The technical Writing Process

The Technical Writing Process

Axia College of University of Phoenix

Melissa Edwards

Business Communication for the IT Professional

March 22, 2009

Technical writing is used to communicate for and about products and services within a business and/or industry. Technical writing is used to manage, deliver, market and use certain products and services. Three main steps of Technical Writing are Prewrite, Write and Rewrite.

In the Prewriting stage, one examines his, or her, purpose and determines ones goals. Thereafter considering ones audience, gathering data, and finally determining how the content will be provided. With writing the new user manual the purpose comes from both external motivation and internal motivation. External motivation occurs when someone such as a boss, customer or subordinate has requested the correspondence. Internal motivation occurs when one decides to initiate the communication out of self motivation. After determining ones goal in writing the software manual they are communicating to persuade ones customers in purchasing and using the software, communicating to inform just how to do so by providing instructions on how to handle correctly flowing procedures.

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WILL MATTHEWS

One will want to communicate to build trust such as making one feel comfortable by building understanding. Having connection and confidence is very important of the communication challenge.

Before moving to the writing stage one will need to consider ones audience. What needs to be said in the manual will greatly depend on the target audience. Once this is established one will need to gather data by using many different planning techniques such as mind mapping, brainstorming, outlining, storyboarding and researching. Other planning techniques could include creating organization charts and flow charting. This will help find the detail to create a new, well organized and successful software manual.

The next phase is the writing stage. In...