Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1982

The Rise of Technical Writing Instruction in America

Robert J. Connors Louisiana State University

Abstract

This article traces the history of technical writing instruction in American colleges, concentrating on the major figures in technical writing instruction, the most important textbooks, the forces that shaped courses in technical writing during the period 1900–1980, and the refinements and improvements in teaching and materials that led to the current growth and success of technical writing courses.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1982-10-01
DOI
10.1177/004728168201200406
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Topics
writing pedagogy teacher development technical communication
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (57)

  1. Gubala et al. (2025)
    Bringing the Technical and Professional Communication Service Course Back
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  4. Sánchez (2025)
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  5. Rose et al. (2024)
    The Paradigm Shift to UX and the Durability of Usability in TPC
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  1. Mallette (2024)
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  2. Duncan (2024)
    Conferences With the Engineers: The Innovative Pedagogy and Career of Sada Harb…
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  3. Pflugfelder et al. (2023)
    Expanding the Scope and Scale of Risk in TPC: Water Access and the Colorado Riv…
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  4. Grant et al. (2023)
    Designing Public Identity: Finding Voice in Coalitional Technical Writing with …
    Communication Design Quarterly
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  6. Stambler (2022)
    “An Excelent Good Remedi”: Medical Recipes as Ethos-Building Tactical Technical…
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  7. Walwema (2022)
    A Counter-Narrative of Academic Job-Seeking International Scholars: Keynote Add…
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  8. Ford et al. (2021)
    New Engineers’ Transfer of Communication Activities From School to Work
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  9. Melonçon et al. (2020)
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    User-Generated Content and Its Effect on Technical Communication
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  11. Sánchez (2019)
    Trans Students’ Right to Their Own Gender in Professional Communication Courses…
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  12. Read et al. (2018)
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  13. Schriver (2017)
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    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
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  15. Sánchez (2017)
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  18. Rife (2010)
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  22. Savage et al. (2010)
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  23. Whitburn (2009)
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  25. Whithaus et al. (2006)
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  26. Coppola (2006)
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  27. Moore (2006)
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  28. Bridgeford (2006)
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  29. Wilson (2001)
    Technical Communication and Late Capitalism: Considering a Postmodern Technical…
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  30. HERNDL et al. (2000)
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  33. Staples (1999)
    Technical communication from 1950–1998: Where are we now?
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  34. Kynell (1999)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
  35. MacNealy et al. (1999)
    Can This Marriage Be Saved: Is an English Department a Good Home for Technical …
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  36. Gurak et al. (1997)
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  37. Staples (1997)
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  38. Savage (1996)
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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  40. HAGGE (1995)
    Early Engineering Writing Textbooks and the Anthropological Complexity of Disci…
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    English as an Engineering Tool: Samuel Chandler Earle and the Tufts Experiment
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  42. Sanders et al. (1994)
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  43. RIVERS (1994)
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    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
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    The road not taken: Frank Aydelotte and the thought approach to engineering writing
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  45. SLACK et al. (1993)
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    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  46. RUSSELL (1993)
    The Ethics of Teaching Ethics in Professional Communication: The Case of Engine…
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  47. Tebeaux et al. (1992)
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  48. Reynolds (1992)
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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  52. Grego (1987)
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