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Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions
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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>. | 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> | 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=== | ===Disinformation=== | ||
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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> | 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>Carroll, Brian. ''Writing for Digital Media''. Routledge, New York, 2010. p. | 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 and Challenges== | ||