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For a junior writer, we expect to train them in this and other solid work
practices - like backing up your work. I have a junior writer right now who
is learning about outlining. Next thing we will do is work on styles, then
off we go to other stuff. And my intern is also learning this stuff. I
expect to teach a new person.
We do teach styles in tools in the local tech writing certificate program in
the Intro class. We get resistance - a lot of it - but we - the teachers -
think it is important enough that it must be taught in the first 4 weeks.
Just part of our professional tool kit.
sharon
Sharon Burton-Hardin
Anthrobytes Consulting
909-369-8590
www.anthrobytes.com
Vice-president, Programs of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
| Here's my view:
|
| That brings me to a serious question. If we agree that proper use of
styles
| is vital to success as a TW, how many of you knew that when you were
looking
| for your *first* TW job? If you did, how did you find out?
|
|
| How do newer TWs -- especially those who don't read this list* -- learn
that
| they should use styles? It could be taught in TW programs (and maybe some
| programs do so), but a lot of TWs transition from other fields without
| formal TW education. It's easy to learn on the job, but if you can't get
the
| job without knowing styles, where does that put you?
|
| For those who look for style use, do you consider it a core qualification
| for that first TW gig, or is it something that can be learned so easily
that
| you'd cut a newbie some slack? This assumes that you hire new TWs, though,
| which may not be the case in your shops.
|
|
| Meg Ehr
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