Written Communication Apr 1994

Invention and Writing in Technical Work

DOROTHY A. WINSOR

Abstract

Traditionally, invention has been regarded as relatively unimportant in technical writing because of the widely held notion that technologists generate their ideas prior to writing. It has recently been argued, however, that studies of situated writing encounter difficulties due to restricted ideas of writing and text. For instance, if writing means only transcribing extended pieces of prose, then it is difficult to account for the way invention is performed in technical writing. The wider idea of writing allows us to look differently at this instance of situated writing. Using this wider idea, a study of 3 engineering students engaged in a real-world project shows that the technical work of the project and invention for the students' final report were actually simultaneous rather than sequential activities. Moreover, writing in the form of notes and lists contributed to technical work and served to make knowledge communal among group members. In the technical writing examined here, invention for writing, invention through writing, and technical invention itself heavily overlapped.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1994-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088394011002003
Open Access
Closed
Topics
writing across the curriculum technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (20)

  1. Randazzo (2022)
    Bodies of Proof: COVID-19 and Unwitnessed Remote Work
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Weedon et al. (2021)
    Embodied Genres, Typified Performances, and the Engineering Design Process
    Written Communication
  3. Read (2020)
    How to Build a Supercomputer: U.S. Research Infrastructure and the Documents Th…
    Written Communication
  4. Frith (2020)
    Technical Standards and a Theory of Writing as Infrastructure
    Written Communication
  5. Read (2019)
    The Infrastructural Function: A Relational Theory of Infrastructure for Writing…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Show all 20 →
  1. Weedon (2017)
    Representation in Engineering Practice: A Case Study of Framing in a Student De…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Cushman (2015)
    “Write Me a Better Story”: Writing Stories as a Diagnostic and Repair Practice …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. McNely et al. (2015)
    Contemporary Research Methodologies in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Wickman (2015)
    Locating the Semiotic Power of Writing in Science
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Wickman (2010)
    Writing Material in Chemical Physics Research: The Laboratory Notebook as Locus…
    Written Communication
  6. Warnock et al. (2007)
    Expressive/Exploratory Technical Writing (XTW) in Engineering: Shifting the Tec…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  7. Jeyaraj (2004)
    Liminality and Othering
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. HALLER (2000)
    Rhetorical Invention in Design
    Written Communication
  9. Dannels (2000)
    Learning to Be Professional
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  10. Todd (2000)
    Burkean Invention in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  11. Gruber et al. (1999)
    <i>Writing4practice</i> in engineering courses: Implementation and …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. WINSOR (1999)
    Genre and Activity Systems
    Written Communication
  13. WINSOR (1998)
    Rhetorical Practices in Technical Work
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  14. MEDWAY (1996)
    Virtual and Material Buildings
    Written Communication
  15. CHIN (1994)
    Redefining “Context” in Research on Writing
    Written Communication

Cites in this index (8)

  1. WITTE (1992)
    Context, Text, Intertext
    Written Communication
  2. Schumacher et al. (1991)
    Conceptualizing and Measuring Knowledge Change Due to Writing
    Research in the Teaching of English
  3. HAAS (1990)
    Composing in Technological Contexts
    Written Communication
  4. KAUFER et al. (1989)
    Novelty in Academic Writing
    Written Communication
  5. McGINLEY et al. (1989)
    Traversing the Topical Landscape
    Written Communication
Show all 8 →
  1. WINSOR (1989)
    An Engineer's Writing and the Corporate Construction of Knowledge
    Written Communication
  2. FLOWER et al. (1984)
    Images, Plans, and Prose
    Written Communication
  3. Berkenkotter et al. (1983)
    Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Publishing Writer, and Re…
    College Composition and Communication
Also cites 8 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.2307/3106007
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  2. 10.1177/030631290020003001
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  3. 10.2307/358177
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  4. 10.1177/016224399101600402
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  5. 10.1080/10510977809367961
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  7. 10.1016/0732-118X(89)90037-8
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CrossRef global citation count: 28 View in citation network →

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