Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions

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==Ethical Considerations==
==Ethical Considerations==
Technical writing in the digital age must be done with certain ethical considerations in mind. Dr. Gerald R. Lucas, Ph.D., is an English professor for Middle Georgia State University and specializes in digital media. In his book, ''Technical Writing in the Digital Age: A Coursebook'', he elaborates upon the ethical considerations. Says Dr. Lucas, "Technical writers must uphold ethical standards, which include accurately representing information, giving proper credit to sources, and avoiding plagiarism. This is particularly important in scientific and academic writing, where credibility and intellectual integrity are paramount."<ref>Lucas, Gerald (September 14, 2023). "Defining Technical Writing" ''From Reading to Writing A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 7, 2023. [https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Technical_Writing#cite_ref-1<nowiki>]</nowiki></ref>
Technical writing in the digital age must be done with certain ethical considerations in mind. Dr. Gerald R. Lucas, Ph.D., is an English professor for Middle Georgia State University and specializes in digital media. In his book, ''Technical Writing in the Digital Age: A Coursebook'', he elaborates upon the ethical considerations. Says Dr. Lucas, "Technical writers must uphold ethical standards, which include accurately representing information, giving proper credit to sources, and avoiding plagiarism. This is particularly important in scientific and academic writing, where credibility and intellectual integrity are paramount."<ref>Lucas, Gerald (September 14, 2023). "Defining Technical Writing" ''From Reading to Writing A Composition FAQ Textbook.'' Retrieved October 7, 2023. [https://grlucas.net/grl/CompFAQ/Technical_Writing#cite_ref-1<nowiki>]</nowiki></ref>
=== Disinformation ===
One major ethical concern in all forms of writing, but especially in digital writing, is the creation and spread of disinformation. Disinformation 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 [https://facebook.com 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 to maintain your ethical standing and credibility as a digital writer.


==Pedagogical Approaches==
==Pedagogical Approaches==
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