Ideas Technical Writing Ideas

is an effective way to answer these questions How do you begin writing a process document? What should the reader be able to accomplish? CRITICAL THINKING is an effective way to answer these questions Why am I writing? How do you begin writing a process document? The first step is to develop your idea. Ask yourself:   Why are you writing? What is your goal? What should the reader be able to accomplish? Critical thinking is an effective way to answer these questions. What is my goal?

involves probing, analyzing, and evaluating a topic CRITICAL THINKING involves probing, analyzing, and evaluating a topic You may have encountered critical thinking strategies at work or in other classes you’ve taken. There are many definitions of critical thinking, but essentially it involves probing, analyzing, and evaluating a topic or issue.

Basic Tenets of Critical Thinking Maintain an open mind Seek clarification Check for accuracy and credibility Gather evidence Consider the pros and cons Formulate and test hypotheses Draw conclusions as appropriate Critical thinkers:   Maintain an open mind and are willing to consider various alternatives Seek clarification Evaluate information sources for accuracy and credibility Gather evidence in support of and contrary to an issue Consider the pros and cons Formulate and test hypotheses Draw conclusions as appropriate Following these basic tenets of critical thinking will ensure you consider all viable information before you begin the actual writing process.

Tools & Techniques There are many tools designed to help you through the critical thinking process such as mind mapping and visualization. Some others are Decision Trees, Starbursting, and Pro/Con (PC).

Decision Tree Show the relationship between or among related ideas. Subsets Central issue Decision trees begin with a central issue from which subsets are generated. The subsets may be results, benefits, concerns, and so on. The main purpose of a decision tree is to show the relationship between or among related ideas. Results Benefits Concerns

Starburst Questions are generated. New Vendor Who are some other vendors? Who? Where? What? How? When? Why? What services do they provide? What kind of track record do they have? New Vendor The starburst technique is similar to brainstorming; however, questions, not answers, are generated. Suppose you are asked to find a new vendor for the disposal of medical waste. Questions you might ask include: Who are some other vendors? What services do they provide? Where are they located? What kind of track record do they have? Suppose you need to find a new vendor for the disposal of medical waste. Where are they located?

requires an organized approach Pros & Cons Did I make the right choice? Weigh the benefits and disadvantages. PRO CON TOTAL PRO TOTAL CON +7 Saved $100 -3 Poor communication CRITICAL THINKING requires an organized approach -5 Always tardy The more attractive an item, the higher its positive score The more unappealing an item, the more negative its score Once an action has been selected, it may be useful to re-evaluate whether you have made the right choice. The PC tool will help you weigh the benefits and disadvantages. Create a two column grid and label the columns pro and con. List items considered a plus or a minus in the appropriate column. Numerically score each item. The more attractive an item, the higher its positive score will be. Conversely, the more unappealing an item is the more negative its score. Add the score for each column to determine the overall positive or negative impact. Whether you use an established technique or develop your own, an organized approach to critical thinking will yield the best results. +7 -8

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