Essentials of Technical Communication Chapter 1: Characteristics of Writing at Work

Why is workplace writing important to you? “Poorly written applications are likely to doom candidates’ chances for employment.” Writing remediation costs American businesses as much as 3.1 billion annually. 50% of private employers and 60% of state government employers say writing skills impact promotion decisions. Getting a job, doing well at that job, and being promoted are dependent on your ability to write well. http://www.all4ed.org/files/WritingNext.pdf *The Lesson: Getting a job, doing well at that job, and being promoted are dependent on your ability to write well.*

The federal government considers enhanced writing skills so critical that it sponsors four-day writing seminars that cost the agency that sends its employees an average of $3,000 per attendee.

The Federal Government considers enhanced writing skills so critical that

Writing at Work Writing at School Requires acute awareness of security and legal liability. Poses legal liability for both the writer and the organization. May be read by readers unknown to the writer, inside or outside the organization, for an infinite time. Achieves job goals. Addresses a variety of readers who have different perspectives from those of the writer. Requires a variety of written documents. Security limited to confidentiality of student records. Primary liability, plagiarism, is limited to the writer. Assignments returned at the end of semester. Demonstrates knowledge gained. Addresses professor who has detailed knowledge of field. Limited variety of written documents.

“The most fundamental characteristic of technical writing rests in the legal liability associated with workplace information.”

Care should be taken to protect: Information about customers, clients, and patients. Intellectual property produced by the company. The knowledge companies produce for clients.

Possible Security Breaches Text messages E-mail Blogs Web browsing on company computer Social media Personal webpage External storage devices

The Foundations of Effective Writing at Work Planning the document Determining content Arranging ideas Drafting Revising Editing

The Qualities of Good Technical Writing: Accuracy Clarity Conciseness Readability Usability Correctness

“On the job, keep in mind that no one wants to read anything you write” means your writing should: • make an immediate good impression: neat, readable, well-organized, and inviting. • be organized so it can be read selectively. • show a plan that reveals the purpose and value of the document. • make sense: ideas appear in a logical sequence evident from document design. • use visuals, if necessary, to clarify ideas or data. • convey an impression of authority, thoroughness, soundness, and honest work. • make sense to people who were not part of the initial readership. • make a positive statement about the writer and the organization. • enable people who need to use your writing to perform a task to do so.

“Little flaws, typos, grammar and spelling errors, distract attention from the writer’s main points and call into question the writer’s literacy.”

Elizabeth Tebeaux and Sam Dragga Essentials of Technical Communication Oxford University Press