When a Production Worker is Technically a Writer: Using Craft and Rhetorical Knowledge in a Manufacturing Environment

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 2001

When a Production Worker is Technically a Writer: Using Craft and Rhetorical Knowledge in a Manufacturing Environment

Lili Fox Vélez University of the Sciences ; Susan P. Hall Agilent Technologies (Germany)

Abstract

Although rhetoricians have studied the discourse practices of engineers, little is known about the production workers who must assemble engineering knowledge into functional products. This case study examines what happens when a production worker tried to improve manufacturing documentation, and how her success depended upon both her craft knowledge and the rhetorical skills she attributes to a Writing Across the Curriculum program she experienced in college. … although the goal of engineering may be to produce useful objects, engineers do not construct such objects themselves. Rather, they aim to generate knowledge that will allow such objects to be built [1, p. 5].

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 2001-01-01
DOI: 10.2190/wwwx-1vnc-bf8x-fy0x
Open Access: Closed
Topics: writing across the curriculum qualitative research

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Ittersum (2014)

Craft and Narrative in DIY Instructions

Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (1)

GEISLER et al. (1998)

Disciplining Discourse

Written Communication

Also cites 6 works outside this index ↓

10.1177/002194369803500401

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10.1177/002194369503200201

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10.2307/356713

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Hall S., email correspondence, March 1999.

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Hall S., email correspondence, March 2000.

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Bernhardt S. A. and McCulley G. A., Knowledge Management and Pharmaceutical Development Teams: Using Writing …

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