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Subject:What makes a good Tech Writer From:"Peter Ring, PRC" <prc -at- PIP -dot- DKNET -dot- DK> Date:Mon, 2 Sep 1996 09:34:06 +1
On Friday 30 Aug 1996 Michael Wing wrote:
> Why do you feel (or at least express it this way) that the skills
> are mutually exclusive of each other? Here's my matrix (the Wing
> Technical Writer matrix; simplified to contain only an X and a Y
> axis) for a good Technical Writer (view in monospace font).
Of cause, there is something in it, but it is also a dangerous
misunderstanding that this is the whole truth.
First of all - a minor point: in fact, there ARE other languages in
the World than English! A lot of technical documentation is
originally written in and translated to/from German, Japanese,
French, Italian, Danish, Korean, etc., etc., etc., ...
This means that the "English skills" axis should rather be "Language
skills".
But a lot worse: there is one more axis, which is probably the most
important one, and at least more important than the "Technical ..."
axis. In fact, _too much_ technical knowledge to the subject is often
a disadvantage, because then you can't see the users problems. Please
note before flaming, that I don't hate technicians, I _am_ one
(M.Sc. in electronic engineering), and I don't hate myself.
The third axis is "Pedagogy".
***************************************************************
* *
* Bad pedagogy is what makes millions of technically 100% *
* correct manuals with flawless English absolutely useless! *
* *
***************************************************************
So the map should rather look like this (view in monospace font):
That's why I fight for pedagogy in technical writing on my "Website
for user friendly manuals" and in my book.
Greetings from Denmark
Peter Ring
PRC (Peter Ring Consultants)
- specialists in user friendly manuals and audits on manuals.
prc -at- pip -dot- dknet -dot- dk http://www.pip.dknet.dk/~pip323/index.htm
- the "User Friendly Manuals" website with links, bibliography,
list of prof. associations, and tips for technical writers.
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