LitWiki - User contributions [en]

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

2026-01-11T16:05:41Z

Admin: Update for Spring 2025.

{{dc|M}}{{start|''a Rainey’s Black Bottom'' is a play by August Wilson}}, first performed in 1984 as part of his ten-play cycle called The Pittsburgh Cycle (later known as The Century Cycle). The play is set in 1927, in a recording studio in Chicago, and centers on the tensions between Ma Rainey, a legendary Black blues singer, and the white producers who seek to exploit her musical talent.

The title refers to “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” one of the songs she performs in the play, and “black bottom” refers to a popular dance of the time. The play touches on the struggles Black artists face, particularly the exploitation of Black talent by the music industry, and it explores themes of race, power, and artistic control.
[[File:MaRainey.jpg|thumb|450px]]
[[w:Ma Rainey|Ma Rainey]], the protagonist, is based on the real-life blues singer known as “The Mother of the Blues.” In the play, Ma is a strong-willed, unapologetic woman who demands control over her music and insists on being treated with respect, which was rare for Black women, especially in the music industry at the time. The play also focuses on her band members—Levee, Cutler, Toledo, and Slow Drag—each representing different aspects of Black life and struggles for identity, artistic expression, and survival in a racist society.

''Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom'' reflects the socio-political environment of the time (1920s America), particularly highlighting the exploitative nature of the music industry towards Black musicians. The play’s exploration of race, class, and identity indicts the systemic oppression that continues to affect African Americans, even as they find ways to resist and assert their dignity.

In 2020, the play was adapted into a film directed by George C. Wolfe, starring Viola Davis as Ma Rainey and Chadwick Boseman as Levee, in his final performance. The film closely follows the play, capturing its emotional depth and powerful performances, particularly in the character of Levee, whose tragic story serves as a reflection of the destructive forces of racism and personal ambition.

==Story==
Set in Chicago during the 1920s, the play follows a group of black musicians as they gather to record an album with the legendary blues singer, Ma Rainey. However, tensions soon arise between the musicians, Ma Rainey, and the white producers who hold the purse strings. Through vivid characters, dialogue, and setting, Wilson skillfully depicts the fraught and complicated relationships between black artists and their white managers in the entertainment industry. He also highlights the struggles of black musicians to assert their creative and personal autonomy in a deeply racist and exploitative society.

==Primary Characters==
* '''Ma Rainey''' - A famous blues singer, known as the “Mother of the Blues.” She is a diva who demands respect and insists on having things done her way.
* '''Levee''' - A talented and ambitious young trumpet player who plans to make it big on his own. He clashes with the other musicians and with Ma Rainey, as he tries to assert his own desires.
* '''Cutler''' - The leader of the band and a skilled trombone player. He is the most level-headed and practical of the musicians, and tries to keep everyone on track.
* '''Toledo''' - A pianist and philosopher, who is always deep in thought and spouting wisdom. He serves as a kind of mentor to the other musicians.
* '''Slow Drag''' - A bass player, who is quiet and unassuming. He is a loyal friend to Cutler, and tries to keep the peace among the musicians.
* '''Irvin''' - A white record producer, who is in charge of the recording session. He is eager to please Ma Rainey, but also has to deal with the demands of his boss, Sturdyvant.
* '''Sturdyvant''' - A white businessman, who owns the recording studio. He is only interested in making money, and doesn’t care about the art or the musicians.

==Major Themes==
Overall, these themes function together to create a complex and nuanced portrayal of the lives and struggles of black musicians in early 20th century America. They reveal the social, economic, and cultural forces that shaped their lives, and the ongoing legacy of their creativity and artistry. The play centers on the exploitation of Black musicians by white producers, a theme that still echoes in various industries today, particularly in music and entertainment. Despite the progress made in racial equality, Black artists often continue to face unequal pay, lack of control over their work, and the commodification of their talent. This continues to be a conversation in the modern-day music and entertainment industries, as well as in broader economic contexts.

===Gender and Power Dynamics===
Throughout the play, there are constant struggles for power between different characters. For example, Ma Rainey demands respect from the white producers and insists on having things done her way. Meanwhile, Levee tries to assert his own power and control over the other musicians. These power dynamics reveal the complicated and fraught relationships between black artists and their white managers in the entertainment industry.

Ma Rainey’s character exemplifies of a Black woman asserting control in a male-dominated world, particularly in a time when Black women were doubly oppressed—by both race and gender. Her role as a strong, unapologetic woman in a male-dominated industry speaks to contemporary discussions about gender inequality and the role of women in leadership across all sectors, especially in industries like entertainment and politics.

===Race and Racism===
The play explores the pervasive racism of the early 20th century, particularly in the music industry. The white producers and studio owners treat the black musicians with disrespect and condescension, and the musicians themselves have internalized this racism to some extent. For example, Levee expresses resentment towards the older generation of black musicians who he feels have been too passive in the face of discrimination.

The play underscores the long-standing legacy of historical injustice, particularly in the context of race relations in the United States. It calls attention to how the structures of racism have evolved over time and continue to persist in new forms. For example, debates over voting rights, police brutality, and the criminal justice system show how entrenched these issues remain in modern society.

Systemic racism affects the characters both externally (in their professional and social lives) and internally (in their sense of self-worth). Levee’s tragic story highlights the psychological toll of racism, including trauma, betrayal, and a constant struggle to assert one’s identity in a society that marginalizes you. This theme is important today, as discussions around mental health in the Black community and the long-term effects of racial trauma continue to grow.

===Creativity and Artistic Expression===
The play also deals with the struggle for creative and personal autonomy. Ma Rainey insists on singing the blues her own way, even if it means offending the white producers. Meanwhile, Levee wants to assert his own musical vision and create something new and original. These struggles for creative freedom reveal the importance of music as a means of self-expression and cultural identity.

Ma Rainey’s insistence on controlling her music and asserting her rights challenges the exploitation of Black culture for commercial gain. This theme is especially relevant in the current age, where cultural appropriation is a hot topic, particularly regarding the way Black music, fashion, and art are often commodified without recognition of their origins or the struggles of their creators.

===Legacy v. Agency===
Another theme in the play is the tension between preserving tradition and embracing new ideas. Ma Rainey represents the older generation of blues musicians, who have a deep connection to tradition and the roots of the music. Levee, on the other hand, is eager to push the music in a new direction and create something fresh. These tensions between tradition and innovation reveal the ongoing evolution of black music and culture.

Much of the play revolves around the characters’ desire for self-determination and recognition. Levee’s ambition to create his own music and escape the shadow of exploitation mirrors the ongoing fight for cultural and economic independence within marginalized communities. This theme is still relevant as individuals and communities continue to push for autonomy in a world that often denies them full control over their lives.

==Reading/Viewing Questions==
Consider these questions as you read and watch the play.
# What role does music play in the lives of the characters in the play? How do their attitudes towards music differ from each other?
# How does August Wilson explore the power dynamics between the black musicians and their white managers in the music industry? What strategies do the musicians use to assert their autonomy and resist exploitation?
# What is the significance of the historical setting of the play (1920s Chicago) for understanding the themes and characters?
# What is the importance of tradition and legacy in the play? How do the characters grapple with preserving tradition versus pushing for innovation?
# How does August Wilson use language and dialogue to convey the personalities and worldviews of the characters in the play? What stylistic techniques does he employ to create a vivid and realistic portrayal of the music industry and black life in the 1920s?
# What is the role of race and racism in the play? How do the characters navigate the racist attitudes and assumptions of the white producers and studio owners?
# What is the significance of Ma Rainey as a character? How does her personality and reputation shape the dynamics of the recording session?
# How does the play explore the themes of creativity, self-expression, and cultural identity? What insights does it offer about the role of music in shaping and reflecting black culture?
# What is the meaning of the play’s title, ''Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom''? How does it relate to the themes and events of the play?
# What is the significance of the play’s ending? How does it reflect on the struggles and achievements of the characters throughout the play?

==Writing Prompts==
# Analyze the power dynamics between the black musicians and their white managers in the play. How do the musicians resist exploitation and assert their autonomy?
# Compare and contrast the attitudes towards music of Ma Rainey and Levee. How do their differing perspectives on the blues reveal their personalities and worldviews? (How might {{c|James Baldwin|Baldwin}}’s “Sonny’s Blues” relate?)
# Discuss the significance of the historical setting of the play (1920s Chicago) for understanding the themes and characters. How does August Wilson use the setting to convey the social and cultural context of the time?
# Evaluate the role of race and racism in the play. How do the characters navigate the racist attitudes and assumptions of the white producers and studio owners?
# Analyze the themes of creativity, self-expression, and cultural identity in the play. How do the characters use music to express their identity and assert their individuality?
# Discuss the significance of Ma Rainey as a character. How does her personality and reputation shape the dynamics of the recording session?
# Compare and contrast the attitudes towards tradition and innovation of Ma Rainey and Levee. How do these attitudes reflect the broader tension between preserving tradition and embracing new ideas?
# Analyze the play’s use of language and dialogue to convey the personalities and worldviews of the characters. How does August Wilson use stylistic techniques to create a vivid and realistic portrayal of the music industry and black life in the 1920s?
# Discuss the meaning of the play’s title, ''Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.'' How does it relate to the themes and events of the play?
# Evaluate the significance of the play’s ending. How does it reflect on the struggles and achievements of the characters throughout the play?

[[Category:ENGL 1102]]
[[Category:August Wilson]]
[[Category:Study Guides]]

The Chimney Sweeper (SE)

2026-01-10T15:21:53Z

Admin: Additions.

{{Poem|author=William Blake|date=1794}}
''William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” indicts a society that cloaks child exploitation in religious consolation, exposing how church, state, and family collaborate to sanctify suffering while absolving themselves of responsibility.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0; font-size: 16pt;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
A little black thing among the snow{{refn|The first line offers a strong and stark contrast between the ''black thing'' and the white ''snow''. The word ''thing'' dehumanizes the child sweeper, and ''black'' seems to associate him contamination—with something dirty and impure, perhaps morally, against the white purity of the snow. Perhaps, in some way, by cleaning the blackness from the churches’ chimneys, the sweeper has somehow taken on the sins of the church ({{harvnb|Wolfson|2003|p=81}}). Rather than a comment on race, this could be a comment on class and occupation ({{harvnb|Makdisi|2003|p=113}}). Or ''black'' aligns the sweep with Blake’s little black boy as a symbol of the fallen humanity, both confined and oppressed ({{harvnb|Frye|1947|p=212}}). {{Sp}}Ackroyd writes: “They finished their work at noon, at which time they were turned upon the streets—all of them in rags (some of them, it seems, without any clothing at all), all of them unwashed, poor, hungry. It is really no wonder that they were typically classified with beggars and with vagrants, considered to be criminals” ({{harvnb|Ackroyd|1995|p=125}}).}}
Crying ’weep, ’weep, in notes of woe!{{refn|The child is lisping the sweeper’s “calling the streets,” which they did while banging their brushes and sweeping tools from before dawn to midday, of “Sweep! Sweep!” ({{harvnb|Greenblatt|2018|p=51}} and {{harvnb|Ackroyd|1995|pp=123–124}}).}}
Where are thy father & mother? say?
They are both gone up to the church to pray.{{refn|''Pray'' seems to suggest ''prey'' in light of the whole poem: in that the social and political realities of the day depend on the servitude of the sweepers. Instead of offering solace and the promise of a spiritual life, the church only supports the status quo. In praying for a fantasy life—the ''heaven'' in the last line—they are complicit and allow the abuse to continue.}}

Because I was happy upon the heath, {{ln|5}}
And smil’d among the winters snow;
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

And because I am happy, & dance & sing,{{refn|The happiness here is of the sweeper’s own making, not in the narrative structures and ideologies supported by the authorities that oppress the sweeper. This might be read as a “a kind of resilience . . . to endure exploitation” and a defiance of the power that would continue to exploit the sweepers ({{harvnb|Makdisi|2015|p=86}}). Compare these expressions of happiness to the pastoral vision at the end of [[The Chimney Sweeper (SI)|the poem’s contrary]] in ''SI''.}}
They think they have done me no injury, {{ln|10}}
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.{{refn|Unlike the Angel in this poem’s contrary, the spiritual life here is nonexistent, hidden behind “hypocritical practices of a church that supports the social and political establishment while being indifferent to the sufferings of the weak and helpless” ({{harvnb|Tomlinson|1987|p=35}}). Only through the sweepers’ continued suffering, this last line seems to say, can others find their worldly heaven, one must assume.}}
</poem>
|}</div>

== Introduction & Context ==
William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” from ''Songs of Experience'' (published in 1794) belongs to a paired collection deliberately designed to expose social contradiction. Blake wrote and engraved ''Songs of Innocence'' and ''Songs of Experience'' as companion volumes, presenting what he famously called the “two contrary states of the human soul.” The ''Experience'' poems revisit figures and situations from ''Innocence'' but strip away consolation and pastoral idealism. In the case of “The Chimney Sweeper,” Blake reworks an earlier poem on child labor to confront readers with the brutal realities of industrial England, where children were routinely sold into chimney sweeping, a profession that caused chronic illness, deformity, and early death.
[[File:Songs of Innocence and of Experience, copy Z, 1826 (Library of Congress) object 37 The Chimney Sweeper.jpg|thumb]]

Blake’s immediate influences were both social and intellectual. The poem emerges from the conditions of late eighteenth-century London, shaped by rapid urbanization, entrenched poverty, and the moral authority claimed by church and state. At the same time, Blake was deeply suspicious of institutional religion and Enlightenment rationalism when they served to justify inequality. His prophetic and visionary mode draws on the Bible, dissenting religious traditions, and radical political thought circulating in the wake of the American and French Revolutions. These influences converge in a poem that treats child suffering not as tragic accident but as systemic violence rationalized through piety.

Formally, “The Chimney Sweeper” is deceptively simple. Written in short, regular stanzas with a childlike voice, the poem mimics the nursery-rhyme rhythms associated with innocence, only to undermine them through bitter irony. The speaker’s calm acceptance of misery, and his parents’ retreat into church and prayer, produce a chilling contrast between tone and content. Blake’s language is spare and accessible, but its clarity sharpens rather than softens the poem’s critique.

The poem’s major themes include child exploitation, institutional hypocrisy, and the moral failure of a society that confuses obedience with virtue. Blake indicts parents who abandon their responsibilities, a church that preaches submission instead of justice, and a political order that benefits from cheap, expendable labor. God, king, and priest appear not as sources of salvation but as symbols used to discipline the poor into silence. In this sense, the poem insists that suffering persists not because it is inevitable, but because it is made acceptable.

As a Romantic poem, “The Chimney Sweeper” exemplifies several defining characteristics of the movement: a focus on marginalized voices, an emphasis on emotional truth over abstract moral systems, and a fierce critique of social institutions that repress human freedom. Blake’s Romanticism is not escapist or nostalgic; it is confrontational, using imagination as a tool of moral revelation rather than consolation.

The poem remains urgently relevant. Although the specific practice of chimney sweeping by children has vanished, the structures Blake exposes have not. Contemporary debates about child labor, economic precarity, environmental injustice, and the moral language used to excuse inequality echo Blake’s concerns. For modern readers, “The Chimney Sweeper” offers not only historical insight into Romantic-era England but also a framework for questioning how suffering is normalized, justified, and rendered invisible in any society that mistakes order for justice.

== Writing Prompts ==
# Romantic writers often challenged the belief that social systems were rational or benevolent. Write about a time when your own “experience” replaced a more innocent belief about work, authority, religion, or fairness. How does that moment help you understand the speaker’s voice in Blake’s poem?
# Blake critiques institutions that claim moral authority while permitting suffering. Identify an institution in your own life or in contemporary society that publicly promotes virtue but depends on inequality or harm. How does this comparison clarify Blake’s Romantic suspicion of systems over individuals?
# For Blake, childhood represented moral clarity and vulnerability, not ignorance. Reflect on how your culture defines the “value” of young people today, especially in relation to work, productivity, or success. In what ways does this echo or diverge from the historical reality of child labor in Blake’s England?
# Romanticism elevated feeling as a form of truth. Write about a strong emotional reaction you had to this poem or to learning about chimney sweepers as historical figures. How does that emotional response produce insight that a purely factual account might not?
# Blake believed imagination could expose injustice and envision alternatives. Describe a moment when imagination, creativity, or art helped you recognize something as wrong or unjust. How does this experience align with Blake’s Romantic belief in the moral power of art?
# Blake presents experience as awareness gained through suffering rather than wisdom bestowed by authority. What kind of “experience” does modern society force people to acquire prematurely? Connect this idea to both the poem and your own observations or experiences.

==Notes & Commentary==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|indent=yes|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=Ackroyd |first=Peter |date={{date|1995}} |title=Blake: A Biography |url= |location=New York |publisher=Ballantine Books }}
* {{cite book |last=Battenhouse |first=Henry M. |date={{date|1958}} |title=English Romantic Writers |url= |location=New York |publisher=Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. }}
* {{cite book |last=Bloom |first=Harold |date={{date|2003}} |title=William Blake |series=Bloom’s Major Poets |url= |location=New York |publisher=Chelsea House }}
* {{cite book |last=Frye |first=Northrup |date={{date|1947}} |title=Fearful Symmetry: A Study of William Blake |url=https://archive.org/details/fearfulsymmetrys00frye |location=Princeton, NJ |publisher=Princeton University Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Gardner |first=Stanley |date={{date|1969}} |title=Blake |url= |location=New York |publisher=Arco |series=Literary Critiques }}
* {{cite book |last=Green |first=Martin Burgess |date={{date|1972}} |title=Cities of Light and Sons of Morning |url=https://archive.org/details/citiesoflightson00gree/ |location=Boston |publisher=Little, Brown }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Greenblatt |editor-first=Stephen |date={{date|2018}} |title=The Norton Anthology of English Literature |series=The Major Authors |volume=2 |edition=Tenth |url=https://amzn.to/3rgnJOH |location=New York |publisher=W. W. Norton }}
* {{cite book |last=Makdisi |first=Saree |chapter=The Political Aesthetic of Blake’s Images |date={{date|2003}} |title=The Cambridge Companion to William Blake |url= |editor-last=Eaves |editor-first=Morris |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge UP |pages=110–132 }}
* {{cite book |last=Makdisi |first=Saree |author-mask=1 |date={{date|2015}} |title=Reading William Blake |url= |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Paulin |first=Tom |date={{date|2007-03-03|MDY}} |title=The Invisible Worm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/mar/03/poetry.williamblake |magazine=Guardian |pages= |access-date={{date|2021-09-04|ISO}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Thompson |first=E. P. |date={{date|1993}} |title=Witness Against the Beast |url= |location=New York |publisher=The New Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Tomlinson |first=Alan |date={{date|1987}} |title=Song of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake |series=MacMillan Master Guides |url= |location=London |publisher=MacMillan Education }}
* {{cite book |last=Wolfson |first=Susan J. |chapter=Blake’s Language in Poetic Form |date={{date|2003}} |title=The Cambridge Companion to William Blake |url= |editor-last=Eaves |editor-first=Morris |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge UP |pages=63–83 }}
{{refend}}

==Links and Web Resources==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Blake at the [https://tinyurl.com/255jf826 Internet Archive].
* [https://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item126746.html Blake’s Notebook] at the British Museum.
* [http://www.ajdrake.com/e252_fall_04/materials/authors/blake_sq.htm William Blake Study Questions]
{{refend}}

[[Category:Romanticism]]

The World Is too Much with Us

2026-01-08T15:34:51Z

Admin: Created page.

{{Poem|author=William Wordsworth|date=1807}}
''Wordsworth’s sonnet argues that modern commercial society has alienated humanity from the natural world, leaving people spiritually impoverished because they value material gain over a vital, sustaining relationship with nature.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
The world is too much with us;{{refn|Indeed, this sonnet is perhaps more apt today as the world seems to have decided it has had enough of us and our careless and wasteful ways. Wordsworth was aware of our transgressions over two-hundred years ago; I wonder if he had any idea where progress would lead? This sonnet surely seems prophetic.}} late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature{{refn|Here, Nature is capitalized as if personified, but Wordsworth more likely uses the capitalization to deify it, like Mother Nature.}} that is ours;{{refn|I have often said something similar to students: we humans really hate nature. If we could, we would probably eliminate everything ''natural'' about ourselves and sequester ourselves in hermetic isolation and wax nostalgic about nature’s beauty—as long as we didn’t have to suffer its inconveniences. If the Singularity nerds are correct: we will soon upload ourselves into our technology, potentially ditching our last connection with nature. Wordsworth would be appalled.}}
We have given our hearts away, a sordid {{H:title|A gift.|boon}}!{{refn|Giving our hearts away to materialism is the sordid gift.}}
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; {{ln|5}}
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;{{refn|A central metaphor of the sonnet, we are out of harmony with everything since we lost our connection with nature, and, as the next line makes clear, we don’t care.}}
It moves us not.—Great God! I’d rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;{{refn|Wordsworth’s words are powerful and perhaps a mordant critique of a Christian god who has created us in His own image—a wasteful and careless species who has lain waste to that which was put into his care. Wordsworth seems to embrace a more simple life of the pagan who lived in harmony with nature.}} {{ln|10}}
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus{{refn|The Old Man of the Sea in Homer’s ''[[Odyssey]]'' who could assume any shape.}} rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton{{refn|A sea deity whose horn is a conch shell.}} blow his wreathèd horn.{{refn|The sonnet ends with these two mythological demigods that commanded a respect of the sea and nature. Maybe we were better off before we were “saved”?}}
</poem>
|}</div>

==Introduction==
William Wordsworth’s poem “The World Is Too Much With Us,” composed in 1802 and published in 1807, critiques the encroaching industrialization and materialism of the early 19th century. Written during a period of social and economic transformation in England, the poem reflects Wordsworth’s concerns about humanity's loss-of-connection to nature. This sonnet is influenced by Wordsworth’s personal experiences and his immersion in the natural landscapes of the Lake District, which shaped his poetic vision.

The poem adheres to the traditional sonnet form, specifically the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet, consisting of an octave and a sestet. The rhyme scheme (ABBAABBA in the octave, and CDCDCD in the sestet) and the iambic pentameter provide a structured framework that contrasts with the passionate and urgent plea within the verses. Wordsworth’s use of this form underscores the tension between human-made constraints and the energy of the natural world.

Central to “The World Is Too Much With Us” are themes of alienation and the conflict between nature and industrial society. Wordsworth laments the way human beings have become disconnected from the natural world, consumed by the pursuit of material wealth: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers” (l. 2). He mourns the loss of a deeper, more spiritual connection to nature, which he believes is vital for the human soul. The poem’s imagery captures this sense of loss and yearning for a return to a more harmonious existence with the natural environment.

As a quintessential Romantic poem, “The World Is Too Much With Us” embodies several key characteristics of the Romantic movement. It emphasizes emotion and intuition over reason, celebrates the sublime beauty of nature, and critiques the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and urbanization. Wordsworth’s invocation of pagan mythology, as he wishes for a life akin to that of the ancient Greeks who worshipped nature, reflects the Romantic fascination with the past and the idealization of a simpler, more integrated way of life.

In contemporary times, the poem’s relevance has only heightened. As modern society grapples with the consequences of industrialization, environmental degradation, and climate change, Wordsworth’s critique of materialism and his call for a renewed connection with nature resonate deeply. The poem serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our natural world and maintaining a balance between progress and the environment. Through “The World Is Too Much With Us,” Wordsworth’s voice continues to inspire reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature in an age of unprecedented ecological challenges.

==Questions for Consideration==
# Analyze how Wordsworth portrays the impact of industrialization and materialism on humanity’s relationship with nature. Discuss how specific imagery and diction in the poem reflect his critique of contemporary society.
# Examine the Romantic characteristics in Wordsworth’s poem, focusing on elements such as the celebration of nature, emotional intensity, and the critique of industrial progress. How do these features align with the broader themes and concerns of the Romantic movement?
# Discuss the significance of the Petrarchan sonnet form in “The World Is Too Much With Us.” How does the structure of the octave and sestet enhance the poem’s thematic development? Consider how the formal aspects contribute to the poem’s overall impact.
# Explore Wordsworth’s use of pagan mythology and classical references in the poem. How do these elements contribute to his argument about the alienation from nature? Analyze the symbolic meaning of the references to Proteus and Triton and their relevance to the poem’s message.
# Reflect on the contemporary relevance of “The World Is Too Much With Us.” In what ways do Wordsworth’s concerns about the disconnection from nature and the dominance of materialism resonate with current environmental and social issues? Draw parallels between the poem’s themes and modern debates about sustainability and environmental ethics.
# Analyze the emotional tone of the poem and Wordsworth’s use of language to convey a sense of loss and yearning. How does Wordsworth’s choice of words and phrases evoke a powerful emotional response from the reader? Consider the role of sentiment and passion in communicating the poem’s central themes.
# Investigate the meaning and implications of the line “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” What does Wordsworth mean by “powers,” and how does the poem suggest these powers are being wasted? Discuss the significance of this critique in the context of the poem and its broader philosophical implications.
# Write a personal reflection on how “The World Is Too Much With Us” resonates with your own experiences and views on nature and society. Consider how Wordsworth’s perspective influences your thoughts on contemporary environmental issues and the balance between progress and nature.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Romanticism]]
[[Category:ENGL 2122]]

The World Is too Much with Us

2026-01-08T15:28:25Z

Admin: Created page.

{{Poem|author=William Butler Yeats|date=1923}}
''In Greek mythology, Zeus appears to [[w:Leda (mythology)|Leda]] in the form of a swan and [[w:Leda and the Swan|rapes her]]. She gives birth to [[w:Helen of Troy|Helen]] and [[w:Clytemnestra|Clytemnestra]]. This act marks the beginning of Greek civilization for Yeats.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
A sudden blow: the great wings beating still
Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.

How can those terrified vague fingers push {{ln|5}}
The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?
And how can body, laid in that white rush,
But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?

A shudder in the loins engenders there
The broken wall,{{refn|Continuing the images of penetration and destruction—here, this alludes to Troy’s walls being breached by the Argives, but it also suggests that Leda was a virgin.}} the burning roof and tower{{refn|The destruction of Troy.}}{{ln|10}}
And Agamemnon dead.{{refn|Agamemnon was murdered by Clytemnestra’s lover upon his return from Troy. He pretty much deserved it. The fall of Troy and the death of Agamemnon signify the end of an era.}}
{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}{{Sp}}Being so caught up,
So mastered by the brute blood of the air,
Did she put on his knowledge with his power
Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?{{refn|Compare this to the ending of “[[The Second Coming]]” where Yeats also asks an ambiguous and unanswerable question.}}
</poem>
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | —'''[[w:W. B. Yeats|W. B. Yeats]]''' (1923)
|}</div>
{{FH}}
== Introduction and Context ==
Written in 1923 and first published in ''The Dial'' before appearing in ''The Tower'' (1928), “Leda and the Swan” is one of Yeats’ most compressed and disturbing meditations on history, violence, and divine encounter. The poem reimagines the Greek myth of Zeus, who takes the form of a swan to rape Leda, the mortal mother of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. This violent act, Yeats suggests, inaugurates a new epoch of civilization—the classical age of Greece—while foreshadowing its eventual destruction in the Trojan War.
[[File:Leda and the swan - Émile Auguste Hublin.jpg|thumb|500px|Émile Auguste Hublin]]
Yeats was fascinated by the cycles of history and spiritual revelation that he explored in ''A Vision'' (1925), his complex system of “gyres” representing recurring patterns of birth, decay, and renewal. In this framework, the rape of Leda marks a pivotal turning of the gyre: divine power violently intrudes into human history, creating a moment of transformation that is both creative and catastrophic.

The poem’s opening line, “A sudden blow,” plunges the reader into the immediacy of assault—its language is tactile, physical, and unflinching. Yeats’ choice of the sonnet form (14 lines, ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) imposes classical order upon chaos, mirroring how myth and art attempt to contain the incomprehensible. Yet the poem’s syntax, full of enjambment and violent motion, resists that containment: the act remains unresolved, its moral and metaphysical implications unsettled.

Yeats’s treatment of myth is characteristically Modernist: he reinterprets a traditional narrative to explore contemporary anxieties about power, gender, knowledge, and the cyclical nature of human history. The poem’s fusion of sensual and spiritual imagery—“feathered glory,” “strange heart beating,” “brute blood of the air”—invites consideration about how divine revelation and sexual violence are intertwined. The final question—“Did she put on his knowledge with his power?”—remains unanswered, capturing the paradox of transcendence through violation.

For contemporary readers, “Leda and the Swan” retains its power and discomfort. It raises questions about the relationship between creativity and destruction, knowledge and domination, beauty and brutality. The myth’s violence reverberates through history, echoing modern warfare and political upheaval. Yeats transforms myth into a lens through which to examine both personal and civilizational trauma—making this brief sonnet one of the most potent expressions of Modernist tension between chaos and form.

== Questions for Consideration ==
# How does Yeats depict the violence of the encounter between Leda and the swan? What sensory imagery dominates the poem?
# In what ways does the sonnet form constrain or intensify the poem’s violent subject matter?
# How does Yeats connect the mythic act to historical consequences—“the broken wall, the burning roof and tower / And Agamemnon dead”?
# What might Yeats mean by suggesting that divine rape could “engender” civilization?
# How does the poem explore the relationship between power and knowledge?
# What is the effect of the poem’s unanswered final question? Does Yeats suggest that revelation is possible through trauma—or that it is forever incomplete?
# How does Yeats use contrast—between beauty and brutality, flesh and spirit, divinity and mortality—to shape meaning?
# How does “Leda and the Swan” reflect Yeats’s theory of cyclical history and the turning of the gyres from A Vision?
# What Modernist characteristics are present in this poem? Consider its mythic allusion, fragmentation, and moral ambiguity.
# How does the poem engage questions of gender and agency? Is Leda passive, complicit, or transformed?

== Sample Journal Approaches ==
# How did you react to the poem’s depiction of power and vulnerability? Describe a time you have witnessed (or experienced) an imbalance of power. How does Yeats’s portrayal of domination and helplessness help you think about that situation differently?
# Why do you think Yeats chose such beautiful, musical language to describe a brutal act? What effect does this contrast have on your reading experience? Can beauty ever make violence more comprehensible—or more troubling?
# At the poem’s end, Yeats asks whether Leda “put on his knowledge with his power.” What might it mean to “learn” something through suffering or violation? Can knowledge emerge from trauma—or does it simply repeat it?
# Yeats connects this mythic act to the fall of Troy and the birth of Western civilization. What do you think he’s suggesting about the foundations of culture? Do you see parallels in modern society—moments when destruction has been framed as progress?
# The poem turns a horrifying event into art. How do you feel about that? Should art represent such violence, and if so, what responsibilities do poets or readers have in confronting it?
# If Leda somehow absorbs Zeus’s “knowledge,” what might she become? How might transformation—spiritual, intellectual, or bodily—be both gift and curse?
# Yeats’s myth reimagines divine assault during a time of postwar disillusionment (1920s). What might this poem say about our own cultural moment? How might it help you interpret current social or political “turnings of the gyre”?

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Modernism]]
[[Category:ENGL 2122]]

ENGL 1102

2026-01-08T15:26:40Z

Admin: I need to transfer the FAQ.

{{Large|Decoding the Text: A Guide to Literary Analysis and Composition}}

{{dc|I}}{{start|n a world increasingly driven by technology,}} data, and immediacy, the study of literature may seem, to some, an unnecessary and antiquated indulgence. Why pore over poetry or ponder the ambiguities of a novel when there are concrete skills to acquire and more tangible goals to achieve? This question is particularly relevant to college students who take literature courses only because they are required. Yet, it is precisely in the study of literature that we find an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and engage in the kind of deep thinking that is essential for intellectual and personal growth.

<div style="margin:0.5em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em; padding:0.5em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em; text-align:right;">[[/Introduction|Read the Introduction »]]</div>

<hr />
''Directions: For each lesson below, follow all links and read them carefully. All assigned literary texts may be found on D2L, by doing a Google search, or in the required book. See your individual syllabus for due dates and additional instructions.''

==Orientation==
# Read the following:
#* [[CompFAQ/Writing about Literature|I’m not an English major: why should I write about literature?]]
#* [[The Liberal Arts Education|What is a liberal arts education?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Critical Thinking|What is “critical thinking"?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Analysis|What is “analysis”?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Interpretation|What is “interpretation”?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Difficult Reading|How do I read a difficult text without getting frustrated?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Reading Notes|What are some strategies for reading?]]

==I. Introduction to College-Level Literary Studies==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[/Introduction|Introduction]] to ''Decoding the Text: A Guide to Literary Analysis and Composition''
#* [[CompFAQ/Writing about Literature|I’m not an English major: why should I write about literature?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Lit Primer|How do I begin writing about literature?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Analysis|What are the basics of literary analysis?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation|What are the basics of interpreting a literary text?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Conventions|What are the conventions and vocabulary necessary for writing about literature?]]
# Read the following and be sure to [[CompFAQ/Research/Notetaking|take thorough notes]] in preparation for a quiz:
#* F. Scott Fitzgerald: “[[Babylon Revisited]]” (Print and read this one: [https://files.grlucas.com/f/6ad3b8f35fe548abb516/ download PDF]) {{Small|(See also: “[[January 13, 2004|You Can’t Go Home Again]]”)}}

==II. Reader-Response Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Reader Response|What is “reader response”?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Theme|What is “theme”?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Close Reading|What is “close reading”?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Research/Quotations and Paraphrases|How do I integrate quotations and paraphrases?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Support|How do I support my argument?]]
# Read the following:
#* Ernest Hemingway: “[[Indian Camp]]” {{small|(See also: “[[January 20, 2004|Hemingway’s ‘Indian Camp{{' "}}]])}}
#* James Joyce: “[[Araby]]” {{Small|(See also: “[[January 22, 2004|The Light Was Out]]” and “[[February 1, 2025|A Journey from Innocence to Disillusionment: A Reader-Response to James Joyce’s ‘Araby{{' "}}]])}}

==III. Formalist Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Analysis|What is a “formalist” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Anton Chekhov: “The Lady with the Pet Dog”
#* Emily Dickinson “[[Because I Could Not Stop for Death]]”

==IV. Ethical Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Ethical Criticism|What is an “ethical” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* James Baldwin: “Sonny’s Blues”
#* Patricia Smith: “[[February 13, 2023|10-Year-Old Shot Three Times, but She’s Fine]]”

==V. Civic Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Civic Criticism|What is a “civic” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: “Harrison Bergeron” {{Small|(See also: {{" '}}[[“Harrison Bergeron” and Wokeness|Harrison Bergeron’ and Wokeness]]”)}}
#* Audre Lord: “[[February 15, 2023|Who Said It Was Simple]]”

==VI. Cultural Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Cultural Criticism|What is a “cultural” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Jack London: “[[To Build a Fire]]” {{Small|(See also: “[[February 10, 2004|What Place Evolution?]]”)}}
#* William Wordsworth: “[[The World Is too Much with Us]]”

==VII. Feminist Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Feminist Criticism|What is a “feminist” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Kate Chopin: “[[The Story of an Hour]]”
#* Adrienne Rich: “[[Diving Into the Wreck]]”
#* Lord Byron: “[[She Walks in Beauty]]”

==VIII. Psychological Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Psychoanalytic Criticism|What is a “psychoanalytical” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Herman Melville: “Bartleby, the Scrivener” ({{Small|See also: “[[October 25, 2021|Some Thoughts on ‘Bartleby, the Scrivener’]]”}})
#* William Shakespeare: Sonnets [[April 18, 1995|33]], [[April 19, 1995|34]], and [[April 20, 1995|35]]
#* Edgar Allan Poe: “[[The Cask of Amontillado]]” ({{Small|See also: “[[February 18, 2004|Notes on Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’]]”}})

==IX. Deconstructive Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Deconstruction|What is a “deconstructive” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* William Shakespeare: “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?”

==X. Marxist Criticism==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Literary Interpretation/Marxist Criticism|What is a “Marxist” approach to literature?]]
# Read the following:
#* Guy de Maupassant: “The Necklace” {{Small|(See also: “[[February 27, 2025|Why Mathilde Never Came Clean]]”)}}
#* William Blake: “[[The Chimney Sweeper (SE)]]” (from ''Songs of Experience'')

==XI. Research==
# Read the background materials:
#* [[CompFAQ/Research|What is research and why is it important?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Evidence|How do I use strong evidence and examples?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Research/Primary Sources|What are “primary sources” and how do I use them?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Research/Secondary Sources|What are “secondary sources” and how do I use them?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Research/Strong Sources|How do I find strong, credible sources?]]
#* [[CompFAQ/Research/Synthesis|What is “synthesis” and why is it important?]]
# Read the following:
#* August Wilson: ''[[Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom]]''

== Study Guides ==
Resources for the works we have studied this semester.
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[w:James Baldwin|James Baldwin]] — “[[Sonny's Blues]]”
* [[w:Kate Chopin|Kate Chopin]] - “[[The Story of an Hour]]”
* [[w:Francis Scott Fitzgerald|F. Scott Fitzgerald]] - “[[Babylon Revisited]]”
* [[w:Ernest Hemingway|Ernest Hemingway]] — “[[Indian Camp]]”
* [[w:James Joyce|James Joyce]] — “[[Araby]]” and ''[[The Dead]]''
* [[w:Jack London|Jack London]] - “[[To Build a Fire]]”
* [[w:Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar Allan Poe]] — “[[The Cask of Amontillado]]”
* [[w:Leslie Marmon Silko|Leslie Marmon Silko]] - “[[Yellow Woman]]”
* [[w:Herman Melville|Herman Melville]] — ''[[Bartleby, the Scrivener]]''
* [[w:The Smiths|The Smiths]] — “[[Girlfriend in a Coma]]”
* [[w:Kurt Vonnegut|Kurt Vonnegut]] — “[[Harrison Bergeron]]”
* [[w:August Wilson|August Wilson]] — ''[[Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom]]''
{{div col end}}

==Literary==
* [[Literary Terms]]

[[Category:ENGL 1102]]
[[category:Fall 2021]]

Talking in Bed

2025-12-02T15:18:09Z

Admin: Added notes section.

{{Poem|author=Philip Larkin|date=1960}}
''“Talking in Bed” explores the loneliness that can persist within intimacy. Larkin captures the emotional distance between lovers whose shared silence reveals the difficulty of sustaining honesty and affection over time.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
Talking in bed ought to be easiest,
Lying together there goes back so far,
An emblem{{refn|A symbolic representation; the bed symbolizes intimacy and honesty but ironically reveals alienation.}} of two people being honest.
Yet more and more time passes silently.
Outside, the wind's incomplete unrest {{ln|5}}
Builds and disperses clouds in the sky,
And dark towns heap up on the horizon.
None of this cares for us. Nothing shows why
At this unique distance{{refn|A paradoxical phrase: emotional estrangement within physical closeness.}} from isolation
It becomes still more difficult to find {{ln|10}}
Words at once true and kind,
Or not untrue and not unkind.{{refn|A deliberately awkward double negative expressing moral compromise—settling for guarded civility instead of genuine connection.}}
</poem>
|}</div>
== Background and Context ==
Philip Larkin (1922–1985) wrote “Talking in Bed” in 1960, and it first appeared in his 1964 collection ''The Whitsun Weddings''. The poem exemplifies Larkin’s characteristic mixture of candor, irony, and emotional restraint. Set in the intimate space of a shared bed, it dramatizes the quiet erosion of connection between two lovers. The poem’s short lines and plain diction heighten its claustrophobic atmosphere: each phrase feels weighed down by emotional fatigue.

The poem’s moral precision recalls Larkin’s interest in ordinary honesty—his skepticism toward grand expressions of love or faith. Rather than sentimentalize romance, he exposes its fragile endurance in the face of time, habit, and the larger indifference of the world. The bed, a symbol of intimacy, becomes a stage for isolation; the surrounding wind and clouds mirror the restlessness within the relationship.

Critics have often read “Talking in Bed” as emblematic of Larkin’s postwar realism—a poetics of disillusionment and candor. The closing lines, “Words at once true and kind, / Or not untrue and not unkind,” distill the difficulty of achieving genuine empathy without falseness. This moral balancing act reflects Larkin’s broader theme: how to live truthfully without illusions, and how to speak honestly without cruelty.

== Questions for Consideration ==
# How does Larkin use understatement and simplicity of language to convey emotional complexity?
# What role does irony play in the contrast between the poem’s title and its tone?
# How does the external world—the “wind’s incomplete unrest” and “dark towns”—mirror the internal state of the couple?
# In what ways does the poem transform the ordinary (bed, silence, talk) into moral or philosophical reflection?
# What is the significance of the phrase “this unique distance from isolation”? How can intimacy become a form of isolation?
# How does Larkin’s closing line redefine kindness and truth in relationships?
# Compare this poem’s vision of love with that in “[[The Mower]]” or “An Arundel Tomb.” What continuities or shifts appear in Larkin’s treatment of human connection?
# The poem lacks overt emotion—no anger or affection is named. How does this restraint affect its tone and impact?
# What might “Talking in Bed” suggest about modern communication and the limits of language in intimate relationships?
# How does the poem’s structure—three quatrains of uneven rhythm—contribute to its tone of quiet dissonance?

== Journal Prompts ==
# Reflect on a time when closeness or familiarity made genuine communication harder rather than easier. How does Larkin’s situation resonate with that experience?
# Write about a silence that felt meaningful—either comforting or uncomfortable. What does “Talking in Bed” teach about the meaning of silence?
# Larkin’s closing distinction between “true and kind” versus “not untrue and not unkind” is deliberately awkward. Write about a moment when honesty and kindness came into conflict.
# Compare “Talking in Bed” to another poem about love and communication—perhaps Yeats’s “When You Are Old” or Carol Ann Duffy’s “Words, Wide Night.” How do they differ in tone and outlook?
# The natural imagery (wind, clouds, dark towns) surrounds but ignores the couple. What does this indifference imply about the human condition?
# Larkin’s diction is precise yet conversational. How does this voice influence your emotional response to the poem?
# Imagine the poem from the partner’s perspective. What might be said—or thought—but left unsaid in Larkin’s version?
# The poem ends with compromise rather than resolution. Is that honesty or defeat? Explain your reasoning.
# Write a creative imitation (10–12 lines) about a moment of shared quiet that reveals something deeper about a relationship.
# Consider how “Talking in Bed” might function as a metaphor for contemporary communication—texting, digital intimacy, or emotional distance in the age of constant connection.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Contemporary]]
[[Category:ENGL 2122]]

The Skunk

2025-12-02T15:17:12Z

Admin: Fixed typo.

{{Poem|author=Seamus Heany|date=1979}}
''“The Skunk” transforms a domestic scene into a meditation on love, memory, and imagination. Written while Heaney was separated from his wife, the poem turns a nocturnal skunk into an emblem of erotic renewal and creative vitality.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
Up, black, striped and demasked like the chasuble{{refn|'''Damasked''': Stripped of disguise; the skunk’s markings are “demasked” in the light, suggesting revelation or rediscovery. '''Chasuble''': A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest during mass, here used metaphorically to describe the skunk’s black-and-white markings. From Latin ''casula'', “little house.” The comparison aligns the skunk’s sensuality with sacred ritual.}}
At a funeral mass, the skunk’s tail
Paraded the skunk. Night after night
I expected her like a visitor.

The refrigerator whinnied into silence. {{ln|5}}
My desk light softened beyond the verandah.{{refn|A roofed platform along the outside of a house, common in warm climates; here, evokes Heaney’s stay in California.}}
Small oranges loomed in the orange tree.
I began to be tense as a voyeur.

After eleven years I was composing
Love-letters again, broaching the “wife”{{refn|To “broach” a cask is to open it; Heaney likens rediscovering desire to uncorking stored love or memory. This sensual metaphor underscores the poem’s fusion of domestic intimacy and erotic vitality.}} {{ln|10}}
Like a stored cask, as if its slender vowel
Had mutated into the night earth and air

Of California. The beautiful, useless
Tang of eucalyptus spelt your absence.
The aftermath of a mouthful of wine {{ln|15}}
Was like inhaling you off a cold pillow.

And there she was, the intent and glamorous,
Ordinary, mysterious skunk,
Mythologized, demythologized,
Snuffing the boards five feet beyond me. {{ln|20}}

It all came back to me last night, stirred
By the sootfall of your things at bedtime,
Your head-down, tail-up hunt in a bottom drawer
For the black plunge-line nightdress.{{refn|A nightgown with a deep neckline, symbolizing erotic familiarity and affection renewed through memory.}}
</poem>
|}</div>

== Background and Context ==
First published in ''Field Work'' (1979), “The Skunk” was written while Heaney was teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, far from his wife, Marie, and their children. The poem’s setting—warm, fragrant, nocturnal California—contrasts with the cold, domestic imagery of Ireland found in his earlier work. In that distance, Heaney rediscovers intimacy through imagination: the skunk, at once ordinary and “glamorous,” becomes a double for his absent wife and for poetry itself, which transforms the everyday into revelation.

The poem fuses the sacred and the erotic, the mundane and the mythical, echoing {{c|William Butler Yeats|Yeats}}’ tension between flesh and spirit. Its imagery of ritual vestments, wine, and incense lends religious solemnity to marital love, while its precise sensory details—eucalyptus, oranges, the hush of the refrigerator—anchor the vision in domestic modernity. “The Skunk” ultimately celebrates the persistence of desire in long partnership and the capacity of memory to make the ordinary luminous.

==Questions for Consideration==
# How does Heaney use religious imagery (“chasuble,” “Mass,” “ritual”) to elevate or transform erotic experience?
# What is the effect of the poet’s distance from home? How does California’s landscape shape his tone of longing and rediscovery?
# In what ways is the skunk both “ordinary” and “mysterious”? How does Heaney balance domestic realism with mythic suggestion?
# Discuss the poem’s structure and pacing. How does Heaney’s syntax mimic the rhythm of anticipation and memory?
# How does the poem treat marriage differently from earlier Heaney poems like “Follower” or “Digging”? What changes in tone or focus are evident?
# What does “broaching the ‘wife’ / Like a stored cask” suggest about intimacy over time? Is it tender, ironic, reverent, or all three?
# Compare this poem’s treatment of desire to Yeats’s “Adam’s Curse” or D. H. Lawrence’s “Piano.” How does Heaney’s realism alter the lyric tradition?
# How do the closing stanzas link erotic imagination to creative renewal?
# What is “mythologized, demythologized” doing here? How does it reflect Heaney’s dual vision as both lover and poet?
# The skunk is a nocturnal scavenger—does that choice undercut or enrich the poem’s sense of beauty and grace?

==Journal Prompts==
# Describe an ordinary object or animal that has taken on personal significance for you. How might it, like Heaney’s skunk, evoke intimacy or memory?
# Heaney transforms separation into creativity. Write about a time when distance (geographical or emotional) deepened your understanding of connection.
# Explore how ritual—religious or domestic—appears in the poem. Do you have daily rituals that carry symbolic or emotional power?
# The poem’s tone mixes reverence and humor. How does Heaney sustain both? Write about a moment in which the ordinary became suddenly sacred.
# Compare “The Skunk” with another poem about marital love—perhaps Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnet 43” or Sharon Olds’ “I Go Back to May 1937.” What distinguishes Heaney’s approach?
# The poem’s title evokes both sensuality and the comic. How does Heaney’s animal imagery challenge conventional depictions of beauty?
# Write a short creative imitation in which a small domestic detail (a scent, a sound, a gesture) becomes the focus of memory and desire.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Contemporary]]
[[Category:ENGL 2122]]

The Skunk

2025-12-02T15:05:55Z

Admin: Fix.

{{Poem|author=Seamus Heany|date=1979}}
''“The Skunk” transforms a domestic scene into a meditation on love, memory, and imagination. Written while Heaney was separated from his wife, the poem turns a nocturnal skunk into an emblem of erotic renewal and creative vitality.''
<div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 25px 0 25px 0;">
{| style="width: 600px;"
|
<poem>
Up, black, striped and demasked like the chasuble{{refn|'''Damasked''': Stripped of disguise; the skunk’s markings are “demasked” in the light, suggesting revelation or rediscovery. '''Chasuble''': A sleeveless outer vestment worn by a priest during mass, here used metaphorically to describe the skunk’s black-and-white markings. From Latin ''casula'', “little house.” The comparison aligns the skunk’s sensuality with sacred ritual.}}
At a funeral mass, the skunk’s tail
Paraded the skunk. Night after night
I expected her like a visitor.

The refrigerator whinnied into silence. {{ln|5}}
My desk light softened beyond the verandah.{{refn|A roofed platform along the outside of a house, common in warm climates; here, evokes Heaney’s stay in California.}}
Small oranges loomed in the orange tree.
I began to be tense as a voyeur.

After eleven years i was composing
Love-letters again, broaching the “wife”{{refn|To “broach” a cask is to open it; Heaney likens rediscovering desire to uncorking stored love or memory. This sensual metaphor underscores the poem’s fusion of domestic intimacy and erotic vitality.}} {{ln|10}}
Like a stored cask, as if its slender vowel
Had mutated into the night earth and air

Of California. The beautiful, useless
Tang of eucalyptus spelt your absence.
The aftermath of a mouthful of wine {{ln|15}}
Was like inhaling you off a cold pillow.

And there she was, the intent and glamorous,
Ordinary, mysterious skunk,
Mythologized, demythologized,
Snuffing the boards five feet beyond me. {{ln|20}}

It all came back to me last night, stirred
By the sootfall of your things at bedtime,
Your head-down, tail-up hunt in a bottom drawer
For the black plunge-line nightdress.{{refn|A nightgown with a deep neckline, symbolizing erotic familiarity and affection renewed through memory.}}
</poem>
|}</div>

== Background and Context ==
First published in ''Field Work'' (1979), “The Skunk” was written while Heaney was teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, far from his wife, Marie, and their children. The poem’s setting—warm, fragrant, nocturnal California—contrasts with the cold, domestic imagery of Ireland found in his earlier work. In that distance, Heaney rediscovers intimacy through imagination: the skunk, at once ordinary and “glamorous,” becomes a double for his absent wife and for poetry itself, which transforms the everyday into revelation.

The poem fuses the sacred and the erotic, the mundane and the mythical, echoing {{c|William Butler Yeats|Yeats}}’ tension between flesh and spirit. Its imagery of ritual vestments, wine, and incense lends religious solemnity to marital love, while its precise sensory details—eucalyptus, oranges, the hush of the refrigerator—anchor the vision in domestic modernity. “The Skunk” ultimately celebrates the persistence of desire in long partnership and the capacity of memory to make the ordinary luminous.

==Questions for Consideration==
# How does Heaney use religious imagery (“chasuble,” “Mass,” “ritual”) to elevate or transform erotic experience?
# What is the effect of the poet’s distance from home? How does California’s landscape shape his tone of longing and rediscovery?
# In what ways is the skunk both “ordinary” and “mysterious”? How does Heaney balance domestic realism with mythic suggestion?
# Discuss the poem’s structure and pacing. How does Heaney’s syntax mimic the rhythm of anticipation and memory?
# How does the poem treat marriage differently from earlier Heaney poems like “Follower” or “Digging”? What changes in tone or focus are evident?
# What does “broaching the ‘wife’ / Like a stored cask” suggest about intimacy over time? Is it tender, ironic, reverent, or all three?
# Compare this poem’s treatment of desire to Yeats’s “Adam’s Curse” or D. H. Lawrence’s “Piano.” How does Heaney’s realism alter the lyric tradition?
# How do the closing stanzas link erotic imagination to creative renewal?
# What is “mythologized, demythologized” doing here? How does it reflect Heaney’s dual vision as both lover and poet?
# The skunk is a nocturnal scavenger—does that choice undercut or enrich the poem’s sense of beauty and grace?

==Journal Prompts==
# Describe an ordinary object or animal that has taken on personal significance for you. How might it, like Heaney’s skunk, evoke intimacy or memory?
# Heaney transforms separation into creativity. Write about a time when distance (geographical or emotional) deepened your understanding of connection.
# Explore how ritual—religious or domestic—appears in the poem. Do you have daily rituals that carry symbolic or emotional power?
# The poem’s tone mixes reverence and humor. How does Heaney sustain both? Write about a moment in which the ordinary became suddenly sacred.
# Compare “The Skunk” with another poem about marital love—perhaps Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnet 43” or Sharon Olds’ “I Go Back to May 1937.” What distinguishes Heaney’s approach?
# The poem’s title evokes both sensuality and the comic. How does Heaney’s animal imagery challenge conventional depictions of beauty?
# Write a short creative imitation in which a small domestic detail (a scent, a sound, a gesture) becomes the focus of memory and desire.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Contemporary]]
[[Category:ENGL 2122]]

User:CBrown

2024-03-26T14:55:27Z

Admin: Removed bio at request of user.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

ENGL 5106

2023-12-03T14:18:57Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Added new member.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna Kerbuski]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CBrown|Channal Brown]]
* [[User:Cggreen|Calvin Green]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Dsummerlin|Dannielle Summerlin]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:HRoney|Haley Roney]]
* [[User:Jason.ledford‎|Jason Ledford]]
* [[User:Jasteverson|Jessica Steverson]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:RSchnars|Richard Schnarrs]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]
* [[User:Valerie_Emerick|Valerie Emerick]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-12-02T13:42:18Z

Admin: Protected "Technical Writing in the Digital Age": Protected for evaluation. ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (expires 13:42, 9 December 2023 (UTC)) [Move=Allow only administrators] (expires 13:42, 9 December 2023 (UTC)))

[[File:Digital writing.jpg|thumb|Book cover for "Digital Writing" by Dan Lawrence]]
'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written, visual, and interactive materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.

Technical writing is a specialized skill that requires technical knowledge and well-developed communication skills. It involves explaining complex information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner. Through the evolution of technologies like the Internet and smartphones, technical writing has evolved from traditional printed formats to more digital-oriented media. Today, users expect content to be available on various platforms and devices, providing up-to-date information on demand. Technical writers have adapted to these changes by creating compelling, concise, SEO-friendly content in various forms, such as infographics, e-books, podcasts, videos, blogs, GIFs, memes, and other interactive content.

Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. Multimodality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also play a role in digital technical writing.

=='''Overview'''==
=== '''Goal of Technical Communication''' ===
Technical communication is a discipline utilized by various fields such as education, business, and science. In any domain, technical documentation shares a common objective: assisting the audience in achieving a task or goal.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} This common objective is achieved by the technical writer communicating complex and technical information to the audience in a way that's easy to understand.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}}

==='''Importance of Research'''===
Research plays a vital role in technical writing. The main purposes of research are to inform action, gather evidence for theories, and contribute to developing knowledge in a field of study.{{sfn|Zarah|2023}} Research helps build knowledge and facilitate learning, helps society understand issues and increase public awareness, and aids in supporting truth.{{sfn|Zarah|2023}} Proper research provides a strong foundation for efficient technical writing.

Major decisions are often based upon results from research. Technical communicators often work with subject matter experts but can also conduct in-depth independent research to produce a technical document. The stages of critical thinking in the research process are{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=145}}:
*Asking the right questions. The right questions help define the research problem. The answers found in research are only as good as the questions asked.
*Exploring a balance of views. This provides a broad range of ''evidence''. Ask: What do informed sources say about the topic? On which points do sources agree or disagree? Which sources carry more weight than others?
*Providing adequate ''depth'' into the topic through thorough research. Surface level is reached through popular media. The next level is reached through trade, business, and technical publications. The deepest level is reached through specialized literature such as peer-reviewed journals, government sources, and corporate documents.
*Evaluating the findings. Search for bias in the research. Look for the accurate answer.
*Interpreting the findings. Ensure the final report answers the original research problem.

The ability to adequately, accurately, and completely research a subject prior to writing technical communication dictates the writer's success.

=='''History'''==
==='''Technical Writing Profession''' ===
[[File:Joseph D. Chapline.jpg|thumb|Joseph D. Chapline]]
Joseph D. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first-ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.{{sfn|Malone|2008}} In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society for Technical Communication (STC) in 1960.{{sfn|Malone|2011|pp=285-306}} The STC is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication. The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.{{sfn|Society for Technical Communication|2023}}

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States.{{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was years before the computer and photocopier became standard office equipment. During this period, the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, and their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. The technical writer would draft the document by hand, and a typist or clerical worker would then use a typewriter to transfer the writer's words into a finished document.{{sfn|Rathbone|1958|p=6}}

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The technical writer's work may now include not only text but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The modern technical writer may also be involved in research and information-gathering, speaking with subject matter experts, and selecting document media and project tools.{{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers range from writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} The titles of today's technical writers may vary as well, such as Information Architects or Documentation Specialists.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}

'''Future Trends'''

Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}}

[[File:Bureau of labor statistics.jpg|Job growth for tech writing projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics|center|frame]]

=='''Technical Communication Strategies'''==
==='''Characteristics of Technical Communication'''===
Technical communication is meant to guide an audience and must be easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate.{{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be accurate in description and content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication delivered logically is well-organized, clear, and will be coherent for most users. Appropriate technical information contains elements and steps suitable for the intended purpose and audience.{{sfn|Perelman|1998}}

====Standards Compliant====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines determined by governing bodies that impact their technical communication. Furthermore, many organizations may have a style guide that outlines preferred language usage, tone, and formatting.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Detail-Oriented====
Technical communication should be detail-oriented and free of errors and inconsistencies. Accurate information delivered with precision and specificity is essential for unambiguous and discrepancies-free communication.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields where accuracy and impartiality are essential.{{sfn|Detwiler|2021}}

=====Clear and Concise=====
Technical communication includes a well-structured document. Technical communication should be logically organized, straightforward, and easily understood by the target audience. Planning the document structure allows the technical writer to define the purpose, scope, and main points of the document. The language used should avoid needless jargon and be written in a manner that avoids redundant word usage and/or excessive explanations. {{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-write-clear-technical-documents-clients-skills-writing#know-your-audience]</ref>

====Formatted and Organized====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines that enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. Formatting details should remain consistent throughout the document.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

====Graphical====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or images can enhance understanding of a technical document. When presented properly, visuals can explain difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.{{sfn|AI and the LinkedIn Community|2023}}

====Audience-specific====
Technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Communication style and tone should be tailored to match the audience's level of expertise. Factors such as the users' technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific requirements should be considered.{{sfn|Viral Nation|2019}} The tone sets the overall mood for the piece.

====Document Design====
Plan the structure of a document so that it is easy to follow and understand. Planning the document structure includes defining a purpose, breadth, and main subjects. Organize the document into a logical and clear order that maintains the purpose of the article. Headings, subheadings, and lists provide coherence to a technical paper. <ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-write-clear-technical-documents-clients-skills-writing#know-your-audience]</ref> The appropriateness of documents requires readers to understand the document's message quickly. The document should be of appropriate style and length for the readers' needs.

==='''Examples of Technical Documents'''===
Technical writing encompasses various genres and styles influenced by the information and discourse communities. Not all technical documents are produced by technical writers, as many professionals create various technical documents.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=32}}

Common types of technical communication include:{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

====Case Studies====
Case studies are a form of empirical or observational research that consists of in-depth examination of distinct individuals, groups, events, or scenarios. This research can be used to generate qualitative or quantitative data.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=401-404}}

====Data Sheets====
A data sheet, also known as a technical datasheet, is a document used to describe and summarize the characteristics of a product, material, component, or technology.{{sfn|Industrial Data Associates|2020|p=}}

====Descriptions====
Descriptions are concise explanations of procedures and processes that assist readers in understanding how something works. Product descriptions and process descriptions are the two main types of technical descriptions.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=443-453}}

*Product: provides detailed information about a specific item, including its features, specifications, and benefits.
*Process: provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform a particular task or achieve a specific outcome.

====Documentation====
Documentation comprises various texts that allow users to accomplish tasks or gain information. It generally falls into three categories, which can be defined as follows:
*Instructions: Text that describes how to complete a task, often offering numbered steps. Examples include how to download software or assemble a product.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=167}}
* Specifications: Communications that deliver technical details on how a product is put together or a specific operation is executed. Also known as "specs," these texts may be written by engineers or technicians.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}
*Procedures and Protocols: Guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in the workplace. For example, a hospital may provide staff with procedures on how to adapt operations during an emergency, such as a power outage.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}

====Email====
[[File:Email.png|thumb|201x201px|Image of an email]]
Emails are the primary form of communication in the workplace, used for both internal and external communication. They facilitate information exchange, idea exchange, and activity coordination.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=335}} Emails should be brief, concise, readable, and targeted to specific audiences with specific subject lines.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=348}}

====Letters====
Letters are a traditional form of communication most often used by employees to communicate with individuals outside of a company or organization. They are typically written on company letterhead. Today, letters are sent either by U.S. mail or electronically.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=139}}

====Memos====
A memo (short for memorandum) is an official communication, usually a message from the company, a manager or director, or another person or group acting in an official capacity, used to communicate with others within the same organization.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=353}}

====Press Releases====
A press release can be an organization's announcement or latest news distributed to media outlets with information for the public. A press release can be called a press statement, news release, or media release.{{sfn|Pradhan|2021}}

====Proposals====
A proposal is a document that identifies an existing problem or opportunity and outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing it. Organizations create ''internal'' proposals to describe programs and projects that meet specific operational needs, such as a plan to replace an outdated software system. Companies develop ''external'' proposals for potential customers or clients. These documents detail new products, services, or initiatives that a company will implement to address a specific customer concern.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=245}}

====Reports====
A report is a concise, easily understandable document that presents technical information in a clear, organized format, allowing readers to access varying levels of information. Reports are categorized as informal, such as briefs, and formal, such as research, scientific, and completion reports.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|loc=chpt 10 & 11}}

=====Informal or Brief Reports=====
Informal or brief reports provide an objective overview of an organization's current state, past events, and future plans, ensuring that readers are well-informed about the organization's operations. Some examples include{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=285-288}}:

*Progress reports are used to inform management about the progress or status of a project.
* White papers and briefings educate management or clients about important issues.
*Incident reports objectively focus on presenting facts relating to an accident or irregular occurrence.
*Laboratory reports describe experiments, tests, or inspections.

=====Formal Reports=====
A formal report is a factual and data-driven response to a research question.
*Research reports present the findings of a study.
*Scientific research reports outline the process, progress, and results of technical or scientific research or the current state of a research problem.
*Completion reports assess the outcomes of a project or initiative and provide feedback to management or the client.

====Resumes ====
Resumes offer an overview of an individual’s educational credentials and professional experience and often are used to demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications to potential employers.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=100}} They may be organized in various ways, but two common approaches are chronologically and by skills.

Chronological resumes demonstrate the sequence of education and employment history and detail a person’s tasks, responsibilities, and achievements in each successive role.

Skills resumes provide employment history, but the primary focus is to highlight how an individual applied distinct skills and experiences across various professional positions.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=411-412}}

====User Guides====
A user guide is an instructional manual created to help consumers use the product, service or system. A user guide typically includes step-by-step instructions.{{Sfn|Wainaina|2022}}

=='''Digital Writing Strategies'''==

==='''Characteristics of Digital Documents'''===

====Electronic Format ====
Digital documents exist in electronic formats, which means they are stored and transmitted as binary data. This format allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and transmission of information via electronic devices.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} Digital documentation is the only method to meet a critical challenge of the relatively new concept of "knowledge management" that applies to all organizations. A digital knowledge management system is crucial to an organization so everyone can access information created by employees who are no longer with the organization or to allow cross-referencing with other seemingly unrelated departments.{{sfn|IBM}}

====Non-Tangible ====
Unlike paper documents, digital documents lack physical presence. They are intangible and exist as electronic files, residing on devices or in the cloud.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI|2022}} It is both ethically imperative and a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WCAG|2023}}

There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}} Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|pp=103-104}} Designing accessible digital content increases the technical writer's ability to engage with a broader audience base.{{sfn|Lucas|2023i}}

====Readability====
[[File:Inverted pyramid.jpg|thumb|From "Writing for the Web" by Lynda Felder: This pyramid explains how to best display information in a paragraph quickly for readability and scannability]]
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness, and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik|Burnett|Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct, and complete.{{sfn|Last|2019}}

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}} The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}} Ways to improve a document's scannability include implementing visual elements, white space, concise language, highlighting, and emphasis.{{sfn|Lucas|2023j}}

==== Ease of Reproduction and Distribution====
Digital documents are easily copied and distributed. They can be duplicated without any loss of quality, making it simple to share information widely and at minimal cost.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}} Hyperlinking also allows readers the opportunity to do further research by reading where the information originated.

====Multimedia====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in search engine results pages (SERPs).{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

====Version Control====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023d}}

====Remote Collaboration====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, a "website developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."{{sfn|Lucas|2021}} One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic location.

====Security Measures====
Digital documents can be protected with encryption, passwords, and access controls to safeguard sensitive information. These security measures enhance data protection and privacy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Environmental Impact ====
Digital documents have a smaller environmental footprint compared to paper documents, as they reduce the need for paper production, printing, and transportation.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Dynamic Updates====
Online digital documents can be updated dynamically, ensuring that users always have access to the most current information. This is particularly valuable in fast-changing fields.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Global Accessibility====
Digital documents can be shared globally, transcending geographical boundaries and time zones. They support international collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge on a global scale.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Integration====
In business and research settings, digital documents can integrate with databases and data analysis tools. This integration streamlines data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Analytics====
Digital documents can be subjected to data analytics techniques, allowing organizations to extract valuable insights from large volumes of textual data, which can inform decision-making and strategy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==='''Examples of Digital Documents'''===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Infographics====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=292-293}}

====Presentations====
[[File:Microsoft powerpoint.png|thumb|Logo for Microsoft PowerPoint]]
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.{{sfn|Parkinson|2018|loc=chpt. 4}}

====Blogs====
A blog, short for "weblog," is an informational website organized into short articles called posts, typically a chronologically ordered series of website updates written and organized like a traditional diary.{{sfn|Bair|2014|p=7}} They are regularly updated, providing readers with insights on a specific topic or subject. Blogs serve various purposes, including sharing opinions, providing news, offering educational content, and documenting personal experiences.{{sfn|Rose|Garret|2012|p=2}}

====Forums====
Forums are an example of a digital document that allows users to seek and provide information within a community. Forums are gathering information points users provide instead of technical writers. Companies can utilize forums as part of their technical communication with consumers in the digital environment, expanding past the traditional technical communication of a user manual.{{sfn|Ellingson|2014}}

==='''Personas in Digital Writing'''===
Personas in the context of digital writing, which is writing composed, created, and read in digital environments, refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).{{sfn|Lucas|2023a}} There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of user experience (UX) design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.{{sfn|Goltz|2014}}

Personas may guide the creation of documentation and tutorials catering to different user needs. It is crucial to adjust the language and tone to match the persona's preference. Different personas can influence and guide the design of the project.

Along with adjusting tone and language to suit the desired user, personas can be used to ensure the purposed digital document properly informs the reader with the correct and accurate information the user seeks.

=== '''Rhetoric'''===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric Rhetoric] is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language.{{sfn|Gagich|Zickel|n.d.|pp=34-37}}

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=182-186}} [[#Hyperlinking|Hyperlinks]] can provide access to additional information that supports authors’ ideas and enhances their credibility.{{sfn|Lucas|2023g|}} Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.{{sfn|DeVoss|National Writing Project|Eidman-Aadahl|Hicks|2010|p=105}}

Digital writers must therefore consider specific elements that compose the rhetorical context in which texts are created and delivered. Such elements may include evaluating the demographics, habits, and needs of an intended audience; determining the overall objective of the communications; and deciding what technologies will be used to create the content. Together, this analysis allows writers to craft messages that both appeal to and inform the target audience. In the digital age, such rhetorical messages may be conveyed through websites, social media, and other digital platforms.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|pp=6-14}}

==='''Tools for Digital Technology'''===
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. Technical writers can use various tools to author and present their documents.

====Content Management Systems (CMS)====
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content on a website. It provides a user-friendly interface and tools to easily organize, publish, and update content, including text, images, videos, and documents. Additionally, CMSs often offer features like user permissions, version control, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance the overall website management experience.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=129}} Some popular examples of CMS include [https://wordpress.com/ WordPress], [https://www.wix.com/ Wix], and [https://www.blogger.com/about/?bpli=1 Blogger].

====Image Processing Software====
Image processing software plays a valuable role in technical and digital writing by facilitating the creation and enhancement of visuals. Documentation and tutorials help optimize images to convey processes or procedures effectively. Whether for screen captures illustrating software interfaces, data visualizations, or graphics for digital content, image processing tools contribute to creating clear and visually appealing materials.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=664}} These tools, such as [https://www.adobe.com/ Adobe] and [https://www.canva.com/ Canva], enhance the visual impact of technical and digital writing, ensuring that images are optimized, informative, and engaging for the audience.

====Word Processors====
[[File:Word processor logos.jpg|thumb|The logos of popular word processors: (L-R Clockwise) Apple Pages, Google Docs, SharePoint, Microsoft Word. ]]
Word processors are software applications designed for creating, editing, and formatting documents on a computer. They provide many features, such as spell-checking, checking grammar, and inserting images and tables. These programs are typically used for writing essays, creating reports, or drafting professional documents.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=229}} Some popular software applications are [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word Microsoft Word], [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs][https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration , SharePoint], and [https://www.apple.com/pages/ Apple Pages]. These programs allow documents to be readily disseminated. Comment capability enables audience members to interact about a document with one another and the author.

====Text Editors====
Text editors are fundamental technical and digital writing tools, offering a platform for creating and manipulating plain text files. They are indispensable for programming tasks, providing syntax highlighting and code folding features. Text editors are commonly used to write code, markup languages (HTML, XML, Markdown), and edit configuration files.{{sfn|Godson|p=37-41}} Notable examples include [https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/windows-notepad/9MSMLRH6LZF3?hl=en-US&gl=US Notepad] (Windows), [https://support.apple.com/guide/textedit/welcome/mac TextEdit] (macOS), and [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Notepad++]. Whether for programmers, writers, or system administrators, text editors play a crucial role in content creation and technical work.

==='''Search Engine Optimization (SEO)'''===
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO.{{sfn|Barr|2010|loc=chpt. 17}}

====Keywords====
Keywords are the words that search engines scan a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added to the search engine results pages from best matches to worst matches. The position of a website in search results is influenced by where it ranks on a scale determined by the keywords that a user searches for.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engines such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can scan your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

====Alt Text====
Alt text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute alt attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

====Social Media Presence====
[[File:Facebook logo.png|thumb|212x212px|Facebook Logo]]
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves the visibility of the website overall. Additionally, it can drive traffic and enable backlinking, where other websites can link to the website.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

====Goals of Searching: The User's Perspective====
A user of search engines formulates queries by using keywords or posing questions. One of the most important elements of building an SEO strategy for a website is developing a thorough understanding of the psychology of your target audience and how they use words and concepts to obtain information about the services and/or products you provide. Once you understand how the average search engine user—and, more specifically, your target audience—utilizes query-based search engines, you can more effectively reach and keep those users.{{sfn|Enge|Spencer|Stricchiola|2022|p=9}}

==='''User Experience'''===
User experience (UX) is how a product works and is experienced from the user's perspective.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=6}} By creating a positive user experience, technical writers can ensure the intended message is effectively communicated and retained. UX design methods include user-centered design, information architecture, responsive design, multimodality, and usability.

====User-Centered Design====
User-centered design (UCD) is implemented by considering the user and their needs throughout the entire development of a product.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=17}} The approach of UCD in technical writing consists of the following methodologies:{{sfn|Lucas|2023e}}

*'''User Research''': the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document
*'''Ideation and prototyping''': the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs
*'''Usability testing''': the act of having users interact with digital document designs and then adjusting the design based on user feedback
*'''Implementation''': the stage in which the design is implemented after adjusting from prior testing
*'''Evaluation''': the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs
*'''Maintenance and updates''': to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs

====Information Architecture====

To ensure a digital document has effective UX design and accessible information, technical writers must construct a clear and organized information architecture (IA). IA is a design principle that organizes information so that it is easily found and understood by users, prioritizing their needs and reducing information overload. A design challenge is making IA understood across multiple digital experiences, changing the navigation structure to fit different media while staying logical and consistent for the user.{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|pp=1, 17-18}} IA that is not constructed well can confuse the user and could cause them to give up their search of information in frustration.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=12}}

The architecture components of IA can be divided into four different categories:{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|p=90}}

*'''Organization systems''': how information is categorized and organized for user understanding

*'''Labeling systems''': how information is represented

*'''Navigation systems''': how users browse information and navigate between pages

* '''Searching systems''': how users search for specific information

====Responsive Design====

Responsive design is a strategy that appropriately updates the layout and content of a website or document in relation to the screen size, device, and/or orientation, allowing the site or document to be easily viewed and navigated regardless of the device used. With the increased use of mobile devices, web content should be constructed with proper responsive web design (RWD) to ensure effective UX and usability on those devices.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=485}}

There are several design strategies that can be implemented that will increase the success of RWD:{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=487}}

*'''Fluid layout''': Responsive sites can be constructed using a fluid layout (or flexible grid) system that will allow content to adjust and flow according to the available screen space.

*F'''lexible and responsive images''': Images and other embedded media can be instructed to fit their containers instead of remaining at a fixed size. Images with varying resolutions can also be swapped according to screen size to avoid high-resolution images on smaller devices.

*'''CSS media queries''': Media queries can be written into the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), instructing the site's construction according to screen width and orientation. Adding breakpoints for several screen sizes allows pages to be designed for specific devices.

*'''Content hierarchy''': Carefully constructing content that is organized for the user and creating a hierarchy of content that prioritizes user needs is necessary to ensure effective user experience and navigation across multiple screen sizes.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=499}}

====Multimodality====
While responsive design focuses on the system or interface response to user inputs, multimodality refers to integrating multiple modes of communication to evaluate how effective communication can be in the digital age.{{sfn|Lucas|2023h|p=}}

There are essential elements to multimodality that improve the UX experience for readers in digital documents:

*'''Accessibility''': Documents that contain multimodal, or multimedia elements, allow for diversity in obtaining information to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. For example, a slideshow presentation that contains audio will help aid those with visual impairments.
*'''Engagement''': Combining static information with visuals, such as images, videos, or interactive modules, can create a more engaging experience for readers in the digital age.
*'''Clarity and Comprehension''': Jargon-heavy text and complex ideas are able to be showcased in charts, diagrams, and infographics that are easily able to clarify concepts better than text.
*'''Persuasion''': Combining the elements listed above may allow for the creators to influence their audience.

====Usability====

Technical writers must create documents and websites that meet the expectations of their readers and users. In doing so, writers increase the usability of their site or document.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=26}} Usability consultant Steve Krug considers the most important rule for ensuring a site or document is usable is by making pages self-evident and allowing the user not to have to think about actions.{{sfn|Krug|2014|pp=11-18 }} A website that is well designed for usability means that the users will not have any questions about the content or functions of the site. The site will have a clear hierarchy, use standard web design principles, have well-defined content areas, include noticeable and simple links, and limited distractions.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=69}}

A document or website written for usability can be easily scanned by using the following concepts:{{sfn|Garrand|2006|pp=25-26}}

*Highlighting keywords

*Writing descriptive headings and subheadings

*Incorporating bulleted list

*Constructing shorter paragraphs

*Implementing an inverted pyramid writing style by beginning with the most important information

*Decreasing the word count of traditional writing

*Using clear and concise language and, when appropriate, visual aids

====Remediation====
Remediation is the process through which new media forms borrow elements from older media forms and transform and re-contextualize them. As media evolves, so do the ways users can consume it. When first introduced, remediation was described as a type of reformation, such as taking a paper letter and turning it into an email.{{sfn|Bolter|Grusin|1999|p=59}} Today, remediation of a digital document often adds to the user experience by enhancing the document. An example of remediation is making a document more accessible by adding a text-to-speech feature for users with poor vision or adding a tutorial to an electronic manual.

This can be simplified into two key principals:

* '''Immediacy and Hypermediacy:''' Immediacy refers to the desire to transcend a medium, while hypermediacy takes the medium and infuses it through the new medium.{{sfn|Bolter|Grusin|1999|p=53}}{{sfn|Lucas|2023k}}
* '''Transparent and Opaque Media:''' Transparent media allows the content to take center stage, while opaque media makes users aware of the medium's presence.{{sfn|Bolter|Grusin|1999|p=53}}{{sfn|Lucas|2023k}}

Overall, remediation is necessary to create a multimodal document in the digital age.

=='''Pedagogical Approaches'''==
==='''Writing Styles'''===
Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization in their schoolwork. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities must now educate students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=20}}

==='''Multimedia Writing'''===
Best practices for tone, grammar, and style can vary depending on the form of media (auditory, visual, print, etc.), and many digital writings will combine two or more of these media formats. Students of technical writing may be taught specific techniques for different types of media to become proficient multimedia writers.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=23}} In their book ''Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design'', Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen introduce the concept of visual grammar, which relates to multimodality that helps with complex ideas in visual grammar. Kress and van Leeuwen suggest that visual elements should follow a set of grammatical rules to construct visual designs.{{sfn|Kress|van Leeuwen|2020}}

==='''Breaking and Building''' ===
Breaking and building is a method of teaching effective writing that can be applied to technical and digital formats. It asks students to curate collections of digital media by comparing and contrasting ("building") and to critically analyze these collections and attempt to reason out the decisions behind them ("breaking").{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|p=175}} Each process has a set of targeted learning outcomes. Learning outcomes for "building" include making and reflecting on choices to find, group, present, and compile digital content. Learning outcomes for "breaking" include identifying and critiquing decisions in curating existing digital content, such as where the content originated, how it is grouped, and how it is presented.{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|pp=178-179}}

=='''Challenges and Ethical Considerations'''==

==='''Challenges'''===
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve, the complexity of software,{{sfn|Hovde|Renguette|2017|pp=395-411}} and the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}} Also, technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}}

==='''Artificial Intelligence'''===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.{{sfn|Marr|2023}}
[[File:Chatgpt logo.jpg|thumb|297x297px|Logo for ChatGPT - an open AI that has rose in popularity.]]
One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone.{{sfn|University of Central Arkansas|2023}} Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email.{{sfn|Siddiqui|2022}}

==='''Plagiarism'''===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors.{{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

==='''Credit'''===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.{{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==='''Ethical Considerations''' ===
Technical communicators:

* Observes laws, regulations, and fulfil contracts.
* Further the public good.
* Respect the confidentiality of clients.
* Produce quality products.
* Embrace fairness with respect to cultural diversity.
* Pursue professional self-improvement and education. <ref>[https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/]</ref>

The concept of ethics involves decision making based on value systems. Value systems are based on societal norms of acceptable behavior. Ethical dilemmas are decision opportunities in which value systems do not provide clear instruction for the appropriate course of action.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=71}}

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

Technical communicators have to abide by ethical standards. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}}

====The Employer====
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

====The Public====
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}}

====The Environment====
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=21-24}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|Environmental Protection Agency|2023}}

====Disinformation====
One primary ethical concern in all forms of writing, especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often called "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow the spread of information to occur quickly. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly.

Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.{{sfn|Lucas|2023f}} Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

Technical writers should utilize gatekeepers to help mitigate the problem of disinformation. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and legal issues.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

=='''References''' ==
==='''Citations'''===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
* {{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-you-create-effective-visual-aids-1c |title=How Can You Create Effective Visual Aids for Technical Writing? |last=AI and the LinkedIn Community |date=2023 |website=www.linkedin.com |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/ |title=Common Problems in Technical Writing and How to Solve Them |last=Ajose-Coker |first=Dipo |date=2022 |website=componize.com |publisher=Componize Software |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite book |last=Bair|first=Amy Lupold |date=2014 |title=Blogging for Dummies|url=|location=Hoboken, NJ |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Balzotti |first=Jon |date=2022 |title=Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach |edition= 2nd |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780367438302 }}
* {{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=The Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Bolter |first=Jay David |last2=Grusin |first2=Richard A. |date=1999 |title=Remediation: Understanding New Media |url=https://archive.org/details/remediationunder00bolt |location= Cambridge, MA |publisher= MIT Press |pages= 59|isbn= 9781491960202 |author-link= |ref=}}
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
* {{cite book |last1=Coco |first1=Pete |last2=Torres |first2=M. Gabriella |date=2014 |editor-last1=Dougherty |editor-first1=Jack |editor-last2=O'Donnell |editor-first2=Tennyson |title=Web Writing: Why and How for Liberal Arts Teaching and Learning |publisher=University of Michigan Press |pages=175-188 |chapter=“Writing as Curation: Using a ‘Building’ and ‘Breaking’ Pedagogy to Teach Culture in the Digital Age" |chapter-url=https://epress.trincoll.edu/webwriting/chapter/cocotorres }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.betonconsultingeng.com/objectivity-in-technical-writing/#:~:text=Pointers%20for%20objective%20technical%20writing%201%20If%20you,5%20Remember%20that%20correlation%20is%20not%20causality.%20 |title=Objectivity in Technical Writing |last=Detwiler |first=Rachel |date=2021 |website=www.betonconsultingeng.com |publisher=Beton Consulting Engineers L.L.C. |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=DeVoss |first=Danielle |last2=National Writing Project |last3=Eidman-Aadahl |first3=Elyse |last4=Hicks |first4=Troy |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn= |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}
* {{cite web |url=https://hdl.handle.net/11299/168227 |title=Creating Technical Documentation for Digital Natives |last=Ellingson |first=Marissa |date=2014 |website=conservancy.umn.edu |publisher=University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy |access-date=2023-11-28 }}
*{{cite book |last=Enge |first=Eric |last2=Spencer |first2=Stephan |last3=Stricchiola |first3=Jessie |date=2022 |title=The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization |url=https://archive.org/details/artofseomasterin0000enge |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly |pages=9 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra |last=Environmental Protection Agency |title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) |date=2023 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency }}
* {{cite web |url=https://technicalwriterhq.com/career/technical-writer/technical-writing-skills/ |title=Essential Technical Writing Skills |last=Fechter |first=Josh |date=2023 |website=technicalwriterhq.com |access-date=2023-11-21}}
* {{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |last2=Zickel |first2=Emilie |date=n.d. |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |publisher=Digital Commons |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |location= |pages=34-37 }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrand |first=Timothy |date=2006 |title=Writing for Multimedia and the Web: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media |edition=3rd |location=Burlington, MA |publisher=Focal Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrett |first=Jesse James |title=The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond |publisher=New Riders |edition=2nd |date=2011 |location=Berkeley, CA |page=17 }}
* {{cite book |last=Godson |first=Williams|title=Web Design with HTML and CSS |p=37-41}}
* {{cite web |url=https://smashingmagazine.com/2014/08/a-closer-look-at-personas-part-2/ |title=A Closer Look at Personas: A Guide to Developing The Right Ones (Part 2) |last=Goltz | first=Shlomo |date=2014 |website=smashingmagazine.com |publisher=Smashing Media AG |access-date=2023-11-13 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Grimstead |first=Deborah M. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writers are in Demand: Do You Have The Right Stuff? |magazine=Black Collegian |pages=128 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.ibm.com/topics/knowledge-management |title=What is Knowledge Management? |first= |last=IBM |website=ibm.com |access-date=2023-11-24}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.idassoc.com/product-information-definition/data-sheet |title=Product Information Encyclopedia |last=Industrial Data Associates |first= |date=2020 |website=Industrial Data Associates |publisher= |access-date=2023-11-20 |quote= }}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson-Sheehan |first=Richard |title=Technical Communication Today |url= |edition=6 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Pearson |date=2018 |pages= }}
* {{cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=2023 |title=ChatGPT Cheating: What to Do When It Happens |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-cheating-what-to-do-when-it-happens/ |work=Education Week |location=Bethesda, MD |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kress |first=Gunther |last2=van Leeuwen |first2=Theo |date=2020 |title=Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design|url=|location=New York |publisher=Routledg|isbn=978-0415319157}}
* {{cite book |last=Krug |first=Steve |date=2014 |title=Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited|url= |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=New Riders |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lannon |first=John M. |last2=Gurak |first2=Laura J. |date=2020 |title=Technical Communication |edition=15 |url= |location= |publisher=Pearson Education |page= }}
* {{cite book |last=Last|first=Susan |date=2019 |title=Technical Writing Essentials|url=https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/|location= |publisher= Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Dan |date=2022 |title=Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web |location=Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |publisher=Broadview Press |page=85 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki |title=Writing on a Wiki |last=Lucas |first=Gerald| date=2021| website=grlucas.net| publisher=MediaWiki| access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Personas |title= Using Personas in Digital Writing
|last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023a| website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/SEO |title=Search Engine Optimization: Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Online Visibility |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023b |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents|title=Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023c |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Design/Users |title=User-Centered Design in Digital Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023d |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-15 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style |title=Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023e |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-22 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Credibility |title=The Significance of Credibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023f |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Tech_Writing |title=Combining Disciplinary Approach to Technical Writing with Digital Writing: Enhancing Communication in the Digital Age |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023g |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-27 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach |title=Multimodal Approaches in Technical Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023h |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Accessibility |title=The Imperative of Accessibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023i |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Scannability |title=Scannability |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023j |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
*{{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Remediation|title=Remediation in Technical Writing: Bridging the Analog-Digital Divide |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023k |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-30 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-technical-writer-do |title=What Does a Technical Writer Do? (Plus How To Become One) |last=Macari |first=Sabina |date=2023 |website=indeed.com |publisher=Indeed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Malone |first=Edward |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953-1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285-306 |doi= |access-date=2023-10-11 }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Mike |last2=Selber |first2=Stuart A. |date=2019 |title=Practical Strategies of Technical Communication |edition=3rd |url= |location=Boston |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin’s |page= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b |title=How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer |last=Marr |first=Bernard |date=2023 |website=Forbes.com |publisher=Forbes Media |access-date=2023-10-31 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02 |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles AI is most likely to replace |last=Mok |first=Aaron |date=2023 |website=Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Mussack |first=Brigitte |date=2021 |title=Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication |url=https://pressbooks.umn.edu/techwriting/front-matter/introduction/ |location= |publisher=Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial |pages=n.p. |author-link= }}
* {{cite book| last=Parkinson |first=Mike |title=A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters| location=United States| publisher=Association for Talent Development| chapter=Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets| date=2018 }}
* {{cite book |last=Perelman |first=Leslie |date=1998 |title=The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing |url=https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/ |location=Mountain View |publisher=Mayfield Publishing Company |pages=n.p. |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://learn.g2.com/how-to-write-a-press-release |title=How to Write a Press Release That Catches People's Attention |date=2021 |last=Pradhan |first=Ninisha |website=learn.g2.com |publisher=G2.com |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://proofed.com/writing-tips/a-beginners-guide-to-technical-writing/ |title=A Beginner’s Guide to Technical Writing |last=Proofed Editors |date=2020 |website=Proofed.com |publisher=Proofed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Robert |title=Growth of the technical writing profession |journal=STWE Review |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=1958 |pages=5-16 }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
* {{cite book |last=Rose|first=Darren |last2=Garret |first2=Chris|date=2012 |title=ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income|url=|location=Indianapolis, IN |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rosenfeld |first1=Louis |last2=Morville |first2=Peter |last3=Arango |first3=Jorge |date=2006 |title=Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond |edition=4th |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c |last=Siddiqui |first=Zafar |title=Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer? |date=2022 |website=writingcooperative.com |publisher=The Writing Cooperative |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.managementnote.com/features-of-technical-communication/#google_vignette |title=Features of Technical Communication |last=Smirti |date=2022 |website=managementnote.com |publisher=Management Note |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ |title=Ethical Principles |last=Society for Technical Communication |first= |date=2023 |website=stc.org |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-27 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6 |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook |last=United States Bureau of Labor Statistics |first= |date=2023 |website=bls.gov |publisher=United States Department of Labor |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ |title=Chat GPT: What is it? |last=University of Central Arkansas |first= |date=2023 |website=uca.edu |publisher= University of Central Arkansas |access-date=2023-10-09 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.viralnation.com/blog/what-is-digital-content-creation-and-how-can-it-help-me-as-a-marketing-manager/#:~:text=A%20rule%20of%20thumb%20in%20digital%20content%20creation,turn%2C%20share%20it%20with%20others%20in%20their%20network. |title=What is Digital Content Creation? (and How Can It Help Me as a Marketing Manager) |last=Viral Nation |date=2019 |website=viralnation.com |publisher= Viral Nation |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/|title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |last=WAI |first=|date=2022 |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://scribehow.com/library/user-guide |title=What is a User Guide? Everything You Need to Know |last=Wainaina |first=Timan |date=2022 |website= |publisher= |access-date=22 November 2023 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/|title=Accessibility and the Law |last=WCAG |first= |date=2023 |website=wcag.com|publisher=eSSENTIAL Accessibility |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://owlcation.com/academia/Why-Research-is-Important-Within-and-Beyond-the-Academe|title=7 Reasons Why Research is Important |last=Zarah |first=Leann |date=2023 |website=Owlcation|access-date=2023-11-29}}
* {{cite book |last=Zeleznik |first=J. M. |last2=Burnett |first2=R. E. |last3=Benson |first3=P. J. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writing: What It Is and How to Do It |url= |location= |publisher=National Book Network |pages=107 |isbn= |author-link= }}

{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Analyzing the differences between traditional creative and technical writing

2023-12-01T14:28:34Z

Admin: /* Analyzing the differences between traditional creative and technical writing */ Fixes.

== Analyzing the differences between traditional creative and technical writing ==

Recent advancements in technology have created an increased need of technical manuscripts and individuals aware and proficient of technical processes. The role of the technical and digital writers answers this need and clarifies the difference between the way writing was once viewed vs. what is required of creative and technical writers in the modern world. Understanding that the primary focus of technical writing is to educate and its differences to what is known about traditional creative writing hold significance with those pursuing technical writing careers.{{sfn|Gupta|2020|p=42}}

Professional technical writers will focus their manuscripts, job aids and other forms of writings on educating the reader. Creative writing is usually focused on telling a story or entertaining the reader and is not aimed at any type of reader and however technical writing purpose is to explain how to operate, aimed at a specific type of reader and formal.

===Citation===
{{Reflist}}

===Work Cited===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web |url= https://techwritersblog.com/technical-writing-basics/difference-between-technical-writing-and-other |title=How Technical Writing Is Different from Other Forms of Writing |last=Gupta |first=Vaibhav|publisher=Dotdash Meridith Publishing Company |date=2020 |website=Technical Writers Blog. |access-date=November 28, 2023}}
{{refend}}

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-30T14:08:51Z

Admin: Underlining should NEVER be used. Who can tell me why?

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written, visual, and interactive materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.

Technical writing is a specialized skill that requires technical knowledge and well-developed communication skills. It involves explaining complex information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner. Through the evolution of technologies like the Internet and smartphones, technical writing has evolved from traditional printed formats to more digital-oriented media. Today, users expect content to be available on various platforms and devices, providing up-to-date information on demand. Technical writers have adapted to these changes by creating compelling, concise, SEO-friendly content in various forms such as infographics, e-books, podcasts, videos, blogs, GIFs, memes, and other interactive content.

Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. Multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also play a role in digital technical writing. In essence, technical writing in the digital age is the art and science of making technical information understandable and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally driven society.

=='''Overview'''==
=== '''Goal of Technical Communication''' ===
Technical communication is a discipline utilized by various fields like education, business, and science. In any domain, technical documentation shares a common objective: assisting the audience in achieving a task or goal.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} This common objective is achieved by the technical writer developing the ability to communicate complex and technical information more easily to the audience.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}}

==='''Importance of Research'''===
Major decisions in any organization are based upon research providing results where critical thinking has been applied. Technical communicators must work with subject matter experts but also must conduct in-depth independent research for every product. The stages of critical thinking in the research process are{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=145}}:
*Asking the right questions. The right questions help define the research problem. The answers found in research are only as good as the questions asked.
*Exploring a balance of views. This provides a broad ''range'' of evidence. Ask: What do informed sources say about the topic? On which points do sources agree or disagree? Which sources carry more weight than others?
*Providing adequate ''depth'' into the topic through thorough research. Surface level is reached through popular media. The next level is reached through trade, business, and technical publications. The deepest level is reached through specialized literature such as peer-reviewed journals, government sources, and corporate documents.
*Evaluating the findings. Search for bias in the research. Look for the accurate answer.
*Interpreting the findings. Ensure the final report answers the original research problem.

The ability to adequately, accurately, and completely research a subject prior to writing technical communication dictates the writer's success.

=='''History'''==
==='''Technical Writing Profession''' ===
[[File:Joseph D. Chapline.jpg|thumb|Joseph D. Chapline]]
Joseph D. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first-ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.{{sfn|Malone|2008}} In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society for Technical Communication (STC) in 1960.{{sfn|Malone|2011|pp=285-306}} The STC is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication. The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.{{sfn|Society for Technical Communication|2023}}

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States.{{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was a time years before the computer and photocopier became common office equipment. During this period, the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, and their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. The technical writer would draft the document by hand, and a typist or clerical worker would then use a typewriter to transfer the writer's words into a finished document.{{Citation needed}}

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The technical writer's work may now also include not only text, but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The current role of the technical writer is not only to write, but they may also be involved in research and information gathering, speaking with subject matter experts, and selecting document mediums and project tools.{{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers can be as varied as writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} The titles of today's technical writers may vary as well. They may be referred to by names as diverse as information architects to documentation specialists.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}
[[File:Bureau of labor statistics.jpg|thumb|Job growth for tech writing projected by the Bureau of Labor]]

==='''Future Trends'''===
Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}} To be relevant as a technical writer in the digital age, one must possess the skills of conducting in-depth research, critical thinking, being detail oriented, design, and technical expertise. To succeed at communicating the complex to specific audiences, the technical writer must understand much of the subject in its complexity. This is accomplished through possessing the skills of communication, collaboration, and teamwork.{{sfn|Fechter|2023}}

=='''Technical Communication Strategies'''==
==='''Characteristics of Technical Communication'''===
Technical communication is meant to guide an audience and must be easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate.{{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be said to be accurate in two different understandings: accurate in description and accurate in content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication delivered logically is well-organized, clear, and will be coherent for most users. Technical information that is appropriate contains elements and steps that are suitable for the intended purpose and audience.

====Standards Compliant====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines determined by governing bodies that impact their technical communication. Furthermore, many organizations may have a style guide that outlines preferred language usage, tone, and formatting.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Detail-Oriented====
Technical communication should be detail-oriented and free of errors and inconsistencies. Accurate information delivered with precision and specificity is essential for unambiguous and discrepancies-free communication.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields where accuracy and impartiality are essential.{{sfn|Detwiler|2021}}

=====Clear and Concise=====
Technical communication should be logically organized, straightforward, and easily understood by the target audience. The language used should avoid needless jargon and be written in a manner that avoids redundant word usage and excessive explanations.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

====Formatted and Organized====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines that enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. Formatting details should remain consistent throughout the document.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

====Graphical====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or images can enhance understanding of a technical document. When presented properly, visuals can explain difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.{{sfn|AI and the LinkedIn Community|2023}}

====Audience-specific====
Technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Communication style and tone should be tailored to match the audience's level of expertise. Factors such as the users' technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific requirements should be considered.{{sfn|Viral Nation|2019}} The tone sets the overall mood for the piece.

====Document Design====
The appropriateness of documents requires readers to understand the document's message quickly. The document should be of appropriate style and length for the readers' needs.

==='''Examples of Technical Documents'''===
Technical writing encompasses various genres and styles, influenced by the information and discourse communities. Not all technical documents are produced by technical writers, as professionals produce various technical documents.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=32}}

Common types of technical communication include:{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

===='''Case Studies'''====
Case studies are a form of empirical or observational research that consists of in-depth examination of distinct individuals, groups, events, or scenarios. This research can be used to generate qualitative or quantitative data.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=401-404}}

===='''Data Sheets'''====
A data sheet, also known as a technical datasheet, is a document used to describe and summarize the characteristics of a product, material, component, or technology.{{sfn|Industrial Data Associates|2020|p=}}

===='''Descriptions'''====
Descriptions are concise explanations of procedures and processes that assist readers in understanding how something works. Product descriptions and process descriptions are the two main types of technical descriptions.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=443-453}}

*Product: provides detailed information about a specific item, including its features, specifications, and benefits.
*Process: provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform a particular task or achieve a specific outcome.

===='''Documentation'''====
Documentation comprises various texts that allow users to accomplish tasks or gain information. It generally falls into three categories, which can be defined as follows:
*Instructions: Text that describes how to complete a task, often offering numbered steps. Examples include how to download software or assemble a product.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=167}}
* Specifications: Communications that deliver technical details on how a product is put together or a specific operation is executed. Also known as "specs," these texts may be written by engineers or technicians.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}
*Procedures and Protocols: Guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in the workplace. For example, a hospital may provide staff with procedures on how to adapt operations during an emergency, such as a power outage.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}

===='''Email'''====
Emails are the primary form of communication in the workplace, used for both internal and external communication. They facilitate information exchange, idea exchange, and activity coordination.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=335}} Emails should be brief, concise, readable, and targeted to specific audiences with specific subject lines.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=348}}

===='''Letters''' ====
Letters are a traditional form of communication most often used by employees to communicate with individuals outside of a company or organization. They are typically written on company letterhead. Today, letters are sent either by U.S. mail or electronically.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=139}}

===='''Memos'''====
A memo (short for memorandum) is an official communication, usually a message from the company, a manager or director, or another person or group acting in an official capacity, used to communicate with others within the same organization.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=353}}

===='''Press Releases'''====
A press release can be an announcement or recent news that is distributed to media outlets from a company, with intentions on spreading the information to the general public. A press release can be called a press-statement, news release or media release.{{sfn|Pradhan|2021}}

==== '''Proposals'''====
A proposal is a document that identifies an existing problem or opportunity and outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing it. Organizations create ''internal'' proposals to describe programs and projects that meet specific operational needs, such as a plan to replace an outdated software system. Companies develop ''external'' proposals for potential customers or clients. These documents detail new products, services, or initiatives that a company will implement to address a specific customer concern.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=245}}

===='''Reports'''====
A report is a concise, easily understandable document that presents technical information in a clear, organized format, allowing readers to access varying levels of information. Reports are categorized as informal, such as briefs, and formal, such as research, scientific, and completion reports.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|loc=chpt 10 & 11}}

=====Informal or Brief Reports=====
Informal or brief reports provide an objective overview of an organization's current state, past events, and future plans, ensuring that readers are well-informed about the organization's operations. Some examples include{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=285-288}}:

*Progress Reports are used to inform management about the progress or status of a project.
* White papers and Briefings educate management or clients about important issues.
*Incident Reports objectively focus on presenting facts relating to an accident or irregular occurrence.
*Laboratory Reports describe experiments, tests, or inspections.

=====Formal Reports=====
A formal report is a factual and data-driven response to a research question.
*Research reports present the findings of a study.
*Scientific research reports outline the process, progress, and results of technical or scientific research or the current state of a research problem.
*Completion reports assess the outcomes of a project or initiative and provide feedback to management or the client.

===='''Resumes''' ====
Resumes offer an overview of an individual’s educational credentials and professional experience and often are used to demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications to potential employers.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=100}} They may be organized in various ways, but two common approaches are chronologically and by skills.

Chronological resumes demonstrate the sequence of education and employment history and detail a person’s tasks, responsibilities, and achievements in each successive role.

Skills resumes provide employment history, but the primary focus is to highlight how an individual applied distinct skills and experiences across various professional positions.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=411-412}}

===='''User guides'''====
A user guide is an instructional manual created to help consumers use the product, service or system. A user guide typically includes step-by-step instructions.{{Sfn|Wainaina|2022}}

=='''Digital Writing Strategies'''==

==='''Characteristics of Digital Documents'''===

====Electronic Format ====
Digital documents exist in electronic formats, which means they are stored and transmitted as binary data. This format allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and transmission of information via electronic devices.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} Digital documentation is the only method to meet a critical challenge of the relatively new concept of "knowledge management" that applies to all organizations. A digital knowledge management system is crucial to an organization so everyone can access information created by employees who are no longer with the organization or to allow cross-referencing with other seemingly unrelated departments.{{sfn|IBM}}

====Non-Tangible ====
Unlike paper documents, digital documents lack physical presence. They are intangible and exist as electronic files, residing on devices or in the cloud.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI|2022}} It is both ethically imperative and a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WCAG|2023}}

There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}} Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|pp=103-104}} Designing accessible digital content increases the technical writer's ability to engage with a broader audience base.{{sfn|Lucas|2023i}}

====Readability====
[[File:Inverted pyramid.jpg|thumb|This pyramid explains how to best display information in a paragraph quickly.]]
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik|Burnett|Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.{{sfn|Last|2019}}

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}} The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}} Ways to improve a document's scannability include implementing visual elements, white space, concise language, highlighting, and emphasis.{{sfn|Lucas|2023j}}

==== Ease of Reproduction and Distribution====
Digital documents are easily copied and distributed. They can be duplicated without any loss of quality, making it simple to share information widely and at minimal cost.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

====Multimedia====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in SERPs.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

====Version Control====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023d}}

====Remote Collaboration====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "website developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."{{sfn|Lucas|2021}} One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic locations.

====Security Measures====
Digital documents can be protected with encryption, passwords, and access controls to safeguard sensitive information. These security measures enhance data protection and privacy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Environmental Impact ====
Digital documents have a smaller environmental footprint compared to paper documents, as they reduce the need for paper production, printing, and transportation.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Dynamic Updates====
Online digital documents can be updated dynamically, ensuring that users always have access to the most current information. This is particularly valuable in fast-changing fields.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Global Accessibility====
Digital documents can be shared globally, transcending geographical boundaries and time zones. They support international collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge on a global scale.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Integration====
In business and research settings, digital documents can integrate with databases and data analysis tools. This integration streamlines data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Analytics====
Digital documents can be subjected to data analytics techniques, allowing organizations to extract valuable insights from large volumes of textual data, which can inform decision-making and strategy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==='''Examples of Digital Documents'''===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.{{Citation needed}}

==== '''Infographics'''====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=292-293}}

===='''Presentations'''====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.{{sfn|Parkinson|2018|loc=chpt. 4}}

==== '''Blogs'''====
A blog, short for "weblog," is an informational website organized into short articles called posts, typically chronologically ordered series of website updates, written and organized similar to a traditional diary.{{sfn|Bair|2014|p=7}} They are regularly updated, providing readers with insights on a specific topic or subject. Blogs serve various purposes, including sharing opinions, providing news, offering educational content, and documenting personal experiences.{{sfn|Rose|Garret|2012|p=2}}

===='''Forums'''====
Forums are an example of a digital document that allows users to seek and provide information within a community. Forums are gathering information points users provide instead of technical writers. Companies can utilize forums as part of their technical communication with consumers in the digital environment, expanding past the traditional technical communication of a user manual.{{sfn|Ellingson|2014}}

==='''Personas in Digital Writing'''===
Personas in the context of digital writing, which is writing composed, created and read in digital environments, refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).{{sfn|Lucas|2023a}} There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of UX design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.{{sfn|Goltz|2014}}

Personas may guide the creation of documentation and tutorials catering to different user needs. It is crucial to adjust the language and tone to match the persona preference. Different personas can influence and guide the design of the project.

Along with adjusting tone and language to suite the desired user, personas also have the responsibility to ensure the purposed digital document properly informs the reader with correct and accurate information the user seeks.

=== '''Rhetoric'''===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric Rhetoric] is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language.{{sfn|Gagich|Zickel|n.d.|pp=34-37}}

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} [[#Hyperlinking|Hyperlinks]] can provide access to additional information that supports authors’ ideas and enhances their credibility.{{sfn|Lucas|2023g|}} Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.{{sfn|DeVoss|National Writing Project|Eidman-Aadahl|Hicks|2010|p=105}}

Digital writers must therefore consider specific elements that compose the rhetorical context in which texts are created and delivered. Such elements may include evaluating the demographics, habits, and needs of an intended audience; determining the overall objective of the communications; and deciding what technologies will be used to create the content. Together, this analysis allows writers to craft messages that both appeal to and inform the target audience. In the digital age, such rhetorical messages may be conveyed through websites, social media, and other digital platforms.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|pp=6-14}}

==='''Tools for Digital Technology'''===
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. The predominant impact of such a revolution was that it made technical communication more accessible by increasing the breadth of its viewers. The World Wide Web is public and can be accessed by anyone with access to the Internet. Such a phenomenon can be exploited to increase the audience of a virtual document. {{Citation needed}}

Technical writers can use various tools to author and present their documents.

===='''Content Management Systems (CMS)'''====
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content on a website. It provides a user-friendly interface and tools to easily organize, publish, and update content, including text, images, videos, and documents. Additionally, CMSs often offer features like user permissions, version control, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance the overall website management experience.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=129}} Some popular examples of CMS include [https://wordpress.com/ WordPress], [https://www.wix.com/ Wix], and [https://www.blogger.com/about/?bpli=1 Blogger].

===='''Image Processing Software'''====
Image processing software plays a valuable role in technical and digital writing by facilitating the creation and enhancement of visuals. Documentation and tutorials help optimize images to convey processes or procedures effectively. Whether for screen captures illustrating software interfaces, data visualizations, or graphics for digital content, image processing tools contribute to creating clear and visually appealing materials.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=664}} These tools, such as [https://www.adobe.com/ Adobe] and [https://www.canva.com/ Canva], enhance the visual impact of technical and digital writing, ensuring that images are optimized, informative, and engaging for the audience.

===='''Word Processors'''====
Word processors are software applications designed for creating, editing, and formatting documents on a computer. They provide many features, such as spell-checking, grammar-checking, and inserting images and tables. These programs are typically used for writing essays, creating reports, or drafting professional documents.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=229}} Some popular software applications are [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word Microsoft Word], [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs][https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration , SharePoint], and [https://www.apple.com/pages/ Apple Pages]. These programs allow documents to be readily disseminated. Comment capability enables audience members to interact about a document with one another and the author.

===='''Text Editors''' ====
Text editors are fundamental technical and digital writing tools, offering a platform for creating and manipulating plain text files. They are indispensable for programming tasks, providing syntax highlighting and code folding features. Text editors are commonly used to write code, markup languages (HTML, XML, Markdown), and edit configuration files.{{sfn|Godson|p=37-41}} Notable examples include [https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/windows-notepad/9MSMLRH6LZF3?hl=en-US&gl=US Notepad] (Windows), [https://support.apple.com/guide/textedit/welcome/mac TextEdit] (macOS), and [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Notepad++]. Whether for programmers, writers, or system administrators, text editors play a crucial role in content creation and technical work.

==='''Search Engine Optimization (SEO)'''===
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt-text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO.{{sfn|Barr|2010|loc=chpt. 17}}

===='''Keywords'''====
Keywords are the words that search engines scan a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added into the search engine results pages from best matches to worst matches. The position of a website in search results is influenced by where it ranks on a scale determined by the keywords that a user searches for.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engines such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can scan your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===='''Alt-Text'''====
Alt-Text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute Alt Attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt-Text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt-Text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===='''Social Media Presence'''====
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves visibility of the website overall. Additionally, it can drive traffic and enables back-linking to occur when other websites have the ability to also link to the website.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

==== '''Goals of Searching: The User's Perspective'''====
A user of search engines formulates queries by using keywords or posing questions. One of the most important elements of building an SEO strategy for a website is developing a thorough understanding of the psychology of your target audience and how they use words and concepts to obtain information about the services and/or products you provide. Once you understand how the average search engine user—and, more specifically, your target audience—utilizes query-based search engines, you can more effectively reach and keep those users.{{sfn|Enge|Spencer|Stricchiola|2022|p=9}}

==='''User Experience'''===
User experience (UX) is how a product works and is experienced from the user's perspective.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=6}} By creating a positive user experience, technical writers can ensure the intended message is effectively communicated and retained. UX design methods include user-centered design, information architecture, responsive design, multimodality, and usability.

===='''User-Centered Design'''====
User-centered design (UCD) is implemented by considering the user and their needs throughout the entire development of a product.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=17}} The approach of UCD in technical writing consists of the following methodologies:{{sfn|Lucas|2023e}}

*User Research: the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document
*Ideation and prototyping: the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs
*Usability testing: the act of having users interact with digital document designs and then adjusting the design based on user feedback
*Implementation: the stage in which the design is implemented after making adjustments from prior testing
*Evaluation: the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs
*Maintenance and updates: to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs

===='''Information Architecture'''====

To ensure a digital document has effective UX design and accessible information, technical writers must construct a clear and organized information architecture (IA). IA is a design principle that organizes information so that it is easily found and understood by users, prioritizing their needs and reducing information overload. A design challenge is making IA understood across multiple digital experiences, changing the navigation structure to fit different media while staying logical and consistent for the user.{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|pp=1, 17-18}} IA that is not constructed well can confuse the user and could cause them to give up their search of information in frustration.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=12}}

The architecture components of IA can be divided into four different categories:{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|p=90}}

*Organization systems: how information is categorized and organized for user understanding

*Labeling systems: how information is represented

*Navigation systems: how users browse information and navigate between pages

* Searching systems: how users search for specific information

===='''Responsive Design'''====

Responsive design is a strategy that appropriately updates the layout and content of a website or document in relation to the screen size, device, and/or orientation, allowing the site or document to be easily viewed and navigated regardless of the device used. With the increased use of mobile devices, web content should be constructed with proper responsive web design (RWD) to ensure effective UX and usability on those devices.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=485}}

There are several design strategies that can be implemented that will increase the success of RWD:{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=487}}

*Fluid layout: Responsive sites can be constructed using a fluid layout (or flexible grid) system that will allow content to adjust and flow according to the available screen space.

*Flexible and responsive images: Images and other embedded media can be instructed to fit their containers instead of remaining at a fixed size. Images with varying resolutions can also be swapped according to screen size to avoid high-resolution images on smaller devices.

*CSS media queries: Media queries can be written into the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), instructing the site's construction according to screen width and orientation. Adding breakpoints for several screen sizes allows pages to be designed for specific devices.

*Content hierarchy: Carefully constructing content that is organized for the user and creating a hierarchy of content that prioritizes user needs is necessary to ensure effective user experience and navigation across multiple screen sizes.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=499}}

===='''Multimodality'''====
While responsive design focuses on the system or interface response to user inputs, multimodality refers to integrating multiple modes of communication to evaluate how effective communication can be in the digital age. {{sfn|Lucas|2023h|p=}}

There are essential elements to multimodality that improve the UX experience for readers in digital documents:

*Accessibility: Documents that contain multimodal, or multimedia elements, allow for diversity in obtaining information to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. For example, a slideshow presentation that contain audio will help aid those with visual impairments.
*Engagement: Combining static information with visuals such as images, videos, or interactive modules, can create a more engaging experience for readers in the digital age.
*Clarity and Comprehension: Jargon heavy text and complex ideas are able to be showcased in charts, diagrams, and infographics that are easily able to clarify concepts better than text.
*Persuasion: Combining the elements listed above may allow for the creators to influence their audience.

===='''Usability'''====

Technical writers must create documents and websites that meet the expectations of their readers and users. In doing so, writers increase the usability of their site or document.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=26}} Usability consultant Steve Krug considers the most important rule for ensuring a site or document is usable is by making pages self-evident and allowing the user not to have to think about actions.{{sfn|Krug|2014|pp=11-18 }} A website that is well designed for usability means that the users will not have any questions about the content or functions of the site. The site will have a clear hierarchy, use standard web design principles, have well-defined content areas, include noticeable and simple links, and limited distractions.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=69}}

A document or website written for usability can be easily scanned by using the following concepts:{{sfn|Garrand|2006|pp=25-26}}

*Highlighting keywords

*Writing descriptive headings and subheadings

*Incorporating bulleted List

*Constructing shorter paragraphs

*Implementing an inverted pyramid writing style by beginning with the most important information

*Decreasing the word count of traditional writing

*Using clear and concise language and, when appropriate, visual aids

=='''Pedagogical Approaches'''==
==='''Writing Styles'''===
Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization in their schoolwork. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities must now educate students on the different forms of written communication, and when best to employ them.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=20}}

==='''Multimedia Writing'''===
Best practices for tone, grammar, and style can vary depending on the form of media (auditory, visual, print, etc.), and many digital writings will combine two or more of these media formats. Students of technical writing may be taught specific techniques for different types of media in order to become proficient multimedia writers.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=23}} Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen in their book ''Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design'' introduce the concept of visual grammar, which relates to multimodality that helps with complex ideas in visual grammar. Kress and van Leeuwen suggest that visual elements should follow a set of grammatical rules to construct visual designs.{{sfn|Kress|van Leeuwen|2020}}

==='''Breaking and Building''' ===
Breaking and building is a method of teaching effective writing that can be applied to technical and digital formats. It asks students to curate collections of digital media by comparing and contrasting ("building"), and also to critically analyze these collections and attempt to reason out the decisions behind them ("breaking").{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|p=175}} Each process has a set of targeted learning outcomes. Learning outcomes for "building" include making and reflecting on choices to find, group, present, and compile digital content. Learning outcomes for "breaking" include identifying and critiquing decisions in curating existing digital content, such as where the content originated, how it is grouped, and how it is presented.{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|pp=178-179}}

=='''Challenges and Ethical Considerations'''==

==='''Challenges'''===
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve, the complexity of software,{{sfn|Hovde|Renguette|2017|pp=395-411}} and the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}} Also, technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}}

==='''Artificial Intelligence'''===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.{{sfn|Marr|2023}}

One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone.{{sfn|University of Central Arkansas|2023}} Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email.{{sfn|Siddiqui|2022}}

==='''Plagiarism'''===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors.{{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

==='''Credit'''===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.{{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==='''Ethical Considerations''' ===
In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be part of one's job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so one will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force one into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=71-84}}

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

Technical communicators have to abide by ethical standards. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===='''The Employer'''====
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

===='''The Public'''====
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===='''The Environment'''====
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|Environmental Protection Agency|2023}}

===='''Disinformation'''====
One primary ethical concern in all forms of writing, especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often called "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow the spread of information to occur quickly. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly.

Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.{{sfn|Lucas|2023f}} Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

Technical writers should utilize gatekeepers to help mitigate the problem of disinformation. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and legal issues.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

=='''References''' ==
==='''Citations'''===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
* {{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-you-create-effective-visual-aids-1c |title=How Can You Create Effective Visual Aids for Technical Writing? |last=AI and the LinkedIn Community |date=2023 |website=www.linkedin.com |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/ |title=Common Problems in Technical Writing and How to Solve Them |last=Ajose-Coker |first=Dipo |date=2022 |website=componize.com |publisher=Componize Software |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite book |last=Bair|first=Amy Lupold |date=2014 |title=Blogging for Dummies|url=|location=Hoboken, NJ |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Balzotti |first=Jon |date=2022 |title=Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach |edition= 2nd |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780367438302 }}
* {{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=The Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
* {{cite book |last1=Coco |first1=Pete |last2=Torres |first2=M. Gabriella |date=2014 |editor-last1=Dougherty |editor-first1=Jack |editor-last2=O'Donnell |editor-first2=Tennyson |title=Web Writing: Why and How for Liberal Arts Teaching and Learning |publisher=University of Michigan Press |pages=175-188 |chapter=“Writing as Curation: Using a ‘Building’ and ‘Breaking’ Pedagogy to Teach Culture in the Digital Age" |chapter-url=https://epress.trincoll.edu/webwriting/chapter/cocotorres }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.betonconsultingeng.com/objectivity-in-technical-writing/#:~:text=Pointers%20for%20objective%20technical%20writing%201%20If%20you,5%20Remember%20that%20correlation%20is%20not%20causality.%20 |title=Objectivity in Technical Writing |last=Detwiler |first=Rachel |date=2021 |website=www.betonconsultingeng.com |publisher=Beton Consulting Engineers L.L.C. |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=DeVoss |first=Danielle |last2=National Writing Project |last3=Eidman-Aadahl |first3=Elyse |last4=Hicks |first4=Troy |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn= |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}
* {{cite web |url=https://hdl.handle.net/11299/168227 |title=Creating Technical Documentation for Digital Natives |last=Ellingson |first=Marissa |date=2014 |website=conservancy.umn.edu |publisher=University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy |access-date=2023-11-28 }}
*{{cite book |last=Enge |first=Eric |last2=Spencer |first2=Stephan |last3=Stricchiola |first3=Jessie |date=2022 |title=The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization |url=https://archive.org/details/artofseomasterin0000enge |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly |pages=9 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra |last=Environmental Protection Agency |title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) |date=2023 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency }}
* {{cite web |url=https://technicalwriterhq.com/career/technical-writer/technical-writing-skills/ |title=Essential Technical Writing Skills |last=Fechter |first=Josh |date=2023 |website=technicalwriterhq.com |access-date=2023-11-21}}
* {{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |last2=Zickel |first2=Emilie |date=n.d. |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |publisher=Digital Commons |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |location= |pages=34-37 }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrand |first=Timothy |date=2006 |title=Writing for Multimedia and the Web: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media |edition=3rd |location=Burlington, MA |publisher=Focal Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrett |first=Jesse James |title=The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond |publisher=New Riders |edition=2nd |date=2011 |location=Berkeley, CA |page=17 }}
* {{cite book |last=Godson |first=Williams|title=Web Design with HTML and CSS |p=37-41}}
* {{cite web |url=https://smashingmagazine.com/2014/08/a-closer-look-at-personas-part-2/ |title=A Closer Look at Personas: A Guide to Developing The Right Ones (Part 2) |last=Goltz | first=Shlomo |date=2014 |website=smashingmagazine.com |publisher=Smashing Media AG |access-date=2023-11-13 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Grimstead |first=Deborah M. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writers are in Demand: Do You Have The Right Stuff? |magazine=Black Collegian |pages=128 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.ibm.com/topics/knowledge-management |title=What is Knowledge Management? |first= |last=IBM |website=ibm.com |access-date=2023-11-24}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.idassoc.com/product-information-definition/data-sheet |title=Product Information Encyclopedia |last=Industrial Data Associates |first= |date=2020 |website=Industrial Data Associates |publisher= |access-date=2023-11-20 |quote= }}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson-Sheehan |first=Richard |title=Technical Communication Today |url= |edition=6 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Pearson |date=2018 |pages= }}
* {{cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=2023 |title=ChatGPT Cheating: What to Do When It Happens |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-cheating-what-to-do-when-it-happens/ |work=Education Week |location=Bethesda, MD |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kress |first=Gunther |last2=van Leeuwen |first2=Theo |date=2020 |title=Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design|url=|location=New York |publisher=Routledg|isbn=978-0415319157}}
* {{cite book |last=Krug |first=Steve |date=2014 |title=Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited|url= |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=New Riders |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lannon |first=John M. |last2=Gurak |first2=Laura J. |date=2020 |title=Technical Communication |edition=15 |url= |location= |publisher=Pearson Education |page= }}
* {{cite book |last=Last|first=Susan |date=2019 |title=Technical Writing Essentials|url=https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/|location= |publisher= Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Dan |date=2022 |title=Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web |location=Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |publisher=Broadview Press |page=85 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki |title=Writing on a Wiki |last=Lucas |first=Gerald| date=2021| website=grlucas.net| publisher=MediaWiki| access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Personas |title= Using Personas in Digital Writing
|last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023a| website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/SEO |title=Search Engine Optimization: Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Online Visibility |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023b |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents|title=Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023c |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Design/Users |title=User-Centered Design in Digital Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023d |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-15 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style |title=Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023e |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-22 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Credibility |title=The Significance of Credibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023f |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Tech_Writing |title=Combining Disciplinary Approach to Technical Writing with Digital Writing: Enhancing Communication in the Digital Age |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023g |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-27 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach |title=Multimodal Approaches in Technical Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023h |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Accessibility |title=The Imperative of Accessibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023i |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Scannability |title=Scannability |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023j |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-technical-writer-do |title=What Does a Technical Writer Do? (Plus How To Become One) |last=Macari |first=Sabina |date=2023 |website=indeed.com |publisher=Indeed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Malone |first=Edward |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953-1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285-306 |doi= |access-date=2023-10-11 }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Michael |title=Technical Communication |date=2009 |edition=9th |location=Boston |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin's |pages=22-25 }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Mike |last2=Selber |first2=Stuart A. |date=2019 |title=Practical Strategies of Technical Communication |edition=3rd |url= |location=Boston |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin’s |page= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b |title=How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer |last=Marr |first=Bernard |date=2023 |website=Forbes.com |publisher=Forbes Media |access-date=2023-10-31 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02 |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles AI is most likely to replace |last=Mok |first=Aaron |date=2023 |website=Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Mussack |first=Brigitte |date=2021 |title=Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication |url=https://pressbooks.umn.edu/techwriting/front-matter/introduction/ |location= |publisher=Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial |pages=n.p. |author-link= }}
* {{cite book| last=Parkinson |first=Mike |title=A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters| location=United States| publisher=Association for Talent Development| chapter=Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets| date=2018 }}
* {{cite book |last=Perelman |first=Leslie |date=1998 |title=The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing |url=https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/ |location=Mountain View |publisher=Mayfield Publishing Company |pages=n.p. |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://learn.g2.com/how-to-write-a-press-release |title=How to Write a Press Release That Catches People's Attention |date=2021 |last=Pradhan |first=Ninisha |website=learn.g2.com |publisher=G2.com |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://proofed.com/writing-tips/a-beginners-guide-to-technical-writing/ |title=A Beginner’s Guide to Technical Writing |last=Proofed Editors |date=2020 |website=Proofed.com |publisher=Proofed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Robert |title=Growth of the technical writing profession |journal=STWE Review |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=1958 |pages=5-16 }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
* {{cite book |last=Rose|first=Darren |last2=Garret |first2=Chris|date=2012 |title=ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income|url=|location=Indianapolis, IN |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rosenfeld |first1=Louis |last2=Morville |first2=Peter |last3=Arango |first3=Jorge |date=2006 |title=Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond |edition=4th |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c |last=Siddiqui |first=Zafar |title=Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer? |date=2022 |website=writingcooperative.com |publisher=The Writing Cooperative |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.managementnote.com/features-of-technical-communication/#google_vignette |title=Features of Technical Communication |last=Smirti |date=2022 |website=managementnote.com |publisher=Management Note |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ |title=Ethical Principles |last=Society for Technical Communication |first= |date=2023 |website=stc.org |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-27 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6 |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook |last=United States Bureau of Labor Statistics |first= |date=2023 |website=bls.gov |publisher=United States Department of Labor |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ |title=Chat GPT: What is it? |last=University of Central Arkansas |first= |date=2023 |website=uca.edu |publisher= University of Central Arkansas |access-date=2023-10-09 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.viralnation.com/blog/what-is-digital-content-creation-and-how-can-it-help-me-as-a-marketing-manager/#:~:text=A%20rule%20of%20thumb%20in%20digital%20content%20creation,turn%2C%20share%20it%20with%20others%20in%20their%20network. |title=What is Digital Content Creation? (and How Can It Help Me as a Marketing Manager) |last=Viral Nation |date=2019 |website=viralnation.com |publisher= Viral Nation |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/|title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |last=WAI |first=|date=2022 |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://scribehow.com/library/user-guide |title=What is a User Guide? Everything You Need to Know |last=Wainaina |first=Timan |date=2022 |website= |publisher= |access-date=22 November 2023 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/|title=Accessibility and the Law |last=WCAG |first= |date=2023 |website=wcag.com|publisher=eSSENTIAL Accessibility |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite book |last=Zeleznik |first=J. M. |last2=Burnett |first2=R. E. |last3=Benson |first3=P. J. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writing: What It Is and How to Do It |url= |location= |publisher=National Book Network |pages=107 |isbn= |author-link= }}

{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-30T14:07:34Z

Admin: /* Bibliography */ Author-mask should be used when repeating an author. This is an example.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written, visual, and interactive materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.

Technical writing is a specialized skill that requires technical knowledge and well-developed communication skills. It involves explaining complex information in a clear, concise, and accessible manner. Through the evolution of technologies like the Internet and smartphones, technical writing has evolved from traditional printed formats to more digital-oriented media. Today, users expect content to be available on various platforms and devices, providing up-to-date information on demand. Technical writers have adapted to these changes by creating compelling, concise, SEO-friendly content in various forms such as infographics, e-books, podcasts, videos, blogs, GIFs, memes, and other interactive content.

Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. Multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also play a role in digital technical writing. In essence, technical writing in the digital age is the art and science of making technical information understandable and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally driven society.

=='''Overview'''==
=== '''Goal of Technical Communication''' ===
Technical communication is a discipline utilized by various fields like education, business, and science. In any domain, technical documentation shares a common objective: assisting the audience in achieving a task or goal.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} This common objective is achieved by the technical writer developing the ability to communicate complex and technical information more easily to the audience.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}}

==='''Importance of Research'''===
Major decisions in any organization are based upon research providing results where critical thinking has been applied. Technical communicators must work with subject matter experts but also must conduct in-depth independent research for every product. The stages of critical thinking in the research process are{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=145}}:
*Asking the right questions. The right questions help define the research problem. The answers found in research are only as good as the questions asked.
*Exploring a balance of views. This provides a broad ''range'' of evidence. Ask: What do informed sources say about the topic? On which points do sources agree or disagree? Which sources carry more weight than others?
*Providing adequate ''depth'' into the topic through thorough research. Surface level is reached through popular media. The next level is reached through trade, business, and technical publications. The deepest level is reached through specialized literature such as peer-reviewed journals, government sources, and corporate documents.
*Evaluating the findings. Search for bias in the research. Look for the accurate answer.
*Interpreting the findings. Ensure the final report answers the original research problem.

The ability to adequately, accurately, and completely research a subject prior to writing technical communication dictates the writer's success.

=='''History'''==
==='''Technical Writing Profession''' ===
[[File:Joseph D. Chapline.jpg|thumb|Joseph D. Chapline]]
Joseph D. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first-ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.{{sfn|Malone|2008}} In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society for Technical Communication (STC) in 1960.{{sfn|Malone|2011|pp=285-306}} The STC is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication. The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.{{sfn|Society for Technical Communication|2023}}

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States.{{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was a time years before the computer and photocopier became common office equipment. During this period, the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, and their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. The technical writer would draft the document by hand, and a typist or clerical worker would then use a typewriter to transfer the writer's words into a finished document.{{Citation needed}}

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The technical writer's work may now also include not only text, but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The current role of the technical writer is not only to write, but they may also be involved in research and information gathering, speaking with subject matter experts, and selecting document mediums and project tools.{{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers can be as varied as writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} The titles of today's technical writers may vary as well. They may be referred to by names as diverse as information architects to documentation specialists.{{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}
[[File:Bureau of labor statistics.jpg|thumb|Job growth for tech writing projected by the Bureau of Labor]]

==='''Future Trends'''===
Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers.{{sfn|United States Bureau of Labor Statistics|2023}} To be relevant as a technical writer in the digital age, one must possess the skills of conducting in-depth research, critical thinking, being detail oriented, design, and technical expertise. To succeed at communicating the complex to specific audiences, the technical writer must understand much of the subject in its complexity. This is accomplished through possessing the skills of communication, collaboration, and teamwork.{{sfn|Fechter|2023}}

=='''Technical Communication Strategies'''==
==='''Characteristics of Technical Communication'''===
Technical communication is meant to guide an audience and must be easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate.{{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be said to be accurate in two different understandings: accurate in description and accurate in content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication delivered logically is well-organized, clear, and will be coherent for most users. Technical information that is appropriate contains elements and steps that are suitable for the intended purpose and audience.

====Standards Compliant====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines determined by governing bodies that impact their technical communication. Furthermore, many organizations may have a style guide that outlines preferred language usage, tone, and formatting.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Detail-Oriented====
Technical communication should be detail-oriented and free of errors and inconsistencies. Accurate information delivered with precision and specificity is essential for unambiguous and discrepancies-free communication.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}

====Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields where accuracy and impartiality are essential.{{sfn|Detwiler|2021}}

=====Clear and Concise=====
Technical communication should be logically organized, straightforward, and easily understood by the target audience. The language used should avoid needless jargon and be written in a manner that avoids redundant word usage and excessive explanations.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

====Formatted and Organized====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines that enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. Formatting details should remain consistent throughout the document.{{sfn|Smirti|2022}}{{sfn|Proofed Editors|2020}}

====Graphical====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or images can enhance understanding of a technical document. When presented properly, visuals can explain difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.{{sfn|AI and the LinkedIn Community|2023}}

====Audience-specific====
Technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Communication style and tone should be tailored to match the audience's level of expertise. Factors such as the users' technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific requirements should be considered.{{sfn|Viral Nation|2019}} The tone sets the overall mood for the piece.

====Document Design====
The appropriateness of documents requires readers to understand the document's message quickly. The document should be of appropriate style and length for the readers' needs.

==='''Examples of Technical Documents'''===
Technical writing encompasses various genres and styles, influenced by the information and discourse communities. Not all technical documents are produced by technical writers, as professionals produce various technical documents.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=32}}

Common types of technical communication include:{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

===='''Case Studies'''====
Case studies are a form of empirical or observational research that consists of in-depth examination of distinct individuals, groups, events, or scenarios. This research can be used to generate qualitative or quantitative data.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=401-404}}

===='''Data Sheets'''====
A data sheet, also known as a technical datasheet, is a document used to describe and summarize the characteristics of a product, material, component, or technology.{{sfn|Industrial Data Associates|2020|p=}}

===='''Descriptions'''====
Descriptions are concise explanations of procedures and processes that assist readers in understanding how something works. Product descriptions and process descriptions are the two main types of technical descriptions.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=443-453}}

*Product: provides detailed information about a specific item, including its features, specifications, and benefits.
*Process: provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform a particular task or achieve a specific outcome.

===='''Documentation'''====
Documentation comprises various texts that allow users to accomplish tasks or gain information. It generally falls into three categories, which can be defined as follows:
*Instructions: Text that describes how to complete a task, often offering numbered steps. Examples include how to download software or assemble a product.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=167}}
* Specifications: Communications that deliver technical details on how a product is put together or a specific operation is executed. Also known as "specs," these texts may be written by engineers or technicians.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}
*Procedures and Protocols: Guidelines to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in the workplace. For example, a hospital may provide staff with procedures on how to adapt operations during an emergency, such as a power outage.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=205}}

===='''Email'''====
Emails are the primary form of communication in the workplace, used for both internal and external communication. They facilitate information exchange, idea exchange, and activity coordination.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=335}} Emails should be brief, concise, readable, and targeted to specific audiences with specific subject lines.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=348}}

===='''Letters''' ====
Letters are a traditional form of communication most often used by employees to communicate with individuals outside of a company or organization. They are typically written on company letterhead. Today, letters are sent either by U.S. mail or electronically.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=139}}

===='''Memos'''====
A memo (short for memorandum) is an official communication, usually a message from the company, a manager or director, or another person or group acting in an official capacity, used to communicate with others within the same organization.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|p=353}}

===='''Press Releases'''====
A press release can be an announcement or recent news that is distributed to media outlets from a company, with intentions on spreading the information to the general public. A press release can be called a press-statement, news release or media release.{{sfn|Pradhan|2021}}

==== '''Proposals'''====
A proposal is a document that identifies an existing problem or opportunity and outlines a comprehensive strategy for addressing it. Organizations create ''internal'' proposals to describe programs and projects that meet specific operational needs, such as a plan to replace an outdated software system. Companies develop ''external'' proposals for potential customers or clients. These documents detail new products, services, or initiatives that a company will implement to address a specific customer concern.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=245}}

===='''Reports'''====
A report is a concise, easily understandable document that presents technical information in a clear, organized format, allowing readers to access varying levels of information. Reports are categorized as informal, such as briefs, and formal, such as research, scientific, and completion reports.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|loc=chpt 10 & 11}}

=====Informal or Brief Reports=====
Informal or brief reports provide an objective overview of an organization's current state, past events, and future plans, ensuring that readers are well-informed about the organization's operations. Some examples include{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=285-288}}:

*Progress Reports are used to inform management about the progress or status of a project.
* White papers and Briefings educate management or clients about important issues.
*Incident Reports objectively focus on presenting facts relating to an accident or irregular occurrence.
*Laboratory Reports describe experiments, tests, or inspections.

=====Formal Reports=====
A formal report is a factual and data-driven response to a research question.
*Research reports present the findings of a study.
*Scientific research reports outline the process, progress, and results of technical or scientific research or the current state of a research problem.
*Completion reports assess the outcomes of a project or initiative and provide feedback to management or the client.

===='''Resumes''' ====
Resumes offer an overview of an individual’s educational credentials and professional experience and often are used to demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications to potential employers.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|p=100}} They may be organized in various ways, but two common approaches are chronologically and by skills.

Chronological resumes demonstrate the sequence of education and employment history and detail a person’s tasks, responsibilities, and achievements in each successive role.

Skills resumes provide employment history, but the primary focus is to highlight how an individual applied distinct skills and experiences across various professional positions.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019|pp=411-412}}

===='''User guides'''====
A user guide is an instructional manual created to help consumers use the product, service or system. A user guide typically includes step-by-step instructions.{{Sfn|Wainaina|2022}}

=='''Digital Writing Strategies'''==

==='''Characteristics of Digital Documents'''===

====Electronic Format ====
Digital documents exist in electronic formats, which means they are stored and transmitted as binary data. This format allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and transmission of information via electronic devices.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} Digital documentation is the only method to meet a critical challenge of the relatively new concept of "knowledge management" that applies to all organizations. A digital knowledge management system is crucial to an organization so everyone can access information created by employees who are no longer with the organization or to allow cross-referencing with other seemingly unrelated departments.{{sfn|IBM}}

====Non-Tangible ====
Unlike paper documents, digital documents lack physical presence. They are intangible and exist as electronic files, residing on devices or in the cloud.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI|2022}} It is both ethically imperative and a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WCAG|2023}}

There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}} Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|pp=103-104}} Designing accessible digital content increases the technical writer's ability to engage with a broader audience base.{{sfn|Lucas|2023i}}

====Readability====
[[File:Inverted pyramid.jpg|thumb|This pyramid explains how to best display information in a paragraph quickly.]]
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik|Burnett|Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.{{sfn|Last|2019}}

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}} The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}} Ways to improve a document's scannability include implementing visual elements, white space, concise language, highlighting, and emphasis.{{sfn|Lucas|2023j}}

==== Ease of Reproduction and Distribution====
Digital documents are easily copied and distributed. They can be duplicated without any loss of quality, making it simple to share information widely and at minimal cost.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

====Multimedia====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in SERPs.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

====Version Control====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023d}}

====Remote Collaboration====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "website developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."{{sfn|Lucas|2021}} One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic locations.

====Security Measures====
Digital documents can be protected with encryption, passwords, and access controls to safeguard sensitive information. These security measures enhance data protection and privacy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Environmental Impact ====
Digital documents have a smaller environmental footprint compared to paper documents, as they reduce the need for paper production, printing, and transportation.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==== Dynamic Updates====
Online digital documents can be updated dynamically, ensuring that users always have access to the most current information. This is particularly valuable in fast-changing fields.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Global Accessibility====
Digital documents can be shared globally, transcending geographical boundaries and time zones. They support international collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge on a global scale.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Integration====
In business and research settings, digital documents can integrate with databases and data analysis tools. This integration streamlines data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

====Data Analytics====
Digital documents can be subjected to data analytics techniques, allowing organizations to extract valuable insights from large volumes of textual data, which can inform decision-making and strategy.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}}

==='''Examples of Digital Documents'''===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas|2023c}} In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.{{Citation needed}}

==== '''Infographics'''====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials.{{sfn|Lannon|Gurak|2020|pp=292-293}}

===='''Presentations'''====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.{{sfn|Parkinson|2018|loc=chpt. 4}}

==== '''Blogs'''====
A blog, short for "weblog," is an informational website organized into short articles called posts, typically chronologically ordered series of website updates, written and organized similar to a traditional diary.{{sfn|Bair|2014|p=7}} They are regularly updated, providing readers with insights on a specific topic or subject. Blogs serve various purposes, including sharing opinions, providing news, offering educational content, and documenting personal experiences.{{sfn|Rose|Garret|2012|p=2}}

===='''Forums'''====
Forums are an example of a digital document that allows users to seek and provide information within a community. Forums are gathering information points users provide instead of technical writers. Companies can utilize forums as part of their technical communication with consumers in the digital environment, expanding past the traditional technical communication of a user manual.{{sfn|Ellingson|2014}}

==='''Personas in Digital Writing'''===
Personas in the context of digital writing, which is writing composed, created and read in digital environments, refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).{{sfn|Lucas|2023a}} There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of UX design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.{{sfn|Goltz|2014}}

Personas may guide the creation of documentation and tutorials catering to different user needs. It is crucial to adjust the language and tone to match the persona preference. Different personas can influence and guide the design of the project.

Along with adjusting tone and language to suite the desired user, personas also have the responsibility to ensure the purposed digital document properly informs the reader with correct and accurate information the user seeks.

=== '''Rhetoric'''===
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric Rhetoric] is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language.{{sfn|Gagich|Zickel|n.d.|pp=34-37}}

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.{{sfn|Markel|Selber|2019}} [[#Hyperlinking|Hyperlinks]] can provide access to additional information that supports authors’ ideas and enhances their credibility.{{sfn|Lucas|2023g|}} Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.{{sfn|DeVoss|National Writing Project|Eidman-Aadahl|Hicks|2010|p=105}}

Digital writers must therefore consider specific elements that compose the rhetorical context in which texts are created and delivered. Such elements may include evaluating the demographics, habits, and needs of an intended audience; determining the overall objective of the communications; and deciding what technologies will be used to create the content. Together, this analysis allows writers to craft messages that both appeal to and inform the target audience. In the digital age, such rhetorical messages may be conveyed through websites, social media, and other digital platforms.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|pp=6-14}}

==='''Tools for Digital Technology'''===
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. The predominant impact of such a revolution was that it made technical communication more accessible by increasing the breadth of its viewers. The World Wide Web is public and can be accessed by anyone with access to the Internet. Such a phenomenon can be exploited to increase the audience of a virtual document. {{Citation needed}}

Technical writers can use various tools to author and present their documents.

===='''Content Management Systems (CMS)'''====
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and modify digital content on a website. It provides a user-friendly interface and tools to easily organize, publish, and update content, including text, images, videos, and documents. Additionally, CMSs often offer features like user permissions, version control, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to enhance the overall website management experience.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=129}} Some popular examples of CMS include [https://wordpress.com/ WordPress], [https://www.wix.com/ Wix], and [https://www.blogger.com/about/?bpli=1 Blogger].

===='''Image Processing Software'''====
Image processing software plays a valuable role in technical and digital writing by facilitating the creation and enhancement of visuals. Documentation and tutorials help optimize images to convey processes or procedures effectively. Whether for screen captures illustrating software interfaces, data visualizations, or graphics for digital content, image processing tools contribute to creating clear and visually appealing materials.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=664}} These tools, such as [https://www.adobe.com/ Adobe] and [https://www.canva.com/ Canva], enhance the visual impact of technical and digital writing, ensuring that images are optimized, informative, and engaging for the audience.

===='''Word Processors'''====
Word processors are software applications designed for creating, editing, and formatting documents on a computer. They provide many features, such as spell-checking, grammar-checking, and inserting images and tables. These programs are typically used for writing essays, creating reports, or drafting professional documents.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=229}} Some popular software applications are [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word Microsoft Word], [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs][https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration , SharePoint], and [https://www.apple.com/pages/ Apple Pages]. These programs allow documents to be readily disseminated. Comment capability enables audience members to interact about a document with one another and the author.

===='''Text Editors''' ====
Text editors are fundamental technical and digital writing tools, offering a platform for creating and manipulating plain text files. They are indispensable for programming tasks, providing syntax highlighting and code folding features. Text editors are commonly used to write code, markup languages (HTML, XML, Markdown), and edit configuration files.{{sfn|Godson|p=37-41}} Notable examples include [https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/windows-notepad/9MSMLRH6LZF3?hl=en-US&gl=US Notepad] (Windows), [https://support.apple.com/guide/textedit/welcome/mac TextEdit] (macOS), and [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Notepad++]. Whether for programmers, writers, or system administrators, text editors play a crucial role in content creation and technical work.

==='''Search Engine Optimization (SEO)'''===
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt-text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO.{{sfn|Barr|2010|loc=chpt. 17}}

===='''Keywords'''====
Keywords are the words that search engines scan a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added into the search engine results pages from best matches to worst matches. The position of a website in search results is influenced by where it ranks on a scale determined by the keywords that a user searches for.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}} To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engines such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can scan your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===='''Alt-Text'''====
Alt-Text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute Alt Attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt-Text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt-Text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

===='''Social Media Presence'''====
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves visibility of the website overall. Additionally, it can drive traffic and enables back-linking to occur when other websites have the ability to also link to the website.{{sfn|Lucas|2023b}}

==== '''Goals of Searching: The User's Perspective'''====
A user of search engines formulates queries by using keywords or posing questions. One of the most important elements of building an SEO strategy for a website is developing a thorough understanding of the psychology of your target audience and how they use words and concepts to obtain information about the services and/or products you provide. Once you understand how the average search engine user—and, more specifically, your target audience—utilizes query-based search engines, you can more effectively reach and keep those users.{{sfn|Enge|Spencer|Stricchiola|2022|p=9}}

==='''User Experience'''===
User experience (UX) is how a product works and is experienced from the user's perspective.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=6}} By creating a positive user experience, technical writers can ensure the intended message is effectively communicated and retained. UX design methods include user-centered design, information architecture, responsive design, multimodality, and usability.

===='''User-Centered Design'''====
User-centered design (UCD) is implemented by considering the user and their needs throughout the entire development of a product.{{sfn|Garrett|2011|p=17}} The approach of UCD in technical writing consists of the following methodologies:{{sfn|Lucas|2023e}}

*User Research: the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document
*Ideation and prototyping: the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs
*Usability testing: the act of having users interact with digital document designs and then adjusting the design based on user feedback
*Implementation: the stage in which the design is implemented after making adjustments from prior testing
*Evaluation: the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs
*Maintenance and updates: to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs

===='''Information Architecture'''====

To ensure a digital document has effective UX design and accessible information, technical writers must construct a clear and organized information architecture (IA). IA is a design principle that organizes information so that it is easily found and understood by users, prioritizing their needs and reducing information overload. A design challenge is making IA understood across multiple digital experiences, changing the navigation structure to fit different media while staying logical and consistent for the user.{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|pp=1, 17-18}} IA that is not constructed well can confuse the user and could cause them to give up their search of information in frustration.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=12}}

The architecture components of IA can be divided into four different categories:{{sfn|Rosenfeld|Morville|Arango|2006|p=90}}

*Organization systems: how information is categorized and organized for user understanding

*Labeling systems: how information is represented

*Navigation systems: how users browse information and navigate between pages

* Searching systems: how users search for specific information

===='''Responsive Design'''====

Responsive design is a strategy that appropriately updates the layout and content of a website or document in relation to the screen size, device, and/or orientation, allowing the site or document to be easily viewed and navigated regardless of the device used. With the increased use of mobile devices, web content should be constructed with proper responsive web design (RWD) to ensure effective UX and usability on those devices.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=485}}

There are several design strategies that can be implemented that will increase the success of RWD:{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=487}}

*Fluid layout: Responsive sites can be constructed using a fluid layout (or flexible grid) system that will allow content to adjust and flow according to the available screen space.

*Flexible and responsive images: Images and other embedded media can be instructed to fit their containers instead of remaining at a fixed size. Images with varying resolutions can also be swapped according to screen size to avoid high-resolution images on smaller devices.

*CSS media queries: Media queries can be written into the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), instructing the site's construction according to screen width and orientation. Adding breakpoints for several screen sizes allows pages to be designed for specific devices.

*Content hierarchy: Carefully constructing content that is organized for the user and creating a hierarchy of content that prioritizes user needs is necessary to ensure effective user experience and navigation across multiple screen sizes.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=499}}

===='''Multimodality'''====
While responsive design focuses on the system or interface response to user inputs, multimodality refers to integrating multiple modes of communication to evaluate how effective communication can be in the digital age. {{sfn|Lucas|2023h|p=}}

There are essential elements to multimodality that improve the UX experience for readers in digital documents:

*Accessibility: Documents that contain multimodal, or multimedia elements, allow for diversity in obtaining information to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. For example, a slideshow presentation that contain audio will help aid those with visual impairments.
*Engagement: Combining static information with visuals such as images, videos, or interactive modules, can create a more engaging experience for readers in the digital age.
*Clarity and Comprehension: Jargon heavy text and complex ideas are able to be showcased in charts, diagrams, and infographics that are easily able to clarify concepts better than text.
*Persuasion: Combining the elements listed above may allow for the creators to influence their audience.

===='''Usability'''====

Technical writers must create documents and websites that meet the expectations of their readers and users. In doing so, writers increase the usability of their site or document.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=26}} Usability consultant Steve Krug considers the most important rule for ensuring a site or document is usable is by making pages self-evident and allowing the user not to have to think about actions.{{sfn|Krug|2014|pp=11-18 }} A website that is well designed for usability means that the users will not have any questions about the content or functions of the site. The site will have a clear hierarchy, use standard web design principles, have well-defined content areas, include noticeable and simple links, and limited distractions.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=69}}

A document or website written for usability can be easily scanned by using the following concepts:{{sfn|Garrand|2006|pp=25-26}}

*Highlighting keywords

*Writing descriptive headings and subheadings

*Incorporating bulleted List

*Constructing shorter paragraphs

*Implementing an inverted pyramid writing style by beginning with the most important information

*Decreasing the word count of traditional writing

*Using clear and concise language and, when appropriate, visual aids

=='''Pedagogical Approaches'''==
==='''Writing Styles'''===
Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization in their schoolwork. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities must now educate students on the different forms of written communication, and when best to employ them.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=20}}

==='''Multimedia Writing'''===
Best practices for tone, grammar, and style can vary depending on the form of media (auditory, visual, print, etc.), and many digital writings will combine two or more of these media formats. Students of technical writing may be taught specific techniques for different types of media in order to become proficient multimedia writers.{{sfn|Garrand|2006|p=23}} Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen in their book ''Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design'' introduce the concept of visual grammar, which relates to multimodality that helps with complex ideas in visual grammar. Kress and van Leeuwen suggest that visual elements should follow a set of grammatical rules to construct visual designs.{{sfn|Kress|van Leeuwen|2020}}

==='''Breaking and Building''' ===
Breaking and building is a method of teaching effective writing that can be applied to technical and digital formats. It asks students to curate collections of digital media by comparing and contrasting ("building"), and also to critically analyze these collections and attempt to reason out the decisions behind them ("breaking").{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|p=175}} Each process has a set of targeted learning outcomes. Learning outcomes for "building" include making and reflecting on choices to find, group, present, and compile digital content. Learning outcomes for "breaking" include identifying and critiquing decisions in curating existing digital content, such as where the content originated, how it is grouped, and how it is presented.{{sfn|Coco|Torres|2014|pp=178-179}}

=='''Challenges and Ethical Considerations'''==

==='''Challenges'''===
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve, the complexity of software,{{sfn|Hovde|Renguette|2017|pp=395-411}} and the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}} Also, technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.{{sfn|Ajose-Coker|2022}}

==='''Artificial Intelligence'''===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.{{sfn|Marr|2023}}

One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone.{{sfn|University of Central Arkansas|2023}} Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email.{{sfn|Siddiqui|2022}}

==='''Plagiarism'''===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors.{{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

==='''Credit'''===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.{{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==='''Ethical Considerations''' ===
In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be part of one's job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so one will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force one into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory.{{sfn|Johnson-Sheehan|2018|pp=71-84}}

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=280}}

Technical communicators have to abide by ethical standards. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===='''The Employer'''====
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

===='''The Public'''====
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.{{sfn|Markel|2009}}

===='''The Environment'''====
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.{{sfn|Markel|2009}} Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.{{sfn|Environmental Protection Agency|2023}}

===='''Disinformation'''====
One primary ethical concern in all forms of writing, especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often called "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.{{sfn|Lawrence|2022|loc=section 3.7}} Modern communication technologies allow the spread of information to occur quickly. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly.

Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.{{sfn|Lucas|2023f}} Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

Technical writers should utilize gatekeepers to help mitigate the problem of disinformation. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and legal issues.{{sfn|Balzotti|2022|p=83}}

=='''References''' ==
==='''Citations'''===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
* {{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-can-you-create-effective-visual-aids-1c |title=How Can You Create Effective Visual Aids for Technical Writing? |last=AI and the LinkedIn Community |date=2023 |website=www.linkedin.com |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/ |title=Common Problems in Technical Writing and How to Solve Them |last=Ajose-Coker |first=Dipo |date=2022 |website=componize.com |publisher=Componize Software |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite book |last=Bair|first=Amy Lupold |date=2014 |title=Blogging for Dummies|url=|location=Hoboken, NJ |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Balzotti |first=Jon |date=2022 |title=Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach |edition= 2nd |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780367438302 }}
* {{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=The Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
* {{cite book |last1=Coco |first1=Pete |last2=Torres |first2=M. Gabriella |date=2014 |editor-last1=Dougherty |editor-first1=Jack |editor-last2=O'Donnell |editor-first2=Tennyson |title=Web Writing: Why and How for Liberal Arts Teaching and Learning |publisher=University of Michigan Press |pages=175-188 |chapter=“Writing as Curation: Using a ‘Building’ and ‘Breaking’ Pedagogy to Teach Culture in the Digital Age" |chapter-url=https://epress.trincoll.edu/webwriting/chapter/cocotorres }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.betonconsultingeng.com/objectivity-in-technical-writing/#:~:text=Pointers%20for%20objective%20technical%20writing%201%20If%20you,5%20Remember%20that%20correlation%20is%20not%20causality.%20 |title=Objectivity in Technical Writing |last=Detwiler |first=Rachel |date=2021 |website=www.betonconsultingeng.com |publisher=Beton Consulting Engineers L.L.C. |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=DeVoss |first=Danielle |last2=National Writing Project |last3=Eidman-Aadahl |first3=Elyse |last4=Hicks |first4=Troy |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn= |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}
* {{cite web |url=https://hdl.handle.net/11299/168227 |title=Creating Technical Documentation for Digital Natives |last=Ellingson |first=Marissa |date=2014 |website=conservancy.umn.edu |publisher=University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy |access-date=2023-11-28 }}
*{{cite book |last=Enge |first=Eric |last2=Spencer |first2=Stephan |last3=Stricchiola |first3=Jessie |date=2022 |title=The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization |url=https://archive.org/details/artofseomasterin0000enge |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly |pages=9 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra |last=Environmental Protection Agency |title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) |date=2023 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency }}
* {{cite web |url=https://technicalwriterhq.com/career/technical-writer/technical-writing-skills/ |title=Essential Technical Writing Skills |last=Fechter |first=Josh |date=2023 |website=technicalwriterhq.com |access-date=2023-11-21}}
* {{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |last2=Zickel |first2=Emilie |date=n.d. |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |publisher=Digital Commons |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |location= |pages=34-37 }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrand |first=Timothy |date=2006 |title=Writing for Multimedia and the Web: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media |edition=3rd |location=Burlington, MA |publisher=Focal Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Garrett |first=Jesse James |title=The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond |publisher=New Riders |edition=2nd |date=2011 |location=Berkeley, CA |page=17 }}
* {{cite book |last=Godson |first=Williams|title=Web Design with HTML and CSS |p=37-41}}
* {{cite web |url=https://smashingmagazine.com/2014/08/a-closer-look-at-personas-part-2/ |title=A Closer Look at Personas: A Guide to Developing The Right Ones (Part 2) |last=Goltz | first=Shlomo |date=2014 |website=smashingmagazine.com |publisher=Smashing Media AG |access-date=2023-11-13 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Grimstead |first=Deborah M. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writers are in Demand: Do You Have The Right Stuff? |magazine=Black Collegian |pages=128 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.ibm.com/topics/knowledge-management |title=What is Knowledge Management? |first= |last=IBM |website=ibm.com |access-date=2023-11-24}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.idassoc.com/product-information-definition/data-sheet |title=Product Information Encyclopedia |last=Industrial Data Associates |first= |date=2020 |website=Industrial Data Associates |publisher= |access-date=2023-11-20 |quote= }}
* {{cite book |last=Johnson-Sheehan |first=Richard |title=Technical Communication Today |url= |edition=6 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Pearson |date=2018 |pages= }}
* {{cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=2023 |title=ChatGPT Cheating: What to Do When It Happens |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-cheating-what-to-do-when-it-happens/ |work=Education Week |location=Bethesda, MD |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kress |first=Gunther |last2=van Leeuwen |first2=Theo |date=2020 |title=Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design|url=|location=New York |publisher=Routledg|isbn=978-0415319157}}
* {{cite book |last=Krug |first=Steve |date=2014 |title=Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited|url= |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=New Riders |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lannon |first=John M. |last2=Gurak |first2=Laura J. |date=2020 |title=Technical Communication |edition=15 |url= |location= |publisher=Pearson Education |page= }}
* {{cite book |last=Last|first=Susan |date=2019 |title=Technical Writing Essentials|url=https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/|location= |publisher= Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria |pages= |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=Dan |date=2022 |title=Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web |location=Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |publisher=Broadview Press |page=85 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki |title=Writing on a Wiki |last=Lucas |first=Gerald| date=2021| website=grlucas.net| publisher=MediaWiki| access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Personas |title= Using Personas in Digital Writing
|last=Lucas |first=Gerald |author-mask=1 |date=2023a| website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/SEO |title=Search Engine Optimization: Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Online Visibility |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023b |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents|title=Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023c |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Design/Users |title=User-Centered Design in Digital Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023d |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-15 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style |title=Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023e |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-10-22 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Credibility |title=The Significance of Credibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023f |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Tech_Writing |title=Combining Disciplinary Approach to Technical Writing with Digital Writing: Enhancing Communication in the Digital Age |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023g |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-27 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach |title=Multimodal Approaches in Technical Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023h |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Accessibility |title=The Imperative of Accessibility in Digital Writing |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023i |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Scannability |title=Scannability |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023j |website=grlucas.net |publisher=MediaWiki |access-date=2023-11-29 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-technical-writer-do |title=What Does a Technical Writer Do? (Plus How To Become One) |last=Macari |first=Sabina |date=2023 |website=indeed.com |publisher=Indeed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=2023-10-31 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Malone |first=Edward |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953-1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285-306 |doi= |access-date=2023-10-11 }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Michael |title=Technical Communication |date=2009 |edition=9th |location=Boston |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin's |pages=22-25 }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Mike |last2=Selber |first2=Stuart A. |date=2019 |title=Practical Strategies of Technical Communication |edition=3rd |url= |location=Boston |publisher=Bedford/St. Martin’s |page= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b |title=How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer |last=Marr |first=Bernard |date=2023 |website=Forbes.com |publisher=Forbes Media |access-date=2023-10-31 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02 |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles AI is most likely to replace |last=Mok |first=Aaron |date=2023 |website=Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite book |last=Mussack |first=Brigitte |date=2021 |title=Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication |url=https://pressbooks.umn.edu/techwriting/front-matter/introduction/ |location= |publisher=Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial |pages=n.p. |author-link= }}
* {{cite book| last=Parkinson |first=Mike |title=A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters| location=United States| publisher=Association for Talent Development| chapter=Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets| date=2018 }}
* {{cite book |last=Perelman |first=Leslie |date=1998 |title=The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing |url=https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/ |location=Mountain View |publisher=Mayfield Publishing Company |pages=n.p. |isbn= |author-link= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://learn.g2.com/how-to-write-a-press-release |title=How to Write a Press Release That Catches People's Attention |date=2021 |last=Pradhan |first=Ninisha |website=learn.g2.com |publisher=G2.com |access-date=2023-11-21 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://proofed.com/writing-tips/a-beginners-guide-to-technical-writing/ |title=A Beginner’s Guide to Technical Writing |last=Proofed Editors |date=2020 |website=Proofed.com |publisher=Proofed |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Robert |title=Growth of the technical writing profession |journal=STWE Review |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=1958 |pages=5-16 }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
* {{cite book |last=Rose|first=Darren |last2=Garret |first2=Chris|date=2012 |title=ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income|url=|location=Indianapolis, IN |publisher=Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=|isbn=|author-link= }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rosenfeld |first1=Louis |last2=Morville |first2=Peter |last3=Arango |first3=Jorge |date=2006 |title=Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond |edition=4th |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.}}
* {{cite web |url=https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c |last=Siddiqui |first=Zafar |title=Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer? |date=2022 |website=writingcooperative.com |publisher=The Writing Cooperative |access-date=2023-11-19 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.managementnote.com/features-of-technical-communication/#google_vignette |title=Features of Technical Communication |last=Smirti |date=2022 |website=managementnote.com |publisher=Management Note |access-date= 2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ |title=Ethical Principles |last=Society for Technical Communication |first= |date=2023 |website=stc.org |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-27 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6 |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook |last=United States Bureau of Labor Statistics |first= |date=2023 |website=bls.gov |publisher=United States Department of Labor |access-date=2023-11-07 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ |title=Chat GPT: What is it? |last=University of Central Arkansas |first= |date=2023 |website=uca.edu |publisher= University of Central Arkansas |access-date=2023-10-09 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.viralnation.com/blog/what-is-digital-content-creation-and-how-can-it-help-me-as-a-marketing-manager/#:~:text=A%20rule%20of%20thumb%20in%20digital%20content%20creation,turn%2C%20share%20it%20with%20others%20in%20their%20network. |title=What is Digital Content Creation? (and How Can It Help Me as a Marketing Manager) |last=Viral Nation |date=2019 |website=viralnation.com |publisher= Viral Nation |access-date=2023-11-05 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/|title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |last=WAI |first=|date=2022 |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://scribehow.com/library/user-guide |title=What is a User Guide? Everything You Need to Know |last=Wainaina |first=Timan |date=2022 |website= |publisher= |access-date=22 November 2023 |quote= }}
* {{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/|title=Accessibility and the Law |last=WCAG |first= |date=2023 |website=wcag.com|publisher=eSSENTIAL Accessibility |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= }}
* {{cite book |last=Zeleznik |first=J. M. |last2=Burnett |first2=R. E. |last3=Benson |first3=P. J. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writing: What It Is and How to Do It |url= |location= |publisher=National Book Network |pages=107 |isbn= |author-link= }}

{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-17T22:24:19Z

Admin: Undo revision 19291 by Natecole54 (talk) - This is unnecessary.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies. Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing. In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

=== Aims of Technical Communication ===
As much as technical communication is a discipline in and of itself, it also exists within many other disciplines. Examples of technical communication communities can be found among such fields as varied as education, business, and science. Technical documentation within any domain typically embodies a similar aim: to help its audience act toward some sort of task or goal. {{sfn|Markel|2007}}

=== Characteristics of Technical Communication ===
Because technical communication is intended to guide an audience, it must be assembled in such a way that it is very easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate. {{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be said to be accurate in two different understandings: accurate in description and accurate in content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication that is delivered logically is well-organized and clear and can be approached in a manner that will be coherent for most users. Technical information that is appropriate contains elements and steps that are suitable for the intended purpose and audience.

== Features of Technical Communication ==
Technical communication involves conveying complex information to a specific audience. Key features include accuracy, attention to detail, visuals, and clear and concise organization to enhance user understanding. {{sfn|smirti|2022}}

=== '''Accuracy''' ===

==== Standards Compliant ====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines which are determined by governing bodies and that also have an impact on their technical communication. Adhering to company standards in technical documents is crucial for consistency, professionalism, and ensuring that communication aligns with company expectations. Many companies have a style guide that outlines preferred language, tone, and formatting.

==== Detailed ====
Accurate information that is delivered with precision and specificity is essential to providing communication that is unambiguous and free of inconsistencies. Reviewing and revising the document is a key aspect in attention to detail. This includes checking for any overlooked errors, inconsistencies, or areas that may need clarification.

==== Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields such as journalism, scientific reporting, and technical communication were accuracy and impartiality are essential.

===== Clear and Concise =====
Clear language is organized logically, is not unnecessarily involved, and is easily understood by the target audience. It will avoid needless jargon and complexity. Good technical communication expresses meaning in a way that is straightforward and that avoids redundant words or excessive explanations. It is easy to both absorb and process.

=== '''Soundness''' ===

==== Format and Organization ====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines which enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. A well-organized document enhances the effective transfer of knowledge.

==== Visuals ====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs or images can enhance understanding on a technical document. When presented properly, they can elucidate difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.

=== '''Appropriateness''' ===

==== Audience-specific ====
Where possible, technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Tailor the communication style, tone and level of detail to match the audience's knowledge and expertise. Consider factors like technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific user needs.

==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States. {{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was a time years before the computer and photocopier became common office equipment. At that time the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. Upon the technical writer writing words on paper, a typist or clerical worker would then type the words with a typewriter.

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The work of the technical writer may now also include not only text, but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The current role of the technical writer is not only to write, but they may also be involved in research and information gathering, speaking with technical experts, and selecting document mediums and project tools. {{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers can be as varied as writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites. {{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} And the titles of today's technical writers may vary as well. They may be referred to by names as diverse as information architects to documentation specialists. {{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. The predominant impact of this revolution was that it made technical communication more accessible by increasing the breadth of its viewers. The world-wide web is public, and thus, it can be accessed by anyone with access to the internet.

Online word processors such as [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs] and [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration SharePoint] allow documents to be easily disseminated. Comment capability allows audience members to interact with one another as well as with the document author. Hypertext permits online authors to link the works of various others to their personal websites and vice versa. In all, technical documentation posted online can grow a considerable audience over time. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as clarity, conciseness, completeness, and correctness, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. {{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=24}}

==Personas in Digital Writing==
Personas in the context of digital writing refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).<ref> {{cite web
| url= https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Personas
| title= Using Personas in Digital Writing
| last= Lucas | first= Gerald | date= September 2, 2023
| website= grlucas.net | publisher= Mediawiki | access-date= November 7, 2023
}}</ref>
There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of UX design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.<ref>{{cite web
| url= https://smashingmagazine.com/2014/08/a-closer-look-at-personas-part-2/
| title= A Closer Look at Personas: A Guide to Developing The Right Ones (Part 2)
| last= Goltz | first= Shlomo | date= August 13, 2014
| website= smashingmagazine
|publisher= Smashing Media AG
|access-date= November 13, 2023 }}</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name="Markel"></ref> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Search Engine Optimization (SEO)==
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.<ref name=":3">Lucas, Gerald R. (2023). ''Search Engine Optimization: Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Online Visibility.'' GRLucas.net. Retrieved: https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/SEO</ref> To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt-text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO. <ref name=":6">Barr, Chris. (2010). ''Yahoo! Style Guide.'' New York: St. Martin's.</ref>

=== Using Keywords ===
Keywords are the words that search engines crawl a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added into the search engine results pages from best matches to worse matches. Depending on where the website falls in that scale based on the specific keywords being searched by a user, influences where the website pops up in the associated search results.<ref name=":6" /> To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engine's such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can crawl your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.<ref name=":3" />

=== Using Alt-Text ===
Alt-Text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute Alt Attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt-Text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt-Text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.<ref name=":3" />

=== Social Media Presence ===
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves visibility of the website overall. Additionally it can drive traffic and enables back-linking to occur when other websites have the ability to also link to the website.<ref name=":3" />

==Digital Documentation ==
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas |2014| }}

===Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility ====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI |2022| }} It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WAI || }} There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}}Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

====Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik, Burnett, & Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}}The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

====Multimedia====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in SERPs.<ref name=":5" />

====Version Control====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023|p=}}

==== Remote Collaboration ====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki
| title = writing on a wiki
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald
| date= May 18, 2021
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = MediaWiki
| access-date =October 31, 2023
| quote = Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.
| ref = harv
}}</ref> One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic locations.

==Examples of Digital Documents==
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

=== Infographics ===
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

=== Presentations ===
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

==User Experience==
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

=== User-Centered Design ===
The approach of user-centered design in technical writing consists of the following methodology<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 21,2023). [[grl:CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Design/Users|"User Centered Design and Digital Documents."]] grlucas.net. MediaWiki. Retrieved November 15, 2023.</ref>:

==== User Research ====
User research is the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document.

==== Ideation and Prototyping ====
Ideation and prototyping refers to the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs.

==== Usability Testing ====
Usability testing refers to the act of having users interact with digital document designs and recording and adjusting the design based on user feedback.

==== Implementation ====
Implementation is the stage in which the design is implemented after making adjustments from prior testing.

==== Evaluation ====
Evaluation refers to the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs.

==== Maintenance and Updates ====
Maintenance and updates are required in order to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs.

==Ethical Considerations==
In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be part of one's job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so one will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force one into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.<ref name=":5" />

Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

=== The Employer ===
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.<ref name=":4" />

=== The Public ===
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

=== The Environment ===
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.<ref name=":0" /> Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra
|title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
|website=United States Environmental Protection Agency
|access-date=November 6, 2023}}</ref>
===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

==Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==
===Future Trends===
Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers. <ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6
| title = Occupational Outlook Handbook
| last =
| first=
| date= September 6, 2023
| website = Bureau of Labor Statistics
| publisher =
| access-date = November 7, 2023
|ref=harv
}}</ref>

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
|quote=
|ref=harv
}}</ref>
One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

===Plagiarism===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors. {{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

===Credit===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace. {{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Grimstead |first=Deborah M. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writers are in Demand: Do You Have The Right Stuff? |magazine=Black Collegian |pages=128 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=2023 |title=ChatGPT Cheating: What to Do When It Happens |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-cheating-what-to-do-when-it-happens/ |work=Education Week |location=Bethesda, MD |access-date=2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Krug |first=Steve |date=2014 |title=Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited|url= |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=New Riders |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents|title=Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023 |website=grlucas.net |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-29 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-technical-writer-do |title=What Does a Technical Writer Do? (Plus How To Become One) |last=Macari |first=Sabina |date=2023 |website=indeed.com |publisher=Indeed |access-date=2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Mike |date=2007 |title=Technical Communication (13th ed.) |url=https://vdocuments.site/technical-communication-13th-edition.html?|page=46 |location=Boston |publisher=Beford/St. Martin’s |page=5 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02 |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles AI is most likely to replace |last=Mok |first=Aaron |date=2023 |website=Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date= 2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mussack |first=Brigitte |date=2021 |title=Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication |url=https://pressbooks.umn.edu/techwriting/front-matter/introduction/ |location= |publisher=Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial |pages=n.p. |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Perelman |first=Leslie |date=1998 |title=The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing |url=https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/ |location=Mountain View |publisher=Mayfield Publishing Company |pages=n.p. |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Robert |title=Growth of the technical writing profession |journal=STWE Review |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=1958 |pages=5-16 |ref=harv }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.managementnote.com/features-of-technical-communication/#google_vignette |title=Features of Technical Communication |last=Smirti |date=2022 |website=managementnote.com |publisher=Management Note |access-date= 2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/|title=Introduction to Web Accessibility|last=WAI |first=|date=2022 |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://wcag.com/legal/|title=Accessibility and the Law|last=WAI |first=|date= |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J |first= |date=1999 |title=Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It |url= |location= |publisher=National Book Network |pages=107 |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-17T22:23:28Z

Admin: Removed citations in lead section. It not contain citations. Save those for the body. (Also, the lead § should be revised.) See MOS:CITELEAD on Wikipedia.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies. Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity. This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing. In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
{{sfn|Mussack|2021}}

=== Aims of Technical Communication ===
As much as technical communication is a discipline in and of itself, it also exists within many other disciplines. Examples of technical communication communities can be found among such fields as varied as education, business, and science. Technical documentation within any domain typically embodies a similar aim: to help its audience act toward some sort of task or goal. {{sfn|Markel|2007}}

=== Characteristics of Technical Communication ===
Because technical communication is intended to guide an audience, it must be assembled in such a way that it is very easily understood. Successful technical documentation is accurate, logically sound, and appropriate. {{sfn|Perelman|1998}} Communication can be said to be accurate in two different understandings: accurate in description and accurate in content. Accurate descriptions are easy to understand. Accurate content provides for the intended result. Communication that is delivered logically is well-organized and clear and can be approached in a manner that will be coherent for most users. Technical information that is appropriate contains elements and steps that are suitable for the intended purpose and audience.

== Features of Technical Communication ==
Technical communication involves conveying complex information to a specific audience. Key features include accuracy, attention to detail, visuals, and clear and concise organization to enhance user understanding. {{sfn|smirti|2022}}

=== '''Accuracy''' ===

==== Standards Compliant ====
Many technical fields have industry-specific regulations and guidelines which are determined by governing bodies and that also have an impact on their technical communication. Adhering to company standards in technical documents is crucial for consistency, professionalism, and ensuring that communication aligns with company expectations. Many companies have a style guide that outlines preferred language, tone, and formatting.

==== Detailed ====
Accurate information that is delivered with precision and specificity is essential to providing communication that is unambiguous and free of inconsistencies. Reviewing and revising the document is a key aspect in attention to detail. This includes checking for any overlooked errors, inconsistencies, or areas that may need clarification.

==== Objective ====
Objective communication is presented in an unbiased and impartial manner and is free of personal opinions. It relies upon facts and evidence and avoids an overly emotional tone. This approach is particularly important in fields such as journalism, scientific reporting, and technical communication were accuracy and impartiality are essential.

===== Clear and Concise =====
Clear language is organized logically, is not unnecessarily involved, and is easily understood by the target audience. It will avoid needless jargon and complexity. Good technical communication expresses meaning in a way that is straightforward and that avoids redundant words or excessive explanations. It is easy to both absorb and process.

=== '''Soundness''' ===

==== Format and Organization ====
Technical documents should be formatted in a way that is consistent with the norms and standards of applicable professional fields. Additionally, formatting should adhere to guidelines which enhance usability. Information should be logically organized for easy reading comprehension. This may involve using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists. A well-organized document enhances the effective transfer of knowledge.

==== Visuals ====
Technical communication utilizes visuals strategically to facilitate understanding of textual content. Visuals such as diagrams, charts, graphs or images can enhance understanding on a technical document. When presented properly, they can elucidate difficult concepts and make material accessible to a more diverse audience.

=== '''Appropriateness''' ===

==== Audience-specific ====
Where possible, technical communication should be customized to align with the knowledge and needs of its audience. Tailor the communication style, tone and level of detail to match the audience's knowledge and expertise. Consider factors like technical background, familiarity with the subject, and specific user needs.

==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

The need for paperwork ushered in by World War II served as the driving force for the technical writing profession in the United States. {{sfn|Rathbone|1958}} This was a time years before the computer and photocopier became common office equipment. At that time the role of the technical writer revolved solely around words, their primary work tools consisted of either a pencil or ink pen and paper. Upon the technical writer writing words on paper, a typist or clerical worker would then type the words with a typewriter.

Advances in technology thrust the technical writing profession into a new era. The work of the technical writer may now also include not only text, but also images, drawings, and computer-based media. The current role of the technical writer is not only to write, but they may also be involved in research and information gathering, speaking with technical experts, and selecting document mediums and project tools. {{sfn|Macari|2023}}

The projects of today's technical writers can be as varied as writing instructions to assemble a living room chair to creating websites. {{sfn|Grimstead|1999}} And the titles of today's technical writers may vary as well. They may be referred to by names as diverse as information architects to documentation specialists. {{sfn|Grimstead|1999}}

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. The predominant impact of this revolution was that it made technical communication more accessible by increasing the breadth of its viewers. The world-wide web is public, and thus, it can be accessed by anyone with access to the internet.

Online word processors such as [https://www.google.com/docs/about/ Google Docs] and [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration SharePoint] allow documents to be easily disseminated. Comment capability allows audience members to interact with one another as well as with the document author. Hypertext permits online authors to link the works of various others to their personal websites and vice versa. In all, technical documentation posted online can grow a considerable audience over time. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as clarity, conciseness, completeness, and correctness, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. {{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=24}}

==Personas in Digital Writing==
Personas in the context of digital writing refer to semi-fictional characters that encapsulate the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of target audience segments. They align closely with the principles of user-centered design (UCD).<ref> {{cite web
| url= https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Personas
| title= Using Personas in Digital Writing
| last= Lucas | first= Gerald | date= September 2, 2023
| website= grlucas.net | publisher= Mediawiki | access-date= November 7, 2023
}}</ref>
There are myriad ways to integrate user-centered thinking into the creative process of UX design, and personas are one of the most effective ways to empathize with and analyze users.<ref>{{cite web
| url= https://smashingmagazine.com/2014/08/a-closer-look-at-personas-part-2/
| title= A Closer Look at Personas: A Guide to Developing The Right Ones (Part 2)
| last= Goltz | first= Shlomo | date= August 13, 2014
| website= smashingmagazine
|publisher= Smashing Media AG
|access-date= November 13, 2023 }}</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name="Markel"></ref> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Search Engine Optimization (SEO)==
SEO refers to the practice of optimizing online content to enhance its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs), making it a crucial skill for digital writers.<ref name=":3">Lucas, Gerald R. (2023). ''Search Engine Optimization: Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Online Visibility.'' GRLucas.net. Retrieved: https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/SEO</ref> To optimize content for SEO means to have the goal of SEO in mind at the time of designing, creating, and writing a web page for publication. Using keywords and alt-text are two examples of optimizing content for SEO. <ref name=":6">Barr, Chris. (2010). ''Yahoo! Style Guide.'' New York: St. Martin's.</ref>

=== Using Keywords ===
Keywords are the words that search engines crawl a website for and index as the page's most important words. Based on other pages using the same keywords, the website is added into the search engine results pages from best matches to worse matches. Depending on where the website falls in that scale based on the specific keywords being searched by a user, influences where the website pops up in the associated search results.<ref name=":6" /> To optimize a website's keywords, you should begin with researching keywords on your own website and ensure that you have an XML [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitemaps sitemap] so search engine's such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Google] can crawl your web pages for updated information. In addition to using keywords, updating a page's metadata information can also help with showing up on SERPs. Using title and header tags as well as meta descriptions for content also helps optimize a website's ratings in SERPs.<ref name=":3" />

=== Using Alt-Text ===
Alt-Text (alternative text), or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt_attribute Alt Attributes], is a practice that increases the usability and accessibility of a web page for users. Alt-Text is often used for visual elements that cannot be displayed in a different format but still provides description of the element for screen readers or users that may have a disability. Alt-Text also improves a website's SEO as a form of content optimization.<ref name=":3" />

=== Social Media Presence ===
Sharing content from a website across different social media platforms is another way to create SEO optimization. This technique can help with being seen as legitimate and improves visibility of the website overall. Additionally it can drive traffic and enables back-linking to occur when other websites have the ability to also link to the website.<ref name=":3" />

==Digital Documentation ==
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.{{sfn|Lucas |2014| }}

===Characteristics of Digital Documents===

===='''Accessibility''' ====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.{{sfn|WAI |2022| }} It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.{{sfn|WAI || }} There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive.{{sfn|Robbins|2018|p=42}}Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

===='''Readability'''====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.{{sfn|Zeleznik, Burnett, & Benson|1999|p=207}} The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

===='''Scannability'''====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. Readers often scan pages for words and phrases that align with their task or interests, as well as for trigger words that are deeply ingrained.{{sfn|Krug|2014|p=23}}The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

===='''Hyperlinking'''====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===='''Multimedia'''====
Digital documents can incorporate multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactive content, enhancing engagement through visual and auditory elements. Multiple media formats work best when sharing new, complicated ideas.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=36}} Increasing multimodality on a website improves engagement, usability, and accessibility. This can improve the impact of the website's standings in SERPs.<ref name=":5" />

===='''Version Control'''====
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.{{sfn|Lucas|2023|p=}}

==== '''Remote Collaboration''' ====
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/Writing_on_a_Wiki
| title = writing on a wiki
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald
| date= May 18, 2021
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = MediaWiki
| access-date =October 31, 2023
| quote = Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.
| ref = harv
}}</ref> One of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined as being open source. As a result, anyone can modify it regardless of their geographic locations.

==Examples of Digital Documents==
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

=== Infographics ===
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

=== Presentations ===
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

==User Experience==
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

=== User-Centered Design ===
The approach of user-centered design in technical writing consists of the following methodology<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 21,2023). [[grl:CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Design/Users|"User Centered Design and Digital Documents."]] grlucas.net. MediaWiki. Retrieved November 15, 2023.</ref>:

==== '''User Research''' ====
User research is the act of conducting thorough research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and experiences when using a digital document.

==== '''Ideation and Prototyping''' ====
Ideation and prototyping refers to the process of creating digital designs and prototypes to assist with exploring possible solutions to meet user needs.

==== '''Usability Testing''' ====
Usability testing refers to the act of having users interact with digital document designs and recording and adjusting the design based on user feedback.

==== '''Implementation''' ====
Implementation is the stage in which the design is implemented after making adjustments from prior testing.

==== '''Evaluation''' ====
Evaluation refers to the stage in which the digital document is assessed to ensure that it is meeting user needs.

==== '''Maintenance and Updates''' ====
Maintenance and updates are required in order to maintain a digital document based on user feedback and changing needs.

==Ethical Considerations==
In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be part of one's job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so one will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force one into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as one's own.<ref name=":5" />

Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

=== The Employer ===
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit them from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to and including termination.<ref name=":4" />

=== The Public ===
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

=== The Environment ===
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Protecting the environment can be costly, however, and organizations may consider ignoring legal guidelines to save money.<ref name=":0" /> Yet, failure to adhere to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations also has financial implications. For example, the penalty for mishandling hazardous waste is five years and/or up to $50,000 for each day of the violation.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra
|title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
|website=United States Environmental Protection Agency
|access-date=November 6, 2023}}</ref>
===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

==Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==
===Future Trends===
Between 2022 and 2032, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics] is projecting a 7% job growth for technical writers. <ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm#tab-6
| title = Occupational Outlook Handbook
| last =
| first=
| date= September 6, 2023
| website = Bureau of Labor Statistics
| publisher =
| access-date = November 7, 2023
|ref=harv
}}</ref>

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
|quote=
|ref=harv
}}</ref>
One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

===Plagiarism===
Because of the ability of chatbots to imitate human-like language, some education administrators have taken precautions to minimize the occurrence of students passing off artificially generated texts as their own. In some instances, educators have taken the view that material drawn from artificial intelligence software must be handled in the same way as sources from human authors. {{sfn|Klein|2023}} In such cases, students who incorporate artificially generated text into their work have been made to denote credit for the artificial intelligence program utilized.

===Credit===
The advent of chatbots has complicated the issue of credit where creative work is concerned. Because chatbots can simulate human speech, their ability to create cinematic dialogues and other types of creative writing have threatened the credits and financial condition of professional writers. According to an article by Aaron Mok and Jacob Zinkula on ''[https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider]'', writing jobs are among the top 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace. {{sfn|Mok|2023}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Grimstead |first=Deborah M. |date=1999 |title=Technical Writers are in Demand: Do You Have The Right Stuff? |magazine=Black Collegian |pages=128 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite news |last=Klein |first=Alyson |date=2023 |title=ChatGPT Cheating: What to Do When It Happens |url=https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-cheating-what-to-do-when-it-happens/ |work=Education Week |location=Bethesda, MD |access-date=2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Krug |first=Steve |date=2014 |title=Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited|url= |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=New Riders |pages= |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents|title=Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents |last=Lucas |first=Gerald |date=2023 |website=grlucas.net |publisher= |access-date=2023-10-29 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/careers/what-does-a-technical-writer-do |title=What Does a Technical Writer Do? (Plus How To Become One) |last=Macari |first=Sabina |date=2023 |website=indeed.com |publisher=Indeed |access-date=2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Markel |first=Mike |date=2007 |title=Technical Communication (13th ed.) |url=https://vdocuments.site/technical-communication-13th-edition.html?|page=46 |location=Boston |publisher=Beford/St. Martin’s |page=5 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-jobs-at-risk-replacement-artificial-intelligence-ai-labor-trends-2023-02 |title=ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles AI is most likely to replace |last=Mok |first=Aaron |date=2023 |website=Insider |publisher=Business Insider |access-date= 2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Mussack |first=Brigitte |date=2021 |title=Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication |url=https://pressbooks.umn.edu/techwriting/front-matter/introduction/ |location= |publisher=Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial |pages=n.p. |author-link= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Perelman |first=Leslie |date=1998 |title=The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing |url=https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/ |location=Mountain View |publisher=Mayfield Publishing Company |pages=n.p. |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Robert |title=Growth of the technical writing profession |journal=STWE Review |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=1958 |pages=5-16 |ref=harv }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.managementnote.com/features-of-technical-communication/#google_vignette |title=Features of Technical Communication |last=Smirti |date=2022 |website=managementnote.com |publisher=Management Note |access-date= 2023-11-05 |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/|title=Introduction to Web Accessibility|last=WAI |first=|date=2022 |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite web|url=https://wcag.com/legal/|title=Accessibility and the Law|last=WAI |first=|date= |website=W3.org|publisher= |access-date= 2023-10-26 |quote= |ref=harv }}
* {{cite book |last=Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J |first= |date=1999 |title=Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It |url= |location= |publisher=National Book Network |pages=107 |isbn= |author-link= |ref=harv }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-17T22:19:38Z

Admin: /* Heading Structure */ Reply.

==Layout and Lead==
Just to get this thing going, I have created the article, developed a rudimentary layout, and added a lead written by ChatGTP. '''All of this may be kept or changed'''. I would certainly revise or rewrite the lead. Questions, ideas, discussion, and comments about the project should be posted here. I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with this semester. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 09:38, 3 October 2023 (EDT)

==Citation question==
I am citing a later edition of a source that is cited elsewhere on the page. (Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). Technical Communication (13th ed). This version has a second author. Should these entries be combined somehow?
:{{Reply to|Beth Kennedy}} Yes. If you’re using the updated version, update the earlier source. Great question, but don’t forget to sign your talk posts. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 14:35, 2 November 2023 (EDT)

::{{Reply to|Admin}}Thank you. I have linked the first citation in the article (paragraph 1) to my Markel use under "Rhetorical Strategies." {{Reply to|mroma98}} and {{Reply to|RDrummond}}, in looking at the article history, it seems one of you may have added the Markel references under Ethical Considerations. I did not update those references yet because the oldest copyright date on my source is 2012, and I was also unsure of the page numbers. If you review the citation I added, and it is appropriate to reference, the shortened reference is <ref name="Markel">. Thanks. --[[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]] ([[User talk:Beth Kennedy|talk]]) 18:23, 13 November 2023 (EST)

==Shortened Footnotes==
I added the template to the project. All you need to do is add the code for your reference under Bibliography and then the SFN code under citations. I made a quick, visual [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QGEr_RhDMKZvPqvncmDR9eoHRmOLeFkXpzp9nzFb-Sg/edit?usp=sharing step-by-step] that show you how to pull the [https://grlucas.net/grl/April%2015,%202019 template] and paste the code.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:11, 11 November 2023 (EST)
:Nice work! Thanks [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 09:28, 13 November 2023 (EST)

== References question ==

Should References be the heading, followed by Bibliography as a subheading? Would this only apply if we are using Notes, Citations, and a Bibliography?--[[User:CEToledo|CEToledo]] ([[User talk:CEToledo|talk]]) 19:14, 4 November 2023 (EDT)
: {{Reply to|CEToledo}} You can do whatever seems logical for this. Check out [[w:The Man Who Studied Yoga|The Man Who Studied Yoga]] to see a way to approach a references section. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 07:27, 6 November 2023 (EST)

--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 12:50, 6 November 2023 (EST)== Shortened footnote code ==
I am having trouble understanding where the placement of the works cited and the shortened footnote code should be. I sent an inquiry email to Dr. Lucas. [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:41, 5 November 2023 (EST)
:{{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} I would put references at the bottom, in a bibliography section. Then you can use the shortened footnotes in the body. This is an easier approach for everyone editing, as they can easily consult the bibliography to see if a reference has been used and entered. —07:30, 6 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} and {{Reply to|CEToledo}} It seems we have two forms of citation happening now: the original one and the revised format that Debbie created. (Thanks Debbie and thanks for the tutorial (above), very helpful!). I think the bibliography with citations using shortened footnotes is a good approach, and my vote would be to transition to this. But it would be good to have consensus. Is everyone ok with this approach? --[[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]] ([[User talk:Beth Kennedy|talk]]) 19:07, 13 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to |Beth Kennedy}} I vote SFN form. --[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 05:04, 14 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to |Beth Kennedy}} My vote is for the bibliography with citations using shortened footnotes. I think that will present a clean and readable format, since we are referencing similar marterial. --[[User:Kamyers|Kamyers]] ([[User talk:Kamyers|talk]]) 15:06, 14 November 2023 (EST)

Do I need to have the citation section? I see that my shortened footnotes are displaying in the reference section.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 15:48, 6 November 2023 (EST)

For the User Experience section, I reference citation 23. Do I need to add the citation to each entry there since they all come from the same source or will one citation work?--[[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]] ([[User talk:Elaine Streeter|talk]]) 19:06, 16 November 2023 (EST)

== Paragraph Blocks ==

I can't believe how well and quickly this is coming along. At any rate, on to my dispute...are we adhering to any particular standard in terms of the size of paragraph blocks? Too long and it reduces the likelihood of it being read, too brief (a single sentence) and the topic/subtopic of the contribution seems too unnecessary to even mention. -- [[User:CBrown]]

:I separated the Digital Document and User Experience sections. I think paragraph blocks should have around three to four sentences max. More than that, we can create a new subheading.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 06:41, 8 November 2023 (EST)

::The Ethical Considerations section seems to run together. Can it be separated into smaller sections with the primary categories as headings: "Employer," "Public," and "Environment?" --[[User:APitts]]

:::@APitts I agree that it would work better to separate into smaller sections. It would make them appear neater and more organized. -- [[User: HRoney]]

::::Can we agree then that there are no more additions to the "Ethical Considerations" section? [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 09:50, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:::::Edits have been made to separate the Ethical Considerations portion into categories. Can someone look over my work or make any edits as you see fit? -- [[User: APitts]]

:::::{{Reply to |APitts}} I looked over your work and it looks good to me! There were a couple of grammatical errors that I edited. -- [[User: HRoney]]

::::::{{Reply to |CBrown}} I agree that a single sentence is too brief for a topic/subtopic but I don't think that means all sections like that are "too unnecessary to even mention". I think that for single sentences we need to review that area to determine if we need to add further details. --[[User:TBara]]([[User talk:TBara|talk]]) 13:53, 14 November 2023 (EST)

Added indents to keep the section readable, per [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Indentation wikipedia indentation] philosophy. [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 10:48, 14 November 2023 (EST)

== Topics vs. Subtopics ==

Why are future trends and challenges separate subtopics under the future trends and challenges topic? Should there not be an overview of future trends and challenges followed by subtopics of examples of future trends and challenges, e.g. artificial intelligence. -- [[User:CBrown]]

:I am in favor of this idea/change if others agree. --[[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]] ([[User talk:Elaine Streeter|talk]]) 14:37, 10 November 2023 (EST)

:{{Reply to|CBrown}} The problem here is that the heading Future Trends and Challenges has room for interpretation. I think the section should just be titled Future Trends. I also think an overview of future trends could be appropriate provided information from its subheadings is not unnecessarily repeated. The material under the Challenges subheading could be relocated to another heading but I would like to hear other opinions on this proposal. —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:13, 10 November 2023 (EST)
::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} While Challenges could be a standalone heading, are we talking current or future challenges? If current, then I believe it would be best as a standalone heading. If future, then it would fit in the current format. If both, then standalone. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 20:04, 11 November 2023 (EST)

:::{{Reply to |Mroma98}} I agree with all of your points. My interpretation of the information contained within the Challenges subheading is that it refers to current challenges. I would prefer to either get input from the individual who originally contributed the content or to obtain consensus from other editors before modifying. —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:47, 11 November 2023 (EST)
::::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} OK. We're on the same page. I agree with both of your preferences. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 21:04, 11 November 2023 (EST)
::::{{Reply to |AWilliamson}} I agree that "Future Trends" and "Challenges" could be separated into two different subtopics. After reviewing the edit history, I believe Dr. Lucas is the one who created this heading, and he has indicated that any of the initial outline can be changed or removed. To me, it seems like almost everything currently in this section falls under the "Challenges" category, so that could be its own section. Then the "Future Trends" can be further developed. --[[User:Emmakd|Emma D.]] ([[User talk:Emmakd|talk]]) 15:29, 12 November 2023 (EST)

Under Ethical Considerations, I removed the second person pronouns with a more neutral one. Though the paragraph fits with the topic, writing in the second person is not standard practice for Wikipedia/Litwiki. Litwiki is the intellectual property of Dr. Gerald R. Lucas, PhD, and the rules and format of Wikipedia apply to Litwiki. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 15:07, 11 November 2023 (EST)

== Include external links section? ==

There are a few external (non-wikipedia) links in the article. Should we remove/replace the external links or create an External Links section? According to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External%20links Wikipedia:External links]: "With rare exceptions, external links should not be used in the body of an article. Instead, include appropriate external links in an "External links" section at the end of the article, and in the appropriate location within an infobox, if applicable." —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:50, 10 November 2023 (EST)

:{{Reply to|AWilliamson}} I think we should as this follows the Wikipedia guidelines as well as Dr. Lucas' earlier advice. --[[User:Apjones428|Apjones428]] ([[User talk:Apjones428|talk]]) 12:47, 13 November 2023 (EST)

::{{Reply to|AWilliamson |Apjones428}} I agree that external links should be placed in an External links section. However, I question if the ones currently linked are needed external links. Most of the links are to Wikipedia pages. Instead, do these need to be potential LitWiki pages and the links formatted similarly to how one would link a page internally in Wikipedia, even if those pages do not exist? If so, I think the other three external links, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Business Insider, should follow the same format. Or should any of the current external links inside the body of the article be links at all? My understanding of External links is that they should be reserved for further topic information. -- ([[User talk:Kamyers|talk]]) 16:03, 14 November 2023 (EST)

:::{{Reply to|Kamyers}} I don't believe the links are needed for the most part. The links do not lead to much more information. --([[User talk:Kynndra Watson|talk]]) Kynndra Watson 19:14, 14 November 2023 (EST)

:::{{Reply to|Kamyers}} My thinking was that we treat LitWiki as if it is Wikipedia. So the links to Wikipedia would be considered internal if this is the case. I think what information constitutes "further topic information" is up to us as the editors and we just need to come to a consensus on the matter and then edit accordingly. —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 22:09, 14 November 2023 (EST)

==Heading Structure==
There are inconsistencies with the subheading structure on the page. I propose we establish the heading structure as follows: Heading 1 (for section titles), Subheading 1 (H2 for subsections within the main section), and Subheading 2 (H3 for items that need to be defined). No italics in subheadings.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 14:11, 11 November 2023 (EST)
:Debbie, I agree. Your suggestion makes sense, as there should be consistency throughout. --[[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]] ([[User talk:Mroma98|talk]]) 19:58, 11 November 2023 (EST)

: {{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} I support your proposal. — [[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 20:56, 11 November 2023 (EST)

I edited the headings and subheadings. Thanks for your input everyone--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 18:52, 12 November 2023 (EST)

: {{Reply to|Debbiebwolfe}} Thanks for doing this. As I was looking at some of the headings, it seems the H2 headings blend in with the text due to size similarity of the paragraphs below. I think these headings would benefit from being bold to help them stand out more. --[[User:Natecole54|Natecole54]] ([[User talk:Natecole54|talk]]) 11:40, 14 November 2023 (EST)
I went ahead and changed these H2 headings to bold for viewability purposes. --[[User:Natecole54|Natecole54]] ([[User talk:Natecole54|talk]]) 12:49, 17 November 2023 (EST)
: {{Reply to|Natecole54}} Bolding headings does nothing and should be avoided. See [[w:MOS:BOLD|MOS:BOLD]]. Thanks. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 17:19, 17 November 2023 (EST)

== Collaboration and Version Control ==

I think this section can be added to the digital documentation section.--[[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbiebwolfe]] ([[User talk:Debbiebwolfe|talk]]) 18:51, 12 November 2023 (EST)
:I moved version control to the digital documentation section. It was already listed there as a characteristic. I left collaboration as its own section. I'm not positive it falls under the characteristics of a digital document. I think it may be fine to leave that one on its own, but also down to do whatever the group thinks is best for it. [[User:Bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna.kerbuski]] ([[User talk:Bryanna.kerbuski|talk]]) 17:53, 13 November 2023 (EST)

I moved the collaboration under the section for digital documentation, and I renamed the subheading "Remote Collaboration" because that is a characteristic of digital documents, but now that I've done it, I wonder if I should have just left it alone. Perhaps, I just need to edit the content under the heading. [[User:Kleinberger|Kleinberger]] ([[User talk:Kleinberger|talk]]) 06:09, 14 November 2023 (EST)

== Features of Technical Communication Section ==
When compared to the other sections of the talk page, this section seems a bit choppy. I'm thinking we can get a better intro paragraph and maybe either add longer paragraphs for each item, or combine some of the subheadings together. Any thoughts on this? --[[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]] ([[User talk:Amanda.Austin1|talk]]) 21:19, 12 November 2023 (EST)

I do think that longer paragraphs will make the section more thorough. Maybe sections like "clear" and "concise" could be combined? [[User: HRoney]]

:{{Reply to|HRoney}} Thank you for your feedback, I've gone ahead and combined those two sections along with adding more context to the remainder of each subheadings in the section. To all, please feel free to review and let me know of any questions or revision changes you'd think would work. [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda.Austin1]] ([[User talk:Amanda.Austin1|talk]]) 14:04, 13 November 2023 (EST)

==Additional Sections==
What additional sections would we like to add to this article? I will be adding in more on multi-modality as well as more information to the SEO section of the page. Other thoughts? --[[User:Apjones428|Apjones428]] ([[User talk:Apjones428|talk]]) 12:47, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:I think adding in more on both multi-modality and SEO would be helpful. SEO is one that I am struggling with understanding. I think that it'd be nice to have more information about it on our wiki.[[User:Bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna.kerbuski]] ([[User talk:Bryanna.kerbuski|talk]]) 17:53, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:: I agree we should add more info detailing SEO, but should we also go into more detail about the user centered design principles? We have mentioned it in a few spots but nothing really going into detail about its importance, especially in relation to SEO. I can organize my research and knock it out.[[User:Kynndra.watson]] 18:59, 14 November 2023 (EST)

::: I added the SEO section because of its importance to the user experience. Optimizing keywords and long-tail keywords should be right in a digital writer's wheelhouse. Feel free to add to this section! [[User:Cggreen|Cggreen]] ([[User talk:Cggreen|talk]]) 10:17, 17 November 2023 (EST)

== Links to other Wikipedia articles ==

In the Wikipedia: Citing Sources guidelines, under the Wikidata section, it states, "Wikidata is largely user-generated, and articles should not directly cite Wikidata as a source '''(just as it would be inappropriate to cite other Wikipedias' articles as sources)'''. Bold font is mine. Five of the eight title, name, or word links go to another Wikipedia article. One of those articles states it doesn't exist. We should consider correcting these. [[User:RDrummond|Randy M. Drummond]] ([[User talk:RDrummond|talk]]) 13:00, 13 November 2023 (EST)

:{{Reply to|RDrummond}} I think you are referring to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing%20sources Wikipedia:Citing sources] but possibly discussing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual%20of%20Style/Linking Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking]. Can you offer any clarification? —[[User:AWilliamson|AWilliamson]] ([[User talk:AWilliamson|talk]]) 22:29, 14 November 2023 (EST)

@AWilliamson: I couldn’t find it specifically in the Style/Linking section, it even talks about linking to sister articles, but the Citing Sources has what I quoted. The article I used in Wiki Assignment 4, Wiki NPOV, the writer cited numerous statements and studies but linked them to Wiki pages about the government agency or corporation that said nothing about what he was putting in his article. That made me start to check links to other Wiki articles. [[User:RDrummond|Randy M. Drummond]] ([[User talk:RDrummond|talk]]) 09:07, 17 November 2023 (EST)

== Article Organization ==

I've been taking a look at the overall structure of the article, and I wonder if we might consider revising the organization. It just seems like there's a bit too much back and forth between Technical Writing topics and Digital Writing topics. Also, I wonder if the Historical Context should come before the Features section. Something about the overall structure just feels "off" to me. [[User:Kleinberger|Kleinberger]] ([[User talk:Kleinberger|talk]]) 06:23, 14 November 2023 (EST)
:{{reply to|Kleinberger}}I think the organization could be fine-tuned so it flows naturally. I agree the Historical Context should come before the features section. If we were to mimic the Technical Writing Wiki page, it has the overview and then history. Since there are technical writing topics and digital writing topics, we could add more context in the digital technologies and technical writing section that could merge these two concepts together to transition into topics on digital writing. The article should transition from what Technical Writing was to what it is now in the Digital Age. [[User:Jasteverson|Jasteverson]] ([[User talk:Jasteverson|talk]]) 18:40, 14 November 2023 (EST)

== Making it Flow ==

I agree with several of the other posts about overall organization and the flow of the article. I feel the article itself is good and has a lot of great content, I am just not sure about how it is currently laid out. For example, the intro is an "Overview of Technical Communication." In that section are types, aims and characteristics of technical communication. However, the next section is "Features of Technical Communication." All of these are related and should be included in one section if they all focus on various aspects of technical communication. There also seems to be a random order of the headings. The last heading on future trends is good, but right above that is pedagogical approaches. I think that should be earlier in the article. Also, there is a heading for examples of digital documents under a heading on digital documents which includes lots of subheadings. Again, I think content is great. I just think we could clean it up a bit.

==Expansion Needed==

While reviewing the article, there are specific sections without enough detail that need to be expanded. These three sections are Overview-Types of Technical Communication, Ethical Considerations-The Public, and Future Trends and Challenges-Future Trends. Also is it okay to have a single subsection under Appropriateness? Do we need or have planned to have additional subsections or should we eliminate the subheading "Audience-specific"?--[[User:TBara]]([[User talk:TBara|talk]]) 14:14, 14 November 2023 (EST)

ENGL 5106

2023-11-13T15:12:20Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Updated user name.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna Kerbuski]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CBrown|Channal Brown]]
* [[User:Cggreen|Calvin Green]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Dsummerlin|Dannielle Summerlin]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:HRoney|Haley Roney]]
* [[User:Jasteverson|Jessica Steverson]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:RSchnars|Richard Schnarrs]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]
* [[User:Valerie_Emerick|Valerie Emerick]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-07T15:02:04Z

Admin: Some clean-up.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.<ref name=":3">Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). ''Technical Communication'' (13th ed). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martin's: 182-186. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL36001026M/Technical_Communication ISBN: 978-1-319-30769-1]</ref> Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations within this domain revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity.<ref name=":1">Carroll, Brian, (2010). ''Writing for Digital Media.'' New York: Routledge. </ref> This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach
| title = multimodal-approaches-in-technical-writing
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald-R
| date= September 19, 2023
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = ghost
| access-date =October 30, 2023
| ref = harv
}}</ref> In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
<ref>Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p.</ref>
==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as remaining clear, concise, complete, and correct, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. <ref>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge. New York, 2010. p.24.</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name=":3" /> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Online Documentation and User Experience==

===Digital Documentation===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.<ref name=":2">Lucas, Gerald (September 1, 2023). “Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents.” Retrieved Oct 29, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents</ref>

=== Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/ |title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |author= |website=Web Accessibility Initiative |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/ |title=Accessibility and the Web |author= |website=WCAG |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive. <ref> {{cite book | last = Robbins | first = Jennifer Niederst | title = Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics | publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. | edition = 5th | date = 2018 | location = Sebastopol, CA | page = 42 | isbn = 9781491960202}} </ref> Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

==== Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.<ref>Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J. (1999). ''Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It''. National Book Network. p. 207.</ref> The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===Examples of Digital Documents===
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

====Infographics ====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

==== Presentations====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

===User Experience===
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design and designing the document with the user in mind. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

==Collaboration and Version Control==

===Collaboration===
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>Lucas, Gerald (18 May 2021). "Writing on a Wiki". Retrieved 2023-10-31.</ref> In fact, one of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined by being open source. And as such, it can be modified by anyone.

===Version Control===
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.<ref name=":2" />

==Ethical Considerations ==
Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" />

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.[https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra]

In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be a part of your job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so you will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force you into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as ones own.<ref name=":5" />

===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

== Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence ===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
}}</ref> One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web | url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/ | title =Chat GPT: What is it? | last = | first = | date = | website =University of Central Arkansas | publisher = | access-date =October 9, 2023 }}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

==References==
===Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}} 
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-07T14:54:47Z

Admin: /* Bibliography */ Removed ref=harv —it may be unnecessary here.

'''Technical Writing in the Digital Age''' represents the dynamic and evolving discipline of creating written materials that convey complex information, instructions, and technical concepts in the context of contemporary digital technologies.<ref name=":3">Markel, Mike, and Selber, Stuart. (2021). ''Technical Communication'' (13th ed). Boston/New York. Bedford/St. Martin's: 182-186. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL36001026M/Technical_Communication ISBN: 978-1-319-30769-1]</ref> Its purview encompasses the creation, dissemination, and management of technical documents and content within an expansive digital landscape.

Major considerations within this domain revolve around adapting traditional principles of rhetoric to digital platforms, ensuring effective communication in an era defined by rapid technological advancements. Key factors include integrating multimedia elements, user-centered design principles, and ethical considerations like accessibility and inclusivity.<ref name=":1">Carroll, Brian, (2010). ''Writing for Digital Media.'' New York: Routledge. </ref> This discipline also extends to collaborative writing processes and version control systems, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork in producing accurate and up-to-date technical documentation. The use of multi-modality and the interfacing of multiple media platforms and sources also plays a role in digital technical writing.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Multimodal_Approach
| title = multimodal-approaches-in-technical-writing
| last = Lucas
| first= Gerald-R
| date= September 19, 2023
| website = Gerald-R-Lucas
| publisher = ghost
| access-date =October 30, 2023
| ref = harv
}}</ref> In essence, technical writing in the digital age encapsulates the art and science of conveying technical information in a manner that is comprehensible and accessible to diverse audiences in our digitally-driven society.

==Overview==

===Types of Technical Communication===
Common types of technical communication include instructions, user guides, reports, proposals, memos, and procedures. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon
| first1 = John
| last2 = Gurak
| first2 = Laura
| date = 2022
| title = Technical Communication
| edition = 15th
| publisher = Pearson Education Limited
| location = Essex, United Kingdom
| page = 30
| isbn = 1-292-36359-2
}}</ref>
<ref>Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p.</ref>
==Historical Context==
===Technical Writing Profession===
Joseph P. Chapline is considered to be one of the first technical writers, having written in 1949 the first ever user manual for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), an early personal computer.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Ed |date=2008 |title=Joseph D. Chapline: Technical Communication's Mozart |url=https://web.mst.edu/~malonee/chapline.pdf |magazine=IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter |access-date=October 31, 2023 |ref=harv }}.</ref> In the 1950s, technical writing as a distinct profession began to take shape when technical writers founded formal organizations, academic programs, and conferences dedicated to the art. One of these key writing associations was the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, also formed in the 1950s. Several of these groups eventually merged, forming the Society of Technical Communication in 1960.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edward |first1=Malone |date=November 2011 |title=The First Wave (1953–1961) of the Professionalization Movement in Technical Communication |url=https://www.stc.org/techcomm/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/08/november-2011-58-4.pdf |journal=Technical Communication |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=285 - 306 |doi= |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Digital Technologies and Technical Writing==
With the rise of digital technology, technical writing has had to adapt to the needs of a digital era. However, many aspects of effective technical writing, such as remaining clear, concise, complete, and correct, still need to be applied to technical writing created for digital interfaces. <ref>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge. New York, 2010. p.24.</ref>

==Rhetorical Strategies in the Digital Age==
Rhetoric is a communication strategy whose primary goal is to persuade an audience. It is grounded in three foundational concepts first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. These concepts are ''logos'', which engages with the reader’s sense of logic or reason; ''pathos'', which appeals to the reader’s emotions; and ''ethos'', which addresses the audience’s values and the writer’s credibility. Within this framework, writers utilize specific techniques or devices to influence and engage readers. Examples include appealing to an audience’s sense of logic by using factual examples to support a point or evoking emotion through descriptive visual language. <ref>{{cite book |last=Gagich |first=Melanie |title=Writing Arguments in Stem |publisher=Digital Commons |date=n.d. |chapter=Rhetorical Appeals: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined |url=https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oercoursematerials#page=44 |pages=34-37 |ref=harv }}</ref>

In today’s digital age, writers can use digital technologies as rhetorical devices to influence the reader. Electronic images and informational graphics can be incorporated into digital and online documents to illustrate or reinforce points made in the text.<ref name=":3" /> Hyperlinks can be used to provide additional information that supports the author's ideas. Nevertheless, the writer's basic task of informing and persuading an audience is the same in digital communication as in other forms of writing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Devos |first=Danielle |date=2010 |title=Because Digital Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Online and Multimedia Environments |location=San Francisco |publisher=Jossey-Bass |pages=105 |isbn=9780470892237 |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL34593323M/Because_Digital_Writing_Matters |ref=harv }}</ref>

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the demographics and habits of an intended audience. The information gathered allows writers to craft messages that appeal to the target audience. In the digital age, websites and social media platforms convey rhetorical messages. <ref>{{cite book
| last =Lawrence
| first =Dan
| date =2022
| title =Digital Writing
| location =Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| publisher =Broadview Press
| page = 6-14
| isbn =9781770488229
}}</ref>

==Online Documentation and User Experience==

===Digital Documentation===
Digital documentation is the conversion of physical documents into digital files, enabling easier access, retrieval, and sharing of information. It includes features like searchability, version control, and security measures to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.<ref name=":2">Lucas, Gerald (September 1, 2023). “Exploring the Dichotomy: A Comparative Analysis of Digital and Paper Documents.” Retrieved Oct 29, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Documents</ref>

=== Characteristics of Digital Documents===

====Accessibility====
Website content should be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to access the same information as those without disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/ |title=Introduction to Web Accessibility |author= |website=Web Accessibility Initiative |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> It is a legal requirement to include accessibility features in website design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wcag.com/legal/ |title=Accessibility and the Web |author= |website=WCAG |access-date=October 26, 2023 }}</ref> There are four different types of impairment that can affect how a user interacts and perceives digital documents: vision, mobility, auditory, and cognitive. <ref> {{cite book | last = Robbins | first = Jennifer Niederst | title = Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics | publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. | edition = 5th | date = 2018 | location = Sebastopol, CA | page = 42 | isbn = 9781491960202}} </ref> Digital documents will need to be optimized so that information can be accessed by hardware and software tools used by people with disabilities.{{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103-104}}

==== Readability====
Digital documents rely on the "Seven Cs" of precise writing to be effective and increase readability. Forms of technical writing must have readability. Readability is a term used to determine whether the content has clarity, conciseness and courtesy.<ref>Zeleznik, J. M., Burnett, R. E., & Benson, P. J. (1999). ''Technical Writing : What It Is and How to Do It''. National Book Network. p. 207.</ref> The other four Cs are coherent, concrete, correct and complete.<ref>Last, Suzan (2019). ''Technical Writing Essentials.'' Victoria, B.C. University of Victoria. ISBN: 9781550586657 https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/communicatingprecision/</ref>

====Scannability====
A document's scannability is determined by the ease in which it can be scanned to determine meaning. The most effective web content is concise and simple to scan, making it easy for users to find the important information. Breaking up text into interesting, easy-to-read sections helps users quickly find information. {{sfn|Barr|2010|p=103}}

====Hyperlinking====
Hyperlinking is a quick and efficient method for directing readers to relevant information in digital documents, facilitating seamless navigation between sections, references, and external resources.{{sfn|Carroll|2010|p=79}}

===Examples of Digital Documents===
In technical and professional writing, digital documentation takes various forms. These methods streamline the sharing of technical information, enhance collaboration, and ensure easy accessibility within professional settings, contributing to efficient communication and knowledge dissemination.

====Infographics ====
Infographics, shared as digital documents, typically combine text, graphics, and illustrations to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing format. Infographics are often used to simplify information, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and are found in presentations, reports, websites, and educational materials. <ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Lannon | first1 = John M.
| first2 = Laura J. | last2 = Gurak
| title = ''Technical Communication Fifteenth Edition''
| location = United States
| publisher = Pearson
| pages = 292–293
| date = 2020
| isbn = 978-0-13-520322-4}}</ref>

==== Presentations====
Presentations created with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint PowerPoint] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides Google Slides] are vital for professional communication and knowledge sharing. They condense complex information into visually appealing slides for effective presentations by using photos, videos, graphics, charts, and graphs.
<ref>{{cite book
| last1 = Parkinson | first1 = Mike
| title = A Trainer’s Guide to PowerPoint: Best Practices for Master Presenters
| location = United States
| publisher = Association for Talent Development
| pages = Chapter 4. PowerPoint Tips, Tricks, and Secrets
| date = 2018}}</ref>

===User Experience===
User experience is how a product works from the perspective of the user. Digital documents can be created with efficient user experiences by focusing on user-centered design and designing the document with the user in mind. <ref> {{cite book | last = Garrett | first = Jesse James | title = The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | publisher = New Riders | edition = 2nd | date = 2011 | location = Berkeley, CA | page = 17}} </ref>

==Collaboration and Version Control==

===Collaboration===
One form of collaborative technical writing is a wiki, which is a "Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content."<ref>Lucas, Gerald (18 May 2021). "Writing on a Wiki". Retrieved 2023-10-31.</ref> In fact, one of the predominant elements of a wiki is that it is defined by being open source. And as such, it can be modified by anyone.

===Version Control===
Version control is a characteristic of digital documents that allows for the tracking of edits and revisions to digital documents. In collaborative writing, version control helps maintain the document with accountability and transparency.<ref name=":2" />

==Ethical Considerations ==
Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref>

Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer.

Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" />

Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" />

Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.[https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra]

In technical workplaces, resolving ethical dilemmas will be a part of your job. Resources, time, and reputations are at stake, so you will feel pressure to overpromise, underdeliver, bend the rules, cook the numbers, or exaggerate results. Technical fields are also highly competitive, so people sometimes stretch a little further than they should. Ethical dilemmas can force you into situations in which all choices seem unsatisfactory<ref>Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. “Managing Ethical Challenges.” ''Technical Communication Today'', 6th ed., Pearson, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 71–84.</ref>.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is the world's oldest professional association dedicated to advancing the field of technical communication.<ref>“About STC.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 19 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ www.stc.org/about-stc/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref> The STC promotes adherence to a list of ethical principles. They are legality, honesty, confidentiality, quality, fairness, and professionalism.<ref>“Ethical Principles.” ''Society for Technical Communication'', 20 May 2021, [https://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/ www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles/] Retrieved October 27, 2023.</ref>

Technical communicators also have to be careful to avoid plagiarism, or taking ideas, thoughts, or words from someone else and passing them off as ones own.<ref name=":5" />

===Disinformation===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation, often referred to as "[[w:Fake news|fake news]]," is information that is purposefully spread as false or misleading and is a sub-type of misinformation.<ref>Lawrence, Dan. (2022). ''Digital Writing: A Guide to Writing for Social Media and the Web.'' Broadview Press. </ref> Modern communication technologies allow for the spread of information to occur at a fast pace. Social media is one area where the spread of disinformation occurs regularly. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, have begun to flag certain articles posted on the site as being questionable in their representation of facts or occurrences. Despite the widespread understanding and use of disinformation available today, digital writers need to be aware of their intent and the audience's needs and wants from their digital communication.<ref>Lucas, Gerald. (September 13, 2023). "Audience-Centric Style in Digital Writing" in ''From Reading to Writing: A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 22, 2023. https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Digital_Writing/Style</ref> Ethical considerations regarding citing sources, cross-referencing information, and using primary sources are good practices for maintaining ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.

To help mitigate the problem of disinformation, technical writers should utilize gatekeepers. These individuals verify the accuracy of the information before it is distributed to primary readers. This helps protect the author from any ethical and/or legal issues.<ref name=":4">"Ethics" Balzotti, Jon (2022). ''Technical Communication: A Design-Centric Approach''. New York. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-003-00606-0</ref>

== Pedagogical Approaches==
Barriers to teaching technical communications include the speed at which digital tools evolve and the complexity of software. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovde |first1=Marjorie |last2=Renguette |first2=Corinne |date=2017 |title=Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Software Tools |journal=Technical Communication Quarterly |volume=26 |pages=395-411 |doi=10.1080/10572252.2017.1385998}}</ref>

Informal writing, such as some emailing, instant messaging, and texting, has crept into academic writing. In a study conducted by the Pew Internet & America Life Project, almost half of the respondents admitted to omitting proper punctuation and capitalization. Others even used emoticons. Colleges and universities now must focus on educating students on the different forms of written communication and when best to employ them.<ref name=":5">Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. 280.</ref>

==Future Trends and Challenges==

===Challenges===
Among others, a prominent barrier to technical writers is the dependency on input information accuracy. Outdated, incorrect, or inconsistent data delays the publication, requires more reparative efforts, and decreases productivity. <ref>Common problems in technical writing and how to resolve them (componize.com)</ref> Also, Technical writers often have to contend with complex, outdated or unsuitable tools. This can make their job more difficult and time-consuming, and can lead to frustration and errors.<ref>[https://componize.com/common-problems-in-technical-writing-and-how-to-resolve-them/#:~:text=Technical%20writers%20often%20have%20to,longer%20supported%20by%20the%20vendor]</ref>

===Artificial Intelligence ===
Artificial intelligence programs, utilizing natural language processing, are capable of producing technical writing and have advanced in recent years becoming more adept.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-chatgpt-and-natural-language-technology-might-affect-your-job-if-you-are-a-computer-programmer/?sh=6d9acf79174b
| title = How ChatGPT And Natural Language Technology Might Affect Your Job If You Are A Computer Programmer
| last = Marr
| first= Bernard
| date= January 23, 2023
| website = Forbes
| publisher =
| access-date =October 31, 2023
| ref =
}}</ref> One such program is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChatGPT ChatGPT], which uses machine learning to produce texts with human-like style and tone. <ref>{{cite web

| url =https://uca.edu/cetal/chat-gpt/

| title =Chat GPT: What is it?

| last =

| first =

| date =

| website =University of Central Arkansas

| publisher =

| access-date =October 9, 2023

| quote =

}}</ref> Another leader in this area, Contentbot, uses a WordPress plugin which gives blog writers ideas to enhance their posts which are shared via email. <ref>Siddiqui, Zafar (January 2022). "Will Best Artificial Intelligence Take Over any Technical Content Writer?" The Writing Cooperative. https://writingcooperative.com/intricacies-of-ai-tools-can-ai-tools-take-over-the-jobs-of-technical-writers-af36836f625c</ref>

References

[[Category:Fall 2023]]
[[Category:ENGL 5106]]
<references group="Mussack, Brigitte. (2021). Introduction to Technical and Professional Communication: Technical Communication through a Social Justice Lens. Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial, 2021. n.p." />
<references />
====Citations ====
{{Reflist}}
====Bibliography====
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2010 |title=Writing for Digital Media |url= |location=New York |publisher=Routledge }}
*{{cite book |last=Barr |first=Chris |date=2010 |title=Yahoo! Style Guide |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's }}
*{{cite book |last=Robbins |first=Jennifer Niederst |date=2018 |title=Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics (5th ed.) |url= |location=Sebastopol, CA |publisher= O’Reilly Media, Inc. }}
{{Refend}}

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-06T12:30:07Z

Admin: /* Shortened footnote code */ Reply.

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-06T12:27:29Z

Admin: /* References question */ Reply.

Talk:Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-11-02T18:35:05Z

Admin: /* Citation question */ Answer.

Template:Reply to

2023-11-02T18:34:47Z

Admin: Created page with "{{<includeonly>safesubst:</includeonly>#invoke:Reply to|replyto|<noinclude>example=Example</noinclude>|max=50}}<noinclude> {{documentation}} </noinclude>"

{{<includeonly>safesubst:</includeonly>#invoke:Reply to|replyto|<noinclude>example=Example</noinclude>|max=50}}<noinclude>
{{documentation}}
</noinclude>

Module:Reply to

2023-11-02T18:32:30Z

Admin: Created page with "local p = {} local function makeError(msg) msg ='Error in Template:Reply to: ' .. msg return mw.text.tag('strong', {['class']='error'}, msg) end function p.replyto(frame) local origArgs = frame:getParent().args local args = {} local maxArg = 1 local usernames = 0 for k, v in pairs(origArgs) do if type(k) == 'number' then if mw.ustring.match(v,'%S') then if k > maxArg then maxArg = k end usernames = usernames + 1 local title = mw.title.new(v)..."

local p = {}

local function makeError(msg)
msg ='Error in [[Template:Reply to]]: ' .. msg
return mw.text.tag('strong', {['class']='error'}, msg)
end

function p.replyto(frame)
local origArgs = frame:getParent().args
local args = {}
local maxArg = 1
local usernames = 0
for k, v in pairs(origArgs) do
if type(k) == 'number' then
if mw.ustring.match(v,'%S') then
if k > maxArg then maxArg = k end
usernames = usernames + 1
local title = mw.title.new(v)
if not title then return makeError('Input contains forbidden characters.') end
args[k] = title.rootText
end
elseif v == '' and k:sub(0,5) == 'label' then
args[k] = ''
else
args[k] = v
end
end

if usernames > (tonumber(frame.args.max) or 50) then
return makeError(string.format(
'More than %s names specified.',
tostring(frame.args.max or 50)
))
else
if usernames < 1 then
if frame.args.example then args[1] = frame.args.example else return makeError('Username not given.') end
end
args['label1'] = args['label1'] or args['label']
local isfirst = true
local outStr = args['prefix'] or '@'
for i = 1, maxArg do
if args[i] then
if isfirst then
isfirst = false
else
if ( (usernames > 2) or ((usernames == 2) and (args['c'] == '')) ) then outStr = outStr..', ' end
if i == maxArg then outStr = outStr..' '..(args['c'] or 'and') .. ' ' end
end
outStr = string.format(
'%s[[User:%s|%s]]',
outStr,
args[i],
args['label'..tostring(i)] or args[i]
)
end
end
outStr = outStr..(args['p'] or ':')
return mw.text.tag('span', {['class']='template-ping'}, outStr)
end
end

return p

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-10-25T13:27:41Z

Admin: /* Disinformation */ Removed external links. These should not be in the body of the article.

Stream of consciousness

2023-10-25T13:16:35Z

Admin: Corrections.

In literature, a way to represent the way humans think. According to Gibb, "Writers had long before sensed the complexity of man's conscious mind and even his unconscious mind" (246). The way the stream of consciousness is represented is through interior monologue. The interior monologue of a character in a narrative is closely related to the soliloquy in drama, however, Gibb states, "because it represents all of the stream, it is harder to follow" (211).

==History==

The narrative technique was developed by the French novelist, Edouard Dujardin and named by William James in his book ''Principles of Psychology''. In 1887, Dujardin wrote the first "stream of consciousness" novel, Les Lauriers sont Coupes (Hoffman 124). According to Myers and Wukasch, the stream of consciousness represents "the unbroken flow of thought of a character's conscious and subconscious mind" (346). Writers most known for this kind of writing are James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner (Gibb 246).

==Works Cited==
{{Refbegin}}
* Gibb, Carson. ''Exposition and Literature.'' New York: The Macmillan Company, 1971.
* Hoffman, Frederick F. ''Freudianism and the Literary Mind.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1945.
* Myers, Jack and Wukasch Don C. ''Dictionary of Poetic Terms.'' Denton: University of North Texas Press, 2003.
{{Refend}}

Sigmund Freud 1856-1939

2023-10-25T13:12:11Z

Admin: Fixed error.

==Early Life==
Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in the small Moravian town of Freiberg, then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now in Czechoslovakia. He was brought up much as a country child until 1859 when the family moved, first and briefly to Leipzip, then to Vienna. <ref>Wollheim, Richard. Sigmund Freud. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1981.1.Print</ref>

==Early Career==
''The Life of Sigmund Freud'' says, in the 1870s and 1880s, Freud decided he much preferred science to religion. Freud was influenced by Darwin's 1859 Origin of Species, lab work with physiologist Ernst Brucke, and a study of hysterics with Jean-Martin Charcot in Paris, Sigmund Freud became convinced that the human mind and body, could be rationally explained through the scientific method of observation and analysis. This theory was bolstered by his continued experiments with patients who were suffering from hysterias, or physical symptoms that had no ostensible physical cause. Sigmund Freud let his patients speak freely in hopes of unlocking their previously repressed thoughts, a process which led him to conclude that stifled sexual feelings were at the root of these illnesses.<ref>"The Life of Sigmund Freud". "Question of God". PBS, <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/twolives/freudbio.html. 2004. accessed April 25, 2014. </ref>

Freud believed that our unconscious was deeply related to the events that took place during childhood. Sigmund Freud grouped these events into various developmental stages stemming from relationships with parents and drives of desire and pleasure where children focus "...on different parts of the body...starting with the mouth...shifting to the oral, anal, and phallic phases..." (Richter 1015). These stages reflect base levels of desire, but they also involve fear of loss (loss of genitals, loss of affection from parents, loss of life) and repression: "...the expunging from consciousness of these unhappy psychological events" (Tyson 15).<ref>"Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism" by Allen Brizee, J. Case Tompkins. ''Purdue OWL'', <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/722/>. accessed April 24,2014 </ref>

=Accomplishments=
Following four years of analyzing his and others' dreams, Freud published his first major work, ''The Interpretation of Dreams'', in 1900. This book was based off of both a self-analysis of his own dream and his interpretations of what they may mean, as well as the idea that children feel sexual attraction toward their opposite-sex parents, and rivalry toward their same-sex parents, a theory now commonly known as the Oedipus Complex. This idea then laid the foundation for two of Freud's best-known claims — that the sex drive is the main catalyst of all human behavior, and that beliefs in paternalistic religious figures are merely projections of human fears and desires.<ref>"The interpretation of dreams" by Sigmund Freud. Internet Archive. March 2001. <https://archive.org/details/interpretationof1913freu accessed April 25 2014.</ref>

==Death==
Though Freud died by suicide in 1939 by a lethal dose of morphine, his influence continued to spread as the field of psychology evolved. By the time of his death, there were dozens of psychoanalytic societies throughout the world, modeled after one formed in Vienna by early supporters such as Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, and Otto Rank.<ref>"The Life of Sigmund Freud"."Question of God". PBS, <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/twolives/freudbio.html. 2004. accessed April 25, 2014.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

ENGL 5106

2023-10-17T15:21:47Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Addition.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna Kerbuski]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CBrown|Channal Brown]]
* [[User:CGreen|Calvin Green]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Dsummerlin|Dannielle Summerlin]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:HRoney|Haley Roney]]
* [[User:Jasteverson|Jessica Steverson]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:RSchnars|Richard Schnarrs]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]
* [[User:Valerie_Emerick|Valerie Emerick]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

User talk:CBrown

2023-10-17T15:21:07Z

Admin: Note.

==Newsletter URL==
I tried to fix your newsletter URL, but it leads to a 404. Just to let you know. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 11:21, 17 October 2023 (EDT)

User:CBrown

2023-10-17T15:20:16Z

Admin: Added cat. Tried to fix URL.

After a three-year career in higher education, I now find myself back in the field of sales. I am currently employed as a business development coordinator in the automotive industry. It combines a lot of my strengths. I secure new business opportunities; coordinate promotional activities; and maintain effective relationships with customers. Most notably, however, I get to explore my first academic love: writing. In my role, I write and distribute agendas, proposals, and briefing documents. Apart from my vocational responsibilities, I also get to investigate writing as an MA candidate in Technical & Professional Writing. These writings range from narrative articles to content management to promotional materials. Take a look at some of my projects here, in my “[http://writingspace.me newsletter].”

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

ENGL 5106

2023-10-15T14:21:51Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Added a member.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:bryanna.kerbuski|Bryanna Kerbuski]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CGreen|Calvin Green]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Dsummerlin|Dannielle Summerlin]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:HRoney|Haley Roney]]
* [[User:Jasteverson|Jessica Steverson]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:RSchnars|Richard Schnarrs]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]
* [[User:Valerie_Emerick|Valerie Emerick]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

User:Jasteverson

2023-10-15T14:17:29Z

Admin: Added cat.

I am a retired Air Force veteran. I have a bachelor's degree in Sociology and I received my master's in English from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. I am currently pursuing a graduate certificate in both technical writing and creative writing. I read a lot of apocalyptic novels and watch movies of all kinds. I aspire to become a published author one day.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:CGreen

2023-10-14T14:27:07Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Close Up.jpg|thumb]]
Born in Atlanta, Ga., Calvin is a Marine Corps combat veteran who currently works as a Technical Writer for Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) producing tactical, how-to manuals. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, traveling, shopping, playing golf and basketball (when his '''''back''''' is not acting up), and going out to eat! There is a subset of each activity listed above that contains more stories that are too numerous to list here, but may be further detailed later.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:Valerie Emerick

2023-10-12T17:26:26Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Valerie Emerick.jpg|alt=Woman on rooftop|thumb|Valerie Emerick]]I am a writer by nature and by profession. My mother tells me I started writing poems about my cat as soon as I could read and write, so it's no surprise that I chose writing as a profession. My career includes journalism, grant and proposal writing, technical writing and editing, and now philanthropy writing, which makes good use of all my skills. After spending so much of my time as a writer telling the stories of others, I hope to one day tell my own stories.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

Technical Writing in the Digital Age

2023-10-12T15:07:30Z

Admin: /* Historical Context */ Fixed some formatting. Removed external link in article body. These should go in a links section or in the refs.

User:Jordanandrews2

2023-10-12T14:58:31Z

Admin: Added nospam.

[[File:Kynndra Watson.jpg|thumb|May, 2023]]
My Name is Kynndra Watson and I am a aspiring technical writer. I currently attend Middle Ga State University earning my Master’s degree in Professional and Technical Writing. I can be reached at my email {{nospam|myhelpkynndrathehelper|yahoo.com}} as well as by telephone at 678-768-1811.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:HRoney

2023-10-11T12:47:09Z

Admin: Added nospam.

Haley Roney is a student at Middle Georgia State University. She is pursuing her Master's degree in Professional and Technical Writing. She previously obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from Mercer University. She enjoys playing video games and reading in her spare time. She can be reached at {{nospam|haley|haleyroney.com}}. Her website is http://haleyroney.com/

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:HRoney

2023-10-11T12:46:04Z

Admin: Added cat.

Haley Roney is a student at Middle Georgia State University. She is pursuing her Master's degree in Professional and Technical Writing. She previously obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from Mercer University. She enjoys playing video games and reading in her spare time. She can be reached at haley@haleyroney.com. Her website is http://haleyroney.com/

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:Dsummerlin

2023-10-11T12:42:27Z

Admin: Added cat.

B. Dannielle Summerlin is a first semester student at Middle Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Technical and Professional Writing. Previously, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Shorter University in 2015. She intended to become a Licensed Professional Counselor after earning her bachelor's degree, however, after working in the field for some time, she realized this path was not for her. For some years she worked in retail management and as an administrative assistant. She is currently working at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital as a Unit Secretary. She has stated that once she completes her graduate degree that she has interest in gaining a position within the field of instructional design.

Outside of her occupation and educational goals, Dannielle enjoys listening to audio books and attending pop culture conventions. Additionally, she enjoys taking care of and spending time with her two cats, Marshmallow and Rusty.

As for her name, her legal first name is Beverly, however, she prefers to go by her middle name which is Dannielle. In schoolwork, she often writes her name as "B. Dannielle Summerlin" since many internet applications for school only list her name as Beverly Summerlin. She has plans to legally change her name to avoid confusion.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User talk:Jordanandrews2

2023-10-11T12:41:35Z

Admin: /* Posted in the Wrong Place */ new section

I enjoyed reading through the material this week and familiarizing myself with the disciplinary approach to technical writing and how it can integrate into digital writing. As I write, I find it fundamentally important to grow and change how we communicate to ensure we can learn and help each other. The way I see it, if we never learn new ways of communicating, we will never learn anything except what we already know. The uniqueness and interactive nature of digital writing does seem intimidating to writers like me that are versed and practiced in the disciplinary approach to writing.
My understanding of technical writing in the digital age is conveying accuracy and information in a technical way while including some of the engaging language digital writing is known for. Digital writing is new, and we are still defining and understanding what it is. Simply put, presenting precise communication through visual aids and other forms of information that are interactive and adaptable. I find this concept quite important. As the world evolves, we must find more interesting and informative ways to convey information without sacrificing the information integrity. One major point that stood out to me in my readings is the importance of knowing your audience and reaching them in a language they can clearly understand. The significance of the discourse community and what specialized language would be utilized for each is quite important and something I have attempted to focus on in my own writing. I try to ask myself, “who am I writing this for and how would they bets understand what I am trying to say?”
I point that stood out to me in reference to my personal career and growth is focusing on ways to integrate these two different but related fields. Content Adaptation directly speaks to how to transform discipline-specific content in the digital platforms. I think it would be an interesting job to review discipline specific data into digital platforms because you would essentially by rewriting the information using less words, more visual elements, more intricate elements, but still attempting to value the credibility and truth of the information. One of my favorite sayings is” there is always more than 1 way to skin a cat” and this would be a great test for that theory. Attempting to convey a the same message in a different, more relatable and understandable way sound like an interesting but rewarding task.
I found the definitions and details of the User-centered design, Interactive elements, and hyperlinks/references interesting as well. I am working on becoming a great writer and as stated before, I have struggles with narrowing down exactly who I am speaking to in my writing. The user-centered design and its emphasis on easily navigable information I found helpful, and I am unsure of how to present my information in this way. I believe this class will ease my worry on the front. The same point can be made about interactive elements. Most of my work is quite wordy, and I need to figure out what elements I am most comfortable with and how to integrate them into my work. I believe by doing so I will be able to reach more readers and more creatively. Hyperlinks and references would assist with the credibility factor in my information, and I never realized this. I have reviewed many articles, newspapers, books, and journals and whenever I see a hyperlink or extensive reference list, I do feel that the author may have done their homework and this work may be something I should be more interested and believe in. I need to utilize this tactic to help my readers trust and find my work credible.
While it is important to know who I am speaking to, it must be accessible to all. I find it difficult to know for sure exactly who I am speaking to, and therefore, foresee who will have access to my work. That, in my opinion, is the conundrum with digital writing. The internet and everywhere, and digital platforms have essentially taken over our world. Where does the old way of writing tie into that issue of the internet. The great thing about digital writing is its diverse nature and its capability to be fully accessible. If I write a journal, or article, will everyone have access to it? Or will there be a pay wall or some other impediment? I read through the multiple examples of how to integrate these two fields and although they make sense to me, I still have reservations. I look forward to easing my fear of the digital world as well as my fears associated with artificial intelligence and its inevitable takeover. 😊

== Posted in the Wrong Place ==

Is this your blog/journal post for the week? If so, it should go on the [https://blog.techwriting.digital blog]. Thanks. —[[User:Admin|Admin]] ([[User talk:Admin|talk]]) 08:41, 11 October 2023 (EDT)

User:Bryanna.kerbuski

2023-10-10T23:12:33Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Bri.jpg|thumb]]
Bryanna is a career student who is going back to school for her third Masters degree. She is in her first eight week session of the Masters of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing program. Previous degrees include a Bachelors of Science in Sociology, a Bachelors of Science in Agricultural, Leadership and Community Education, Masters of Sports Leadership and a Masters of Social Work. She is an avid writer and loves learning. Her friends and family just want her to get a job already. Just kidding, she is currently employed as a high school guidance counselor helping the youth of today figure out what they want to do with their lives. Maybe one day she'll figure it out for herself as well.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

ENGL 5106

2023-10-10T19:52:02Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Addition.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:RSchnars|Richard Schnarrs]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

User:RSchnars

2023-10-10T19:49:18Z

Admin: Added cat.

Although my name may not reflect it, I enjoy finding unique antiques and other collectible items. I do not look for the normal pottery, furniture or art. I like to find items that are unlike those found in almost any antique or flea-market style store. My Wiki will center on some of my favorite places as well as a few of the unique pieces I have acquired over the years.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

ENGL 5106

2023-10-10T14:14:40Z

Admin: Tweaked format.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

==Fall 2023==
The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

=== Course Information ===
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

=== Course Members ===
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]

{{div col end}}

===Project===
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

ENGL 5106

2023-10-10T14:13:05Z

Admin: /* Course Members */ Additions.

{{Big|Welcome to the wiki page for ENGL 5106: Technical Writing in the Digital Age.}}

The fall 2023 sections of ENGL 5106 (CRNs 82482 and 84154) will use LitWiki for their collaborative wiki project.

== Course Information ==
* [[grl:ENGL 5106/Fall 2023|Syllabus]]

== Course Members ==
After you get an account, you may add it below in alphabetical order. Next, be sure to write a short bio on your user page.
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{u|Glucas|Dr. Lucas}}
* [[User:Amanda.Austin1|Amanda Austin]]
* [[User:Apjones428|Ashley Jones]]
* [[User:AWilliamson|Ashley Williamson]]
* [[User:APitts|Azizza Pitts]]
* [[User:Beth Kennedy|Beth Kennedy]]
* [[User:CEToledo|Claire Toledo]]
* [[User:Debbiebwolfe|Debbie Wolfe]]
* [[User:Elaine Streeter|Elaine Streeter]]
* [[User:Emmakd|Emily Darnell]]
* [[User:Ebyington3|Erin Byington]]
* [[User:JCaruso|Jewel Caruso]]
* [[User:Jordanandrews2|Kynndra Watson]]
* [[User:Kamyers|Kimberely Myers]]
* [[User:Kleinberger|Kimberly Leinberger]]
* [[User:Mroma98|Mike Romano]]
* [[User:Natecole54|Nate Cole]]
* [[User:RDrummond|Randy Drummond]]
* [[User:Terrell.harrell|Terrell Harrell]]

{{div col end}}

==Project==
* [[Technical Writing in the Digital Age]]

[[Category:ENGL 5106]]

User:JCaruso

2023-10-10T14:11:40Z

Admin: Added cat and nospam.

[[File:1605198868243 (2).jpg|alt=Jewel Caruso posing for a professional portrait|thumb]]
Jewel Caruso is currently a Public Relations Specialist working at the University of Georgia in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. She also freelance edits self-published novels when she has the availability. After obtaining her BA in English and working at Terry College of Business, Jewel realized her passion for marketing, communications, and editing. This lead her to search for master's programs in Georgia where she applied for the Technical and Professional Writing program at Middle Georgia State!

To contact, please email her at {{nospam|jewel.caruso|mga.edu}}.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:Natecole54

2023-10-10T14:10:07Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Nate Cole.jpg|thumb|Nate is riding along the Parks Highway south of Cantwell, Alaska.]]
My name is Nate Cole. I am currently a graduate student in the Technical and Professional Communication program at Middle Georgia State University. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska where I work as a Technical Writer for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everts_Air_Cargo Everts Air]. For more information about me, check out my website [https://www.techwritingalaskanstyle.com/ Tech Writing Alaskan Style].

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:Kamyers

2023-10-10T14:07:25Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Kimberly Myers's Portrait.jpg|alt=A portrait of Kimberly Myers with her standing outside in front of trees.|thumb|Kimberly Myers's Portrait]]
Graphic Designer | Photographer | Proofreader | Writer

I am a graphic designer with over a decade of experience in print design spanning several industries, including garment application, newspaper and lifestyle magazine production, and higher education. I am working on transitioning my visual communication skills from print to digital, learning to create accessible content. I am also pursuing a master’s degree in technical and professional writing, hoping to combine both forms of communication to produce user-friendly content and designs.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]

User:Jordanandrews2

2023-10-10T14:05:27Z

Admin: Added cat.

[[File:Kynndra Watson.jpg|thumb|May, 2023]]
My Name is Kynndra Watson and I am a aspiring technical writer. I currently attend Middle Ga State University earning my Master’s degree in Professional and Technical Writing. I can be reached at my email myhelpkynndrathehelper@yahoo.com as well as by telephone at 678-768-1811.

[[Category:Fall 2023]]