Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jan 1997

Technical Writing and Community Service

THOMAS N. HUCKIN

Abstract

Many technical writing programs across the country have their students go out into the community and do writing projects for local businesses, campus organizations, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations. Few, however, take advantage of the increasingly popular pedagogy known as service learning. This article describes how to set up such service-learning courses and how to anticipate certain types of problems. Also discussed are some of the many benefits, both pedagogical and civic/humanitarian, that this truly real-world approach brings to the teaching of technical writing and, potentially, to the teaching of other forms of professional writing.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
1997-01-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651997011001003
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
writing pedagogy service learning teacher development technical communication professional writing
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (28)

  1. Pennell et al. (2024)
    Survival and Distinctiveness: The Impulses Shaping the Communication Practices …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Tham et al. (2024)
    Understanding Writing Instructors’ Feelings toward the Affordances of Multimoda…
    College Composition and Communication
  3. Tham et al. (2023)
    Examining Multimodal Community-Engaged Projects for Technical and Professional …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Balzotti et al. (2019)
    Playable Case Studies: A New Educational Genre for Technical Writing Instruction
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Kimball (2017)
    The Golden Age of Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 28 →
  1. Hea et al. (2016)
    Silent Partners: Developing a Critical Understanding of Community Partners in T…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Kramer-Simpson et al. (2015)
    Learning Beyond the Classroom and Textbook: Client Projects’ Role in Helping St…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. Mogull (2014)
    Integrating Online Informative Videos into Technical Communication Service Courses
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. Bourelle (2014)
    Adapting Service-Learning into the Online Technical Communication Classroom: A …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Wickman (2014)
    Wicked Problems in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Soria et al. (2013)
    A “Virtual Fieldtrip”: Service Learning in Distance Education Technical Writing…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  7. Bourelle (2012)
    Bridging the Gap between the Technical Communication Classroom and the Internsh…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  8. Scott (2008)
    The Practice of Usability: Teaching User Engagement Through Service-Learning
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  9. Turnley (2007)
    Integrating Critical Approaches to Technology and Service-Learning Projects
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  10. Turnley (2007)
    Integrating Critical Approaches to Technology and Service-Learning Projects
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  11. Hutchinson (2005)
    Living the Rhetoric: Service Learning and Increased Value of Social Responsibility
    Pedagogy
  12. Hea (2005)
    Developing Stakeholder Relationships: What’s at Stake?
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  13. Crabtree et al. (2005)
    Technical Communication, Participatory Action Research, and Global Civic Engage…
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  14. Chappell (2005)
    Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: Insights from Activity Theory for Linking Servic…
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  15. Rentz et al. (2005)
    Selling Peace in a Time of War: The Rhetorical and Ethical Challenges of a Grad…
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  16. Dubinsky et al. (2005)
    Service-Learning and Professional Communication
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  17. Dubinsky et al. (2005)
    Service-Learning and Professional Communication
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  18. Scott (2005)
    Taking Root: Seminal Essays in Service-Learning and Professional Communication
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  19. Barton et al. (2003)
    A Case of Multiple Professionalisms: Service Learning and Control of Communicat…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  20. Regan et al. (2000)
    Community-service learning and computer-mediated advanced composition: The goin…
    Computers and Composition
  21. Matthews et al. (1999)
    Integrating service learning and technical communication: Benefits and challenges
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  22. Hafer (1999)
    Making the connection: Desktop publishing, professional writing, andpro bono publico
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  23. Henson et al. (1998)
    A Service Learning Approach to Business and Technical Writing Instruction
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (6)

  1. 10.2307/358271
     ↗
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Show all 6 →
  1. Rifkin, Jeremy
    The End of Work
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