Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2009

The Public Presentation of a Hybrid Science: Scientific and Technical Communication in “Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Assessment of the British Government” (2002)

Keisha McKenzie

Abstract

A recent British national intelligence-based Assessment (2002) illustrates how one government agency communicated science to serve its policy goals. This article analyzes some of the values that drive science, public policy, and national intelligence, and traces how those values affected the Assessment writers' goals and communication strategies. Through close reading of the Assessment's foreword and first section, this study shows how the writers shaped scientific and technical information to satisfy their disciplines' values and to naturalize their “proper perspective” on the policy case. Further analysis of similar documents will extend current research on scientific rhetoric, multidisciplinary collaborative writing, and public communication.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2009-01-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.39.1.b
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism collaborative writing assessment technical communication editorial matter
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (57) · 5 in this index

  1. Joint Intelligence Service [JIS], Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (2002)
    Report of the Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly C.M…
  2. Butler L. (2004)
    Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction: Report of a Committee of Privy Cou…
  3. Hutton L. (2004)
    Report of the Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly C.M…
  4. Lowenthal M. (2006)
    Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy
  5. Rogers S. (2004)
    The Hutton Inquiry and Its Impact
Show all 57 →
  1. 10.5871/bacad/9780197263297.001.0001
     ↗
  2. 10.2307/375964
     ↗
  3. Ranney (2000)
    Beyond Foucault: Toward a user‐centered approach to sexual harassment policy
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Dragga S. (2003)
    Hiding Humanity: Verbal and Visual Ethics in Accident Reports
    Technical Communication
  5. Katz S. (2004)
    Central Works in Technical Communication
  6. Kuhn T. (1970)
    The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
  7. Latour B. (1986)
    Laboratory Life: The Construction of Scientific Facts
  8. 10.1046/j.1440-1800.1999.00027.x
     ↗
  9. Connor (1993)
    Medical Text and Historical Context: Research Issues and Methods in History and…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  10. 10.1177/108056999605900210
     ↗
  11. Rivers W. (1999)
    Three Keys to the Past: The History of Technical Communication
  12. Rose G. (2001)
    Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials
  13. 10.1080/00335638809383825
     ↗
  14. Harris R. (1997)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  15. Campbell J. (1984)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  16. Bazerman C. (1988)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  17. 10.1080/02691720050199243
     ↗
  18. Weaver R. (1953)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  19. Waddell C. (1990)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  20. Rude (2004)
    Toward an Expanded Concept of Rhetorical Delivery: The Uses of Reports in Publi…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  21. 10.1162/15263810360661435
     ↗
  22. Johnson L. (1983)
    Seven Sins of Strategic Intelligence
    World Affairs
  23. Mueller R. (2004)
    The FBI
    Vital Speeches of the Day
  24. Watanabe F. (1997)
    How to Succeed in the DI: Fifteen Axioms for the Intelligence Analysts
    Studies in Intelligence
  25. Ford H. (1980)
    Sherman Kent and the Board of National Estimates: Collected Essays
  26. 10.1017/CBO9780511521737
     ↗
  27. Steiner J. Challenging the Red Line Between Intelligence and Policy 2004. Retrieved November 12 2005 from htt…
  28. Greenleaf J. (1989)
    Statement by James W. Greenleaf, Director of Public Affairs, CIA, on Major Task of the In…
  29. 10.1080/1470243032000214250
     ↗
  30. Cabinet Office (2006)
    National Intelligence Machinery
  31. Aldrich R. (2002)
    The Hidden Hand: Britain, America, and Cold War Intelligence
  32. Runciman D. (2006)
    The Politics of Good Intentions: History, Fear, and Hypocrisy in the New World Order
  33. Vincent D. (1998)
    The Culture of Secrecy: Britain, 1832–1998
  34. 10.1080/02684520412331306390
     ↗
  35. Lander S. Security Service Records Retention and Release Policy 2005 Retrieved June 28 2007 from http://www.c…
  36. Webster W. (1988)
    Remarks by William H. Webster, CIA Director, Before the Evans-Novak Political Forum on Se…
  37. Kampfner J. (2004)
    Politics: By Undermining Public Confidence in Intelligence, Tony Blair Has Made it Very H…
    New Statesman
  38. Scott L. (2004)
    Understanding Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century: Journeys in Shadows
  39. Powell J. (2002)
    Report of the Inquiry Into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly C.M.G.
  40. Powell J. (2002)
    Report of the Inquiry Into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly C.M.G.
  41. Pruce D. (2002)
    Report of the Inquiry Into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Dr. David Kelly C.M.G.
  42. 10.1177/0021943604271958
     ↗
  43. Mueller R. (2004)
    The FBI
    Vital Speeches of the Day
  44. Tenet G. Remarks of the Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet Opening the Conference on CIA's Anal…
  45. Koppes M. (2004)
    Science and Politics: An Uneasy Mix
    GSA Today
  46. Prelli L. (1997)
    Landmark Essays on Rhetoric of Science Case Studies
  47. 10.4324/9781410606815
     ↗
  48. Charney D. (2004)
    Central Works in Technical Communication
  49. Barton E. (2004)
    What Writing Does and How It Does It: An Introduction to Analyzing Texts and Textual Practices
  50. Ornatowski et al. (2004)
    What's Civic About Technical Communication? Technical Communication and the Rhe…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  51. Bowdon (2004)
    Technical Communication and the Role of the Public Intellectual: A Community HI…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  52. 10.1353/book4677
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 0 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Pedagogy Apr 2024
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism feminist rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy creative writing teacher development collaborative writing assessment technical communication professional writing grammar and mechanics literacy studies gender and writing literary studies book reviews editorial matter
  2. Pedagogy Apr 2022
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy creative writing writing across the curriculum teacher development collaborative writing assessment writing program administration technical communication professional writing digital rhetoric literacy studies gender and writing disability studies literary studies book reviews editorial matter
  3. Pedagogy Jan 2022
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory discourse analysis african american rhetorics decolonial rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education teacher development argument collaborative writing transfer assessment portfolios writing program administration writing centers peer tutoring technical communication professional writing archival research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric community literacy literary studies editorial matter
  4. Pedagogy Oct 2024
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy basic writing writing across the curriculum graduate education two-year college service learning teacher development revision argument collaborative writing assessment writing program administration multimodality multilingual writers literacy studies race and writing disability studies community literacy editorial matter
  5. Pedagogy Oct 2023
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism first-year composition writing pedagogy writing across the curriculum two-year college teacher development collaborative writing assessment writing centers qualitative research multimodality literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies affect and writing literary studies book reviews editorial matter