Argues that courses in technical communication must have high status, be flexible, use distance learning techniques, and meet the needs of inservice communicators to satisfy demand for technical communicators in Europe. Suggests those courses concentrate on composition, text-handling, elicitation, and specialized technical areas. Suggests courses…

Examines technical books for women of the English renaissance as a microcosm for studying connections among the emergence of technical writing as a genre, the rise of literacy, expansion of knowledge and technology, and replacement of orality by textuality as a result of increasing knowledge. (SR)

Calls for a reexamination of the current conventional separation between business and technical communication as evidenced in university curricula. Argues that the separation fails to enable students to better understand workplace discourse. Claims firmly entrenched interests, both inside and outside academe, support the status quo and mitigate…

Explores educators' and professional writers' perceptions of the curriculum needs of undergraduate and graduate technical communication students. Reveals that technical writing, editing, document design, and graphics courses are important for undergraduates and for graduate students with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated discipline. (SR)

Describes an exercise for a technical writing course on documenting a problem within a corporate environment, thus giving students experience in appropriate documentation to tackle some of the operational, political, and ethical problems common in the workplace. (SR)

Notes that researchers miss useful references because of unsystematic methodology and because on-going efforts at systematic bibliography have not utilized some key resources. Argues that, although no combination of available resources guarantees comprehensive bibliographic coverage for technical communication, composition, or rhetoric,…

Defines four principles (goodwill building, course of action, bottom line, and most important first) that pose rhetorical problems for students making the transition from academic to business writing. Presents a problem-solving case to demonstrate reader-based business writing and provides samples of students' writing that illustrate the…

Traces the evolution of page design to improve the readability of technical writing to the influence of Peter Ramus, who used bracketed outlines to show the relationships among ideas with larger concepts. Describes how the Ramist method was used by Renaissance English physicians to create medical texts which could be easily understood and…

Outlines the kinds of issues technical communicators should address in a valid assessment. Notes the kind of assumptions and ensuing questions that will surround a thorough assessment of programs, classes, teachers, and students. (RS)

Describes setting up a customer review network, using computer networks and fax machines, to collect customer feedback on documentation during the stages of designing and writing the information. Describes the electronic feedback from one customer in particular and how it was analyzed and used to modify the information before releasing it. (SR)

Studies the helpfulness and value of references provided on resumes. Reports the results of a study of 228 personnel managers from top American companies. Shows that job applicants should not include references but should indicate that they are prepared to provide references when requested. Notes that references are of great importance in…

Provides an annotated bibliography of all articles published in "The Journal of Technical Writing and Communication" from 1990 through 1992. Classifies articles under five headings: The Profession, Education and Pedagogy, Preparation and Presentation of Technical Information, Research and Theory in Technical Communication, and Application of…

Describes how and why writing program administrators should get involved in developing a technical communication program. Discusses one such program, in which students are prepared as technical writers to enter the profession of technical communication. Suggests how to begin and how to develop ties with the industrial community. (HB)

Discusses the problems and benefits of teaching technical writing classes in a collaborative computer classroom. Concludes that computers let students write more effectively because computers are compatible with the writing process and that teaching students to write in a collaborative computer environment prepares them for group projects and…

Uses a brief fictional narrative to discuss how visual media frequently offer a superior alternative to prose for the communication of some kinds of information, specifically, to describe; represent abstract structures; convey spatial relationships; provide a meaningful context for unfamiliar information; assist readers in their attempts to solve…