1. Historical background of Technical Writing.

Technical Documentation has been around for several centuries. Especially with the
continuous launch and upgrade of technically advanced products and services, user
guides and technical descriptions are needed.
Who was the first technical writer? Quite likely Cro-Magnon man when was drawing
on his cave walls. However, most experts would agree that technical documentation
appeared as early as the 14th century.
Geoffrey Chaucer detailed the purpose and operation of a navigation device.
Copernicus, Hippocrates, Newton and Leonardo da Vinci wrote explanatory notes to
demonstrate the use of their inventions. All these publications can be seen as
technical documentation.
But the golden age of technical writing started with the invention of the computer and
the need for mass technical documentation. It started during World War II with the
major technological upgrade manufacturing weapons and the creation of nuclear
technologies.
Modern day technical documentation is linked to computer science in general and
internet in particular. Needless to say, the growth in technology users has sparked
the need for technical documentation.
The growth in technical products and services has created the demand for
professional documentation. This has created a new profession: technical writing. A
good technical writer is an honest mediator between people who create technology
and who use technology.
The domain of technical writers has recently expanded to a more interactive one.
Technical writing has evolved from pure technical writing into technical
communicating.
Reference: A Brief History Of Technical Writing, Webmaster Blog, May 5, 2011
2. What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing is any written form of writing or drafting technical communication
used in a variety of technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware
and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, consumer
electronics, and biotechnology. IT encompasses the largest sub-field within technical
communication.
Reference: What is Technical Communications? TechWhirl. Accessed December 9,
2014

3. Five basic principles of Technical Writing.

Content
Five basic questions who, why, what, how and when are applied in various
situations to develop the content for any kind of a document. For instance, imagine a
situation where you have to create a report based on your balance sheet. Before
creating a report, you can plan the content of your report by applying following key
questions to the situation:
Organization
Writers use an organizational pattern so that it gives consistency to writing.
Organizational pattern provide the document with continuity so that audience can
comprehend the ideas. For example, writers can organize their ideas
chronologically, spatially and categorically.
Style
Writers change their style depending on the audience. A person would not write an
e-mail to a close friend in the same style as a formal memorandum to a manager.
Writers adopt either formal or informal styles, depending on the writing situation.
Accessibility and Specificity
Accessibility refers to the ease at which the audience can gain the information they
need from a document. Table of contents, headers, footers, page numbers, headings
and sub headings help make the document more accessible for the intended
audiences.
Conventional Grammar and Mechanics
Writers adhere to the rules of conventional grammar and mechanics. Technical
writers essentially proofread and edit the document for detecting and correcting
errors in graphics, typography and layout.
Reference:
technical-writing/

https://aashitashekhar.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/principles-of-

4. Characteristics of Technical Writing.

The following are the characteristics of technical writing:
Addresses a specific audience, topic and purpose

Audience
Technical writers identify the readers to whom they are writing evaluate what they
require of the documentation and determine why they will use documentation. They
classify the readers by three main characteristics:
Education
Knowledge and experience levels
Expectations and needs

Based on the knowledge level, you can categorize the audience as novice,
intermediary or experienced user. The content of the document will vary depending
on the categorization.
Topic
Topic involves the gist of what technical writers are planning to write about. For
example, in a document that explains how the retailer book an order with the
wholesaler, the topic will be Booking an Order.
Purpose
Purpose will reflect the activity the audience wants to be able to perform after
reading the document.
Your purpose could be:

To inform to provide the information without expecting any action on the part of
the reader.
To instruct to give information in the form of directions, instructions,
procedures, so that readers will be able to do something.
To propose to respond to a request for proposals (RFP) or to suggest a plan of
action for a specific problem.
To recommend to suggest an action or series of actions based on
alternative possibilities that have been evaluated.
To persuade: to convince readers to take action, to change their attitudes or
behaviors based on valid opinions and evidence.

Has structured content

The structure of the document is an important aspect of the documentation
development. It would depict how one section would flow into another and the
segregation between chapters and appendices
Is objective

Technical writing is rarely about opinion. Technical writing is grounded in fact. While
writing facts, care is needed to ensure that any assumption, conjecture,
extrapolation, generalisation, opinion or possibly mentioned early in the document is
not later referred to as if it were a fact. Technical writers rely on evidence and not
authority.
Uses simple and objective language
Technical writers keep sentences as short and simple as is possible and appropriate
for the subject matter and audience. A long and complex sentence can be difficult to
comprehend.
Uses Illustrations
Technical writers consider tables and illustrations as part of a document, not as
ornament. They complement the writing. They do not add them at the end as if they
were an afterthought. Instead when planning a composition, they consider how
information or ideas can be best conveyed to the readers they have in mind- in
words, numbers, tables or illustrations.
Is presented consistently
Technical writers are consistent in use of headings, names, terms, abbreviations and
symbols; in spelling and punctuation.
Reference: What are the characteristics of technical writing? Aashita Shekhar, April
16, 2010

5. Differences between Formal-Academic versus Informal Writing.

Informal: May use colloquial words/expressions (kids, guy, awesome, a lot, etc.).
Formal: Avoid using colloquial words/expressions (substitute with children, man/boy,
wonderful, many, etc.)
Informal: May use contractions (cant, wont, shouldnt, etc.).
Formal: Avoid contractions (write out full words cannot, will not, should not, etc.).
Informal: May use first, second, or third person.
Formal: Write in third person (except in business letters where first person may be
used).
Informal: May use clichs (loads of, conspicuous by absence, etc.)

Formal: Avoid clichs (use many, was absent, etc.)

Informal: May address readers using second person pronouns (you, your, etc)
Formal: Avoid addressing readers using second person pronouns (use one, ones,
the reader, the readers, etc.)
Informal: May use abbreviated words (photo, TV, etc)
Formal: Avoid using abbreviated words (use full versions like photograph,
television, etc.)
Informal: May use imperative voice (e.g. Remember.)
Formal: Avoid imperative voice (use Please refer to..)
Informal: May use active voice (e.g. We have noticed that..)
Formal: Use passive voice (e.g. It has been noticed that.)
Informal: May use short and simple sentences.
Formal: Longer and more complex sentences are preferred (short simple sentences
reflects poorly on the writer)
Informal: Difficulty of subject may be acknowledged and empathy shown to the
reader.
Formal: State your points confidently and offer your argument firm support.
Reference: http://www.word-mart.com/html/formal_and_informal_writing.html

Far Eastern University

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

ASSIGNMENT
ENG 8

GULAPA, CARLO P.
2012458331 - AR1241
June 26, 2015

PROF. RAMIL A. MONDEJAR

Professor