IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Mar 2010

Breaking the Rules: Teaching Grammar “Wrong” for the Right Results in Technical Communication Consulting for Engineers

Michael Knievel University of Wyoming ; April Heaney University of Wyoming ; Meg Van Baalen-Wood University of Wyoming

Abstract

Technical communication consultants steeped in conventional academic notions of writing pedagogy may encounter different assumptions about the nature of writing and the significance of grammar in writing instruction when they consult with professional engineers. This paper examines historical, theoretical, and practical reasons for these sometimes contradictory beliefs and traces the authors' efforts to reconcile these differences while planning and conducting a writing seminar for an engineering firm. A strong emphasis on grammar and mechanics can lead to numerous benefits, including a stronger sense of shared purpose between consultants and engineers and a point of entry into additional conversations about institutional writing practices and writing environments.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2010-03-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2009.2038738
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
writing pedagogy teacher development technical communication grammar and mechanics
Export
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Gubala et al. (2020)
    Do Writing Errors Bother Professionals? An Analysis of the Most Bothersome Erro…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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