What Can Technical Writers Learn from Good Conversation?

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1990

What Can Technical Writers Learn from Good Conversation?

Carolyn Plumb University of Washington

Abstract

This article first reviews the role of oral and written discourse within social constructionist theory. The author discusses both the differences and the similarities between oral and written discourse and suggests that writers emphasize the similarities rather than the differences since the implicit rules of conversation have much to offer to the technical writer. In order to apply these conversational principles, however, technical writers need to alter their attitudes toward their audiences. The article concludes with an example of how the principles of conversation can be applied to the process of writing instructions.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1990-04-01
DOI: 10.2190/glyf-7fr4-xgga-mjc6
Open Access: Closed
Topics: writing pedagogy

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Price (1997)

Electronic outlining as a tool for making writing visible

Computers and Composition

Cites in this index (2)

Cooper (1986)

The Ecology of Writing

College English
Bruffee (1984)

Collaborative Learning and the "Conversation of Mankind"

College English

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