Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1998

Marxism, Ideology, Power and Scientific and Technical Writing

Dan Ding Illinois State University

Abstract

This article claims that the primary determinant of how texts are structured and produced in scientific and technical communication is the ideology of the ruling force. Scholars concerned with ideology in scientific and technical communication have treated ideology as a competing approach to writing not as the determinant of writing. Thus, they have not been able to suggest how texts are structured and produced. Scientific and technical writing actually belongs to a tradition in which science and scientific activities have always been used to create and transmit the ideology of the ruling force. An examination of several cases of scientific and technical communication suggests that ideology of the ruling force indeed determines how a text is structured and produced. The immediate implication is that we should perhaps avoid resistant pedagogy and try what I call the “revelation pedagogy,” which is aimed at dialogue rather than resistance.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1998-04-01
DOI
10.2190/c4d3-6lb2-19q3-fv02
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. Moran et al. (2012)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
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  2. Herrington (2010)
    Copyright, Free Speech, and Democracy: <i>Eldred v. Ashcrof…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Lutz et al. (2007)
    Exploring Authority: A Case Study of a Composition and a Professional Writing C…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Lutz et al. (2007)
    Exploring Authority: A Case Study of a Composition and a Professional Writing C…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Ding (2000)
    Influence of Burke and Lessing on the Semiotic Theory of Document Design: Ideol…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (13)

  1. Savage (1996)
    Redefining the ResponsibiIities of Teachers and the Social Position of the Tech…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Blyler (1995)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Dombrowski (1995)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Rodman (1994)
    The Active Voice in Scientific Articles: Frequency and Discourse Functions
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Baker et al. (1994)
    The rhetoric of power: Political issues in management writing
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 13 →
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    Habermas, empowerment, and professional discourse
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Dombrowski (1994)
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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    An Analysis of Fifty Citation Superstars from the Scientific Literature
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    History, Rhetoric, and Humanism: Toward a More Comprehensive Definition of Tech…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 13 works outside this index ↓
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CrossRef global citation count: 6 View in citation network →

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