Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions

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 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.
+==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.{{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}} 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}}
 == Technical Documents ==
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 ==== 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.
-==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.{{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}} 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}}
 ==Search Engine Optimization (SEO)==