Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1991

History, Rhetoric, and Humanism: Toward a More Comprehensive Definition of Technical Communication

Russell Rutter Illinois State University

Abstract

Recent research suggests that pragmatic emphasis on writing proficiency alone does not produce a good technical communicator. Attention must also be given to the technical communicator as liberally educated generalist who writes well and feels an affinity for science or technology. To this end, technical communication needs to be studied in the larger context of evolving science and technology, developing trends in technical education, and the oratorical tradition of broad learning applied to the active life. Recent studies of the collaborative culture of the workplace should be supplemented by increased attention to humanistic questions of what a person needs to be and know in order to cooperate effectively as a practicing technical communicator.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1991-04-01
DOI
10.2190/7bbk-bjyk-aqgb-28gp
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (18)

  1. Henning et al. (2016)
    Reconsidering Power and Legitimacy in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Weber (2016)
    Stasis in Space! Viewing Definitional Conflicts Surrounding the James Webb Spac…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Zhang et al. (2015)
    Influences on Creativity in Technical Communication: Invention, Motivation, and…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Evia et al. (2012)
    Beyond Compliance
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Northcut et al. (2010)
    Resisting the Lure of Technology-Driven Design: Pedagogical Approaches to Visua…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 18 →
  1. Spigelman et al. (2006)
    Why We Chose Rhetoric
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. Todd (2003)
    Teaching the History of Technical Communication: A Lesson with Franklin and Hoover
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Smith (2000)
    Strength in the Technical Communication Journals and Diversity in the Serials Cited
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Grobman (1999)
    Beyond Internationalization
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Ding (1998)
    Marxism, Ideology, Power and Scientific and Technical Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Savage (1997)
    Doing Unto Others through Technical Communication Internship Programs
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  7. SMITH (1997)
    Intertextual Connections to “A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing”
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. MOORE (1996)
    Instrumental Discourse is as Humanistic as Rhetoric
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  9. HAGGE (1995)
    Early Engineering Writing Textbooks and the Anthropological Complexity of Disci…
    Written Communication
  10. Valletta et al. (1995)
    “In-Determinacy” in Science and Discourse: A Rhetoric of Disciplinary Levels
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  11. Blyler (1994)
    Habermas, empowerment, and professional discourse
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. RIVERS (1994)
    Studies in the History of Business and Technical Writing
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  13. Bosley (1992)
    Broadening the base of a technical communication program: An industrial/academi…
    Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (13)

  1. Brockmann (1988)
    Does Clio Have a Place in Technical Writing? Considering Patents in a History o…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Pace (1988)
    Technical Communication, Group Differentiation, and the Decision to Launch the …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Harmon (1987)
    The Literature of Enlightenment: Technical Periodicals and Proceedings in the 1…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Grego (1987)
    Science, Late Nineteenth-Century Rhetoric, and the Beginnings of Technical Writ…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Little et al. (1987)
    Profile of Technical Writers in San Diego County: Results of a Pilot Study
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 13 →
  1. Samuels (1985)
    Technical Writing and the Recreation of Reality
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Bruffee (1984)
    Collaborative Learning and the "Conversation of Mankind"
    College English
  3. Connors (1982)
    The Rise of Technical Writing Instruction in America
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Tebeaux (1980)
    Let's Not Ruin Technical Writing, Too: A Comment on the Essays of Carolyn Mille…
    College English
  5. Miller (1980)
    Carolyn Miller Responds
    College English
  6. Harris (1980)
    Elizabeth Harris Responds
    College English
  7. Halloran (1978)
    Technical Writing and the Rhetoric of Science
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  8. Harris (1978)
    On Expanding the Definition of Technical Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 8 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1109/47.7814
     ↗
  2. 10.2190/NETC11
     ↗
  3. 10.2307/375964
     ↗
  4. 10.2307/376773
     ↗
  5. 10.2307/376975
     ↗
  6. 10.2190/NETC5
     ↗
  7. 10.2307/377272
     ↗
  8. 10.2307/357493
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 26 View in citation network →

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