Encourages the use of guest speakers in technical writing classes and provides suggestions in the areas of selection and preparation of the speakers, selection of an appropriate time for the speech, introduction of the speaker, format of the speech, encouragement of student responses, and evaluation. (TJ)

Presents a glossary of scientific neologisms, compiled by the International Committee For Unification of Terminological Neologisms. Entries are presented and defined in French, then glossed in various other languages. (AM)

Outlines the ways in which Herbert Hoover and William Shakespeare wrote about professional ethics (for engineers and kings, respectively) using the writing techniques of concreteness, audience awareness, and development by induction. (TJ)

The teaching and study of technical writing can be improved if teachers will trade their covert acceptance of positivist theory for an overt consensualist perspective. (DD)

Suggests that strategic planning can help an organization mature and become more effective. Aims for strategic planning with a benchmarking objective, beginning with the information process-maturity model, assessing strengths and weaknesses, and identifying opportunities for process maturation. Finds all components of the reporting structure now…

Discusses the need to provide evidence when making claims, particularly when reporting research results. Suggests evidence should be precise; be wary of generalizations; question authority; and link the manuscript together in a coherent manner. (LRW)

Reviews: (1) ways in which researchers have used the term "professional communication"; (2) democratic and knowledge-based contradictions between rhetorical scholarship and professional powers; and (3) current challenges facing professional workers. Argues that if professional communication research and teaching are to remain prominent…

Extends the corpus of an earlier qualitative content analysis about women and feminism. Identifies the knowledge claims and themes in the 20 articles that discuss gender differences. Suggests that, although the 20 articles provide little support for the existence of gender differences, they serve as an example of the process of knowledge…

Uses Chaim Perelman's theories of argumentation to examine a recent Institute of Medicine report, "Promoting Health: Intervention Strategies from Social and Behavioral Research" (2000). Notes that it focuses on social, economic, behavioral, and political health as a means of assuring population health--and thereby expands the…

Reviews typical software testing activities and then compares those activities to technical editing activities. Shows that by providing quality assurance through content editing, technical editors add value to the information development process and help give users the quality content they deserve. Concludes that product information must go…

Explores the relation of word and image on the level of both theory and practice in Edward Tufte's "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information." Establishes two dissonant strands in Tufte's work, a positivist strand and a postmodernist strand. (RS)

Describes the uses of 2 concepts from classical rhetoric--"kairos" (appropriateness) and "aitia" (cause)--as tools for business, scientific, and technical writing. Offers 10 recommendations for teaching technical writing from these rhetorical concepts. (MM)

Guidelines for writing documentation for automated library systems cover (1) gathering information; (2) planning the document (manual types, organization patterns, writing style, conventions and standards, and format); (3) writing techniques; (4) deciding what to include; and (5) editing and testing. (three references) (MES)

Examines how patent specifications can be used as structural models for teaching technical description-writing. Describes a series of writing assignments to introduce patents to undergraduate technical-writing students. (MM)

Distinguishes between the kind of reading practiced in schools--reading to learn--and the kind of reading practiced in the workplace--reading to do. Places computer tutorials in a third category--reading to learn to do. Suggests guidelines for designing tutorials and for designing assignments. (JAD)