Lannon_Gurak_01(1)

Chapter 1: Introduction to Technical Communication

Definition of Technical Communication

• Technical communication is the exchange of information that helps individuals interact with technology and solve complex problems.

• Information must be technically accurate and easy to understand to effectively interact with technology.

Importance of Technical Communication

• Serves various needs in different settings, adapting to audience and situation.

Critical Thinking in Technical Communication

• Human Activity: Involves critical thinking about information relevance and accuracy.

• Questions to consider:

  • Which information is relevant to this situation?

  • Can I verify the accuracy of this source?

  • What does this information mean?

  • What action does it suggest?

  • How does this information affect me or my colleagues?

  • With whom should I share it?

  • How might others interpret this information?

Global Outreach of Technical Communication

• Our global community is interconnected via technology, sharing social, political, and financial interests.

• Technical documents must reflect global and intercultural diversity, acknowledging differences in social interaction and communication practices.

Role in Careers

• Technical communication skills are essential across most professions and evaluated continuously.

• Skills such as effective writing, speaking, researching, working in teams, and persuasive communication are portable and valuable.

Roles of Technical Communicators

• Full-time technical communicators undertake various roles including:

  • Producing newsletters, pamphlets, and journals

  • Preparing instructional material, reports, proposals, and scripts

  • Creating sales literature, publicity releases, handbooks, catalogs, brochures, Web pages, intranet content, articles, speeches, and multimedia presentations.

Main Features of Technical Communication

• Reader-centered: Tailored to the audience’s needs.

• Accessible and efficient: Information should be easy to find and use.

• Team-produced: Often developed by teams to harness diverse skills.

• Format: Delivered in both paper and digital versions.

Purposes of Technical Communication

• Serves typically three overlapping purposes:

  • To inform: Provide information that anticipates and answers readers’ questions.

  • To instruct: Guide readers in completing tasks.

  • To persuade: Motivate or influence readers’ decisions.

Preparing Effective Technical Documents

• Core question: "How to prepare the right document for this audience and situation?"

• Basic tasks of effective technical communicators:

  1. Deliver usable information.

  2. Use persuasive reasoning.

  3. Weigh ethical issues.

  4. Practice good teamwork.

Examples of Technical Communication

• Flowcharts and posters serve to inform, instruct, or persuade, depending on their design and intended audience.

Class Activity

• Group activity: Visit a government website (e.g., CDC, NASA) to locate documents similar in purpose to examples discussed in class.

• Analyze whether these documents are available in PDF and identify their primary purpose.

• Compare NASA's Facebook page with its website and discuss the differences in content presentation and purposes.