1.-Literary-Writing-vs-Technical-Writing

Introduction

• Focus on the differences between literary writing and technical writing.

• Presented by Evelyn L. Pacquing.

Objectives

• Compare and contrast:

  • Technical writing with academic, business, and professional writing.

  • Differentiate technical writing from literary writing.

Differences Between Writing Types

Academic Writing

• Defined by structure:

  • Consists of an introductory paragraph, development of a thesis, and a concluding paragraph.

• Audience: Academic scholars, classmates, and instructors.

• Can be literary (poetry) or technical (reports, proposals) pertinent to educational settings.

Business Writing

• Focuses on corporate communication.

• Purpose: Convey information while persuading the audience (e.g., business proposals).

• A subset of technical writing focused on business functions.

Professional Writing

• Encompasses workplace communications:

  • Résumés, cover letters, emails, memos.

• Aimed at convincing hiring managers of a candidate's suitability.

Key Characteristics of Technical Writing

• Different from literary writing:

  • Not prose or poetry; focuses on factual information.

  • Not concerned with personal narratives or poetic imagery.

Examples of Technical Writing

• Instruction manuals, meeting agendas, vendor letters, recommendation reports.

Comparing Literary and Technical Writing

1. Primary Purpose

• Literary Writing: Aims to entertain or amuse the reader; suggests messages and lessons.

• Technical Writing: Aims to provide information, give directions, and support decision-making.

2. Subject Matter

• Literary Writing: Explores human experiences and emotions.

• Technical Writing: Focused on topics related to industry, science, and technology.

3. Language

• Literary Writing: Uses figurative language and poetic vocabulary; beautifully and rhythmically crafted.

• Technical Writing: Employs formal/serious technical language suited to its purpose.

4. Point of View

• Literary Writing: Can utilize various points of view (1st person, 3rd person omniscient).

• Technical Writing: Typically uses a 3rd person perspective (researcher, author).

5. Tone

• Literary Writing: Personal, subjective, emotive tone.

• Technical Writing: Objective, impersonal, unbiased tone.

6. Style

• Literary Writing: Complex and sophisticated styles.

• Technical Writing: Standardized formats with minimal variations.

7. Content

• Literary Writing: Creative, dramatic, often imaginative content.

• Technical Writing: Factual, impersonal, and precise content, limiting interpretation to one essential meaning.

8. Use of Visual Aids

• Literary Writing: Rarely uses visual aids; relies on words for narration.

• Technical Writing: Frequently employs visual aids (tables, graphs) for data comprehension.

Real-world Examples

• Literary Excerpt: "Ode to a Shoe" describing the shoes metaphorically.

• Technical Excerpt: "Technical Specifications for Manufacturing Tennis Shoes" outlining specifications in detail.

Types of Writing

• Five basic types:

  • Technical, creative, expressive, expository, persuasive.

• Technical Writing: Specific information for specific audiences.

• Creative Writing: Fictional narratives (poetry, stories).

• Expressive Writing: Personal responses (journals).

• Expository Writing: Objective analysis (news reports).

• Persuasive Writing: Intended to change attitudes or motivate action.

Summary Comparison Table

References

• Neale, D. (2009). A creative writing handbook.

• Zemach, D.E. & Rumsiek, L.S. (2009). Academic writing from paragraph to essay.

• Creative writing guidelines: Retrieved from online sources.