Technical Communication Scope, Practice Definition

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Technical communication is a field of expertise that evolved alongside science and engineering and has struggled with establishing an independent identity ever since. This paper discusses the identities and definitions of technical communication as presented in various papers/articles assigned to students in a Masters program in Technical Communication. The paper begins by presenting several definitions of technical communication using the categories of scope, nature, and practice and then moves to the problem of pedagogy. Through resolving the technical communication identity crisis and pedagogical onus, the field of technical communication and its material could gain authority and credibility. Scope: what is technical communication? The assigned articles provided a multitude of definitions ranging in scope from extremely broad (Longo ) to specific (Bosley , Dicks , and Sullivan and Porter ). They were equally metaphorical (Longo , Miller , Paradis and Rickard ) and vague (e.g., Longo ). Using an inclusive approach to defining technical communication, the resulting identity could be: a tool or device for conveying written scientific and technical information in specific document forms (e.g., professional writings, grants, proposals, etc.). The characteristics of this tool or device include neutrality and invisibility in that it does not interfere with the intent of the content, and power in that it acts as the coin/stamp of knowledge (lingua franca), an alloy for science and expression, a weapon, and a bridge or conduit for science and community understanding. Although picturesque, this definition could be rendered impracticable by researchers hoping to narrow the topic. To affect usability, turning to the definition of technical writing as the nature of technical communication might be preferable. Nature: can the definition of technical writing be used to

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