Lesson 2: Characteristics, Subject Matter, Purposes of Technical Writing

Lesson Objectives

• By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
  • Enumerate the characteristics of technical writing.
  • Differentiate technical writing from other major types of writing (especially literary writing).
  • Determine the specific subject matter that normally falls under technical writing.

Ice-Breaker: “Charades” Activity

• The class is divided into 4 groups; each group is given 5 words connected to today’s lesson.
• Examples of words assigned (page 5):
  • Group #1: Writing, Writers, Entertainment, Serious, Person
  • Group #2: Writing, Man, Business, Author, Creative
  • Group #3: Writing, Emotional, She, Beautiful, Science
  • Group #4: Writing, He, Idea, Reader, Human Heart
• Goal: Guess the most words = receive reward.
• Pedagogical purpose: Activates prior knowledge and previews key vocabulary.

I. Characteristics of Technical Writing

1. Clear & Straightforward
   • Uses literal, denotative language.
   • Eliminates ambiguity to avoid misinterpretation (crucial when safety, money, or legal compliance are at stake).
   • Example: "Increase temperature to 120\,^\circ\text{C} for 5 minutes" rather than "heat it up a bit."
2. Very Detailed & Informative
   • Supplies all needed data (numbers, standards, tolerances, part names, procedures, troubleshooting steps).
   • The writer anticipates readers’ questions and answers them within the document.
   • Supports decision-making, replication, or safe operation.
3. Very Structured
   • Follows established templates (manuals, SOPs, lab reports, feasibility studies, white papers, etc.).
   • Sections are often hierarchical and numbered (e.g., 1.0 Scope, 2.0 Definitions, 3.0 Procedure).
   • Logical flow helps readers skim for specific information.

Compact representation:
(\text{Characteristics}) = {C1=\text{Clarity},\; C2=\text{Detail},\; C_3=\text{Structure}}

II. Distinction Between Technical Writing and Literary Writing

Quick-Glance Matrix (adapted from page 11)

• Subject
  • Literary: Life, human experiences.
  • Technical: Scientific/technical topics.
• Readership
  • Literary: General public.
  • Technical: Specific (engineers, technicians, managers, regulators, etc.).
• Format
  • Literary: Informal, flexible.
  • Technical: Formal, standardized.
• Purpose
  • Literary: Entertain, provoke thought, share insight.
  • Technical: Inform, instruct, provide basis for action.
• Language
  • Literary: Figurative, connotative, indirect.
  • Technical: Literal, denotative, direct; employs jargon when necessary.
• Style
  • Literary: Personal, elaborate.
  • Technical: Impersonal, concise, simple.
• Tone
  • Literary: Light, conversational, emotional.
  • Technical: Serious, neutral, unemotional.
• Content
  • Literary: Subjective, opinionated.
  • Technical: Objective, data-driven.

Expanded Comparison of Purpose & Subject Matter (pages 12–13)

• Literary Writing Purposes
  • Entertains/amuses.
  • Suggests the writer’s message indirectly.
  • Imparts moral lessons or philosophical insights.
  • Broadens one’s outlook on life.
• Technical Writing Purposes
  • Provides useful information.
  • Directly states ideas or instructions.
  • Gives step-by-step directions.
  • Serves as a basis for managerial or engineering decision making.
• Literary Subject Matter
  • Focus on the intricacies of the human heart and personal experience.
• Technical Subject Matter
  • Focus on business, industry, science, and technology.

Language, Point of View, Tone (page 13)

• Language
  • Literary: Figurative imagery; rhythmic vocabulary.
  • Technical: Specialized jargon (e.g., “polyethylene terephthalate,” “API gravity”).
• Point of View
  • Literary: Any (first, second, third person).
  • Technical: Primarily third person to maintain objectivity (e.g., “the researcher,” “the device”).
• Tone
  • Literary: Emotional, personal, subjective.
  • Technical: Objective, unbiased, impersonal.

Illustrative Literary Excerpt (pages 18–19)

• Excerpt describes Lincoln speaking on democracy and equality.
• Rhetorical devices: metaphor (“cadences sang”), historical allusion (“Jefferson’s proposition”), parallelism.
• Function: Evokes emotion and reflection—qualities typical of literary writing, not technical writing.

III. Subject Matter of Technical Writing (pages 14–17)

• Core Rule: Content is objective information presented accurately and clearly.
• Domains Covered:
  • Business (e.g., feasibility studies, memos, financial reports).
  • Science (laboratory reports, research papers).
  • Engineering (specifications, CAD documentation, user manuals).
  • Industry (SOPs, maintenance manuals, OSHA compliance docs).
  • Any formal/professional area where data must be documented.
• Three Key REMINDERS from slides:
  1. Objective, accurate presentation.
  2. Records data across professional settings (business, science, engineering, industry, etc.).
  3. Content can be analyzed logically and evaluated scientifically.

IV. Analytical Methods Mentioned (pages 20–21)

• Analysis by Partition
  • Start with a single idea/object and break it into component elements.
  • Each element is mutually exclusive but contributes to the overall theme.
  • Example: A smartphone → display, processor, battery, sensors, software.
• Classification
  • Start with a group and divide into smaller independent parts.
  • Example: “Basic Forms of Writing” → 4 divisions: Expository, Persuasive, Descriptive, Narrative.
• Relevance: Technical writers often employ both when explaining systems or designing documentation architectures.

Connections & Real-World Relevance

• Accurate documentation reduces accidents, warranty claims, and legal liability.
• Clear manuals accelerate employee onboarding and machinery uptime.
• Neutral tone ensures credibility and regulatory acceptance.
• Ethical implication: Objectivity prevents misinformation that could jeopardize public safety.

Reflection Prompt from Lesson (page 22)

• Students asked to describe personal traits that aid goal achievement.
• Instruction: Write ≥10 sentences and attach photo in school uniform.
• Pedagogical aim: Link the notion of “distinct characteristics” to both human identity and the defining traits of technical writing.

Quick Study Tips

• Memorize the 3 core characteristics (clarity, detail, structure).
• Be able to list at least 5 contrasts between literary and technical writing (subject, purpose, language, style, tone).
• Practice rewriting a short literary paragraph into an objective technical style.
• When reading technical material, look for headings, enumerations, and data tables to locate needed info quickly.

Sample Exam-Style Question Bank

1. Enumerate and briefly explain the three characteristics of technical writing.
2. Provide two real-world documents for each domain (business, science, engineering) that classify as technical writing.
3. Rewrite the phrase “where there is freedom men have fought and sacrificed for it” into an objective technical statement.
4. Differentiate analysis by partition and classification using any technological product as an example.
5. Identify the tone and point of view used in a standard operating procedure (SOP) and explain why they are suitable.

Mnemonic Aids

• “C-D-S” → Clear, Detailed, Structured.
• “FLOP POTS” → Format, Language, Objectivity, Purpose vs. Personal, Opinion, Tone, Style (helps recall literary vs. technical differences).