Examines perceptions of the author-editor interaction. Discusses chances of acceptance by the journal of their choice, ways to maximize those chances, what to do when editors are slow in communicating with authors, and how to negotiate with editors about manuscript revisions. Notes that editors should show concern for authors and mediate referees'…

Discusses a role-playing scenario designed to introduce the concepts of audience and purpose to business and technical communication students. Notes that, although the scenario has reduced the frequency of the question "Did I miss anything important?" from absentee students, the scenario has not helped the instructor to understand why…

Relates interviews with 17 writers in 4 departments at a major insurance corporation. Describes the writers' frustrations and challenges, the reasons for not collaborating, their reasons for not needing written standards, and their document approval process. (PRA)

Reports survey results of U.S. and European aerospace engineers concerning the kinds of communication products they actually use, the kinds they produce, and recommendations they would offer designers of academic courses. Recommends relevant faculty work and educational background, advisory boards, professional contacts, research, and feedback as…

Gives a case history of a relationship in which IBM increased its technical vitality, improved its local personnel resources, and offered employees educational opportunities, whereas the University of North Carolina-Charlotte gained community visibility plus research opportunities and practical experiences in the workplace for its faculty. (SR)

Argues that, through its style, scientific communication conveys a view of the world as the causal interaction of physical objects and events. Claims that, to teach students to write experimental reports, composition teachers must see and study matters of style and organization as parts of a world they cannot enter or influence without knowledge…

Describes a basic unit on ethics for technical communicators and offers suggestions on how to go about teaching the unit. Includes a brief definition of ethics, an explanation of the employee's three basic obligations, ways to analyze common dilemmas in technical communication, the role of the code of conduct, and a case study. (SR)

Discusses socioeconomic influences that contribute to women's dominance of the technical writing profession, which brings with it the risk of diminishing wages and prestige. Suggests that professional associations ought to provide technical writers (and teachers ought to provide their students) with information regarding satisfactory salaries and…

Compiles some of the theories and research on collaboration from disciplines such as small group management, composition, scientific and technical communication, computer science, speech communication, and rhetoric. Presents annotations of 32 books and journal articles published between 1985 and 1993. (RS)

Discusses the typical form and content of 40 theoretical scientific papers chosen from the most-cited papers in the "Science Citation Index." Demonstrates that the form of these papers is similar to that of experimental and methods papers but that the content differs substantially. (HB)

Quantifies specific elements of technical writing style in five award winning technical manuals where combined averages for the style elements are calculated. Compares these results to common criteria of good technical writing. Claims that wide variations among these manuals show that defining "good" technical writing is difficult. (HB)

Discusses research on ethics and technical communication and examines specific methods that writers may use to manipulate language and to present information unethically. Suggests questions designed to teach students how to analyze situations that may involve such manipulation and misrepresentation. Concludes with two case studies illustrating…

Suggests guidelines for curriculum and program development in technical communication based on reviews of relevant survey literature, academic literature, and relevant demographic data on technical communicators. Discusses implications for designing technical communication curricula and programs. (RS)

Explores issues related to quality in document design. Gives an overview of the quality movement, discusses alternative definitions of quality, analyzes dominant approaches to measuring quality, presents results of a survey showing that consumers value quality in document design, offers examples showing that it is cost effective, and appends an…

Reporting on university scientific research is best accomplished by keeping things simple and lively: getting the story straight; giving it a structure, detail, and appropriate tone; polishing the prose with consistent use of personification, metaphor, and simile; and avoiding unnecessary use of jargon. (MSE)