Technical Report Writing (HM102)

What is Technical Writing?

Technical writing: The literature of science,

technology, and systems development.

It is different from journalism, fiction,

advertising, essays, plays, poetry, and other
non-technical prose.
What is Technical Writing? (Cont…)

It deals with topics of technical nature—

specialized area of science and technology.

Technical and Newspaper writers

Types of writing

Fiction writers draw experiences in the text.

Imaginative writing

Expressive writing (subjectivity)

Expository writing (Objectivity…expect response)

Persuasive writing
Writers and readers (non-technical
writing)
An audience is expected to read fiction,
expressive, expository and persuasive writing

Such as editorial, but writers and readers are

often detached either by time and location, e.g.

Shakespeare's fiction is read after years

Teachers read students’ expository essays after

days.
Writers and readers (non-technical
writing) (cont.)
We read newspaper editorials and other
persuasive texts in a setting or time distant
from the writer.

The writers might have had a particular

audience in mind and they might directed
comments towards these readers’ needs, the
writer and reader are not involved in a dialogue.
Writers and readers (non-technical
writing) (Cont.)
The writer expresses an idea, and no action is
required, no input is expected, no follow-up is
mandated.

Fiction, expressive, imaginative, persuasive

writers say, “here’s how I feel; here’s what I think
; here’s what I believe”. Its up to the readers to
do with the information as he or she pleases.
Technical writing

Technical writing is different:

It requires give- and take, a dialogue, Input
and output.
Writing a memo, you expect a reaction.
You want a suggestion, a job completed or a
problem solved.
If you write a letter, you expect to make a sale,
or to receive an answer to an inquiry.
You write instructions, you know that some will
follow the steps you have outlined.

In fictional writing…the writers often write in

vacuum… No immediate feedback.

But in technical correspondence, detachment

between writers and readers does not exist.
Overall, technical writing creates link between
you and boss, clients, seller, and co-workers.

Technical writing creates action and when you

write successful technical correspondence,
someone on the other hand responds.
 Technical and Non-Technical Writing
Content
Non-Technical Writing Technical Writing

Idea, emotion, Hard facts, within the

impression, reaction range of observation,
to a reality, opinion. calculation and
experiment.
Style

Non-Technical Writing Technical Writing

Personal feelings Objectivity
Likes and dislikes Personal liking and
disliking is excluded
Use of passive voice
and third person
Remember:

Technical writing is not a sub-standard form of

expression.

It meets the conventional standards of

grammar, punctuation and syntax. However, it is
marked by its own idiosyncrasies.
Purposes

Why do we write technical correspondence?

Purposes are:

You need to document mechanical

problems,

EE write maintenance procedure,

Purposes (Cont.)

Computer Engineers/ technicians write

instructions for users manual

Investors promote a service and a product

Business people report on job-related travel,

weekly sales calls, meeting minutes, quickly
circle activities.
Purposes (Cont.)

Non-Technical Writing Technical Writing

To entertain Factual
To instruct communication of
To inspire experience
Observations and
calculations