How Technical Communication Textbooks Fail Engineering Students

Technical Communication Quarterly Sep 2009

How Technical Communication Textbooks Fail Engineering Students

Joanna Wolfe University of Louisville

Abstract

Twelve currently popular technical communication textbooks are analyzed for their treatment and discussions of the types of writing that engineers produce. The analysis reveals a persistent bias toward humanities-based styles and genres and a failure to address the forms of argument and evidence that our science and engineering students most need to master to succeed as rhetoricians in their fields. The essay ends with recommendations and calls upon instructors to reenvision the service course in technical communication.

Journal: Technical Communication Quarterly
Published: 2009-09-17
DOI: 10.1080/10572250903149662
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication

Citation Context

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CrossRef global citation count: 45 View in citation network →