Re: STC Certification Survey

[Alexia Prendergast <alexiap -at- SEAGATESOFTWARE -dot- COM>]

Not to argue... but....;)

I've known plenty of people who had a
good working knowledge of grammar, but
didn't know beans about *technical writing*.

Also, some usage issues vary by style guide.

How would you test for reorg'ing a
document -- isn't that very subjective?
Especially if you are doing linear vs.
modular restructuring, etc.

How would you test audience analysis skills?

I'm not saying it can't be done -- I'm
just curious as to the practicality of
it all. What are some actual examples of
test questions that folks think would be
fair game?

Curious in the Carolinas,

A.
--
Alexia Prendergast
Senior Technical Writer
Seagate Software
alexiap -at- sems -dot- com

>- good working knowlege of grammar and usage
>- the ability to take a set of badly written and disorganized
>notes and organize them into a readable, well-organized
>manual (or other document).
>- audience analysis skills
>
>Of course we all develop sub-specialties and areas of
>expertise. But without solid writing skills, you can't
>be a good Technical Writer, no matter what your other
>abilities are.
>
>I think there's a bit of fear associated with setting up
>"certification" tests. What if I took the test and failed?
>Would I have to stop being a Tech Writer? Or take a cut
>in pay? On the other hand, they could also be a good
>thing -- personally, if I have weaknesses in any basic
>skills, I damned well want to know about it, so that I can
>do something about it.
>
>Mu .02 worth,
>
>Penny Staples
>pstaples -at- airwire -dot- com
>
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