A Survey of Recent Technical Writing Textbooks

Bernard McKenna Queensland University of Technology ; Glen Thomas Queensland University of Technology

Abstract

A large number of technical writing textbooks, many of them revised editions, is entering the college education marketplace. This review of five recent textbooks not only thoroughly analyses the content of the texts, but also raises two serious concerns. The survey finds that the textbooks provide inadequate guidance on paragraph structure. The survey also reveals that this textbook genre appears to rely upon a scanty, and sometimes dated, theory base. The authors ask whether this could lead to the production of manuals based upon “received wisdom,” rather than professional writing guides based upon sound communication theory.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1997-10-01
DOI
10.2190/cga9-cvjy-82cx-aefj
Open Access
Closed
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (1)

  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 1 work outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1093/applin/18.2.189
CrossRef global citation count: 5 View in citation network →