The Technical Writing Process

The Technical Writing ProcessStage 1: Pre-Writing Stageany act of writing is effective if it results from clear objective or purpose and orderly presentation of facts, opinions or ideas that are closely related to such specific purpose.

When is a writing process based on clear and critical thinking?If it was able to comply with the requirements of effective writing as it demands an active kind of thinking where the writer has to analyze, synthesize and criticize various kinds of knowledge and then create something new out of these various kinds of knowledge.How does critical thinking vary between reading and writing?Thinking in reading is a passive process while it is considered an active process in writing.A writer has to intensively consider the kind of ideas and the manner by which these thoughts and feelings should appear on the paper to yield a coherent or well-organized composition. The Technical Writing ProcessUtilizing higher order thinking alongside purposive and developmental reading skills for the advancement of technical writing styles and techniques as a writer goes through three main writing stages of pre-writing, writing and post-writing.

These stages are also known as P3 Planning, Packaging and Perfecting.

From the first stage up to the last writing stage ones writing act immerses him into a problem-solving technique where he would experience all the thinking acts of interpreting, analyzing, evaluating, creating and appreciating.

The effectiveness of a writers technical written work greatly depends on how he performs in each of the mentioned stages.Stage 1: Pre-Writing StagePlanning is the key in laying the foundation of ones succeeding writing acts.

Things to Consider During the Pre-Writing or Planning StagePurpose> Setting a clear direction to the composition and writers intention whether to inform, inquire, recommend, buy, sell, instruct, invite and the likes.* What is the writers purpose?* What does he intend to tell his readers?

Topic or Subject Matter> During the Planning Stage, the Ideation or Inventive Phase plays an integral step as the writer has to think very carefully of the topic he wishes to write including the factors or ideas that will support and further explain the particular matter, issue, concern, thought or problem he wants to raise.

* What is the composition about?* What message does the writer wants to tell his readers?

Things to Consider During the Pre-Writing or Planning StageReaders or Audience> A writer must be highly knowledgeable and cognizant about the kind of reader he addresses his composition to as the effectiveness or success of a report depends on how it appeals to the readers. > The You Attitude or Reader-Oriented style is a technique in which writing from a readers point of view rather than the writers own which enables him to adopt the purpose, tone and readability level of his composition as to the readers in order to figure out an appropriate writing style fit to serve the readers interests, needs, mentality, likes and dislikes.Things to Consider During the Pre-Writing or Planning Stage> Knowing the specific roles or positions of the readers in the company enables a writer to compose a technical report in a manner that is responsive to their needs, expectations and standards.

> Types of readers: @ Primary Audience decision makers@ Secondary Audience implementers of decisions and givers of recommendations@ Immediate Audience transmitters of decisions through different users@ Nominal Audience names mentioned in the report but have no significant participation in the production of the report

* To whom is the composition for?* Who is the technical report addressed to?Things to Consider During the Pre-Writing or Planning StageContent> A great deal of knowledge greatly depends on the writers sensory experience and perceptions relevant to the ideas, facts or opinions the writer has gathered through the Ideation or Inventive phase.

* What the writer wants his readers to know about the topic or subject matter? Things to Consider During the Pre-Writing or Planning StagePre-Writing StrategiesBrainstormingFree writing or LoopingInterviewQuestionnaire SurveyReading

ListingSpeculatingSemantic Mapping or DrawingOutliningSemantic Webbing or ClusteringElectronic Devices

Pre-Writing StrategiesStage 1: Pre-Writing StageEnd of Stage 1