RE: Do I have to understand the material?

Subject: RE: Do I have to understand the material?
From: "Sean Brierley" <sbri -at- haestad -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 15:21:34 -0400


Andrew makes some good points.

Did I miss the part where he waded in on whether a technical writer
needs a degree in what they are documenting?

In terms of the issue that kicked off this thread, does a tech writer
need an Associate's degree in electronics to document electronics?

Also, does the writer need to be as much an expert as the engineer or
programmer, or can the technical writer do a good job with a less-deep
knowledge? For example, let's say you are writing about software that
models hydraulics. Is it enough to understand how the liquids flow in
the system, the components of the system, and the ways to interact with
the software to get things done. Or, is it required that you have the
equivalent background PhD-level civil-engineering degree of those who
created the software?

As usual, let's assume the motivated, intelligent, learning-type of
writer, not a font-fondler or template twiddler. <LOL!>

Cheers,

Sean

-----------------------------------------
Sean Brierley
Software Documentation Specialist
Haestad Methods
http://www.haestad.com
203-805-0572 (voice)
203-597-1488 (fax)



-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Plato [mailto:gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 2:00 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Do I have to understand the material?

As usual we're all nitpicking over detials. So lets make this nice and
simple:

ATTENTION: The use of the word "you" in this post does not mean you
personally. I
am directing this at a faceless nobody for rhetorical purposes. If you
have
chronic "take everything personally and get offended" disease, then
delete this
post immediately.

1. Do I have to understand the material I am documenting.

Yes, if you want to be a good writer. The only way to write authorative
material
is to have authorative knowledge. <snip>


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Save up to 50% with RoboHelp Deluxe. Get 2 great products for 1 low price!
You'll get RoboHelp Office PLUS RoboDemo, the software demonstration tool
that everyone's been talking about. Check it out and save!
http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

TECHWR-L is supported by ads and sponsorships...and donations.
You can help maintain the TECHWR-L community with donations
at http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/abouttechwhirl/donate.html

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: RE: Finally...our own film!!!
Next by Author: RE: MS Word--Page Breaks
Previous by Thread: Re: Do I have to understand the material?
Next by Thread: Re: Do I have to understand the material?


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads