Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1978

Technical Writing and the Rhetoric of Science

S. Michael Halloran Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

The traditional view of rhetoric and science as sharply distinct has helped reduce the technical writing course to mere vocational training. Current thinking in rhetorical theory and philosophy of science supports the contrasting view that science is rhetorical. Salient aspects of the rhetoric of science are illustrated by Crick and Watson's discovery of the structure of DNA, as recorded in Watson's The Double Helix [1]. Analysis of the rhetoric of science suggests that the study of technical writing could be central to liberal education for a technological society.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1978-04-01
DOI
10.2190/rm3a-u8f4-mk32-4xhk
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy technical communication
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (17)

  1. Pochatko (2017)
    The Singer of Technology: The Oral-Based Origins of Technical Communication in …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Smith (2000)
    Strength in the Technical Communication Journals and Diversity in the Serials Cited
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  3. Zerbe et al. (1998)
    The Rhetoric of Fraud in Breast Cancer Trials: Manifestations in Medical Journa…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Brown (1996)
    Persuasiveness and Audience Focus in a Nonacademic R&D Setting
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Dombrowski (1995)
    Post‐modernism as the resurgence of humanism in technical communication studies
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 17 →
  1. Valletta et al. (1995)
    “In-Determinacy” in Science and Discourse: A Rhetoric of Disciplinary Levels
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Gurak et al. (1994)
    Making gender visible: Extending feminist critiques of technology to technical …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Dombrowski (1994)
    Challengerthrough the Eyes of Feyerabend
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. BLYLER (1993)
    Theory and Curriculum: Reexamining the Curricular Separation of Business and Te…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Markel (1993)
    Induction, Social Constructionism, and the Form of the Science Paper
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  6. Reynolds (1992)
    Classical rhetoric and the teaching of technical writing
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  7. LAY (1991)
    Feminist Theory and the Redefinition of Technical Communication
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. Rutter (1991)
    History, Rhetoric, and Humanism: Toward a More Comprehensive Definition of Tech…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  9. Childs (1986)
    Where Techne Meets Poesis: Some Semiotic Considerations in the Rhetoric of Tech…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  10. Samuels (1985)
    Technical Writing and the Recreation of Reality
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  11. Journet (1984)
    Rhetoric and Sociobiology
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  12. Halloran (1984)
    The birth of molecular biology: An essay in the rhetorical criticism of scienti…
    Rhetoric Review

References (17)

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CrossRef global citation count: 17 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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