Discusses the choices of online or hardcopy documentation for computer tasks. Recommends that technical writers consider the advantages and disadvantages of each format by analyzing the user's knowledge, the cognitive processes demanded by the task, and the technological benefits of each format. (SG)

Advocates the use of seminar participants' own written documents produced on the job as a meaningful knowledge context for a one-day seminar in business writing. (SR)

Considers several areas in which business communication instructors uphold the institutional norms of male power and why they should question doing so. Analyzes how people (including women) may be unconsciously sexist despite good intentions. Advocates prodding students to think about the relationships between business communication and power. (SR)

Describes two institutional views of the discourse community, the disciplinary and the organizational, and presents the alternative social viewpoint. Examines Stanley Fish's theoretical concept of discourse community and considers the philosophical tradition derived from Richard Rorty. Suggests that these views are useful for the study of…

Explores one-to-one communication in teacher-student conferences in a college-level technical writing course. Examines whether the need to access their different knowledge bases would foster substantive conversational exchanges between instructor and student. (RAE)

Suggests that few references to the important issues of audience awareness exist in news writing textbooks and that technical writing literature can fill this gap. Identifies two main aspects of audience awareness, three key reasons why it should be taught to journalists, and gives audience types. Provides classroom exercises. (MS)

Explores how word processing affects thinking and writing. Examines two myths surrounding word processors and invention in technical writing. Describes how word processing can enhance invention through collaborative writing, templates, and on-screen outlining. (MM)

Procedures for creating a guide to academic advising are outlined, including obtaining administrative commitment; clarifying responsibilities and chain of command; identifying general and specific objectives; developing content; organizing content; entering production; and revising. (MSE)

Compares the writing of two students--a competent writer and a weak one--in a technical communication course before and after discussion of design principles. Finds that a basic understanding of design principles helped them improve document macrostructure but had little effect on document microstructure. Suggests that integrating document design…

Presents a transcript of an extensive interview with composition theorist and textbook author Charles Bazerman. Considers aspects of Bazerman's work, including the rhetoric of science. (HB)

Suggests that investing more presales dollars in timely, accurate, and complete documentation may significantly reduce the total cost of customer support. Shows how judiciously increasing investment costs significantly reduced the avoidable costs of supporting customers of a computer software documentation product, and reduced the total costs to a…

Asks how technical writing teachers can better prepare students for careers. States that corporations want employees who can work together on teams, solve problems, and communicate. Explains that this requirement is due to the modern style of business which focuses on information and a horizontal management structure. States that writing should be…

A study investigated the attitudes of 48 researchers who prepare annual reports for New Zealand's public colleges and universities during a period of substantial change in the reporting process. The analysts felt the reporting changes were driven externally by legislation and internally by institutional administrators and accountants. Responses to…

Explains that analysis of leading ideas in 20th century engineering writing textbooks and other primary sources demonstrates that disciplinary discourse conventions develop from an intricate nexus of human motivations, beliefs, and social activity. Explores currents in American social and intellectual history that explain this complex view of…

Asserts that research in technical communication must grow in quantity, quality, and coherence. Assesses the research reports in the proceedings of the annual conferences of the Society for Technical Communication for the last 20 years. Suggests a model for future growth. (SR)