Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1971

Some Shibboleths in the Teaching of Technical Writing

John A. Walter The University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

A good many teachers of technical writing are guilty of blindly following tradition and convention in teaching students to rely on the outline as an organizing device, in categorically condemning the passive voice, in magnifying the importance of form and format, and in insisting on a set of inflexible rules for grammar and style that ignore widespread usage. Implicit in the attack on shibboleths is a plea for honest pragmatism in determining effectiveness in technical writing.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1971-04-01
DOI
10.2190/gq9v-w76d-392u-1et1
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Closed
Topics
teacher development technical communication grammar and mechanics
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Brett (1971)
    The Editor's Bootstraps
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

References (3)

  1. Halverson John, Cooley Mason, Principles of Writing (New York: Macmillan, 1965), p. 93.
  2. Azimov Isaac, The Intelligent Man's Guide to Science (New York: Basic Books, 1960), Vol. II, pp. 473–74.
  3. Evans Bergen, Evans Cornelia, A Dictionary of Contemporary American Usage (New York: Random House, 1957), p. 355.
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