Tuesday it is.

We'll meet in the virtual classroom Tuesday, at our usual time. There will be no penalty if you can't make the class, but I want everyone to have the opportunity to ask questions and talk about the final project and closing out the semester. See you then.

T. F.

edited for clarity

Class Rescheduling

After 11 a.m. on Tuesday will be fine for me; Wednesday is busier for me but I can still probably fit in a class meeting.

Reschedule Class Mtg

I could meet either day, but Tuesday would be best.
DaMarcus

reschedule class meeting

I can do either day, although I prefer tomorrow. I have questions!

Dru

Making a new plan

Unfortunately, the server was down today so the virtual classroom would not work. (That's the very first time I've had that happen in *years* of online teaching.)

If you would, please let me know (here) which would be better for you for a make-up class--tomorrow or Wednesday. We have a lot to talk about so I want us to meet if we can. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.

T. F.

Current Resume

Matt Baker
7804 Maryknoll Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-802-3468
mgbaker@clemson.edu

Objective- To obtain a position that will allow me to advance my knowledge and skills in psychology while still in college

Education-

- Clemson University

o Finished freshman year with a 3.44 GPA

- Walt Whitman High School, Class of 2004

o Graduated with a cumulative 3.74 weighted GPA and a 1410 on SAT’s

Volunteer Experience-

- Between 11^th and 12^th grade volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County for one week

- Between 10^th and 11^th grade, volunteered at Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado for two weeks

o Spent time learning ways to help preserve habitat, while continuing to ranch the land.

- During 10^th grade, periodically helped serve meals to the homeless through Bethesda Cares

- Between 8^th and 9^th grade, was a counselor in training at a Camp Stony Glen, of Montgomery County for two weeks

Internship-

- Interned for 10 hours a week at Sibley Memorial Hospital of Washington, D.C., in the Radiology Department

o Duties consisted of checking patients in, giving them the proper papers to fill out, retrieving films, and filing reports.

Work Experience-

- From beginning to the end of junior year worked at Radio Shack three times a week

- From the summer of freshman year to the beginning of junior year worked as a clerk at a local pharmacy three times a week

- Worked at grandparents farm during weekends and summers

Current Resume

MONICA ULLAL
1409 Pine Island View
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843)819-9245
mullal@clemson.edu

OBJECTIVE
To obtain a position to advance my knowledge in Nutrition so I may gain experience in the field while in college.

EDUCATION
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (Fall 2004 - Spring 2008)
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
Minor in Spanish
Expected Graduation Date: May 2008

College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina (Summer 2005)
Summer program
Completed courses in Physics

Bishop England High School, Charleston, SC (Fall 2000 – Spring 2004)
Attained high school degree
Cumulative GPA: 3.9


WORK AND RELATED EXPERIENCE
Gilligan’s Restaurant (Summer 2005)
Waitress

The Clothes Horse (November 2004 – January 2005)
Sales Associate

East Cooper Family Practice (Summer 2004)
Receptionist

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & MEMBERSHIPS
Clemson University Tennis Club (Fall 2004 – Present)
Medical University of South Carolina Volunteer (Spring 2001 – Present)

COMPUTER PROFICIENCY
Experience with Microsoft XP, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Typing

Current Resume

Matthew D. Belt
22 Lincoln Street
Norton, Ma. 02766
Phone: (508) 285-5152
Email: mbelt@clemson.edu



Objective

To obtain an entry-level position in the field of architecture in which I might utilize the skills I have acquired while in college.

Education

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (Fall 2003 – Spring 2007)
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, expected May 2007
Minor in Business
Cumulative GPA of 3.40
Dean’s List Fall: 2003, Fall 2005, Spring 2005

Norton High School, Norton, Massachusetts (Fall 1999 – Spring 2003)
Attained high school degree
National Honor Society
Cumulative GPA of 3.70
Boys’ State Leadership Camp (2002)
Peer Mediation Seminar (1999)

Employment

Millennium Design, Braintree, MA (Summer 2006)
Programs primarily used: AutoCAD and Form Z
Assist in drawing plans, sections, elevations, and details for given projects
Alter such drawings to meet specifications
Build a 3D computer model of a project to visually show clients end product
Mail and fax transmittals of required drawings to various companies associated with Millennium Design

Dunkin Donuts (Summer 2004, Summer 2005)
Customer service

CVS (January 2001- November 2002)
Customer service

Computer Proficiency

Form Z*, AutoCAD, Microsoft XP, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Typing (70wpm)

Current Resume

DaMarcus Quinzelous Sullivan

201 West Lane #705 Clemson, SC 29631

Phone 864.506.4900 E-MAIL DaMarcus_00@hotmail.com

Fax 864.277.1688

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Objective:

To obtain a challenging position that will enhance and utlize my team work and social

skills in the fields of Computer Information Systems and Finance.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of PowerPoint, Microsoft, Publisher/Office, Oratorical/Speech.

Career Building Workshop, along with Office Etiquette Workshop. Knowledge of

the Spanish Language.

Education:

Clemson University 2000-2007

*Enrolled in engineering studies with emphasis in automotive.

*Team member of nationally ranked Robitcs Team

*B.A. Candidate - Computer Information Systems minor in Finance

Tri-County Technical 2004-2005

*Some college course work completed

Carolina High School and Academy 1996-2000

*Star Diploma recipient, Horatio Alger National Scholar and National Honor

Society-Vice President, Student Body President.

*Certificate of Pre-Engineering Technology Academy.

Work History:

General Revenue Corporation/Proctor & Gamble 9/2005-1/2006

Intern: Account Procurement and Collections

*Helped settle new accounts and ran basic systems checks and analysis

Greenville Tech, BOSH, Michelin NA 10/97-6/2000

Team Member-Electronics and Logistics

*Worked with Nationally Ranked Robotics Team on digital processors and

motor technology.

Michelin Career Center-Clemson University 2002-2003

Intern to Technical Director and General Director.

*Created Local Data Base for career positions and co-ops and Interns.

*Conducted Logistics and planning for fall and spring career fairs.

Member of National Society of Black Engineers-Finance Chairperson

Community Service:

*Habitat For Humanity

*National Society of Black Engineers-Adopt A Highway

*Campus Sweep @ Clemson

*Big Brother in Pickens County

References Available Upon Request

Comments on Project #1

Greetings everyone,

I finally got through reading the last of the drafts of project #1 (except for 2 that haven't been turned in yet) and I wanted to give you some feedback, generally, that will help you revise for your final drafts:

1. Remember the scenario and especially your intended audience. Don't spend too much time telling your audience things they would already know--just allude to them and use your time/energy/space talking about things that they would want to hear your perspective (a student's perspective)on. It's especially important that you don't revert to thinking of me as your intended audience. Remember, you're writing for that (scenario-based) committee.

2. Details, details, details! That's what will make your report interesting as well as filling it in the right way (without redundancy or non-essential information). Instead of saying things like "we did a lot of writing in some classes", say things like "in the lab that accompanied BIOL 331, we wrote a variety of lab reports that were documented in APA style." That is good, useful information.

3. Remember that your perspective is what they are after. Don't be afraid to use "I" and to say things like "in my experience" or "from what I learned from the veterinarian I interviewed" etc.

4. Finish your report with concise, concrete, **clear** assertions and recommendations. Remember that people remember best what they read last; after that, they remember what they read first, so the majority of the important stuff should be in those two places.

5. Proofread, proofread, proofread! I found spelling and or grammar errors in more drafts than not, so please, go through your report carefully. And remember to document your sources (including the interview.) Proofreading details can sometimes make the difference between seeming credible or not.

I'm looking forward to seeing your final drafts. There was some good work in there.

T. F.

Tentative Resume

Anna Montanucci
321 Hickory Lane
Seneca, SC 29678
(864) 710-7886
amontan@clemson.edu


Goal: To obtain an entry-level position in an equine or other animal science business so I may gain experience in the field while I’m still in school.


Education
Clemson University (Fall 2005 - Spring 2007)
BS in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Ø Concentration in Equine Business

Tri-County Technical College (Fall 2004 - Summer 2005)

Ø Took courses in Biology and Chemistry Fall
Ø University Transfer program

University of South Carolina (Fall 2001 - Spring 2003)
Ø Majored in English Literature
Ø Minored in Spanish Language
Ø Dean’s List: Fall 2001, Fall 2002
Ø Doyle Memorial Scholarship Recipient


Work Experience
Einstein Brother’s Bagels (July 2005 - Present)
Front End Assistant
Ø Receive orders from customers
Ø Prepare food
Ø Clean and maintain store and equipment
Ø Operate cash register

Kmart (May 2003 - January 2005)
Jewelry Department Assistant
Ø Aided customers in jewelry selection and maintenance
Ø Inventoried jewelry collection
Ø Operated cash register

Wit’s End Stables (Summers 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Stable Hand
Ø Cared for horses
Ø Exercised and rode horses
Ø Taught young children basic horse care and riding skills

Extra Curricular Activities & Memberships
Tri County Tech Environmental Club (2004 - 2005)
USC Geology Club (2002 – 2004)
Ø Treasurer
United States Pony Club (1999 – 2002)
Horse back riding: Dressage and Show Jumping (1995 - 2002)

Current Resume

D R U W I N C H E S T E R
23 Nealy St
Liberty, SC 29657
Home: (864) 843-6459 Cell: (864) 376-8690
E-mail: jerris@clemson.edu

OBJECTIVE:

Seeking a position that is flexible in hours while I am in college.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2001-present Save More, Inc. Seneca, SC
Gasoline Payables and Procurement
§ Supervise all gasoline purchases for an 18-store chain
§ Resolve all fuel related issues as they arise
§ Review and determine nightly gasoline pricing
§ Monitor trading of energy commodities on the futures market/NYME
§ Interact with fuel suppliers and gasoline haulers on a daily basis
§ Balance and reconcile accounts payable/receivable
§ Enter and post journal entries
§ Design and modify spreadsheets
§ Reconcile account for fuel drafts
§ File various tax returns and forms including NC sales tax, federal and state kerosene refund forms, annual fuel vendor reports, and SC refunds
§ Audit and pay fuel transportation freight

2000-2000 Clemson Printers Clemson, SC
Receptionist
§ Answered telephones, handled filing, copied correspondence and provided customer service
§ Assisted with invoicing and deposits
§ Helped with simple design layout (cards, resumes and forms)

1999-2000 Sav-A-Ton Clemson, SC
Assistant Manager
§ Prepared weekend paperwork and deposits
§ Assisted with scheduling, training and cash control
§ Audited cigarettes on hand daily




1999-1999 Carolina Real Estate Clemson, SC
Receptionist/Runner
§ Answered telephones, scheduled appointments and conducted apartment viewings
§ Entered rent payments and processed maintenance requests
§ Assisted with bookkeeping

EDUCATION:

Current Clemson University Clemson, SC
Secondary Education-Math-BA
Mathematical Science-BA
Double majoring
Graduating May 2008
Planning to earn a Masters and PhD in Mathematical Sciences


2000-2005 Tri County Technical College Pendleton, SC
Business Associate Degree in Business with a major in Management
Majored in both Business and Accounting
Completed basic and advanced computer classes
Graduated with GPA of 3.45

COMPUTER PROFICIENCY:

Excel** Word Peachtree PowerPoint
Access C-Store Books QuatroPro QuickBooks
Quicken

Collaborative Post: Org History

Upstate Veterinary Specialists, UVS, is a veterinary practice specializing in advanced medical, surgical, and oncologic pet care. As the business began growing, Dr. Keith Allen joined the practice as part owner and and Dr. Trina Toshic joined as internal medicine. Three years ago, UVS outgrew their current facility and built a new office. They had six doctors, and over 20 employees. They have once again outgrown their facility and have renovated, over doubling the office size. They now have a total of nine doctors, with a tenth starting in September. There are now 35 employees, including technicians, receptionists, kennel personnel, and a radiation therapist. They have also purchased a lot of new equipment and have grown their oncology practice significantly. UVS will now have the ability to offer more services than before.
THE PROBLEM: With the new equipment and renovations, UVS will offer more quality services than ever before. Since they are a referral only practice, they won’t need to advertise this to the general public as much as they will the veterinary practices that refer clients to them. Since they cover such a large area, the greater Upstate SC area, as well as Northern GA, and Western NC, how do they get the word out to ALL of the referring vets in that area?
PROPOSAL: We will write an invitation letter to attend an open house to all referring vets since the practice began. We will do a newspaper writeup on the renovations and open house to attract new referring veterinarians. Finally, we will compose a pamphlet to be used during the open house that explains in detail the new equipment and added services UVS will offer.

Clearing up some confusion

Apparently there was some confusion about the proposals, so I sent comments back to everyone that I received a proposal from, asking for more information. I also added a bit to the description of the proposals in hopes of lessening the confusion. If you have questions, please post them here.

Organizational history

Sister to Sister: Everyone Has a Heart Foundation is a national grassroots non-profit organization with the goal of increasing heart-disease awareness and encourage "heart-healthy lifestyles" among women. It was founded by Irene Pollin, who is the current president, in 2000. Irene lost two children to heart disease and was inspired to bring free heart-disease screenings and information sessions to women, among which heart disease is the number one killer. They accomplish this by having National Women's Heart Day fairs across the nation, which were held in 12 cities last year (with more to come in 2006). Of the 10,000 women screened so far, around a third have been found to be at risk for heart disease.

-Matt Baker and Anna M.

Week 2, Post 3

I think that Spencer and Monica's definition of TW is extremely accurate. However, the only point that I would add and try to expand upon is the fact that TW teaches someone how to do something right and most often for the safety of others. They mentioned the 'specific purpose' that TW speaks to, but did not expand upon that. The end result of most of the TW done is to show someone how to be able to do something. The fluff comment is also extremely important in that TW needs to be concise.

organizational history

The Anderson chapter of MS Society uses the mission statement of the National MS Society, which is "to end the devastating effects of MS". This group is part of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter and their goal is to help people learn to manage and understand MS, and achieve maximum independence. The society offers a wide range of programs to help people cope with the everyday demands of living with a chronic illness. The Society serves people with MS, their families and heath care professionals through education, advocacy, information. peer support, therapeutic recreation and many other programs. This group conducts many fundraisers including a bike ride for MS, a walk/ 5k run, and many other things that helps get the community involved in fighting this disease. The national society was founded in 1946 and supports more MS research, offers more services for people with MS, provides more professional education programs, and furthers more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.

- Spencer Kirkman and Monica Ullal

Wk.3 Organizational History

INTEGRITY FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS, is a Direct Sales/ Marketing and Educational Organization based in Florida. Specializing in low interest residential and commercial loans for those who qualify. The Founder & CEO, Joyce Walden, is a seasoned entrepreneur with an extensive finance background spanning more than 20 years: 10 years of mortgage experience working with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wachovia Mortgage, and Provident Financial Services.
IFCs Mission is to help others develop personal financial plans to create financial legacies for their families, by teaching people how to use debt to build wealth without increasing their monthly spending.
IFCs Need:Integrity Financial Consultants are in need of a PowerPoint presentation for which to show their clients, to promote the organization as well as inform about whom they are and why there services are beneficial. This power point presentation will enhance the mobility of the company by easily breaking down the processes by which clients will be utilizing the consultation services provided by IFC.

DaMarcus Sullivan and Britt Silvernail

Week 2, Post 3: Responses to Posts

I think Spencer and Monica's collaborative post was very good because it took one writer's definition of technical writing and explained it. Technical writing is very specific and because of this characteristic, it's used universally.

Technical writing is also about being concise. A writer must eliminate extraneous and unnecessary information in order to communicate to the readers. Lots of people think technical writing is easy, but you actually have to practice making your material more succinct while still conveying important concepts.

Question

What are we suppose to post in Post #3?

response to all collaborative post

After reading how everyone defined technical writing, I was surprised at how similar they were. I agree with what everyone wrote and even though each person add a little bit of something different, if you could combine it all together, you would get a great definition of technical writing. I think that the most important point that everyone touched on was the simplicity of the writing. It is something that should be easily understood and everyone talked about that in his or her definition. I think that everyone did a great job!

The audience element – the receiver of the information- in technical writing is key part. The delivery of the technical information to the audience needs to be in a manner that is adapted to their background and level of understanding. The key skill is the ability to translate technical information where a generalist is able to understand the information presented. Especially with technology advancing, this type of writing is very essential to those who do not understand the rapid development.

I'm basically going to reiterate what has been previously discussed about technical writing. Technical writing has the base primus to make point to speak directly to an outlined audience, about an identified topic and/or ideal, for a main objective to be reach.
The writer must identify his of her audience in there writing and must be able to connect and hold there audience's attention, by being able to speak the general language that is a commonality amongst the audience. By being able to keep the focus of the writing where it is easily understood by the audience, the writer will be sure not to undermind the intellegence of the audience for which the specific writing is being done.

Response to Collaborative Post

To me, the emphasis on "specific" in the post nails technical writing. In a lot of writing, the audience is vague, so a lot of "fluff" may be necessary to catch readers attention. When writing to a specific group, the writing can be tailored to the group. No basic explanation of terms is necessary. For example, a doctor writing a document on a particular illness to present to other doctors in his field will have to do a lot less explaining of terms than if he was presenting to high school students. Basically I think the key to technical writing is "specific"...specific purpose, specific audience, specific instructions.

Response to Collaborative Post

The points I thought were particularly important was the part on being “specific,” I think that this is very important when talking about technical writing. Technical writing does need to be clear and concise, so the fact that it is specific makes it easy to understand. I do not really disagree with anything you guys said about technical writing but the “fluff” part, do you mean exaggerations or just added words, I guess I did not really understand that part. However, the one point I would like to expand upon on was the fact you mentioned that it is structured; I believe that it is as well. Technical writing should be structured, it makes technical writing what it is, I mean understanding the facts and such make it easier to understand and when it is placed neatly in front of you like that, you tend to get it better and/or identify with the writing better.

Technical Writing

The Who: Professional writers who have a background and possible degree ina certain field and who have a grasp on how to disseminate informationthat is readable from both a technical and practical perspective.
The What: Technical writing is information that can be easily read andunderstood, and is useful in learning how to do something. It can alsotell someone how to do a certain task correctly and can be very specificto a certain audience when necessary.
The When: If a company is putting a new software product on the market,they need to write textbooks and manuals to teach people how to use it aswell as for reference. If a company makes a new do-it-yourself piece offurniture or equipment, they hire professionals to write instructions anddraw diagrams on how to put it together.
The Where: No one medium can clearly define technical writing as it cantake the form of web pages, tv ads, handbooks, pamphlets, instructionalvideos, books, diagrams, drawings, etc.
The Why: to ensure safety of the general public, such as in a medical orarchitectural setting. Also, it communicates with the receivers oftechnical information, and makes such communication easier to understandand quicker to distribute.

Matthew Belt, Dru Winchester, Brian Arpaio

Week 2, Post 1: Articles

Career in Technical Communication: this article was a brief overview of the job opportunities one could have in technical writing. It emphasized positive aspects of a technical writing career and made it seem like a very exciting field. The article wasn’t substantial and was simply meant to pique someone’s interest in a TW career.

What is Technical Communication? The reading approached technical communication from the perspective of what technical writers actually do. It went a little more in depth than the previous article about specific tasks writers may have to perform, and how these tasks are important to everyday life.

Occupational Outlook Handbook: I found this article to be the most informative. It gave a lot of details about the workplace atmosphere, how technical writers get started in their jobs, what sort of education is needed for a TW career, and demand for technical communications in the future. The reading seemed quite balanced in terms of presenting positive and negative aspects of technical writing jobs.

Ten Ways to Improve Your Technical Writing: I thought this article was the best one. It showed the differences between technical style and other styles of writing. The article also gave a lot of tips on how to be a better technical writer. Additionally, it had suggestions for ways in which to write something more concisely.

Of all the articles, I think the last one will apply most to me and my career. I don't plan to have a job as a technical communicator, but my line of work will require that I be able to write and explain things clearly.

Collaborative Post

Michael Markel gives the following definition: "Technical writing conveys specific information about a technical subject to a specific audience for a specific purpose." This is very true, technical writing does speak about a specific thing, to a specific audience, for a specific purpose, and thats why it is so effective. This way of writing is used in so many different work places. It is used in everything from a resume to a memo to instruction manuals. Using this type of writing helps get across information in a direct way. You do not need to "fluff" the information you are writing about, because you are suppose to be specific and to the point. This way of writing has become extremely popular in all work places and is important for everyone to know how to use it correctly. Technical writing a special way of writing that is structured in a way that is easy to read and appeals to most readers. This way of writing is specific and concise so that there is no "reading between the lines". This is thought to be one of the most effective ways of writing because it is most easily understood.

- Spencer Kirkman and Monica Ullal

Wk.2 Post 2-Tech Writing

Technical Writing as we would define it, is the amount of writing necessary to properly and clearly convey a set of ideals, proposals, requirements, and fundamental information that is used by any member of a particular group, association, or combination of sorts. It is more on a strict basis in that it incorporates a step by step process. This type of writing for the workplace is more of a process rather than fee writing that is done for book writing. Technical writing is a formal means by which such information is gathered, shared, or both; but is not limited to writing by hand, but by any means using technological resources available.

Britt Silvernail and DaMarcus Sullivan

Workshop today--Job search documents

I wanted to remind you that the job search documents workshop is today. This class meeting (at the regular time) is **not** mandatory, but students consistently say that it is very helpful. I hope to see you there. (If you can't attend, there will be a transcript you can read through at your convenience.)

Week 2 Post 1

Each of the 4 articles took a different approach with respect to technical writing whether it was advertising for a job in technical writing, giving the nature of a real-world technical writing job, strictly defining it, or tips to improve one’s skills in this field. It is hard to actually compare them because first they all talk about the same thing but in a different way, which is good. Reading 4 articles defining technical writing would be redundant, so getting some different aspects of it is a good thing.

STC’s A Career in Technical Communication does a nice job in persuading someone to pursue a career in technical communication. By not limiting itself to “one side of the brain”, STC defines TW as a job that could be enjoyed by anyone. I think the most significant point I took from this article was that TW doesn’t require someone to do the same menial task over and over. In architecture, with various jobs for different clients, the TW that must be done for each job is constantly changing. Although architects aren’t trained specifically in TW and get most of what they need from manuals pre-prepared, they do need to tailor whatever information they need for each specific job.

US Department of Labor’s article gives a real-life perspective on TW and how it relates to countless types of writers. Because of the advances of technology, writing and communication is becoming increasingly more specialized and able to take many different forms. No one field is without some form of technical writing, so I can be assured that if the career path I am on now does not work out, any other job will require my technical writing skills.

The third article defines TW based on the amount of media through which one can expose the public to technical writing and also the number of organizations that focus on TW, most likely not a complete list. In my career, I can be assured that I won’t have to perform just technical WRITING but also have opportunities to expand on that vehicle.

Lastly, keeping it simple is the best message I get from Mr. Bly’s article. Of course technical writing is not something one would sit down at a beach and read for an extended period of time, so in order to capture one’s audience, he or she needs to be coherent and to the point. Too many words will confuse the reader, and often times what can be said in 5 sentences can often be tapered down to just a few.

Week 2, Post 1

The first readings section on using a variety of skills applies to the field of psychology. With that as my major, I could do anything from research to forensics. Each different area would require me to adjust my skills as a technical writer. The part of the second reading that interested me the most was the part about nonfiction writing. This is a part of psychology that I am definitely interested in personally, as I am going to be doing interviews and/or research anyway. "Write for specialized technical and medical trade journals " is the part of the third document I could see applying to the job I get in my field, but this is very specific, as the example from the second reading is. The gist of the whole fourth article applies to the writing I would do in psychology. Keeping it simple could prove difficult in a medical field, and unnecessary depending on the audience. But the parts about avoiding jargon, inconsistency, redundancy, etc. should always be kept in mind.

Week 2 post1

All four articles were very informative about technical writing. The article, STC’s “A Career In Technical Writing,” focused more on the type of jobs and the role that technical communicators have in a company. The article also informed us of the type of personality that is recommended to work in this type of area. I felt that the article titled U.S. Department of Labor was the most informative out of all the other three articles. This article talks about what exactly a writer does, their office hours and working conditions, what training and qualifications are needed, the job outlook, and finally the salary of a writer. The article What Is Technical Communication, focused mainly on what exactly technical communicators do and the variety of tasks they perform. Improving Your Technical Writing gives tips to improve technical writing. This article works toward developing style and better word choice that makes writing clearer for the writer’s audience. The article is very helpful and gives many examples on how to fix mistakes often made in writing. I know this article will most definitely benefit my writing in the future. The article named U.S. Department of Labor talks about how medical writers convey research findings for scientific or medical professions. This also relates to my future job where I will conduct research in my specific area about new and improved findings that relate to nutrition and diet plans where I will then write up reports to inform others. The article Improving Your Technical Writing also helps in my career where it recommends to be concise and to the point, which I will use when writing down information about the patients and their concerns. All in all, the four articles gave a great deal of information on technical writing.

Week 2 #1

STC's “A Career in Technical Communication,” this article describes what technical writers do, they use technical writing by writing, drawing, programming…This article tells us what a career in technical writing is all about and what it has to offer. I believe that the technical writing aspect of their career is all about what they do.

Department of Labor, this article describes how writers and editors focus on technical writing, what I mean is that technical writing is very significant in their line of work, and they focus on developing technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendixes, or operating and maintenance instructions.

What is Technical Communication?, this article tells you that to have good technical writing skills, you need to be a good communicator. I mean that is correct, I think that you have to communicate in order to do well at things. This article just explains what technical communicators do, but this concept coincides and intertwines with technical writing.

Improving your Technical Writing article focuses on keeping it simple. Technical writing can be drawn out and/or can be wordy but this article merely focuses on the fact that it is better to be clear and concise. That overdoing it will simply just perplex and confuse the reader or your audience.

I guess the reading, Improving your Technical Writing, is more of the style I will use in my career. When I do ask questions and when I listen I want to write down specific points or an exact summary of what they said, as a counselor or psychologist I would need to keep it simple.

Wk.2 Post 1

I'll just go down the line:

After having taken into account the four perspectives on technical writing, I think that STC's, "A Career in Technical Writing" draws more on defining what technical writing is and how it is used in the workplace.
In the article titled, U.S. Department of Labor, it drew more upon what the varying styles and kinds of writers there are, and the training they need to perform their job duties. It also gives the working conditions of these professionals and a typical work day. This article even gave such insight as the job opportunities for these technical writers and salaries they are generally paid for what they do.
The article on What is Technical Communication, gives an overview for providing a definition of Technical Communication and writing.
Finally, the article about Improving Your Technical Writing, basically outlines how to go about being a more clear and concise technical communicator through your writing
All four of these pieces of work gave there own definition and perspectives on technical writing. There are varying amounts of skill and training needed for the different jobs that each made reference to.
The article from the U.S. Department of Labor was very helpful to me. By giving using information about the varying styles and training needed. As a future financial analyst, this type of information will be useful for aiding me in my development for concise but up-to-date inventories of money market accounts and projections.

Week Two, Post One

After reading the four different perspectives on technical writing, I found that the one titled as STC's "A Career in Technical Writing" focused more on what technical writing is and what types of jobs you can get. I felt that the article titled U.S. Department of Labor focused more on what the different types of writers are, what types of conditions these writers work in and what then use on a daily basis, what types of training and qualifications are needed, and finally what the job market is like for writers and the amount that they are paid. What is Technical Communication looks at defining this issue and what people in this type of area do. Lastly, the article on Improving your technical writing looks at ways to make you a more effective writer and gives advise as simple as writing clearly in conversational style. Each of these different articles did touch on the jobs that technical writing is used for. These different jobs range from writing a manual for a type of electronic to filling out information about medical research. I enjoyed readying the article about improving your technical writing because I felt that the advise given was extremely useful, not only in writing, but also in every day life. I found in the article by the U.S. Department of Labor, that "medical writers prepare a range of formal documents presenting detailed information on the physical or medical sciences". This applies to what I will be doing with pharmaceutical sales, in that I will have to write reports on how the doctors feel their patients are responding to the new medication. In the article that talks about what is technical communication, it informs you more about the different areas that it can be applied, so I did not find this article to be very helpful to my field of work. I think that in the end all of these articles were very informative about all the issues in technical writing.

Week 1, Post 3

RLewis05: I was surprised by the breadth of types of technical writing you have to do as a marketing specialist, particularly what she has to write when she is in charge of organizing events. Seems like a very demanding job.

Anna: Your post really goes to show that no matter what major or field you go into, business writing is important. I was definatley surprised to hear that he spends 25% of his time writing.

Matt Belt: I had basically the same reaction to your interview as I did to Anna's, it just goes to show how surprisingly important this class will be, probably one of my most utilized college classes at this point.

Week 1, 2nd Post: Interview Highlights

I interviewed Dr. Colleen Conley, a psychiatrist and family friend. She runs her own practice in Bethesda, MD and got both her degrees at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Unfortunatley I had to conduct the interview via e-mail due to her very busy schedule. Here are the interview highlights:

As a psychiatrist you spend a lot of time writing, one hour a day minimum. It is vital in her profession to keep accurate documentation for every patient she sees due to the variety of audiences that may need to use her writing: "since it is important to be able to track across time what various people have or have not responded to in terms of medication or therapy, what their symptoms have been at various points in time, and what diagnoses have been made."

The audiences she is writing for, all at once, are herself (so that she can look back and make accurate diagnoses), other doctors the patient may go to later, the patient themself (as they may want to see their own records), malpractice lawyers, insurance companies (who often request their customers records). As you can imagine, a patients confidentiality could easily be compromised if she discloses too much information to the insurance companies, yet at the same time she needs to release enough information so they can determine if they will pay for the treatment. She says this is the trickiest part of technical writing as a psychiatrist.

Other than patient reports, she is sometimes required to write up reports requesting things such as special treatment in school or having an insurance company pay for treatment.

As far as how she learned to write reports specific to her job, she doesn't remember recieving much formal training. "I think I was instructed as to the broad outlines but told very little about the specifics. Most of what I learned about this type of writing came from reading other people's reports." However, she did have to learn how to write medical reports as part of her training in medical school and residency, as there are very exact guidlines to follow due to the prevalence of malpractice lawsuits.

Interview

I interviewed Mariko Peterson, who is a Martketing Specialist for Farmers Insurance Group located in Denver, CO. She Graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a degree in marketing, and has been working with the company for four years now. We spoke over the phone about some of the writing she performs for her job.

What kind of technical writing do you do, and how often do you do it?
Mariko performs various types of writing. She writes news bulletins to sales agents throughout the state explaining new products, services, marketing opportunities, and gross initiatives. She writes scripts for her boss and other public speakers at news conferences, radio broadcasts, and sales meetings. She also responds to customers' complaints with the company. She estimated that 60% of her job is some form of technical writing and writes on a daily average of four hours.

Who are some of the audiences you write for?
Mariko writes for two basic audiences. First, she writes to the internal company audience that consist of numerous agents throughout the state, co-workers that work directly in her office, and other executives that work in the corporate office in Denver. Second, she writes externally to an audience of existing customers and potential customers. Part of her job is to organize functions for the company such as fund raisers, charity events, etc. She must write iteneraries, schedules, and specific job descriptions for different people at those events.

How important is the writing you do?
Writing is a vital aspect of her job. Communication is imperative because she is the link between her office and outside sources whether they be customers, companies, or offices throughout the state. If she is organizing an event for the company, the writing is important because that provides proof between the two sides which makes it easier to agree to terms. Also, her writing is important because it delivers the message to the party. If you are trying to reach somebody over the phone, a lot of times they are not available to take your call so writing an email or sending a fax is much easier.

What is the trickiest aspect of your writing?
The trickiest part of her writing is delivering the message with added value and feeling. Sometimes she needs to deliver an urgent message that needs to be attended to immediately, so she must get that point accross through her words. Moreover, she might be in a situation where she needs to respond to a customer with the company's disposition so she needs to consider the customer's feelings when writing a response.

How did you learn to write for your job?
Mariko learned the basic elements of technical writing from different writing courses she took in college. That provided her with an outline. However, she learned how to write specifically for her job with the experience of working in a corporate office on a daily basis. In conclusion, the writing she learned in college compliments what she learned in the work environment.

Week 1, Post 3: Responses

1) Matt Belt: I found your interview with the architect to be very interesting, especially the example of installing trusses. It goes to show how important good directions are.

2) Monica: My sister is a dietitian at AnMed in Anderson (she works mostly with diabetes patients), so your post caught my attention. When she started her job she was surprised at the amount of writing she had to do, particularly writing for people who don't understand basic nutritional concepts or aren't well-educated.

3) BSilver: I was surprised at how much reading and writing is required for counselors, but it does make sense.

Week 1, Post 2: Interview

First, sorry this is so late... I had a bunch of conflicts come up this week.

I interviewed the manager of Jackson Bloodstock, a Thoroughbred (the breed used for racing) horse farm near Ocala, Florida.

For background and understanding why writing is so important to the operation, it's good to know what the routine is on a horse farm. Some of the farm's activities include caring for horses brought in by outside customers, breeding horses, selling foals, and buying new horses for the breeding program--all things that require good communication skills.

Mr. Jackson uses technical writing most often to communicate effectively with his customers and with his employees. Since many of his workers have a high school education or less, it's imperative he uses writing that's straightforward and easy to understand. Writing is also important for contacting clients and prospective buyers. He estimates he spends at least 25% of a normal day in his office writing to his customers, outlining directions for his employees, and contacting fellow equine professionals.

One example of technical writing Mr. Jackson uses is a breeding contract. He has to write a contract for every single mating that takes place on his farm. In the contract, he has to stipulate payment conditions, state which mare will be bred to which stallion, say when the breeding will occur, and state the type of care each horse will receive while it resides on the farm.

Mr. Jackson said that although he studied equine sciences while he was in school, he had to take many business classes (including business writing) to help him be a successful manager. Some of his writing skills he picked up "on the job"; that is, the only way he could learn some of his writing was by being a manager for a while. Mr. Jackson pointed out that although a college education is good, the best way to learn the skills needed to run a horse farm is to have a lot of hands-on experience and to work with employees and clients on a day-to-day basis in order to communicate with them effectively.

One final thing Mr. Jackson discussed is the importance of the Internet and websites. He said that websites and the writing they entail have helped streamline the horse industry and bring customers and sellers together.

Week 1, Post 3

DaMarcus: I was surprised that the technical writing that goes on in your profession only takes the form of emails and memos. I would think that one would have to write reports or something like that at a financial business sector. Either way communication seems to be a very important part of what you do, so to be proficient at that is a must.

Bsilver: Seems like a career counselor not only has to be technically proficient with her own work, but with other people's as well. You would have to be especially careful when telling people what the correct path to take in life when helping them find a job. I wouldn't want to have that pressure, but then again you would get a lot of satisfaction knowing you helped someone find a good career.

Monica: A diet plan is an interesting form of technical writing that I never really considered. It would be interesting to see how to write one because it would have to be very specific to that patient. I would imagine that the number of different foods to choose from would be both a positive and negative thing in that you would have a variety of options, but would also have to be careful to take into consideration allergic reactions and mixing of different foods.

Week 1 Post 3

druwinchester- I found it very interesting and commendable that the music teacher writes her own plays. However, I would have thought that an elementary school teacher would do much more writing. My mom was actually an elementary school teacher so I asked her what type of writing she had to do when she taught. She said that she had to write quite a bit. For example, she had to write a progress on the back of the reports that went home to the parents of how the student was doing in the class. Also, it was required to write a short summary of the student and their learning progress (reading level, discipline behavior) after each nine weeks to be put in the student’s profile folder.

Matt Belt- It seems like there is a great amount of writing in the job of an architect. I guess that the writing an architect does need to be well thought out and factual without any errors since a life can be in danger. I definitely was not aware that that much writing was involved in an architect’s job.

BSilver- In order to have a type of job as a counselor, it seems like you have to be people-oriented and also have very good communication skills. You were very informative on the many tasks a career counselor does on the job.

Wk,1 Post 3

Monica-Wow, I don't think that I've ever thought about what a Dietician does, or the amount of work that goes into that career path. There is so much to be done as well as to be considered. You were really informative and in depth with your interview and overview of a Dietician. You seem well on your way and very prepared.

BSilver-You gave a lot of insight into what a typical Career Counselor does, especially working for the Center for Disease Control. Such an ongoing and rigorously demanding schedule from start to finish. There is a ton of writing done as any type of Counselor and your interview really reinforced that.

Druwinchester-I would have expected more writing and/or evaluating from an elementary school teacher. Perhaps sending home progress reports/interim reports to parents or even more collaboration amongst other teachers as well. Being that we have the privilege to be apart of such a technologically advanced age, educators should take more of an edge when it comes to relaying information to children and their parents. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to condemn anyone, I was just surprised. This was a very informative interview as well.

The best of what life has in store for all of you and for all of US, in our respective futures!

Post Three

Druwinchester - It was interesting that a music teacher did not have a lot of writing, I did not really understand why she made/wrote the plays usually teachers just use famous plays or ones that people already know of. Also isn’t there more outside the classroom, I mean don’t teachers have to write up stuff to their boss or even to other teachers.

Monica - It seems like there is a lot of stuff you need to do to even start your career, but I guess it is defiantly worth it at the end. What I thought was interesting was that dietitian’s do types of research, I guess I do not really know what they do, I mean I know they give advice and explain to people the correct way to be healthy…, but what kind of research do they do?

Spencer Kirkman – There seems to be a lot of writing in the field you want to go into. What I thought was interesting is that they ask doctors to use their new drugs, they are like sellers I guess, I did not know that that was part of their job.

Mistake on Syllabus

On your syllabus for this week it says that the proposal for the collaborative project is due Saturday (today). That is a mistake. That assignment is for next week--I put it in the wrong block. Sorry for the confusion.

We'll be talking about the collaborative project this Monday, so don't worry about it yet.

T. F.

Post 2 - Interview

One of the first things I realized after conducting my interview was that architects, and specifically the firm that I am currently employed at, do more writing than I originally thought..a LOT more. In fact, technical writing is an essential part of their job. I interviewed my current boss at the firm I'm working at. Here are some highlights:

Q. What kinds of writing do you do in a typical day?
A. Most of the writing we do takes place in specification books and notes pages. For example, the project we are currently working on requires the typical drawings such as plans and elevations, but in order to get an idea of the materials we use and how to install them, we need to clearly state what goes on in these situations.

Q. What are some audiences you write to?
A. Most of the writing we do is to the clients of the job. However since they are not familiar with most of the technical terms present in the writing, we need to provide them with some pictoral accompaniments; hence the drawings. Other people that read our writing are consultants of the project, town officials, contractors and sub-contractors.

Q. What is the purpose of the writing you do?
A. It tells someone how to put something together because architects need to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, so if something is not clearly specified in the writing, there is a potential for a lawsuit if someone gets hurt.

Q. What is an example of the technical writing?
A. To install trusses (structural members that hold up the roof, generally) we need to specify the following:
1. Install and brace trusses according to structural drawings. Space trusses as indicated. Install plumb, square, and true to line, and securely fasten to supporting construction.
2. Do not alter, cut , or remove truss members.
3. return wood that are damaged or do not meet requirements to fabricator and replace with trusses that do meet requirements.

Now, we do not come up with that ourselves. There are countless manuals on any number of materials and installation techniques that we take our information from. All of the information is standardized and generally comes from the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials)

Week One, Post Three

After looking that the interviews done, I was suprised by one. The one by Druwinchester, suprised me that teachers do not do more writing. Teachers have to evaluate the students and I would think in their report cards, would have to write something. Also there has to be a plan made of what they are going to teach each day, week, month, and year. Some states also require for teachers to write surveys and complete forms about each year and what the students are teaching.

Post 2: Interview

I interviewed a registered dietitian named Salma who works at The Medical University of South Carolina. At MUSC, Salma works five days a week from 4-6:30 on the education floor where she educates cancer patients and patients who just recently had open heart surgeries. She basically educates these patients on their diet plans and what types of food is necessary for them to eat after such a great change in their lifestyle. She informed me that dietitians have many different roles and responsibilities depending on the type of career path they have chosen. Salma works with other RD’s who are in a range from clinical dietitians to pediatric dietitians to cardiovascular dietitians to a sports and wellness dietitian. As you can see there are many choices in the field to choose from.

What types of writing do you perform in a typical day?

Every day Salma sees about 5 patients in the morning and 6-7 in the afternoon. For each patient, a form is needed to be filled out that assesses the patient. Included on this form is past medical history, basic present info (weight, height), calorie count in a day and labs. The dietitian then writes out a report of what changes need to be done in the patient’s diet. A diet plan is composed. The form that is followed is a basic criteria to go by.
Research is also conducted and reports are written on findings.

After graduating with a degree in nutrition, what are the further steps I need to do?

After completing the program at Clemson, you need to apply for a accredited dietetic internship. This internship can be anywhere in the US and it lasts for 6 months from Aug to May. You will gain experience and learn the necessary skills needed to become a dietitian. You will then need to pass the National Registration examination for dietitians. After this exam is completed you can then apply for future jobs.

Interview with Mr. Brandon Morris, Project Payables Analyst with Fluor Corporation, Greenville, SC.

ME: Mr. Morris, @ Fluor, what kinds of writing/communication are most important?

Morris: Well DaMarcus, in the financial business sector @ Fluor, we rely heavily on written communication in the form of emails. Email is the biggest form used throughout our industry. We use the phone sometimes, but with email, there is a trail of proof that conveyance has occurred.

ME: What's needed by leaving this trail?

Morris: This is a corporations means of justifying how deals are made and agreed upon. It's like an electronic receipt, and when you're talking millions of dollars, this is needed, because you do not want it come down to your word versus a clients without a trail.

ME: Wow, there is some much at stake! What else could you tell about the importance of technical writing in the workplace?

Morris: Being a professional in the workplace is important. Be highly proficient with being direct. Many times information is given that has not been conveyed as clearly as it should have been. Remember what you've learned about grammar and mechanics, and if these were not your strong suits, then by all means, brush up on them! Don't just rely on spell/grammar check; if you want to be respected as a professional, then you must sound, look, and communicate verbally and written as one.

ME: So what would you say would be another quality to have with written communication, in general?

Morris: Definitely proofreading. This is very important, because you'd be amazed at how many emails/memos are sent with typographical errors and run-on sentences.

ME: Are there any other forms that you communicate in the industry?

Morris: Certainly, we have quick questions, we use "Sometime." It's like instant messenging for inter-office usage and throughout the entire corporation.

ME: How about technical writing at Fluor?

Morris: At Fluor, our technical writing is not as formal, in house, as I'd been taught in college. Memos are scaled down to emails, to cutback on paper and ink usage. Everything is at an accelarated pace, fast and to the point.

ME: Thanks! Is there any advice you could give to current students about to enter

Post Two-Interview

I did a phone and e-mail interview because she was very busy. I interviewed Mrs. Smith who is a career counselor. My major is sociology and I want to minor in psychology. I am not sure exactly what I want to do but I know I want to be some sort of counselor to help people. So here are the main questions I asked.

*Mrs. Kathy Smith, Assistant Director, Administrative Services Kathy has been a member of the CDC staff since 1979. She graduated with a major in Psychology with an emphasis on Guidance and Counseling. Kathy is the specialist for students interested in careers related to education. She works with students and alumni who are interested in teaching K-12 in both public and private schools. Kathy is also the CDC liaison to the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian program.

What does a Career Counselor Do?

Mrs. Smith usually serves 5 -7 people a day. She is in her office from 10 am - 6pm, so as you can see she has a very busy day. Totally, she sees about 100 - 115 people a month. This is good for her because she loves to meet new people and to help them.

Mrs. Smith provides many services to her clients. She helps people develop resumes, set career goals, and find training programs that can help them advance. She helps people from ages 16 and up and even some 14 year olds. During the interview, all I kept saying to myself was, “Where was she when I wanted a job?”

Mrs. Smith has helped many people find jobs in many different positions. She has found jobs for people in administrative positions and professional careers. She has helped attorneys find law firms, and she’s helped people get jobs in banks, hospitals, city jobs and educational jobs.

So, what kind of communication or questions do you ask or do in your career?

Counselors or other professional career counselors help people make decisions and plans related to life/career directions. The strategies and techniques are tailored to the specific needs of the person seeking help. It is likely that the career counselor will do one or more the following:

Conduct individual and group personal counseling sessions to help clarify life/career goals.

Administer and interpret tests and inventories to assess abilities, interests, and so forth, and to identify career options.

Encourage exploratory activities through assignments and planning experiences.

Utilize career planning systems and occupational information systems to help individuals better understand the world of work.

Provide opportunities for improving decision making skills.

Assist in developing individualized career plans.

Teach job hunting strategies and skills and assist in the development of resumes.

Help resolve potential personal conflicts on the job through practice in human relations skills.

Assist in understanding the integration of work and other life roles.

Provide support for persons experiencing job stress, job loss, and/or career transition.

When I finish school, I hope to be a high school math teacher. Since it is the summer, finding a professional to interview has been challenging. For the purpose of this assignment, I interviewed a elementary music teacher, however, I hope to find a teacher in my field and grade level before the actual paper is due. Since I doubt a lot of the writing on the elemntary level will be the same as on the secondary level, I did an email interview and kept it simple.

I asked Mrs. Ross about technical writing. In her subject matter and grade level, most of her writing is typing up song lyrics, play dialog, and letters to parents. Since her students are on the elementary level, she doesn't have to make syllubuses or study guides. She said that the most challenging part of her required writing is writing the plays.

I'm waiting on a couple of responses right now. If I get any before 7 tonight, I'll do a new post.

Technical Writing

"Technical" refers to procedures. "Writing", obviously, is written communication. In combination, technical writing refers to written communication of procedures. In my personal life, I would use the term "technical" to mean specific. I think it carries the same meaning in reference to writing. When writing a procedure or information communication, the key to accuracy is being specific. In the professional realm, the term technical carries more serious weight than in mosat people's personal life. When making a personal communication, expectations aren't usually as great as making a professional communication. Most professional communications are directed at a specific audience of other professionals.

Week One, Post Two

I interviewed a Pharmaceutical rep named Leanne.

Me: Leanne, what types of communication do you use on a regular basis when selling your product?

Leanne: Well, there is a lot of preparation that goes into the product that we are selling. We are all required to go to meetings and conferences about new drugs that we are picking up and we have to learn everything that the companies supply use with about their drugs. We have to be knowledgeable on what we are selling, so that doctors will want to prescribe our product. We then contact different doctors by either phone or email and ask them if they would like for us to come and present these products. Once we have an appointment, we are asked to bring written information that the company provides and also we are required to give a presentation on the new product and all that it have to offer. We try to persuade the doctors to prescribe these products and we often have follow ups to provide samples and more information.

Me: Is there much writing involved in your field of work?

Leanne: Yes, we often have to write reports on how doctors responded to the information that was give, this not only evaluates the job that we did in trying to see the product, but also evaluates the information that the company gives us and how effective it is and whether they need to change anything.

Me: What would kind of job could help me get ready for pharmaceutical sells?

Leanne: Any type of job that requires selling, like telemarketers, or working at an appliance deptartment where you learn how to sell items. Clothing would not help, because usually when people come into stores they are already looking for something. Even being a waitress helps you learn people skills and companies look highly upon that.

Me: What kind of training do I need?

Leanne: Usually once a company hires you, they will give you all the training that you will need. They will send you on conferences with the company that's product is being picked up and will teach you there everything that you need to know.

Me: Are there internships available?

Leanne: My Company does not provide one, but I think that I have heard of other companies providing this program.

Me: Would riding along with you to see what all you do be helpful to me?

Leanne: Yes, a lot of people have a wrong perception of what we do, and that is an excellent way of seeing what my job is really like and helps you see if this is really what you want to do.

While researching the word "technical,"I came to the conclusion that this word refers to the skill and knowlege in a specific field of expertise. Technical can also be related with words that are used in a mechanical or scientific field and developing the skills to gain full knowledge.

When I think of writing, I usually think of putting one's thoughts into words. Books, magazines, newspapers, novels and poems usually spring to mind. It is a way of communication where one can reveal information and messages to others without actually talking.

Technical writing is prominent in my field of study: nutrition. Nutritionists use technical writing by writing case assessments of a particular patient to explain past history and make future diet plans. Nutrtionists also research and write articles on a variety of findings in their field. They also direct patients and describe to them the correct nutrtioin plan that is right for them. Writing that I do personally is much different than the writing that nutritionists do. Most of the time when I write, I usually only compose required long papers for courses or I write causal emails to catch up with friends and family. As you can see, this type of writing differs greatly from the type of writing in my professional field.

Nice job

Just wanted to let you know your first posts are right on track. I'll have the contacts page up for you sometime tomorrow. Keep up the good work. -TF

Wk.1 post Technical & Writing

Dictionary.com vaguely defines technical as “marked by or characteristic of specialization; of or relating to a special field or subject.” Now for me, that doesn’t mean too much. Technical employs having knowledge and skills, which are relative in the fields of mathematics and science that works to accomplish a need and/or service. This means a little bit more to me, being an engineering major. I think of things that require knowledge of why and how the world works, in general.
Writing is moreso the application of conveying messages, information, thoughts, feelings, and history by means of characters that represent meaning through a general consensus.
Technical writing is a specific form used in an areana for communicating a set protocol of ideas and information. Technical writing incorporates jargon that is in its simplest, easy to understand form.
Industrial engineers, and engineers alike, use technical writing to memos or design drawings and management assesments, to highly technical design drafts for building and bridges. This type of writing is needed for uniformity and not only saves lives, but has also be blamed (poor conveying of information) for taking lives as well.

Week 1, Post 1: Technical & Writing

The dictionary variously defines technical as “specialized, scientific, industrial, or mechanical.” To me, the term “technical” has a connotation of science and objectivity. I usually think of something that requires knowledge of a real-world, everyday subject or process.
Writing is the process of communicating ideas, feelings, and knowledge through words. There are many different kinds of writing, but I typically think of books, magazines, and newspapers--things meant to entertain or enlighten--when I consider writing.
Technical writing is a straightforward way of communicating. It isn’t like the writing found in novels; it doesn’t require creativity or poetic license. Technical writing is about communicating in the simplest way possible.
In my future profession (animal sciences), most writing is done for the purpose of educating people, describing how to do something, or directing people how to respond when certain situations arise. Thus, writing in my profession is much different from the writing I consume or produce in my personal life.

Week One, Post One

Technical is a word with many meanings. It can refer to a technique that you are using or it can mean that you show skill and knowledge in a certain area of arts and science. It can also mean a type of work that requires skilled application of required techniques and it can be applied to or by a person or industry.

Writing means using letters in the alphabet to create words and phrases that express your thoughts. Combining different words makes a written piece. It is also a way of communication that is non-verbal, but can be read aloud.

My major is Health Science, specifically Health Promotion and Education and the word technical and writing have meaning in this field. I think that in my profession and personally, these words mean the same thing. Although, writing for my profession would be more professional, than if I am sending an email to one of my friends, they are both using letters to create words and phrases that are expressing my thoughts. I don't always think that I am being technical on a daily basis, but I do use that more in my profession. In different areas, these words can have different application to our lives.

1st post

To me, technical describes the correct way to do something. When you put technical before words like ‘speaking’ and ‘writing’, it definitely changes its direction toward a more professional audience. People who are exposed to anything technical intend to learn the information given and use it in order to be able to do something. Technical writing is most often encountered in the professional work world and is probably not to be enjoyed for pleasure.

Writing comes in many different forms. Whether it is formal, fiction, non-fiction, stream-of-consciousness, or poems, writing can gear toward any number of personalities and preferences. Personally, I prefer stream-of-consciousness writing because I believe one can get more out of their writing when not using pre-set formats such as some poems. Writing also has varying degrees of purpose. It can inform, entertain, or get someone thinking about a particular topic by posing a question.
I always find it interesting to think about the writing that is out there today and whether any of it will be deemed “classic” in the future as compared to some of the writing that we all had to read in high school over the summer.

Without a doubt the terms technical and writing mean different things when it comes to my profession (architecture—hopefully) and to me personally. Rarely do I think or speak technically when I’m around my friends or family. However, in my job I need to think technically in order to finish jobs and make sure all of the technical information that is in reports and documents is correct. Architects need to ensure the safety and well-being of the public, so if technical details are overlooked or wrong, accidents can happen and people can get injured. The only major difference in writing between professional job and personal life is the type of writing that occurs. Writing in architecture doesn’t involve long, drawn-out paragraphs. On contract documents, for example, only to-the-point sentences are required to get the job done accurately. In my personal life, when I write it is simply to describe an event, usually in stream-of-consciousness form.

Welcome Summer 06 Students

Welcome to the weblog. This is a place you can use for inter-class communication and logistical things as well as responding to the readings, activities and prompts.

Below, you'll see the last posts from last year's summer students. The last thing I ask students to do is to give advice for the next group, so have a look at what they had to say.

--T. F.