Claims that regardless of the dilemmas qualitative researchers face given the implications of postmodern critique, qualitative research elicits an understanding of communication practices in ways that other kinds of research cannot. Proposes a model of research practices to help researchers understand qualitative research as a social activity and…

Suggests that beginning writers can improve skills when they exchange letters with peers, teachers, and others. Offers a brief historical perspective on the use of letters as a pedagogical device. Outlines current applications of letter writing and exchanges in: English as a second language; technical and business writing; composition and…

Despite the widespread acceptance of many kinds of nonliterary texts for first-year writing courses, primary scientific communication (PSC) remains largely absent. Objections to including PSC, especially that it is not rhetorically appropriate or sufficiently rich, do not hold. We argue for including PSC and give some practical suggestions for…

Economic forecasting in the world of international finance confronts economists with challenging cross-cultural writing tasks. Producing forecasts in English which convey confidence and credibility entails an understanding of linguistic conventions which typify the genre. A typical linguistic feature of commercial economic forecasts produced by…

In technical writing classes, audience is one of the most important concepts. Technical writing is typically written to a specific audience for a specific purpose. In addition, as audiences change, so must the way a document is written. An audience's lack of knowledge in a technical area, for example, would require more background information or…

National assessments of U.S. high school students' writing and other verbal abilities do not show that literacy has declined substantially in recent years. In fact, scores have been relatively stable since the 1980s. The proportion of students with solid writing and reading abilities has held fairly steady but remained small during the past 25…

A study focused on teachers who have worked in computerized, networked writing classrooms at Purdue University (Indiana) for several year. Each of the subjects was a teaching assistant in the Purdue English Department, and the courses involved were upper division technical writing courses. Three theoretical approaches underpinned the study:…

Based on the idea that older adults have built up a wealth of knowledge during their lifetimes, this guide discusses how to build a profitable business from such knowledge through feature writing, ghost writing, public relations writing, and grant writing. The guide is aimed at the person who has a lifetime of experience in a business, trade,…

This document, which is intended for schools preparing to undergo an evaluation as part of the Distance Education and Training Council's (DETC's) accreditation process, details the process of writing a self-evaluation report (SER). In the introduction, the SER is defined as the heart of the DETC accreditation process and is described as a road map…

This handbook has been guiding writers through the writing process for many years, helping them every step of the way, from getting ideas to getting published. In 110 chapters, the revised and updated 1996 edition presents the practical side of how to write and sell novels, short stories, articles, nonfiction books, poetry, and drama. The 3,000…

Professional communication as commonly taught and practiced encourages the avoidance of ethical concerns and responsibilities. Communicators are asked to accept the assumption that they are engaged in the value-free transmission of objective truth. Teachers should go beyond instruction in communication techniques to engage students more deeply in…

A study addressed the following questions: (1) whether the recognition of rhetorical functions and techniques in English helps students of English as a Second Language understand written technical information better; and (2) whether students are better prepared to write accurate summaries of scientific or technical texts if they have been taught…

A study examined a set of 78 journal articles identified as influential in technical communication (published between 1988 and 1992) and a preliminary list of 63 articles frequently cited between 1993 and 1997. The texts were organized into six topical groups: profession, rhetoric and composition, document design, social construction and…

For the teaching of business report writing, ethical reasoning can be used as a heuristic for thinking that will encourage a more effective communication pattern for business students. Writing processes can be applied to thinking processes to help students approach theoretical concepts, make decisions, and write more effective business reports. A…

A study identified and compared writing needs of graduates of Criminal Justice and Drafting and Design programs at Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Community College (WCCC). Subjects, 115 graduates of the programs from 1972 through 1990, completed surveys. A total of 310 questionnaires were sent, for a return rate of 37%. Results indicated that:…