Introduction
Technical writing entails written communication carried out in an occupation particularly in areas that have particular expressions. The areas include health sciences, technology, engineering, and science. In fact, given the complexity of words used, technical writing assists readers in using and understanding concepts and processes.
In literature, the styles used in technical writing are utilitarian and direct as they lay emphasis on precision and exactness as opposed to allusiveness and stylishness. Thus, technical writing in literature and languages is purposely carried out to direct, inform, or educate others on how things can be done.
Literature and languages have different examples of technical writing. First is technological marketing communication such as writing of online articles and promotional brochures. The second example is the end user documentation including writing the operation guides and training manuals. This assessment explains these examples of technical writing and the manner in which they reflect on technical writing characteristics.
How these examples reflect the characteristics of technical writing
Technological marketing communication (TMC)
TMC entails writing an informative web article showing a business that when a specific consultative information technology service is used funds can be saved. TMC includes writing about novel computer appliances to the potential customers. This may take the form of a sales speech (Holloway, 2007). Moreover, technological marketing communication appears in form of online articles and promotional brochures.
Strengths of Technological marketing communication
Online articles are examples of TMC. This form of technical writing offers detailed information organized in clear and simple ideas. Hence, technological marketing communication tends to accomplish all the busy reader requirements (Weisman, 1992).
Technological marketing communication offers proper guidance to online consumers. In fact, online readers can easily read and comprehend the contents of online articles given the level of clarity and simplicity of such materials. This example of technical writing thus offers comprehensive historical information and advice on a particular theme. This implies that online TMC articles meet the purpose and needs of different audiences who have varying technological backgrounds (Holloway, 2007).
As a technical marketing piece, a promotional brochure entices and informs potentials clients about the offers that have been made through using key terminologies and slogans. The technical writers control whatever they say, where to place brochures, and the intended recipients using enticing language and literature.
The weaknesses of Technological marketing communication
TMC such as online articles may be easily corrupted or distorted. For instance, the contents of the articles may be unprotected from editing by online users who have inadequate knowledge about the topic being discussed. Hence, the intended readers may fail to get the right information from the readily available online articles (Martinez, 2008).
Promotional brochures are likely to be outdated in case commercial information is changed. The resultant effect will be wastage of financial resources. Besides, distributing promotional brochures to the targeted groups of audiences could be prohibitive and uneconomical.
End user documentation
This example of technical writing includes writing the operational guides and training manuals. End user documentation entails a piece of guidebook or script intended to accompany telephone calls (Weisman, 1992). The writing could include guidelines on how a workstation is used or handbooks that teach consumers how the essential household networking systems could be put in place using personal computers.
The strengths of end user documentation
An example of end user documentation is an operation guide. A technical writer in charge of writing an operational handbook must have prior working knowledge on the subject under discussion than the consumers of the writing. Thus, operations guidebooks have succinct and comprehensive instructions on the topic under discussion. The instructions could take the form of owner manuals, installation guidelines and assembly instructions.
Conversely, training manuals outline duties that a given department must carry out, the ordinary working procedures, company policies, and any other general information. The training manuals avail these in form of graphics and statistical support to assist in presenting the different guiding principles while explaining the available conditions. Training manuals are therefore simply comprehensible and meet the purpose, which they are intended to fulfill (Martinez, 2008).
The weaknesses of end user documentation
The end user documentations are always very detailed. In fact, giving every detail to the consumer or reader could make end user documentations such as operating guides and training manuals bulky.
Hence, clients and intended users could fail to read and understand such documentations fully before utilizing the contents or putting the contents in practice. Besides, not all end user documentations are written in languages understandable to everyone. Thus, translating the training guides and operating manuals could distort the meaning of the contents (Holloway, 2007).
How technical writing forms can be improved
Both technological marketing communication and end user documentation can be improved by first organizing the contents carefully. The technical writer should not instigate by writing, but by organizing the ideas. Secondly, the technical writer must comprehend the materials to be covered.
Finally, to present the technical writing pieces in an organized and comprehensible manner, the technical writer should use tables, trees, and statistics to assist end users to understand the contents better. The English used should also be simple, clear, and re-read by the writer before being passed to the end user. All the contents of technical writing should be protected.
How the technical form is graded out of five
Technological marketing communication= 3
End user documentation= 1
Conclusion
Currently, consumers and audiences have become inundated with information. Given that these groups need to acquire such important information efficiently and conveniently, the functions have been accomplished through technical writing. This type of writing is element-oriented and requires prior experience as opposed to other forms of writing. Hence, technical writing apparently is hardly meant for all groups of people.
References
Holloway, B. (2007). Technical writing basics: A guide to style and form. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Martinez, D. (2008). Kaplan technical writing: A resource for technical writers at all levels. USA: Kaplan Publishing.
Weisman, H. (1992). Basic technical writing. California, US: Merrill Publishers.