• Uses topic
words, and
sentences only
topic
when needed,
sentences
dependent
upon the type
and length of
correspondence
.

Uses short, Uses longer

denotative words; connotative words;
4. STYLE short sentences; longer sentences; Different
and short and longer
paragraphs. paragraphs.

Uses highlighting
techniques, such as
5. DOCUMENT graphic headings,
Not usually a factor Different
DESIGN subheadings,
various fonts, white
space, bullets, etc.
 FIVE TRAITS OF TECHNICAL WRITING

1. CLARITY: 2. CONCISENESS:
The information is clearly Expressing a great deal in a few
understood. words.

When the reader fails to Ways to Show Conciseness in

understand:
• BAD- equipment is
damaged. Company will
replace the equipment
and the costs accrue and
the public relations
affected.
• WORSE- owner is hurt,
leading to pain, anxiety,
doctor bills and bad
public relations.
• EVEN WORSE- The
company is sued.
Company loses money,
writer of the manual loses
a job.
Writing:
 Changing Long Words to
Short Words
 Shortening Long Sentences
 Avoiding Redundancy
 Avoiding Prepositional
Phrases
 Avoiding Passive Voice
3. ACCESSIBILITY:
It refers to the page layout- the
way the text looks on the page.
Ways to Make Content
Accessible to the Readers:
 Graphics (table and

4 Pillars of Clarity in Technical figures)

Writing  White Space
 Boldface Text
 Precision
 Simplicity  Headings and
 Familiarity Subheadings
 Necessity
 Italics
Ways to Achieve Clarity  Underlining

 Replace abstract nouns  Varied Font Sizes

with verbs.  Bullets
 Prefer short words to long
 Numbered Lists
words and phrases.
 Avoid clichés  Varied Font Types
 Avoid cluttered
constructions
 Use accurate wording

4. AUDIENCE RECOGNITION:
Way to achieve the clarity of the
text.
Three Audience Level:
• High Tech Peers: knows as
much about a subject
matter as you. Same job
title, same education,
same years of experience,
and the same level of
expertise.
• Low Tech Peers: works in
the company. Knows
something about the
subject matter
THE JOB SEARCH
Resume:
 Document created and used by a person to present their background, skills, and
accomplishments.
 Used to secure new employment.
Basic Elements of a Resume:
1) HEADING: includes your name,
address, email address and
contact number.
2) OBJECTIVE: one-sentence
declaration of the type of jobs
that you are seeking.
• Lay Readers: customers.
Completely out of the
loop.
5. ACCURACY:
Effective technical writing must
be correct, whether
grammatically, mathematically,
electronically, etc.
Proofreading Techniques:
 Use the Computer’s Spell
Check
 Let it Sit
 Use peer evaluations
 Read it aloud
 Read it backward
3) EDUCATION: list of all the colleges
you have graduated from, along
with their addresses and any
degrees you have earned with
the date you attained them.
4) EXPERIENCE: refers to the paid
and unpaid jobs you had and
 should include your job title, the
name of your employer, followed
by dates of employment.
5) HONORS & AWARDS: optional
section of your resume and
should include scholarships and
other related honors.
6) SKILLS: you should inform the
reader of any unique, relevant or
necessary skills that you have but
are not reflected in the other
sections of your resume.
Types of Resume:

a) CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME: list of your work experience from the most recent
backwards.

b) FUNCTIONAL RESUME: type of resume arranged around your skills and abilities.

c) COMBINATION RESUME: combines chronological and functional to improve the

clarity or presentation of a resume.

11 SIGNS OF GOOD RESUME:

1) TARGETED
7) ACCURATE
2) CONSISTENT
8) ABBREVIATION FREE
3) WELL-WRITTEN
9) NO PERSONAL INFORMATION
4) CONCISE
10) GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
5) SUMMARIZED QUALIFICATIONS
11) GOOD PAPER
6) SELF-PROMOTING

COVER LETTER:

 Supplementary to your resume.

 Written for a specific job opportunity.

What a Cover Letter Should Accomplish:

1. Essential components of letter: writer’s address, date, reader’s, address,

salutation, text, complimentary close, signature, and typed name.

2. Introduction: the why

3. Body: what makes you the one for the job.

4. Conclusion: When to discuss