The Communication Habits of Engineers: A Study of How Compositional Style and Time Affect the Production of Oral and Written Communication of Engineers

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2011

The Communication Habits of Engineers: A Study of How Compositional Style and Time Affect the Production of Oral and Written Communication of Engineers

Derek G. Steiner

Abstract

Writing is common skill for many whose job requires them to communicate through business documents. But there are many professionals who seemingly have difficulty with writing. Many engineers are required to write proposals and reports yet have received little formal writing instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine if writing apprehension, their composition process, or the presence of deadlines affects the production of documents. The hypothesis was that engineers have high writing apprehension, generally use a product-based approach, and tight deadlines negatively affect the end quality. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with civil engineers to gauge their level of apprehension, learn their personal composition process and determine how deadlines affect their writing. While the hypothesis was not conclusively supported, the study revealed six key themes into how engineers structure their writing tasks and found that the writing environment of engineers significantly impacts the composition process.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2011-01-01
DOI: 10.2190/tw.41.1.c
Open Access: Closed
Topics: writing pedagogy voice and style affect and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

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Article: What We Teach and What They Use: Teaching and Learning in Scientific a…

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Journal of Business and Technical Communication
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Improved Student Writing in Business Communication Classes: Strategies for Teac…

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