Argues that technical writing should be limited to the study and teaching of pragmatic conventions relevant to actual technical communication situations. Specifically examines whether proposal writing should be included in technical writing instruction, and the place of empirical research as criteria for determining relevant conventions. (HTH)

Finds that traditional aspects of writing, such as outlining, revising, and audience analysis, rated highest in a ranking by technical communicators of 67 possible topics of an undergraduate course. Notes that other fundamentals, such as style and mechanics, were close behind. (SR)

Provides information on current and anticipated course offerings, programs, and workshops or seminars in technical communication at 30 colleges. (FL)

Describes the four general categories of advanced technical writing courses: genre courses, general communication courses, rhetorical theory or history courses, and courses that use special pedagogical techniques or focus on a certain aspect of technical communication. Discusses implications for planning advanced courses. (HTH)

Describes the methodology and results of a study to determine whether writing instruction caused anxiety. The results indicated that teaching technical writing in freshman composition was more effective in lowering student writing anxiety than were literary-essay or rhetorical teaching approaches. (HTH)

Describes the methodology and results of a survey of technical writing teachers. Respondents indicated whether their institutions offer a course in lower division technical writing and how they believe such a course should be taught. They also rated the appropriateness of various types of writing exercises. (HTH)

Surveys perceptions of technical writing held by department heads at a technological university regarding: (1) content, instruction, and assessment of a technical writing course; and (2) writing products and processes. Calls for writing program administrators to study the institutional context for courses and programs in technical writing. (SR)

The 34 papers in this volume discuss a variety of technical writing topics. The following are some of these topics: (1) definitions and historical analyses of technical writing; (2) using case studies in technical writing classes; (3) advice to beginning teachers on how to teach graphics in technical communication classes; (4) preparing for an…

To determine the status of the teaching of technical writing in two-year colleges, a survey was conducted of 1,202 two-year institutions in the 50 states. Questions concerned enrollment patterns, number of technical communication courses and teachers, number of years technical communication courses have been offered, prerequisites for courses…

The 42 papers in this volume discuss a variety of technical writing topics. The following are some of these topics: (1) industry's views on new directions in technical communication, and the technical writing skills that industry needs; (2) an interdisciplinary approach to teaching technical report writing in the community college; (3) designing…

Explains how findings from L. Flower and J.A. Hayes's research into experienced writers' composing processes can be used to teach writing in general and the resume in particular by helping students focus on the audience, their own persona or voice, the content or meaning they wish to convey, and the format for conveying it. (EL)

Compiled from responses to a survey of 36 universities offering doctorates in rhetoric, composition, language, or technical communication, and updated using research and dissertation indexes and bibliographies, this bibliography summarizes doctoral research in technical communication since 1975. The 35 titles deal with a variety of topics,…