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A Guide to Technical Writing (With Examples)

4-minute read

5th May 2023

You can find technical writing in lots of places, including in your home, at your job, in many industries, and in businesses of all sizes. If you need help with business writing specifically, check out how we can assist you .

In today’s post, we’ll break down what technical writing is and how to do it effectively. We’ll also provide some handy examples.

What Is Technical Writing?

Technical writing doesn’t always look very technical! It can be anything that describes how to do a task or how to operate a machine or system. Or it can cover a specialized topic. Technical writing includes recipes in your favorite cookbook, board game instructions, operator manuals, health and safety regulations, legal documents, and financial reports.

Instructions for Carrying Out a Task

This type of technical writing can be a recipe for a cake, the instructions for a board game, tips on how to walk your dog to heel, or the script for a social media video on how to cut your own hair.

Operating Manuals for Machinery, Appliances, or Systems

Technical writing can also be the user guide for a dishwasher, for a factory machine that makes cardboard boxes, a “how to” guide for spreadsheets, or instructions for changing the oil in your motorcycle.

Specialized Topics

The list here could be very, very long! Technical writing on specialized topics includes a company’s business reports, a medical consultant’s letter to a patient, health and safety regulations, employment policies, and legal documents.

So How Do I Produce a Great Piece of Technical Writing?

Let’s take it in three stages: Who? What? How?

Who Is It For?

In any type of writing, knowing your audience is important. This is particularly true of technical writing. Here are some examples of who might read technical writing:

· A renter of an apartment that needs details on their lease

· An electrical engineer who needs to know how the wiring is laid out in the apartment block

· The janitor of that same building who needs to know the location of the emergency lights

· The occupant of apartment 61, who needs to know how to use the oven in their kitchen

They all need information presented to them, but what information do they need?

What Do They Need?

The renter needs a legal document that leaves no room for doubt about their legal rights and obligations and those of their landlord. The document will be very detailed, containing terms that need careful explanation.

The electrical engineer needs accurate, clear information about the wiring, as they could get hurt or cause harm to someone else if the diagram is inaccurate.

The janitor needs clear directions and a map of where the emergency lights are.

The occupant of apartment 61 needs instructions that are written in plain English so they can use their oven safely.

How Should Technical Writing Be Composed?

Follow these steps when writing a technical document:

· Research and know your subject thoroughly.

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· Decide on the appropriate writing style. Just because it’s technical, doesn’t mean it has to contain lots of jargon . Be concise, be direct, and be straightforward.

· Consider whether you need to include diagrams, maps, images, charts, and/or tables.

· If writing instructions, take it one step at a time, write objectively , and make sure the instructions work!

Examples of Technical Writing

Let’s look at some examples:

The first version contains unnecessary words, but the warnings are not specific enough. The instructions should be concise and clear. In the second version, the danger is stated right away, and the critical warnings are concise and specific.

In these examples, the first version is unnecessarily wordy. It provides a lot of detail for minor tasks but gives vague instructions for bigger tasks. The second version is much clearer. The instructions are easier to follow, and they include each necessary step.

Good technical writing needs the following attributes:

1. Relevance

2. Accuracy

4. Accessibility

5. Simplicity

Really good technical writing will include these attributes every time.

Is technical writing difficult?

Technical writing does not have to be difficult if you follow our guide and do your research beforehand.

Are there professional bodies for technical writers?

There are several professional organizations for technical writing. This list from UTA Libraries is very useful.

What can I do if I’m not sure that my technical writing style is appropriate to my subject?

We have experts in many fields who can check your writing and advise on style .

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8 Technical Writing Examples to Inspire You

Become a Certified Technical Writer

As a technical writer, you may end up being confused about your job description because each industry and organization can have varying duties for you. At times, they may ask for something you’ve never written before. In that case, you can consider checking out some technical writing examples to get you started.

If you’re beginning your technical writing career, it’s advisable to go over several technical writing examples to make sure you get the hang of it. You don’t necessarily have to take a gander over at industry-specific examples; you can get the general idea in any case.

This article will go over what technical writing is and some of the common technical writing examples to get you started. If you’re looking to see some examples via video, watch below. Otherwise, skip ahead.

If you’re looking to learn via video, watch below. Otherwise, skip ahead.

Let’s start by covering what technical writing is .

What Exactly is Technical Writing?

Technical writing is all about easily digestible content regarding a specialized product or service for the public. Technical writers have to translate complex technical information into useful and easy-to-understand language.

There are many examples of technical writing, such as preparing instruction manuals and writing complete guides. In some cases, technical writing includes preparing research journals, writing support documents, and other technical documentation.

The idea is to help the final user understand any technical aspects of the product or service.

In other cases, technical writing means that the writer needs to know something. For example, pharmaceutical companies may hire medical writers to write their content since they have the required knowledge.

If you’re interested in learning more about these technical writing skills, then check out our Technical Writing Certification Course.

8 Technical Writing Examples to Get You Started

As a technical writer, you may have to learn new things continually, increase your knowledge, and work with new forms of content. While you may not have experience with all forms of technical writing, it’s crucial to understand how to do it.

If you learn all the intricacies of technical writing and technical documents, you can practically work with any form of content, given that you know the format.

Therefore, the following examples of technical writing should be sufficient for you to get an idea. The different types of technical writing have unique characteristics that you can easily learn and master effectively.

1. User Manuals

User manuals or instruction manuals come with various products, such as consumer electronics like televisions, consoles, cellphones, kitchen appliances, and more. The user manual serves as a complete guide on how to use the product, maintain it, clean it, and more. All technical manuals, including user manuals, have to be highly user-friendly. The technical writer has to write a manual to even someone with zero experience can use the product. Therefore, the target audience of user manuals is complete novices, amateurs, and people using the product/s for the first time.

Traditionally, user manuals have had text and diagrams to help users understand. However, user manuals have photographs, numbered diagrams, disclaimers, flow charts, sequenced instructions, warranty information, troubleshooting guides, and contact information in recent times.

Technical writers have to work with engineers, programmers, and product designers to ensure they don’t miss anything. The writer also anticipates potential issues ordinary users may have by first using the product. That helps them develop a first-hand experience and, ultimately, develop better user manuals.

The point of the user manual isn’t to predict every possible issue or problem. Most issues are unpredictable and are better handled by the customer support or help desk. User manuals are there to address direct and common issues at most.

You can check out some user manual examples and templates here . You can download them in PDF and edit them to develop an idea about how you can write a custom user manual for your product.

2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Standard operating procedures are complete processes for each organization’s various tasks to ensure smoother operations. SOPs help make each process more efficient, time-saving, and less costly.

An SOP document can include:

Everything from the method of processing payroll.
Hiring employees.
Calculating vacation time to manufacturing guidelines.

In any case, SOPs ensure that each person in an organization works in unison and uniformly to maintain quality.

SOPs help eliminate irregularities, favoritism, and other human errors if used correctly. Lastly, SOPs make sure employees can take the responsibilities of an absent employee, so there’s no lag in work.

Therefore, developing SOPs requires a complete study of how an organization works and its processes.

Here are some examples of standard operating procedures you can study. You can edit the samples directly or develop your own while taking inspiration from them.

3. Case Studies & White Papers

Case studies and white papers are a way of demonstrating one’s expertise in an area. Case studies delve into a specific instance or project and have takeaways proving or disproving something. White papers delve into addressing any industry-specific challenge, issue, or problem.

Both case studies and white papers are used to get more business and leads by organizations.

Technical writers who write white papers and case studies need to be experts in the industry and the project itself. It’s best if the technical writer has prior experience in writing such white papers.

The writing style of white papers and case studies is unique, along with the formatting. Both documents are written for a specific target audience and require technical writing skills. Case studies are written in a passive voice, while white papers are written in an active voice. In any case, it’s crucial to maintain a certain level of knowledge to be able to pull it off.

You can check out multiple white paper examples here , along with various templates and guides. You can check out some examples here for case studies, along with complete templates.

4. API Documentation

API documentation includes instructions on effectively using and integrating with any API, such as web-API, software API, and SCPIs. API documentation contains details about classes, functions, arguments, and other information required to work with the API. It also includes examples and tutorials to help make integration easier.

In any case, API documentation helps clients understand how it works and how they can effectively implement API. In short, it helps businesses and people interact with the code more easily.

You can find a great example of proper API documentation in how Dropbox’s API documentation works. You can learn more about it here .

5. Press Releases

Press releases are formal documents issued by an organization or agency to share news or to make an announcement. The idea is to set a precedent for releasing any key piece of information in a follow-up press conference, news release, or on a social media channel.

The press release emphasizes why the information is important to the general public and customers. It’s a fact-based document and includes multiple direct quotes from major company stakeholders, such as the CEO.

Usually, press releases have a very specific writing process. Depending on the feasibility, they may have an executive summary or follow the universal press release format.

You can find several examples of press releases from major companies like Microsoft and Nestle here , along with some writing tips.

6. Company Documents

Company documents can include various internal documents and orientation manuals for new employees. These documents can contain different information depending on their use.

For example, orientation manuals include:

The company’s history.
Organizational chart.
List of services and products.
Map of the facility.
Dress codes.

It may also include employee rights, responsibilities, operation hours, rules, regulations, disciplinary processes, job descriptions, internal policies, safety procedures, educational opportunities, common forms, and more.

Writing company documents requires good technical writing skills and organizational knowledge. Such help files assist new employees in settling into the company and integrating more efficiently.

Here are some great examples of orientation manuals you can check out.

7. Annual Reports

Annual reports are yearly updates on a company’s performance and other financial information. Annual reports directly correspond with company stakeholders and serve as a transparency tool.

The annual reports can also be technical reports in some cases. However, mostly they include stock performance, financial information, new product information, and key developments.

Technical writers who develop annual reports must compile all the necessary information and present it in an attractive form. It’s crucial to use creative writing and excellent communication skills to ensure that the maximum amount of information appears clearly and completely.

If the company is technical, such as a robotics company, the technical writer needs to develop a technical communication method that’s easy to digest.

You can check out some annual report examples and templates here .

8. Business Plans

Every company starts with a complete business plan to develop a vision and secure funding. If a company is launching a new branch, it still needs to start with a business plan.

In any case, the business plan has a few predetermined sections. To develop the ideal business plan, include the following sections in it.

Executive Summary – includes the business concept, product, or service, along with the target market. It may also include information on key personnel, legal entity, founding date, location, and brief financial information.
Product or Service Description – includes what the offering is, what value it provides, and what stage of development it is in currently.
Team Members – includes all the information on the management team.
Competitor and Market Analysis – includes a detailed analysis of the target market and potential competitors.
Organizational System – includes information on how the organizational structure would work.
Schedules – include start dates, hiring dates, planning dates, and milestones.
Risks and Opportunities – include profit and loss predictions and projections.
Financial Planning – includes planned income statements, liquidity measures, projected balance sheet, and more.
Appendix – includes the organizational chart, resumes, patents, and more.

The technical writer needs to work closely with the company stakeholders to develop a complete business plan.

According to your industry, you can check out hundreds of business plan samples and examples here .

Becoming an Expert Technical Writer

Becoming an expert technical writer is all about focusing on your strengths. For example, you should try to focus on one to two industries or a specific form of technical writing. You can do various writing assignments and check out technical writing samples to understand what you’re good with.

You can also check out user guides and get online help in determining your industry. Once you’ve nailed down an industry and technical writing type, you can start to focus on becoming an expert in it.

In any case, it always helps to check out technical writing examples before starting any project. Try to check out examples of the same industry and from a similar company. Start your writing process once you have a complete idea of what you need to do.

Since technical writing involves dealing with complex information, the writer needs to have a solid base on the topic. That may require past experience, direct technical knowledge, or an ability to understand multiple pieces of information quickly and effectively.

In becoming a technical writer, you may have to work with various other people, such as software developers, software engineers, human resources professionals, product designers, and other subject matter experts.

While most organizations tend to hire writers with a history in their fields, others opt for individuals with great writing skills and team them up with their employees.

Technical writers may also work with customer service experts, product liability specialists, and user experience professionals to improve the end-user experience. In any case, they work closely with people to develop digestible content for the end customers.

Today, you can also find several technical writers online. There is an increasing demand for technical writing because of the insurgence of SaaS companies, e-commerce stores, and more.

In the end, technical writers need to have a strong grasp of proper grammar, terminology, the product, and images, graphics, sounds, or videos to explain documentation.

If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course , where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.

We offer a wide variety of programs and courses built on adaptive curriculum and led by leading industry experts.

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649 Technology Essay Topics & Research Titles + Examples

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Are We too Dependent on Technology?
How Technology Affects Our Daily Life
Essay about New Technology and Its Impact
Is Digital Technology Making Children’s Life Better?
Apple Inc. Affected by Globalization and Technology
Information and Communication Technology in Education
Impact of Technology on the Communication
How Technology Advances Influences Crime Rates? There is a risk in overuse of technology since it causes mistrust and cynicism where fear of crime is replaced by fear of authority.
Using Technology in Everyday Life: Pros and Cons Modern technologies are being actively introduced at a rapid pace, which affects many aspects of everyday life.
The Role of Technology in Operations Management The benefits of technology can be seen directly associated with facilitating the processes and the resources, which operations management is directly handling.
Technology and Its Impact on Humanity The paper discusses new technological developments and their impact with a special focus on Internet technology.
Smart House System Technology Explained Smart House is a term used to describe a house that has Computer Controlled Automation System that controls various functions in a house such as appliances and lighting.
Ancient Ways of Communication Before Technology This informational essay is devoted to the investigation of a wide range of communication means used by people in ancient times from the pre-writing period until the development of alphabets.
Technology of the Past and Present The Internet and social media shape our mindsets and the perceptions of life goals that we obtain while interacting with others.
Technology is the Future of Education The paper aims, through an analysis of literature on the subject, to share recommendations on implementing digital tools into education processes.
Food Technology Importance in Modern Days The Institute of Food Technologists defines food technology as the application of food science, including biological, chemical, and physical makeups.
Communication Technology and Globalization Growth in communication networks brought out by information technology witnessed a stream of expansion of products and ideas breaking geographic boundaries.
Technology in Nursing Practice The patient care environment has changed significantly because of the introduction of technology in nursing practice. Many nurses use technology to provide quality patient care.
Modern Trends in Information Technology In recent years, there has been a complete technological overhaul in both hardware and software, which has led to improvement in the IT industry in terms of accuracy.
Is Access to Technology Worth the Potential Loss of Privacy? The problem of data privacy is one of the most worrying topics for modern people since technology and the Internet is used in almost all areas of people’s lives.
Modern Technology for Children: Causes and Effects The 21st century is the most knowledge-intensive period in human history up to date. Computer technology is utilized in virtually every field of labor and practice.
Children’s Use of Technology and Social Media: Essay Example Research conducted in various nations indicates that children and teenagers spend most of their time on social media sites than they do on other websites and mobile sites.
The Impact of Technology on Mental Health The paper uncovers the consequences of technology use on mental health. It examines the relationship between technology use and mental illnesses.
Negative Effects of Technology on Society The speedy insurgency in technology has extremely influenced the societal daily life both negatively and positively. It becomes intolerable to refute technology.
Information Technology Implications for Military A critical association exists between military technology, its tactics, and the psychological characteristics that connect its users into units, dating back to the dawn of history.
Science and Technology in Ancient Civilizations This paper is a consummate discourse on the role of the scientific and technological advancements in the development of the ancient civilizations.
Technology and Interpersonal Communication This article explores the impact of technology on interpersonal communication, discusses how technology has changed the way people interact and communicate with each other.
Ethics in Information and Communications Technology Design and application of ICTs in our society also come with serious ethical issues which cause dilemmas on whether to fully adopt such technologies.
Science and Technology: Challenges and Opportunities The recent advancement in science and technology has created opportunities and various challenges in different sectors of the economy.
Global Technology: Advantages and Disadvantages The essay considers the advantages and disadvantages of technology and establishes two arguments for how the global issue should be addressed.
Career Aspirations in Information Technology In the author’s opinion, being a qualified professional in the field of Information Technology is a challenging yet rewarding task.
The Effects of Modern Technology on Children The rapid development of the technology industry has various consequences, including both positive implications and negative manifestations of progress.
Digital Technology in My Life Digital technology has become a part of my life, but I still differentiate between the digital and real-world, although for some, this line is already blurred.
Technology to Enhance Education in Jamaica The current essay seeks to identify the innovative use of digital tools in Jamaica’s classrooms that were mentioned in the “Innovative use of technology to enhance education.”
Drones Technology: PESTEL Analysis This study presents a market exploration structure known as the PESTEL analysis model. At the back of the continued pace of aviation technology, drones have become important tools in every industry.
Does Technology Promote Loneliness? Today, most people tend to overuse their smartphones, and they are often more focused on their devices than on communication with each other.
The Cloud Computing Technology Cloud computing is a new technology that is currently viewed as one of the major items in computing. It involves using information technology as a service over the network.
Impact of the Light Bulb Invention on Society and Technology It was the light bulb that made people’s society, culture, and world what they are and gave the world not only illuminated cities but also digitalization and the Internet.
Impacts of Technology on Cognitive Development of Children and Adolescents The extensive increase in web use among teens has given rise to awareness of the effects of the utilization of technology and how it influences children.
Climate Change: The Impact of Technology The most evident effect of technology on climate change is the possibility of finding new solutions to climate change problems.
Do Technologies Harm Our Minds?
How Can Technology Help Mental Health Professionals?
Does Technology Help Increase the Level of Participation in Middle School Students?
How Can Blockchain Technology Disrupt the Existing Business Models?
Does Technology Hold the Key to Improved Life Expectancy?
How Did Technology Affect the Plains Indias?
How Are the American Classrooms Dealing with Technology?
How Does Technology Help Preserve the History and Make It Accessible While Keeping Its Integrity and Credibility?
Does Technology Affects Culture or Does Culture Affect Technology?
How Are Finance Globalisation and Technology Related?
How Does the Basic Physics of LCD Technology and Plasma Work?
How Blockchain Technology Would Disrupt the Gig Economy?
How Computer Technology Changed Individuals’ Lifestyles?
Does Technology Affect Human Communication?
How Did Big Data Analytics Merge into Technology?
How Do Technology Affect Sports and the Athlete’s Performance?
How Countries Used Technology during World War I?
How Does Excessive Technology Affect the Academics of Youths?
Has Technology Compromised Our Sexual and Social Life?
How Does Digital Technology Reduce Cost in Movie Industrial?
How Has Technology Contributed to Globalisation?
Has Technology Hindered the Upcoming Generation’s Ability to Communicate?
Does the Modern World Place Too Much Reliance on Technology?
How Does Information Technology Change in Business Environment?
How Can Cam Technology Aid in Manufacturing?
The Impact of Modern Technology on Business In the twentieth century business models and firms cannot properly exist without being introduced to the present technological advancements.
How Technology Has Affected Education Educational technology has greatly developed and has made both teachers and students successful as well as reforming schools.
Benefits of Sustainable Technology and Living Modern society suffers greatly from technological revolutions and innovations which ruin natural environment and kill out Planet.
How Technology Has Changed Communication? Social networks have made communication simpler, faster and better by enhancing accessibility in both social and business fields.
Will Technology Eventually Replace Human Labor? Automation of work can lead to an increase in the number of jobs, new job opportunities, and overall prosperity in the future.
Negative Impacts of Technology and Social Media on Young People’s Lives Social media has caused far-reaching negative repercussions on the lives of young people. Particularly, the negative effects of addition to SNS, related mental health issues, etc.
The Impact of Technology on Globalization The paper states that advances in technology have contributed to the main forces behind globalization. Organizations are compelled to become global.
Science and Technology Roles in Society Science and technology have played critical roles in transforming society, particularly in the transport and communication sector.
Using Technology to Enhance Learning Incorporating technology in education is the prerequisite for higher-quality learning since it increases access to interaction between teachers and learners.
How Technology Is Destroying Education According to research conducted recently in Britain, many students drop out of school because of over-exposure to the Internet.
The Healthcare Manager’s Role in Information Technology Management This article focuses on the role that a healthcare manager plays in ensuring the efficient execution of medical operations through the use of new technologies.
Virtual Reality: The Technology of the Future The contemporary inclination in virtual reality is to combine the two user interfaces to generate an absolutely immersive and combined experience.
Science and Technology in Shaping of the Modern World Science refers to the systematic study of how the physical and natural world operates through experiments and observations.
Robotics Technology in the Workplace The research paper discusses different ways in which the development of robotic technology has changed the lives of people in the workplace, both positively and negatively.
Music Industry: The Impact of Technology While technology has many positive impacts on the music industry, it poses certain obstacles. In recent years, technology has transformed the music industry.
Apple Products and Technology Adoption Lifecycle The technology Adoption Model describes the lifecycle of a given product from the moment it first enters the market to the time it saturates it.
Does Technology Mean Progress or Not Technology does not necessarily mean progress, but it can help society progress and develop further if utilized appropriately.
Technology and Warfare Technology does not produce and develop on its own, but rather is produced and developed quite purposefully and consciously by thinking beings with specific ends in mind.
How Technology Increases One’s Job Productivity Business industries today cannot do without the use of modern technologies. Many industries closely follow the development of science.
Technology History: The Cost of Technological Advances Technological growth has led to the development of products that mankind would have never thought. This paper will look at some of the costs associated with technological growth.
Issues with Modern Technology in Airport Security aviation uses various technologies that help to check passengers and their baggage faster and more accurately, which ensures their safety
Influence of Technology on Students’ Communication and Learning Technology has had a significant impact on communication among students, the methods of obtaining the information they need, and learning modes.
Technology Impact on Generation Z Technology has positively affected the learning and interaction of Gen-Z through various innovations; however, it has shortcomings to the well-being of these individuals.
Status of Body Shop and Technology Used in Cosmetics Sector Marketing The paper explores the Body Shop’s current use of technology in marketing cosmetic products and how marketing activities and the market are impacted by modern technology.
The Role of Technology in Architecture With the introduction of technology in both techniques and tools used, architecture is not the modern architecture has attained a different status.
Criminology and Impact of Automation Technology The sole objective of this study is to determine to what extent automation is embraced by law agencies and authorities to solve crimes with a faster and more accurate technique.
Advantages of Computer Technology in Healthcare The emergence of computer technology within healthcare is the catalyst of changes that began to display the improvement of medical procedures and care quality.
Social Relations After Impact of Technology Although technology has improved people’s lives, it has contributed to a myriad of social challenges, calling for intervention measures from individual and societal levels.
Apple and Technology Adoption Model Apple Inc. is an American tech company producing smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and other devices with a broad range of accessories for them.
Using Technology in Human Resource Management The Human Resource is a necessary department in recruitment of employees, retention and development of the same.
Development of Technology. Future Prospects of Technology in the Next 10 Years Technology has been proved the most significant factor for every businessman how it helps to develop higher productivity and lower labor costs along with the massive profits.
Communication in the Era of Technology Modernization has improved the work of many organizations and social institutions, but technology has affected the deterioration of individuals’ communication abilities.
The Positive and Negative Impact of Technology on Human Life Technology has become part and parcel of our day to day lives, human beings are heavily dependent upon technology. This paper will throw light upon some aspects of the use of technology.
Freshippo Company’s Innovation and Technology-Driven Business Model This paper discusses the innovative business model of Freshippo, a grocery store that started in China in 2016 and has since expanded to 13 cities in the country.
Fashion and Technology: Modern Fashion The consolidation of fashion and technology is becoming one of the most modern trends in the creative industry that need detailed research and identification of prospects.
Information Technology in an Organization The main applications such as Personnel Management System, Inventory Management, General Administration, etc. are fully dependent on modern IT systems.
The Impediments to the Diffusion of the New Technology The paper states that simulation and e-learning face various obstacles to becoming fully adopted methods of employee training in business companies.
Information Technology Field and Disciplines The information technology field may be currently regarded as a rapidly growing sphere that offers respectable and secure positions for people with related academic credentials.
Technology Impact on Behavior of Different Generations The purpose of this study is to find out why there are such vast disparities between generations and why technology influenced each one.
Information Technology Applications in Healthcare Health IT applications as the most advanced tool that can potentially be used for enhancing patient education through patient-nurse communication.
Does technology contribute to social isolation?
Society’s development falls behind technological advancements.
Can violent video games be considered a form of artistic expression?
Smartphones harm children’s cognitive and social development.
Is technology contributing to growing income inequality?
Should social media platforms be responsible for preventing cyberbullying?
Biometric surveillance: does it enhance security or infringe upon privacy?
Do automation and robotics threaten job security?
Should screen time for children and adolescents be legally regulated?
Should coding and technology literacy classes be mandatory in schools?
Technology’s Influences in Our Lives Modern technologies like mobile phones, television or computers, and its information technology have given human society a powerful force to make life more comfortable.
The Effect Technology on International Relations With information technology, different countries have come to realize the benefits of trade; for sustainable trade, good relations among the trading partners are required.
Modern Technology and Human’s Ability to Think With the rapid improvement of technologies that resolve a substantial number of tasks, a question of deterioration of the human ability to think and make decisions arises.
Information Technology Impact on the Environment Effects on the environment can be economical. Information technology has transformed the business environment by expediting it instead of enhancing the relationship.
Technology as a Tool for Governments Currently the government is using technology contrary to the public’s interest. Through surveillance, the government has proved that technology can be abused.
Modern Technology and Engineering: The Prospects for the Development Regarded as the most well-developed sphere of industry at the moment, the telecommunication sphere suggests a wide variety of novelties that can ease one’s life and save time.
How Technology Affects Face-To-Face Interactions One of the greatest hazards of using technology, as a way of communication, is the creation of an illusion in the mind that one has many friends.
The Problem of Technology Addiction Among College Students The rapid development of technologies has impacted every aspect of modern people’s lives, from work and education to leisure and recreation.
Population Growth and Technology The ability of the economy to sustain its citizens through the advanced technologies lays a good background for population growth.
Wireless Technology and Applications Technology is the application of technical expertise to improve the efficiency and convenience of achieving tasks that would otherwise be burdensome.
Technology in Burning Chrome by William Gibson Technology is not only a global achievement but also a phenomenon that can break down the line between man and the real world.
Smartphone Technology in the Society Nowadays, phones are being used to work in various fields, academic grounds, and research. Smartphones have contributed to the negative and positive impacts of technology.
Renewable Energy Technology in Egypt Climate change has made renewable energy a global priority to replace fossil fuel which continues to impact the environment negatively.
Personal Isolation and Technology in Communication Technology is an interruption to physical communication and promotes personal isolation, as well as anti-socialism.
Journalism: Impact of the Internet and Technology The internet paved the way for citizen journalism which eradicated censorship and significantly played a part in democratizing power.
Nursing Leadership, Technology, and Informatics Technology and informatics can help address the issue of poor nurse-to-patient ratios by providing informed IT-based solutions that reinforce nurses’ evidence-based staffing.
Technology-Based Crime and Its Management In the modern world of science and technology, new developments and advancements have changed life and style of living tremendously.
Role of Information Technology in Airline Business The trend toward more aviation system interconnection and dependency is advantageous. It can also serve as a target for those looking to disrupt the sector and the global economy.
The Advancements in Electric Car Technology This paper explores the advancements and improvements in electric car technology based on practical, environmental, and innovative aspects.
Management of Technology Innovations Technology advancements have been made in every sector of business and managers have a task to comprehend the technological innovations and how they affect business operations.
S-Curve Technology in 3D Printing This paper briefly discusses one of the most famous modern innovations, 3D printing, with the perspective of the S-curve applied to it.
Information Technology Policies of the Healthcare Setting The document delineates the information and communication technology procedures of the healthcare setting and the framework for communicating and implementing these policies.
Implementation of Technology System with Change Theory This paper will discuss implementing an electronic medical records system in the organization with Kurt Lewin’s change theory model that will guide the adoption of the new program.
Information Communication Technology and Managerial Work Information communication technology means the technology used for communication in any situation. It can include any system or gadget that can be used as a communication tool.
Drones and Robotic Technology Drone technology is an example of a cutting-edge technology. It is the end-result of combining or modifying earlier forms of scientific knowledge.
Darktrace vs. Crowdstrike: Technology Strategies Darktrace and CrowdStrike seem to be very different as far as their technology and marketing strategies are concerned.
Applying Technology in the Classroom The paper describes how important is it that schools teach using iPads, Smart Boards, social media, and other new technologies.
The Sphere of Information Technology Information technology refers to the use of computers and software in managing information also referred to as management information services.
Advancement in Technology: Invention of the Television This paper seeks to discuss the phenomenon of the invention era, the circumstances leading to the invention, and its evolution.
Effects of Science and Technology in Modern World History Since 1500 This essay provides evidence in support of the thesis that the benefits of scientific and technological advancements have been higher than the cost as well as the negative effects.
Factors Affecting Technology Uses in Schools The article chronicles a study that was carried out to determine the level of technology use in a sample of nineteen schools.
Technology Structures and Social Boundaries Technology structure and social boundaries form the concept of organizational functioning and are aspects to consider when planning activities in companies.
The Role of Technology in Social Change In modern times, activism has changed due to the advent of the Internet because it has become much easier to share and spread information.
Unethical Use of Technology and Biblical Views The unethical use of technology allowed the team to achieve more solid results. The author of the article also provides other examples of technology fraud that border on ethics.
Fundamentals of Information Technology Information technology deals with computer-based information systems especially computer hardware and software applications.
Use of Technology in Arts and Music Industry Technology in art is a form of venture where artists use digital technologies to create their works and use tech as part of their creative or presenting process.
The Use of Information and Communication Technology in Education The main idea of the paper is ‘The use of information and communication technology in education’. The Paper is based on the advantages of information and communication technologies.
Pop Art and Modern Technology in Artworks In the postmodernism of pop art, the consumer society obtains triumph and manages to colonize every form of art.
Technology Acceptance Model One of the most successful theories for exploring and examining technology acceptance is the Technology Acceptance Model.
Ethical Issues in Information Technology IT ethics may be defined as an analysis of the impact of information technology on the profession and society at large.
The impact of virtual reality on education.
The role of big data in shaping business strategies.
The environmental consequences of e-waste.
The potential applications of blockchain technology in supply chains.
Inequalities in technology access across socioeconomic groups.
The role of technology in disaster management.
The impact of technological innovations on journalism.
The benefits and challenges of quantum computing.
Cryptocurrencies’ potential to disrupt financial markets.
Genetic engineering of plants for biofuel production.
Disney and Information Technology Infrastructure Library This paper provides information about Disney’s experience with ITIL implementations, such as reasons for it, results achieved, possible challenges, and reasons for success.
Benefits of Health Information Technology Information technology can assist patients in getting their medications, which can be prescribed on video and audio devices.
The Impact of Technology on American Popular Culture in the 20th Century The work aims to examine how the development of technology influenced the popular culture of America in the twentieth century.
How Technology Has Affected Communication Technological development has redefined communication over the years by early age designs such as blowing horns to modern internet communication.
Intellectual Property Challenges in Information Technology Sphere As the sphere of IT continues to infiltrate other areas of society, IT managers encounter new challenges balancing the line between restrictions and open access to knowledge.
Medical Technology and Its Impact on Patients Patient safety is a new medical care discipline, which stresses on giving of the right information, examination, prevention and control of medical mistakes.
Facial Recognition Technology This paper aims at examining the bills regarding facial recognition technology and developing a possible statute that can be adopted by the Texas Legislature.
IT in Healthcare: Barcode Medication Administration System The integration of the information systems into the medical has improved a lot of issues, including reduction of errors relating to administration transcription.
Internet Technology: Creating a Website This paper is set to explain the way the internet has changed lives and its effect on the pace at which businesses are conducted all over the world today.
How Technology Has Changed the Home Improvement Industry There are three main fields where technologies have brought changes in the home improvement industry: home construction facilitating, safety, and comfortability.
Ethical Dilemma of Privacy in Technology The paper argues legal and ethical implications of new technology necessitate new ethical guidelines regarding individuals’ privacy developments.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology and Its Impact on Human’s Life The aim of Bluetooth technology is to phase out cables as a connector to devices because they support direct communication amongst themselves, without having to use cables.
The Double Effect of Social Technology Society accustoms to the constant receipt of information and begins to handle breakdown if it does not happen.
Journalism Future After Technology Change This paper integrates a case study to argue that, despite technological changes that influenced the death of newspapers, the future of journalism is still bright.
Technology and Its Effects on Society This paper supports the argument that technology has more negative effects compared to positive ones in society.
Computer Technology’s Impact on Personal Health The computer has a detrimental effect on health in many aspects. The influence of the Internet on modern society cannot be assessed unambiguously.
Engaging and Empowering Learning Through Technology Engaging and empowering learning through technology is one of the recent educational trends. Educators get a unique opportunity to help learners experience new emotions.
Media and Communication Technology: The Positive and Negative Impacts This paper discusses the positive and negative impacts of media and communication technology on human beings, such as reduced productivity and depreciating mental health.
Earthquake Resistant Building Technology & Ethics Foreign engineers aimed to replace Japanese architecture with a more solid one with masonry houses, new railroads, iron bridges and other European technological advances.
Information Technology and Banking Sector IT has influenced two dissimilar areas in banking, including communication and connectivity, together with business progression reengineering.
Amazon Company: RFID Technology Implementation Plan An evidence-based Radio-Frequency Identification technology implementation plan is suggested by this paper that can make a difference for Amazon and support its business goals.
Educational Technology Internship Proposal This proposal is aligned with Technology Facilitator Standards to address the major aspects of the Internship work which are Leadership and Needs Assessment.
Life Expectancy and Technology Life expectancy has increased significantly with the development and discovery of new devices and medicine in the last century.
Development in Aircraft Landing Technology This paper also evaluates the importance of these systems in providing safety and reducing operational expenditures of airlines.
Industry and Agriculture: Use of Technology Industry and agriculture are among the areas that have experienced a vast rise in effectiveness and performance quality due to the integration of new types of technology into them.
Health Information Technology Service Management One of the aspects of using new technology in medicine is HIT service management, which is a process of establishing a framework for IT-related systems and activities.
Advancing New Technology for Radiology and Imaging Radiology and imaging are essential in the medical field because they provide invaluable measures for diagnostics and therapy.
The Impact of Information Technology on the Human Communication This paper discusses the potential impact of information communication technology on human communication in business in the next 10-15 years.
Technology-Based Training and Learning Environment Technology-based training methods have already changed the way how people obtain and use knowledge and completely changed the learning environment.
Proposal Outline: Being Too Dependent on Technology When almost everything is automatized, and it is impossible to live fully without devices and gadgets, technological dependence appears to be a pressing concern.
Use of Technology by Teenagers for Emotional Support Teenagers use technology for emotional support to connect and communicate with their friends and families; however, it hinders their experience of separation and finding of self.
Technology and Medicine: Assessment Current high-tech medicine is highly different from traditional one, but it should be combined in a multicultural way to maximize its advantages.
Momenta Pentop Computer’s Design and Technology Known as a pentop – a touch sensitive tablet computer operated by means of a pen – it was a revolutionary and innovative technology at the beginning of the 1990s.
QR Codes as a Physical Marketing Technology The paper overviews QR Codes and outlines the potential of the technology for marketing using physical media with a focus on digital tracking of physical marketing.
Technology’s Influence on Design Evolution The introduction and adoption of the new technology in the contemporary world has significantly intertwined graphic design practices and other reproduction techniques.
Volkswagen Company’s Information Technology This case relates to the efforts that were put by Volkswagen in an effort to set up an Information Technology infrastructure in the organization.
Tests on Personality: Materials, Scoring, and Technology The publishers of the three tests have stated more precise purposes. In particular, MMPI-A-RF is meant to be used with adolescents to investigate psychopathology and personality.
The Impact of Technology in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin It is possible to interpret Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” as a critique and cautionary tale about technology, particularly the railroad and the telegraph.
Apple and Samsung Firms’ Technology Innovation Apple, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd are in a business struggle that began in 2010. Both businesses are continually converging and changing from a business model standpoint.
Technology Impact on Communication The essay will cover the key factors that changed the way people communicate and advantages and disadvantages of modern innovations in people’s everyday lives.
Information Technology Application in Nursing
Impact of Technology on Business and Society
Siri: Controversy Technology
The Paradox of Progress and Technology
Modern Technology and Children: Causes and Effects
The Value of Technology
Starbucks Company’s Information Technology Approaches
Technology, Distance Education, and Its Quality
Fifth Wave of Technology
Technology in Health Care: Current Trends
Wells Fargo Company’s Technology and Training Systems
Positive and Negative Impact of Technology on Communication
Information Technology Enabled Online Learning
Southwest Airlines – Impact of Innovation and Technology Management
Technology for Learning English as a Foreign Language
Dividend Policy at Linear Technology
E-Commerce and Digital Technology for Small Businesses
The Impact of Technology on the Social Institution of Health
New Technology in the Air Cargo Industry: Artificial Intelligence
Technology’s Impact on Workplace Conflict
Prolonging Life With Technology
Digital Divide. Technology Today
Influence of Technology on Marketing of Music in the 20th Century
Impact of Technology on the Healthcare System
United Parcel Service: Information Technology Management Plan
Hilton Hotels’ Information Technology Application
Virtual Reality Technology: Theory, Practice and Research
Technology Acquirement in Project Management
Communication Technology: Impact on Personal Relationships
Technology in Human Interpretation
Technology Changes and Influence on Society
The Future of Technology for Consumers
Interconnection of Nature, Society, and Technology
The Future of Jobs: Impact of Technology
Americans’ Obsession with Technology: The Key Reasons
RADAR Technology Analysis and Overview
History of Agricultural Technology Development
Issues of Technology: Online Behavior
The Outcomes of World War II: Impact of Technology
Consuming Technology: Why Marketers Sometimes Get It Wrong
Advantages of Instructional Technology
Streaming Media Technology and Copyright and Related Rights Law
The Impact of Technology on Work and the Workforce
Information Technology: Code of Ethics
Information and Communication Technology (ICT): The Endnote X1 Program
The Technology of Self-Driving Cars
Biomass and Energy Crops and Technology
Agriculture: Application of Information Technology
Dating in the World of Technology: What We Gain and We Lose
Information Systems, Enabling Technology or Strategic Weapon?
Impacts of Technology on Love
Integrating Technology Into the Classroom
Incorporating Technology Into the Curriculum
Solar Photovoltaic Power as Advanced Technology
Business Applications of Blockchain Technology
Impact of Technology: Nicholas Carr’s Views
Concepts of How Science and Technology has Shaped the Modern World
Globalization and Technology Impacts on Ethics
The Impact of Using Technology in Teaching English as a Second Language
Do Computer Technology Make Financial Intermediaries Extinct?
The Impact of Technology on the Police Patrol
Negative Impact of Technology on Children
Technology and Its Impact on Society in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”
Hotel Guest Room Technology
The History of Technology in Teaching History
Information Management Improving Patient Care Technology
Disruptive Technology in Display Devices Industry
Emerging Technologies in Public Relations
Criminal Justice Technology
Amazon.com: The State of Information Technology and Management
DBR Technology: Data Networks
Technology of Synthesis of Genetically Modified Insulin
Human Resources Management and How It Is Affected by Globalization and Technology?
Innovation and Technology Cycles in Organizations
Problematic Nature of Technology Led Development
Consumer Adoption of Optus Company’s New Technology
Effect of Information and Communication Technology in a Corporate Organization
Music Industry and Information Technology
The Wave of the Future: Driverless Car Technology
Digital Technology Is Changing Childhood
Stem Cell Debate: Advantages and Disadvantages of Stem Cell Technology
Communication Technology Business Units
Wireless Charging Technology’s Evaluation
Technology Description Diary: The Use of Smartphone and Diary of Observations
Information Technology Oversight and Governance
Second World War: Cause and Technology
Technology and Communication: The Impact of Information Technologies and the Lack of Personal Contact
The Implication of Information Technology on Marketing Strategy of Healthcare Industry
Adobe Inc. Demographics and Technology
The Expo 2020 Dubai and Technology Operation Centre
Information Technology Projects in the Healthcare Sector
Impact of the Advanced Technology
The Health Information Technology Adoption
Science and Technology in Society
Nokia-Technology Industry Analysis
Legal Technology in Criminal Justice
Investing in Technology: A Promising Modern Trend
Business Driven Technology: Business Processes
Is New Technology Making Us More or Less Intelligent?
Using Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Critical Care Medicine
Censorship in Digital Technology
The Technology of Human Gene Editing
Near Field Communication Technology Application
Health Information Technology: A Personal View
Samsung Products and the Impact of Technology on Marketing
Agricultural Technology Implementation by Medieval Europeans and West Africans
TechCrunch and MIT Technology Review Comparison
Technology Trends in Hotel Management
Murder Cases: Technology for Crime Monitoring and Control
Technology Development: Indonesian Film Industry in 2010-2020
Business Processes and Technology
Health Information Technology and Nursing Practice
Technology and Future Trends in Healthcare
Government Control of Technology
How Technology is Changing Our Lives
The USE of Information Technology Networks in the Field of Pedagogy
Cultural Artifacts in Age of Innovative Technology
Dynamics of Ethics, Ethical Principles and the Technology of Ethics
Video and Audio Technology and Its Future
Aviation Security Is Over Reliant on Technology
Technology for Patient Safety: Change Proposal
Technological Development: Technology Displacing Workers
Technology Influences That Affect the Military
The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation
Blockchain Technology and Cybersecurity
Use of Digital Technology
Information Technology Project and Risk Management
Mobile Telephony and Kranzberg’s Laws of Technology
WestJet Company’s Information Technology Governance
How the iPhone Is Changing Technology?
Reading & Technology. Curriculum & Assessment
Technology for Human Capability Development
Information Technology Standards in Health Care
Information Technology – Network Security Tools
Technology and Communication in Today’s World
Technology of iPhone Jailbreak: Guide in 5 Steps
Communications: Technology and Personal Contact
Technology in Information Mining
Goal Line Technology and Football
Strengthening Community Health Through Technology: Key Barriers
Ethics and Technology: Bots in Social Media
Human Resource Management: Technology and Its Impact
Protecting Public Anonymity as Issue in Technology
Technology Operations Centre’s Role in Expo 2020 Dubai
Health Information Technology in Nursing Home Setting
How Modern Technology Is Changing Us
The Problem of Data Security in Information Technology
Value Proposition of Smart Technology and Self-Driving Cars

️✏️ Trending Technology Topics to Write About

The Health Information Technology
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New Technology for the Human Body
Green Technology: Comparison of Economic and Environmental Implications
Impact of Technology in the Classroom
The Hong Kong Theatre Art Technology Festival
The Smartphone Technology in the Healthcare Sector
Customer Scope of Influence and Technology Effect
Effects of Technology on Policing In England and Wales
Evaluating Instructional Technology Resources for 21st Century Teaching Instructional Software
Aspects of Communicating With Technology
Information Technology Application: Electronic Health Record
Communication Technology Tools in Public Health Campaigns
Computer Technology and Business Needs
Technology in Health Care
Technology Integration, the Use of Technology
Information Technology Infrastructure Library
Information Technology Project Portfolio Management
The Usage of DNA Technology in Forensic Science
Architecture and Technology: The Essential Role of Sustainable Architecture
Online Education: Case Analysis, Technology and School Change
Using E-Commerce: A Technology-Based Business
Sociotechnical Ensemble and Technology Theories
Technology Industry and University Research
Complex Technology in Reality TV Shows
Assessing Role of Technology in Police Crime Mapping
Information Technology (IT) Industry Analysis
Improving Healthcare Quality With Bar-Coded Medication Administration
Health Information Systems and Information Technology
Ultrasound Technology and Intravenous Access Quality
Uber-U Education Technology for Global Connections
Artificial Technology’s Ethical, Social, Legal Issues
Using Technology in Healthcare Setting
Information Technology Sourcing and Cloud Strategy
Technology and Learning Experience
Social Media: Science, Technology and Government
LED Lighting and the Future of Lighting Technology
K Tire’s Radio Frequency Identification Technology
Credit Corp Inc.’s Information Technology Changes
Utilizing Digital Technology in Written Works Compartmentalization
Risk Assessment in Information Technology Field
Information Technology’s Positive Impact on Medicine
Sentinel Event Analysis: Alert Fatigue and Errors Caused by Technology
Social Distancing: The Role of Technology
Emerging Technology’s Impact on France’s Economy
Importance of Technology in H.R. Management
Potential Role of Technology to Resolve Low-Value Civil Claims
Information Technology at Healing Hands Hospital
Critical Success Factors of Information Technology Project Management
Cleveland Clinic’s Opportunities for Adopting New Technology
Impacts of Technology on the Healthcare System
The Fourth Amendment and Technology Relationship
Women in Information Technology: Barriers and Challenges
Natural Readers Website as Assistive Technology in Education
To Revolutionize Performance With Technology
Technology Use in Early Education Program
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Technology
Harnessing Technology in Britain
Challenges of Virtual Assistance Technology Implementation for Healthcare
How the Evolution of Technology Has Advanced Cyber Financial Crimes
Communication Technology’s Impact on Global Terrorism
The Innovative Solutions Information Technology Startup
Social Media Initiatives and Information Technology
How 911 Dispatcher Technology Has Reduced Healthcare Costs
Date Technology Solution Proposal: Trusty Carpets
Internet Technology: Software Maintenance and Evolution
Quantum Computing Frontier in Computing Technology
Industrial Processes and 5G Communication Technology
Technology and Migration in Industrial Urbanization in U.S History
Cloud Technology Innovation in Pharmaceutical Company
Technical Writing in Information Technology
The Information Technology Business Analyst Job Posting
The Internet and Technology Negative Effects
The Neutrality of Technology
Technology and Social Services
Technology: Is It Neutral?
Nuclear Technology and Radiation Energy
Technology in the Healthcare System
3D Printing in Aerospace Technology
Strategic Use of Technology in Business
A Novel Educational Model and Technology
Discussion: The Impact of New Technology
Why Do Humans Rely So Much on Technology?
Usage of Container Technology in Micro-Service Driven Application Segmentation
Human Democracy and Technology Development
Cloud Computing Technology in Marketing
Technology Changes and Their Impacts on Industrial Revolution
Technology in Healthcare and Care Coordination
Importance of Business Technology for Organizations
Business Driven Technology: Respective Areas of Expertise
Hip-Hop Music, Culture, and Technology in Society
Aspects of Communications Technology
Telephone Technology: Impact on Communication Field
How Technology Affects Communication
Implementation of Instructional Technology
The Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology
TechFite Firm’s Emerging Technology Solutions
Impact of Technology on Nonprofits
Researching of Politics of Technology
The Effects of Technology in the American Workplace
Automation and New Trends Within the Technology Industry
Technology in Early Years Classrooms
Disasters Influenced by Technology
Managing the Economic Risk in the Technology Industry
Speed of Technology in a Hotel Business
The Use of X-Rays Technology in Dentistry
Application of Technology in Early Childhood Education Systems
The Information Technology Project Sponsor Role
Impact of Technology on Commercial Drivers
Technology in Global Transportation Management
Visualizing Technology: Microsoft Word and Excel
Pessimism v Progress: Technology and Society
Marker Motion Technology Marketing Strategy
Impact of Emerging Technology on the Economy of Mexico
Impact of Technology on an Increase in Body Mass
Researching of Security in Technology Management
Technology and Employment Relationship Management
Computer Ethics: Information Technology Ethics
Interrelationship and Coproduction of Science, Technology and Society
Code of Ethics in Information Technology Sphere
Forest Lake Elementary School: The Integration of Technology
Information Security in a World of Technology
Problems That Hinder the Adaptation of Technology in Education Institutions
Technology, Transportation Management and Biblical Worldview
Technology and Instruction in Education
Monolithic and Decomposed Gateways in Technology
Warfare Theories, Military Technology and Pacifism
Canadian Carbon Molecular Sieves Technology
Employee Displacement with New Technology
Voice Over IP Technology, Converting Sounds into Digital Signals
Effective Use of Technology in the Classroom and at Home
Data, Technology, Gender, and Society
Role of Information Technology in Business
Understanding of Technology Implicit in ‘Being and Time’
Technology and Students’ Approaches to Communication and Education
Incubating Technology-Based Firms: Innovation Ambidexterity
DNA Fingerprinting Technology: Description and Use
Omniscience, Omnipotence, Group Organism, and Technology
Blockchain Technology: Benefits for Enterprises
Aspects of Technology and Social Network
Long-Term Changes in Information Technology During the Pandemic of COVID-19
Plastic Ban and Technology: Society’s Use of Plastic
Information Technology Implementation in Healthcare
Science and Technology for Big Business in the 1880-90s
Business Disruptions for Information Technology Services
Supporting Innovative Technology Solutions’ Growth
Leadership, Technology and Nursing Informatics
BOK Matrix Summary for Emerging Technology on Logistics
Agent Technology Based Modelization Systems for Healthcare
Cyber Security Process and Technology
Disruptive Technology: Big Data Analytics
Technology and Human Society and How They Are Related
Technology Tools in Early Childhood Programs
Technology Application in Criminal Justice
Cobit 5 Framework 19: Risks Assessment of Information Technology
Large Firms and Technology. Chemistry
Captain Technology Company in the Market
Aspects of Virtual Reality Technology
Technology and Social Media Role in Customer Service
E-Shopping Market and Role of Technology
Technology: The Bias of Communication
The Impact of a Car’s Technology on the Purchase Decision of a UK Customer
The Term “Digital Divide” in Technology
Information Technology Liberty Mutual
Applying Internet Laws and Regulations to Educational Technology
The Online Technology in the Experiences of EFL Pre-Service Teachers
Role of Technology in Enhancing the Power
Globalization and Technology in Health Care
Information Technology: Real-Time Processing and Multi-Processing Database Systems
Integration of Technology in Schools
Should the Government Monitor its Citizens Using Technology?
Emerging Technology on Robotics in Surgery and Nanotechnology
Communication Technology Overview
Mobile Technology and Its Applications for Customers
Da Vinci Robotic Technology in Healthcare
Subsea Technology and Rentals Organisational Resilience
The Use of Wiretapping in Police Technology
Technology-Assisted Reviews of Data in a Document Management System
Online Teaching as the Major Concern in the Field of Instructional Technology
Human Factor Engineering in Simulation Technology
Health Care Using Health Information Technology
Benefits of the Use of Advancements in Technology for Medical Experts
Amazon: Investing in Decarbonizing Technology
Technology Impact Criminal Justice Administration
Risks and Benefits of Healthcare Technology Trends
Digitisation and Technology: Cultural Industries
Turning Information Technology Department into Chief Information Officer Organization
The NuclearRUS Company: Plutonium Uranium Reduction Extraction Technology
Technology Application in Nursing
Healthcare Information Technology Trends
The Centrality of Technology in Architecture
Advanced Nursing Technology
Health Information Technology and Decision Makers
Aspects of Technology in Education
Racial Inequity Supported by Technology
Impact of Advancing Technology on Human Innovation: CRISPR
Human Sex Trafficking and Police Technology: An Issue of the Past or Present?
Multiple Sclerosis and Assistive Technology
Wind Turbines Technology
Apple’s Technology Effect on Governments
Radio Frequency Identification Technology in Libraries
Caring Meets Technology: Health Information Technology
Utilizing Innovative Technology in Healthcare
Surgical Technology and Equipment
Drone Technology Cybersecurity and Information Systems
Application of Technology in Nursing
Cyberspace: Analysis of Current Information Technology Issue
The Security of Data in Information Technology Areas
Assistive Technology and Independent Living
Political Preference for High-Technology Health Policy
Environmental Ethics. Technology and Values
Technology Integration Into Studies
Treadle Pump Technology: A Potential Improvement
Web: Ready for Assistive Technology or Not
Business Process & Information Technology: Supply Chain Management
Security Technology Evaluation
Radio Frequency Identification Technology
Business Continuity Through the Use of Information Technology
Information Technology and Systems. Development. Use for Enterprises
Controversies Related to Technology: Newborn Screening
Information Technology Disaster Recovery Planning
Health Information Technology
Information Technology Utilization in Nursing
Development and Launch of an Information Technology Product
Patient Care Using Medical Technology
The Relationships Between Technology Progress and Communication
Unmanned System Technology: Methods of Control
New Technology in Diagnosing Respiratory Diseases
Change Proposal: E-Prescribing Technology
Technology and Dating: Social Media and Committed Relationships
Voice Over Internet Protocol: Technology Introduction
The Concept of Primary Care in the Context of Innovative Technology
Health Information Technology Influence on Care Delivery
Radio Frequency Identification Technology Concepts
Autonomous Solutions Incorporation: Mobius Technology
Technology Influence on the Art of Dance
The Emerging Medical Technology
Technological Solutions for Effective Communication
The Technology of Heat Transfer Through Walls
Fashion Merchandising and Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Education
Informational Security in a World of Technology
Adhocracy Culture in an Information Technology Company
Psychology and Mass Media Technology
Mobile Technology Use for Business Applications
Florida Health Information Technology Code of Practice
Technology Innovation and the Cultural Loss of Customary Practices
The Role of Technology in Leadership in Healthcare
Technology Venture Investing: Articles Review
Sony Corporation: Technology Design
Public Health Informatics and Technology Integration
Communication Technology and the Reduced Contacts of People
The Successful Information Technology Strategy
How Do Science and Technology Help Us Define the Modern World?
Information Technology and Mexican Drug Cartels
The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology
Policy, Ownership, Professionalism, and Technology
Effective Cyber Protection in the Technology Sector
Consciousness: Science and Technology
Neurofeedback Software and Technology Comparison
Technology and Its Impact on Contemporary Communication
Information Technology in Gamers Heaven Company
Technology Management: To What Extent Is Collaboration in Networks a Requirement of Today’s Innovation Process?
Why You Need to Use Technology in Business
Bioremediation Technology Against Environmental Pollution
Technology and Society. Relative Influence.
The Relationship Between Customer E-Support and Phone Technology
Technology One Limited Explained
The Appropriation of Technology From External Sources
Technology in Communication of Education
Information Technology for Healthcare Quality
Technology and New Media: Transformation of Society
Information Technology Training in Primary Care
Information Technology Training in Primary Care by Alpay et al.
Information Technology: Decomposition Aspects of Usability
Disability and Information Technology Education
Healthcare Technology and Strategic Planning
The Looks of Hollywood at Technology
Technology Use and Effects on Toddlers
Object-Oriented Technology in IT
Radio Frequency Identification Technology for Business
Monitoring Toddlers, Technology, and Education
Managing Technology and Organizational Processes
Low Workforce Diversity in Technology
Identifying Three Trends in Information Technology
Patient Education Technology: MySugr Diabetes Logbook
Technology Creates Health Promotion Opportunities
Health Information Technology and Patient Data Privacy
E-Prescribing Drug Technology in the Healthcare
Technology in Healthcare: Lobbying the Local Government to Create Better Care Opportunities for Citizens
Bar Code Medication Administration Technology
Reliance on Technology and Security Staff Skills In Aviation Security
Blockchain Technology in the Healthcare Industry
Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Technology in Healthcare
“Nurses and Nursing Assistants’ Decision-Making Regarding Use of Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Technology” the Article by Kanaskie and Snyder

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StudyCorgi . "649 Technology Essay Topics & Research Titles + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/technology-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "649 Technology Essay Topics & Research Titles + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/technology-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Technology were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 20, 2024 .

Dissertation
PowerPoint Presentation
Book Report/Review
Research Proposal
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Movie Review
Cover Letter Writing
Personal Statement
Nursing Paper
Argumentative Essay
Research Paper
Discussion Board Post

20 Most Prominent Technology Essay Topics And Writing Hints

Table of Contents

So it goes without saying that the scope of technology is an endless sphere to examine. What’s more, as the topic is super wide, you can personalize your essay to make it enjoyable to work on.

Nevertheless, it may be a challenge for you to make up your mind on how and what to write about. In this case, I hope the following hints will be of great help to you!

How to choose a topic about technology for a research paper?

First of all, to write a technology essay , you need to come up with a topic that will not be too wide, yet not too narrow.

Also, remember that it will be much more entertaining and easier for you to work on the questions you actually enjoy.

If you have troubles composing the topic for your research paper, try some o the following guidelines:

Think of the aspects of technology you’re interested in.
Choose issues that are up-to-date and newsworthy .
Examine credible sources ; find out which questions are best covered with relevant information.
Write down some keywords for the remaining questions, – they will be the basis of the topic. In case you’ve got too many aspects to cover, try choosing 2-3 of them.
Try crafting a couple of topics . In case of emergency… find some ready-to-use ideas.
Look through your final ideas and pick the one you like most.
Do some preliminary research . Correct your topic if needed.

Prominent topics about technology for writing

Didn’t like any of the topics above? Well, we’ve got Well, we’ve got another custom Writing list of technology topics. The following topics are more specific, but all of them are definitely thought-provoking.

The use of technology in education.
Stunning technology developed currently.
The most shocking modern technology inventions the majority of people still aren’t aware of.
Enumerate some technologies that you consider completely destructive and harmful. Explain your choice.
Technology and space studies.
The impact of technology on people’s health and values.
Can robots replace humans completely on the workplaces? Why?
Specific country and its contribution to the development of modern technology.
Technology and safety of transport.
Nanotechnologies and the scopes of their use.
The use of technologies in medicine.
Which technologies may influence people’s mental health? How?
Technologies that have changed our lives.
Do technologies have a positive or negative effect on personal safety?
Does modern technology help improve the educational process?

Writing about technology: the what and the why

After you’ve chosen the topic, it’s a perfect time to start working on it.

Remember… To write a successful essay or a research paper on technology, you need to organize it all well.

This means you need a plan! Here are some hints for a perfect structure:

Search for relevant information . You have to rely on credible sources to have up-to-date and newsworthy data. Remember that some websites may contain fakes!
Note some crucial aspects of your question. Later you may use them as ideas to highlight.
Start writing. To make it easier to cope with a lot of information you now encounter, you’d need to craft an outline . Write down a table of contents for your essay, it will be your soil to push off.
Start with the introduction to give the reader some understanding of the issue. Here you include some background information on the topic, historical aspect, or some definitions if needed.
Write the main body . Mention all your statements and support them with decent evidence. Remember that the main body should be split into paragraphs to make it readable. As a rule, one paragraph is for one idea or statement.
End up with a conclusion – an inference of everything said before. It has to be laconic and logical. New ideas aren’t needed here.
After you’ve written the paper, you may want to check it for grammar and typos . There are lots of websites and programs for this purpose. Even better, leave it for a couple of days and give it a fresh look.

The use of a technology essay example

To reassure you that writing a technology essay isn’t the end of the world, here is a free sample of the essay. It fits all the general recommendations, but you should always keep in mind that your teacher may have own vision on how the essay should be completed!

Still, it’s always great to grab some ideas!

Overall, writing an essay on technology is an incredibly valuable experience. Moreover, the topic is so wide; you most definitely will find something interesting to talk about!

Stick to the structure and don’t hesitate to discover something very specific. Technology is getting more and more stunning every day!

No time to complete your brilliant copy? We’ve got a bunch of writers, who’d be more than happy to write it for you! Any topic, tightest deadline, complete confidentiality. Hit the button to learn more.

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54 Most Interesting Technology Research Topics for 2023

May 30, 2023

Scrambling to find technology research topics for the assignment that’s due sooner than you thought? Take a scroll down these 54 interesting technology essay topics in 10 different categories, including controversial technology topics, and some example research questions for each.

Social technology research topics

Whether you have active profiles on every social media platform, you’ve taken a social media break, or you generally try to limit your engagement as much as possible, you probably understand how pervasive social technologies have become in today’s culture. Social technology will especially appeal to those looking for widely discussed, mainstream technology essay topics.

How do viewers respond to virtual influencers vs human influencers? Is one more effective or ethical over the other?
Across social media platforms, when and where is mob mentality most prevalent? How do the nuances of mob mentality shift depending on the platform or topic?
Portable devices like cell phones, laptops, and tablets have certainly made daily life easier in some ways. But how have they made daily life more difficult?
How does access to social media affect developing brains? And what about mature brains?
Can dating apps alter how users perceive and interact with people in real life?
Studies have proven “doomscrolling” to negatively impact mental health—could there ever be any positive impacts?

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology research topics

Following cryptocurrency and blockchain technology has been a rollercoaster the last few years. And since Bitcoin’s conception in 2009, cryptocurrency has consistently showed up on many lists of controversial technology topics.

Is it ethical for celebrities or influential people to promote cryptocurrencies or cryptographic assets like NFTs ?
What are the environmental impacts of mining cryptocurrencies? Could those impacts ever change?
How does cryptocurrency impact financial security and financial health?
Could the privacy cryptocurrency offers ever be worth the added security risks?
How might cryptocurrency regulations and impacts continue to evolve?
Created to enable cryptocurrency, blockchain has since proven useful in several other industries. What new uses could blockchain have?

Artificial intelligence technology research topics

We started 2023 with M3GAN’s box office success, and now we’re fascinated (or horrified) with ChatGPT , voice cloning , and deepfakes . While people have discussed artificial intelligence for ages, recent advances have really pushed this topic to the front of our minds. Those searching for controversial technology topics should pay close attention to this one.

OpenAI –the company behind ChatGPT–has shown commitment to safe, moderated AI tools that they hope will provide positive benefits to society. Sam Altman, their CEO, recently testified before a US Senate He described what AI makes possible and called for more regulation in the industry. But even with companies like OpenAI displaying efforts to produce safe AI and advocating for regulations, can AI ever have a purely positive impact? Are certain pitfalls unavoidable?
In a similar vein, can AI ever actually be ethically or safely produced? Will there always be certain risks?
How might AI tools impact society across future generations?
Countless movies and television shows explore the idea of AI going wrong, going back all the way to 1927’s Metropolis . What has a greater impact on public perception—representations in media or industry developments? And can public perception impact industry developments and their effectiveness?

Beauty and anti-aging technology

Throughout human history, people in many cultures have gone to extreme lengths to capture and maintain a youthful beauty. But technology has taken the pursuit of beauty and youth to another level. For those seeking technology essay topics that are both timely and timeless, this one’s a gold mine.

With augmented reality technology, companies like Perfect allow app users to virtually try on makeup, hair color, hair accessories, and hand or wrist accessories. Could virtual try-ons lead to a somewhat less wasteful beauty industry? What downsides should we consider?
Users of the Perfect app can also receive virtual diagnoses for skin care issues and virtually “beautify” themselves with smoothed skin, erased blemishes, whitened teeth, brightened under-eye circles, and reshaped facial structures. How could advancements in beauty and anti-aging technology affect self-perception and mental health?
What are the best alternatives to animal testing within the beauty and anti-aging industry?
Is anti-aging purely a cosmetic pursuit? Could anti-aging technology provide other benefits?
Could people actually find a “cure” to aging? And could a cure to aging lead to longer lifespans?
How might longer human lifespans affect the Earth?

Geoengineering technology research topics

An umbrella term, geoengineering refers to large-scale technologies that can alter the earth and its climate. Typically, these types of technologies aim to combat climate change. Those searching for controversial technology topics should consider looking into this one.

What benefits can solar geoengineering provide? Can they outweigh the severe risks?
Compare solar geoengineering methods like mirrors in space, stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and other proposed methods. How have these methods evolved? How might they continue to evolve?
Which direct air capture methods are most sustainable?
How can technology contribute to reforestation efforts?
What are the best uses for biochar? And how can biochar help or harm the earth?
Out of all the carbon geoengineering methods that exist or have been proposed, which should we focus on the most?

Creative and performing arts technology topics

While tensions often arise between artists and technology, they’ve also maintained a symbiotic relationship in many ways. It’s complicated. But of course, that’s what makes it interesting. Here’s another option for those searching for timely and timeless technology essay topics.

How has the relationship between art and technology evolved over time?
How has technology impacted the ways people create art? And how has technology impacted the ways people engage with art?
Technology has made creating and viewing art widely accessible. Does this increased accessibility change the value of art? And do we value physical art more than digital art?
Does technology complement storytelling in the performing arts? Or does technology hinder storytelling in the performing arts?
Which current issues in the creative or performing arts could potentially be solved with technology?

Cellular agriculture technology research topics

And another route for those drawn to controversial technology topics: cellular agriculture. You’ve probably heard about popular plant-based meat options from brands like Impossible and Beyond Meat . While products made with cellular agriculture also don’t require the raising and slaughtering of livestock, they are not plant-based. Cellular agriculture allows for the production of animal-sourced foods and materials made from cultured animal cells.

Many consumers have a proven bias against plant-based meats. Will that same bias extend to cultured meat, despite cultured meat coming from actual animal cells?
Which issues can arise from patenting genes?
Does the animal agriculture industry provide any benefits that cellular agriculture may have trouble replicating?
How might products made with cellular agriculture become more affordable?
Could cellular agriculture conflict with the notion of a “ circular bioeconomy ?” And should we strive for a circular bioeconomy? Can we create a sustainable relationship between technology, capitalism, and the environment, with or without cellular agriculture?

Transportation technology research topics

For decades, we’ve expected flying cars to carry us into a techno-utopia, where everything’s shiny, digital, and easy. We’ve heard promises of super fast trains that can zap us across the country or even across the world. We’ve imagined spring breaks on the moon, jet packs, and teleportation. Who wouldn’t love the option to go anywhere, anytime, super quickly? Transportation technology is another great option for those seeking widely discussed, mainstream technology essay topics.

Once upon a time, Lady Gaga was set to perform in space as a promotion for Virgin Galactic . While Virgin Galactic never actually launched the iconic musician/actor, soon, they hope to launch their first commercial flight full of civilians–who paid $450,000 a pop–on a 90-minute trip into the stars. And if you think that’s pricey, SpaceX launched three businessmen into space for $55 million in April, 2022 (though with meals included, this is actually a total steal). So should we be launching people into space just for fun? What are the impacts of space tourism?
Could technology improve the way hazardous materials get transported?
How can the 5.9 GHz Safety Band affect drivers?
Which might be safer: self-driving cars or self-flying airplanes?
Compare hyperloop and maglev Which is better and why?
Can technology improve safety for cyclists?

Gaming technology topics

A recent study involving over 2000 children found links between video game play and enhanced cognitive abilities. While many different studies have found the impacts of video games to be positive or neutral, we still don’t fully understand the impact of every type of video game on every type of brain. Regardless, most people have opinions on video gaming. So this one’s for those seeking widely discussed, mainstream, and controversial technology topics.

Are different types or genres of video games more cognitively beneficial than others? Or are certain gaming consoles more cognitively beneficial than others?
How do the impacts of video games differ from other types of games, such as board games or puzzles?
What ethical challenges and safety risks come with virtual reality gaming?
How does a player perceive reality during a virtual reality game compared to during other types of video games?
Can neurodivergent brains benefit from video games in different ways than neurotypical brains?

Medical technology

Advancements in healthcare have the power to change and save lives. In the last ten years, countless new medical technologies have been developed, and in the next ten years, countless more will likely emerge. Always relevant and often controversial, this final technology research topic could interest anyone.

Which ethical issues might arise from editing genes using CRISPR-Cas9 technology? And should this technology continue to be illegal in the United States?
How has telemedicine impacted patients and the healthcare they receive?
Can neurotechnology devices potentially affect a user’s agency, identity, privacy, and/or cognitive liberty?
How could the use of medical 3-D printing continue to evolve?
Are patients more likely to skip digital therapeutics than in-person therapeutic methods? And can the increased screen-time required by digital therapeutics impact mental health

What do you do next?

Now that you’ve picked from this list of technology essay topics, you can do a deep dive and immerse yourself in new ideas, new information, and new perspectives. And of course, now that these topics have motivated you to change the world, look into the best computer science schools , the top feeders to tech and Silicon Valley , the best summer programs for STEM students , and the best biomedical engineering schools .

College Success
High School Success

Mariya holds a BFA in Creative Writing from the Pratt Institute and is currently pursuing an MFA in writing at the University of California Davis. Mariya serves as a teaching assistant in the English department at UC Davis. She previously served as an associate editor at Carve Magazine for two years, where she managed 60 fiction writers. She is the winner of the 2015 Stony Brook Fiction Prize, and her short stories have been published in Mid-American Review , Cutbank , Sonora Review , New Orleans Review , and The Collagist , among other magazines.

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8 Great Technical Writing Examples to Inspire You

Detailed examples are a treasure for technical writers. They are a great way to understand and adapt to the best practices that can make your technical writing content stand out.

An example of good technical writing can help you identify phrases, words, and practices that can improve your content. They can also help you start writing a type of technical document you haven’t read before.

However, there aren’t only good examples of technical writing out there. A poorly written technical document example can also teach lessons on avoiding common mistakes. The example work allows you to develop a writing outlook to create successful technical documentation.

We will discuss technical writing and how you can write a technical document. We will also enlist eight technical writing examples that may help you write exceptional pieces.

What is Technical Writing?

Whenever technical information is written and documented, it is technical writing. Technical writing contains all documentation for complex technical processes. It includes executive summary statements, reports, briefs, and much more.

It can also include high-tech manufacturing, biotech, aerospace, finance, IT, engineering, and supply chain information. The format of a technical document is no longer bound to lengthy user manuals; it must be distilled and presented unambiguously. It can also come in technical reports, emails, briefs, press releases, or policies.

Technical writing continues to be a high conversion skill in all professional workplaces. Its demand grows at 10% annually from 2014 to 2022 — faster than any other occupation. Therefore, it would be great if you learned to write complex documents for your organization, and we have prepared a list of technical writing examples to help you understand and write better.

8 Best Technical Writing Examples

1. user manuals.

Writing a user manual is a daunting task for a technical writer , as it contains all the instructions a user needs to operate a product or feature. Writing a user manual requires a combination of organizational and technical writing skills, so it is an essential example of technical writing to follow.

Before moving into the components of a user manual, make sure you have worked on three things: 1) collecting information, 2) choosing structure and style, and 3) putting the manual together.

Here are five major components of effective user manuals:

It is the central part or body of the user manual that explains the process. The logical, numbered steps help the user solve the problem. Illustrations can also be used to facilitate component or experience visualization.

2. Content

Avoid technical language whenever there is a risk of isolating audience segments. The best way to make your content super easy is to imagine you are writing for a junior high school student. Tables and graphs can also be included to show how content sections relate, complement, and contrast.

3. Glossary of Terms

Every industry has its language and vocabulary. But some users are not familiar with even the most commonly used terms. A glossary of terms serves as their reference and a home for each term. It eliminates the need for technical writers to restate and re-explain definitions repeatedly.

4. Table of Contents

As a general rule, if a user manual exceeds 10–12 pages, you must use a table of contents. The entries are listed in order of presentation with accompanying page numbers.

5. Precautionary Information

Notes of caution, warnings and danger notices help user safety. They also help the manufacturer address liability concerns related to the product. Also, use universal graphic symbols to present each type of risk to the reader.

A user manual’s content can range from less than a dozen to hundreds of pages. The more complex the product or service, the lengthier the manual. In its ideal state, a user manual is a set of instructions presented in a style and format that helps quick reference and facilitates the product’s success in the market.

Unbounce’s user manual is a sublime example of effective user documentation. Their documentation is easy to navigate, with each step having its table of content to make it easy to find. Refer to their user manual as a standard if you ever write a user manual.

2. API Documentation

Similar to the user manual, API documentation helps guide the user through configuring an API. Before we move to API documentation, let us reveal exactly what API is.

API is the short form for the application programming interface. It is like a bridge between your computer, mobile phone, or other application and external resources.

In simple words, APIs allow the software to interact with other software programs, resources, and databases. Since APIs are built by software developers, it is easier for a software developer to create the documentation.

Moving on to the next part of writing API documentation, here is what you must include.

An Overview

An overview is just like an abstract page of a project report. It contains a summary of the API and the problem it is solving. It also includes the benefits of using the particular API over similar ones.

2. Tutorial

It is the main instructional body of the documentation. A tutorial must include different content formats you are using to explain the concept of the API to the user. It also contains links for reference and a detailed guide for integrating and consuming the API, so it functions properly.

3. Examples

Once you have explained how the API works and provided steps, it is a good idea to show examples of it. Examples of calls, error handling, responses, and other operations can help demonstrate how the developer interacts with the API.

4. Glossary

Although a glossary is optional, it is recommended for your API documentation. Instead of boring the user with long text blocks, explanations of various terms, images, and schemas can be pushed to the glossary. Then you can reference these things in the documentation and link to the glossary.

Stripe API Reference is the best example of API documentation and a work of art. It includes a sleek, two-panel design, with explanations written in plain English on the left and handy code snippets on the right. It has all the crucial information one needs.

3. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

A standard operating procedure or SOP is a set of written instructions. They describe the step-by-step process of performing a routine activity. SOPs follow the same approach every time to guarantee that the organization remains consistent and complies with industry regulations and business standards.

SOPs provide the policies, standards, and processes required for the organization to succeed. They also benefit a business by reducing errors and increasing profitability and efficiencies. They create a comfortable work environment and generate guidelines for how to resolve issues and overcome obstacles.

Before writing the SOP, ensure the writers perform a risk assessment. It will help them determine any obstacles that may arise during the process. They should also consider the risk associated with those obstacles.

Here are the three components that comprise a standard operating procedure.

Title Page: A title page lists the title of the SOP, what it is written for, its SOP identification, and the names and signatures of the people who prepared and approved the manual.
Table of Contents: It provides easy access to the various sections in large SOPs.
Steps of Procedure: It includes explanations of the task’s goal, roles and responsibilities, terminology, regulatory requirements, descriptions of what should be done to complete each step, and a discussion of decisions that must be made. It is the central part and takes the main portion of the SOP.

Once technical writers finish the draft, it must be reviewed, edited, and tested. The process should repeat until all stakeholders have written and approved an SOP. At this point, the SOP can be distributed to each person who needs it.

SOPs record the production line procedures used to train employees and make products. It can also be used in finance and administrative environments to document the processes of customer finance collection. Examples of how an SOP is used can be found in a manufacturing environment.

Both case studies and white papers are the most potent and sought-after types of content. Both can help an organization generate leads for the business. However, both differ in purpose, audience, and funnel stage.

A white paper is a technical document that helps readers understand an issue and devise a strategy to solve a problem or make a decision. It is a lengthy piece of content, at approximately 2,000 words or six pages. White papers can be practical to target people at all steps of the funnel.

One white paper can create awareness of a persona’s problem by targeting someone at the top of the funnel. While a second can focus on advanced product uses, targeting someone at the bottom of the funnel.

The components of a white paper include:

Introduction with a problem statement
Proposed solution

On the other hand, a case study features extended testimonials on how a product or service helped a customer. It is shorter than a white paper and consists of around 800 words. These are best suited for the audiences at the top or middle of the funnel. Use these to create awareness of a problem and show how a solution worked for a real customer.

A case study’s must-have components include:

Executive summary
Outlining customer’s challenges
The leading reader through the customer’s journey
Moment of discovery
Writing solutions as the central part
Walking reader through implementation
Celebrating customer results
Closing with CTA

Gravitate’s setting the stage for success is the best example of how to transform a detailed case study for an easier read. It introduces the customer to give visitors a little background of what they do. Then they dive straight into their role of helping the customer with a robust marketing strategy.

Global Trade Professionals Alliance’s (GTPA) Capacity Building And Standards Development For Inclusive Trade is the top example of a white paper. It starts with an overview of the problem, then states the role of GTPA in solving the problem, and finally, it reveals the outcomes and way forward.

4. Press Releases

A press release is a short yet compelling news story. It is written by a public relations professional and sent to targeted members of the media. Its goal is to press release the interest of a community or business. The press release contains all the necessary information for the journalists to quickly produce their stories.

It is also defined as a brief, printed statement highlighting significant facts of a news story in journalistic style. A press release can read like a news story, written in the third person but cites quotes and sources containing standard press release information.

Press releases are essential as they can be an excellent way to start a dialogue with a report. Journalists usually get dozens of irrelevant press releases every day. So, if you reach out to a reporter with a well-written press release, they may take notice and appreciate it. The press release also helps build credibility and control the narrative. Moreover, it can also build SEO traffic and increase customer engagement with your product or service.

A press release has six essential components. These include:

Data and location
Boiler place

The top example of a press release is Hobby Lobby’s press release . Hobby Lobby is a nationwide retail store that issued a press release announcing an increase in the minimum wage.

With an ongoing debate on minimum wage, the store gave a newsworthy story for corporations to instill a minimum wage increase. Not only did this build a positive brand image, but it also helped attract and retain more staff.

5. Business Plans

A business plan is a technical document that tells the company’s objectives in detail. It also describes the strategies for achieving these objectives. A business plan lays out a written guide for the firm from financial, operational, and marketing standpoints. The startups and established companies use business plans as their basic requirement. A business plan is essential for a company’s external and internal audiences.

For instance, a business plan can be used to bring investment even if the company won’t have an established track record. It can also help secure lending from financial institutions. Additionally, a business plan keeps a company’s executive team on the same page about strategic actions. It helps them meet established goals. Sometimes, a business plan is created for a based business that decides to move in a new direction.

Below are some of the most common components of a business plan.

Market analysis
Products and services
Marketing strategy
Financial planning

A business plan is not as difficult as one might think. It is a written tool about a business that projects 3 to 5 years ahead. It also outlines a company’s path to make money and grow its revenue. Think of your business plan as a living project for your business and not a one-time project. Break it down into mini plans like one for sales, pricing, marketing, and so on.

If you want to write your business plan, know there is no right or wrong way to write it. You can pick a plan format and start writing. It also helps you reach business milestones and get you the required funding. The important thing is that your business plan must meet your needs.

ThoughtCo’s business plan for a fictional company called Acme Management is the best example of a business plan. Its executive summary occupies nearly half the page. So, if you intend to write your business plan, follow this example as your guide.

6. Company Documents

Business or company documents are written papers that represent you, your department, and your company. Whether it is external parties or other stakeholders in your organization, a company document will list them all. For precision, a company document is any sort of format document that is used for business purposes.

Multiple things fall into the company documents category. The list can be extended, but we will only include the most common things considered for a company document.

Accounting Documents
Formal Letters or Memos
Financial Documents
Meeting Summaries
Business Plans
Customer Service Documents
Operational Documents

A company document is not only a representation of your company but also represents you. So, make sure you do a solid job putting these materials together. If you don’t know already, here is how you write the best version of a company document.

First, start with an outline that is well-organized and highly structured to be effective. If you begin writing prematurely, the thoughts will be less structured and repetitive. So, before starting, always do three things: 1) generate ideas, 2) organize, and 3) structure.

Secondly, do not bury the lead. Do not hide the most critical information deep within your writing. In company documents, do not start with a bunch of fluff. You do not need to introduce anyone and build anticipation. A business document should be as streamlined and straightforward as possible.

Thirdly, use active verbs. You do not need to make your business document a thriller; neither should it be dry and bland. Instead, make your documents a little more engaging to keep the audience engaged.

Syngenta’s financial report is the perfect example of a business document. Please give it a read to understand the main components of an excellent company document.

7. Annual Reports

As the name suggests, an annual report is a comprehensive overview of a business’s achievements and financial statements from the preceding year. It also tells the financial status and vision for the future. It is produced annually and provided to shareholders, stakeholders, investors, and others to inform them of the business’s overall performance.

Today, businesses and organizations create different types of annual reports. These are used as a marketing tool for organizations to impress their investors and donors1, showcase their brand to employees and companies, and attract new ones. Each type of annual report is designed with a specific goal in mind.

A standard annual report for a public company must have:

A letter from the CEO
Corporate financial data
Market segment information
Operation and impact
Plans for new products
Subsidiary activities
Research and development activities

Depending on the size of a company, an annual report can range between 20 to 200 pages. Remember that actual human beings read your annual report. So, it must not be filled with fluff. Make it easy to read, review, and understand for the concerned people.

The annual report’s main section should include the following as its components:

A table of contents
Mission and vision statement
CSR initiatives
An afterword
Charts, graphs, and tables

Concerning annual reports, MailChimp’s name tops the list for great examples. With bold colors and playful illustrations, the 2020 report feels more like a video game than a regular annual report. It includes yearly traditional report content, like information about products and sales, as well as fun anecdotes about their culture and data about value-based initiatives they will take. As a result, an exciting and entertaining recap of the year comes is formed.

6 Steps to Craft the Best Technical Document in 2022

After you know all the best technical writing examples, it is time to write one. But what if you write a technical document and no one reads it? To avoid this, here are six steps that one must follow to create a technical document that everyone loves to read.

1. Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience is indispensable, especially when creating technical content for a product or service. For instance, a cab driver may have a different level of knowledge and understanding than a doctor reading your SOPs.

So, before you write or even create an outline, make sure you have a clear idea of who your readers are. Knowing this lets you adjust your tone, vocabulary, and framing accordingly. It also helps you to meet your readers’ needs from their point of knowledge.

2. Do Your Research

As a technical writer, you have to guide your readers through unfamiliar territory. For this, you must know everything about that particular thing. Otherwise, it will be unwise to expect a tremendous technical document. Remember, you can only teach what you thoroughly know and understand. A knowledge gap is immediately visible when you are not thorough in your research.

The best way to do this is to place yourself in your reader’s shoes. Then, imagine you had zero knowledge of a particular thing. Doing this will force you to cover all the potential questions that come to your mind.

3. Craft an Outline

An outline is essential because it gives a roadmap of what to cover in your piece. It can also help identify knowledge gaps as you conduct your research. A longer form of technical content, like white papers and case studies, always requires an outline. It serves as their marker to remind you of what you need to include in your technical document.

Some technical writing , like business plans and annual reports, has predefined formats. You can also use a template in place of an outline.

All in all, crafting an outline is an essential component of writing great technical content.

4. Prioritize Readability

Technical writing is more fact-based rather than entertaining. So, to tackle complicated topics, use sentences that are easily readable and can make your work more enjoyable to read.

In contrast, if you are verbose in your sentences and use words that are hard to understand, you will only frustrate your reader. To improve the readability of your technical content writing, apply these tips:

Use shorter, direct sentences that are easy to follow. Avoid passive voice wherever possible.
Add subheadings to break up the long texts for better readability.
Bold text and highlight paragraphs for emphasis and improving readability.
Add hyperlinks for web pages to reference and navigate to other sections of your piece.

5. Add Visuals

A technical document is all about words and sentences, but if you add visuals, it makes both writing and reading easier. Adding visuals is becoming less of an option and a necessity today. With flowcharts, illustrations, screenshots, and more, a technical document needs a dose of visuals to look presentable.

Whether creating a user manual or business documents, your reader will be happy to see product drawings, pie charts displaying the numbers, and more.

6. Cut the Fluff

Once you have written the technical document, the final part is to double-check the facts and cut the unnecessary information.

But what exactly is fluff? Fluff is anything that does not add value to your content; instead, it negatively impacts the understanding of your text. It can be a word, a sentence, or a phrase — if you find it, cut it off. Every word in your technical document must add value to your reader’s life.

Once you know the steps to write a technical document, it is time to learn the tips that will help you write effectively.

Tips for Improving Technical Writing

Poor writing affects the reader’s understanding of the product. It also damages the reputation of the company. So, how do you make your technical writing more inspiring and practical? Below are the five tips that will make your technical writing superb, even if you are just starting writing.

Stick to a technical writing style
Use plain language
Give important information first
Clear sentence structure
Don’t use passive voice

Good technical writing is not easy to achieve and often quite challenging to find. However, with these technical writing tips, you can take your writing to the next level and maximize the value you provide to your audience.

Now that you’ve read this guide, remember the document you create represents your company. If it’s written poorly, the user will consider it useless, and the company’s reputation will be at risk.

On the other hand, if it’s written well and follows every instruction, it will enhance user understanding, and the company will attract more attention.

So, read this guide carefully and create your technical documents accordingly. Whatever type of technical document you write, follow the rules defined above, and they will improve your skills. Always keep a note of your mistakes and things you have learned, and never stop honing your skills.

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7 best technical writing examples to improve your skills

Afoma Umesi

Gathercontent contributor, writer, 6 minute read.

Interviewed by:

Lead with Content

How to put content at the centre of digital transformation.

Padma Gillen

Digital Content Consultant

It’s no wonder that technical writing is a fast-growing field.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of technical writers will grow up to 12% from 2020 to 2030–a pace that’s faster than the average for all occupations.

If you’re looking to improve your technical writing skills and break into the field but are unsure how to do it, this article will help.

We’ll show you what technical writing is, how to write a technical piece (step by step), and then share some of the best technical writing examples you’ll ever find.

What is technical writing?

Technical writing is any writing designed to explain complex, technical, and specialized information to audiences who may or may not be familiar with them . It is typically used in technical and occupational fields like engineering, robotics, computer hardware and software, medicine, finance, and consumer electronics.

Usually, technical writing falls into one of three categories depending on whom it’s written for:

Consumer-directed technical writing refers to technical content written for end-users or consumers. Good examples include user manuals, employee handbooks, standard operating procedures (SOP), software user documentation (help files), troubleshooting guides, and legal disclaimers .
Expert-to-expert technical writing is written chiefly for a knowledgeable audience. It includes scientific papers, medical case studies, annual business reports, and legal case reviews .
Technical marketing content is technical information presented in a digestible format to promote a product or service. Think marketing case studies, white papers, product brochures, press releases, and business plans and proposals .

Like most types of content , technical writing is complex and nuanced in its own way. Let’s break down the steps to writing technical content that appeals to your audience.

6 Steps to Writing a Technical Piece That People Actually Want to Read

Instruction manuals, assembly guides, and research papers, oh my . Technical writing can quickly turn into a snooze fest if not done correctly.

How do you create a technical piece that people want to read?

1. Identify Your Audience

Knowing your audience is super important, especially when writing technical content.

For example, the new dad learning to build his first crib may have a different level of medical knowledge (and sheer focus) than the experienced doctor reading a medical research paper.

When you have a clear idea of who you expect to read your piece, you can adjust your vocabulary, tone, and framing accordingly.

This allows you to meet your reader at their point of knowledge .

2. Dig Deep in Your Research

As a technical writer, you’ll be guiding your reader through entirely unfamiliar territory.

You might be explaining how a new electronic tool works, what to expect from their new workplace, or what happened before their firm took on a new legal case. It is essential that you fully understand your subject matter .

You can only teach what you know, and knowledge gaps show when you aren’t thorough in your research.

Place yourself in your readers’ shoes. Imagine you had zero knowledge of the topic at hand and ensure your research covers all potential questions that come to mind. ‍

💡 Tip : If you need help understanding your topic, work with subject matter experts. Here are three helpful resources for collaborating with SMEs:

How to create great content with busy Subject Matter Experts
How to collaborate with a Subject Matter Expert
How to get the content you need from subject matter experts

3. Create an Outline

We recommend creating an outline to give you a sense of what you need to cover in your piece. This can also help identify knowledge gaps as you conduct your research.

When you’re writing longer-form content like white papers or case studies, an outline can serve as a marker to remind you of what you need to include .

In lieu of an outline, you can use a template . Some technical writing, such as business plans, have industry-accepted formats, including sections like an executive summary and competitor analysis.

4. Focus on Readability

Technical writing is not creative writing—you're writing to teach, not inspire or entertain. When tackling complicated topics, using readable sentences can make your work more enjoyable to read .

On the other hand, if you’re verbose or use words that are hard to understand, you’ll only frustrate your reader. If you want to improve readability in technical content, try these tips:

Use simple language: Strive for shorter, direct sentences that are easy to follow, and avoid passive voice wherever possible.
Use subheadings: For longer-form content like user documentation, white papers, and research papers , adding subheadings can break up long text walls.
Add bolded sections and callouts: Bolding text and highlighting paragraphs or callouts for emphasis will make reading easier.
Hyperlinks and jump links: If you’re writing technical content for webpages, add hyperlinks to any material you reference and jump links to other sections of your piece for easier navigation.

5. Add Visuals

We’re all about the words and the writing, but visuals can make your technical writing easier to understand! In technical writing, adding visuals is less of a luxury and more of a necessity . Visuals such as flowcharts, screenshots, and illustrations can add a much-needed dose of cheer to text-heavy documents.

Whether you’re creating a user manual or annual report for stakeholders, everyone will be happier with product drawings showing the directions or a pie chart displaying the numbers.

6. Cut the Fluff

When you’ve got all the words on paper, it’s time to double-check the facts with collaborators . Don’t be afraid to cut unnecessary information during this writing phase.

How do you identify the fluff? Removing fluff doesn’t impact the readers’ understanding of your text. It could be a word, a sentence, a paragraph, or a step in the directions. Every word in your technical document should count.

7 of the Best Technical Writing Examples from Technical SMEs

With some help from a few technical content experts, we’ve chosen different forms of technical writing across various industries so you can see the skill in action.

Pipedrive’s Developer Documentation

pipedrive developer documentation - technical writing examples

Developer documentation is essential for technical communication, and Pipedrive does it well. This technical document is geared toward layman product users and must be easy to understand, even while providing complex information. Notice the use of jump links and the callout box on the page.

Outfunnel’s Head of Marketing, Katheriin Liibert says about Pipedrive’s technical writing,

Digimind Consumer Brand Footprint Ranking 2021 Report

Digimind white paper - technical writing examples

Digimind goes the extra mile with their visuals in this white paper/industry report . It’s eye-catching and information–all the while remaining thoroughly professional and readable. Being a B2B brand does not mean boring text-only marketing copy.

University of Wisconsin Onboarding Tool Kit

University of Wisconsin’s onboarding handbook - technical writing examples

This onboarding/employee handbook wins for being easy to read with short sentences and bullet points that improve readability. The human resources department also adds quick links to any relevant documents new employees need to download or fill out.

Cell Reports Medical Study

[Cell medical report - technical writing examples]

Yes, a medical research paper with pictures!

Dr. Sophia Milbourne , a stem cell biologist and freelance science communicator, appreciates that this paper is a “great summary of the subject matter.” More importantly, Milbourne mentions that

LG Refrigerator Manual

[LG user manual - technical writing examples]

This basic user manual from LG gives users an overview of their new product and helps them make the best use of it. (The diagram will come in handy when an online article tells you to adjust the control panel and you’re not sure which knob it is.)

Mashable India’s User Agreement

Mashable India legal user agreement - technical writing examples

This is an excellent example of a consumer-directed technical document. Mashable India’s user agreement is a technical legal document including their disclaimer, use license, and usage conditions.

Lawyer and content writer Ejike Umesi acknowledges that the company follows the numbered styling typical of these documents. He says,

Slack Help Center

The Slack Help Center is an excellent example of technical writing that speaks to the layman. Slack is known for its brilliant UX copywriting . Amruta Ranade, Staff Technical Writer for Airbyte, admires the company’s documentation writing style.

“Slack’s Help Center shows incredible user-awareness. The information displayed is contextual, concise, and complete–it helps the user accomplish their task without distracting them or sidetracking them with extraneous information.”

Ramp Up Your Technical Writing

Whether you’re looking to set up a personalized template or collaborate with multiple editors in real-time , GatherContent helps you elevate your technical writing workflow.

With GatherContent, you can build templates for any content you create, including case studies! GatherContent also has helpful resources for helping you and your team prioritize user-led content .

If you publish your content online , you can connect GatherContent to your CMS of choice for seamless exporting. Planning, creating, and sharing great technical content doesn’t have to be so… technical.

Start your GatherContent free trial today.

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Technical Writing

(28 reviews)

Annemarie Hamlin, Central Oregon Community College

Chris Rubio, Central Oregon Community College

ISBN 13: 9781636350653

Publisher: Open Oregon Educational Resources

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Amine Oudghiri-Otmani, Instructor, Marshall University on 10/15/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This text offers a good amount of instruction (though at times limited) underlying effective workplace and technical writing/communication. Having personally examined a number of technical writing materials, this is by far one of the very few texts that incorporate a section about texting. Freshman students will benefit from this introductory-level text and will appreciate the authors' emphasis on conventional technical documents including emails, letters, memos, reports, and proposals. The textbook, however, may not satisfy the needs of students in advanced technical writing courses looking for guidance on complex documents beyond the conventional ones identified here. Visual representation of information could be improved, and the organization of chapters could be more strategic. A separate section about reports with important introductory information, for instance, could precede the progress reports and technical reports sections.

Content Accuracy rating: 2

A full citation guide is not provided, which may not reflect well on the credibility of the authors and/or the accuracy of the information provided. The attribution information at the end of each chapter is the only reference provided, contradicting the authors' recommendation to support one's writing with material from outside research.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Although the materials are relevant to orthodox technical writing contexts, the text could benefit from a separate section that introduces writing in the digital world to reflect the evolving nature and changing landscape of technical communication. As part of the additional section, for instance, the authors could discuss potential similarities/differences between documents produced traditionally (e.g., pencil and paper, in addition to those developed by means of regular Word processor) and those produced digitally using various contemporary media. Similarities and/or differences could be discussed in light of prose and rhetorical strategies, among others.

Clarity rating: 5

The authors use simple, clear, and easy-to-understand prose. After all, sentence structure in technical writing is expected to be short, concise, and to the point. This text fits under this category of direct and unambiguous language. In addition to the authors identifying and covering essential technical terminology, the reader will appreciate the combination of descriptive (i.e., regular declarative) and direct (i.e., imperative, instructional) language. The memo, for instance, "has a header that clearly indicates who sent it and who the intended recipients are," and the reader is asked to "always consider the audience and their needs when preparing a memo."

Consistency rating: 4

Consistency is off a few times throughout the text. At the beginning of the first chapter, "Professional Communications," for instance, the authors write, "From text messages to reports, how you represent yourself with the written word counts." In this first chapter, however, only texting, emails, memos, and letters are discussed. Reports are mentioned only briefly under the cover letter to a technical report section, but no prior background about reports is provided.

Modularity rating: 5

Consistent use of headers and special highlights (e.g., boldface, etc.) helps chapter sub-sections and other important information stand out. The headings and sub-headings minimize potential distractions or other inconsistencies in modular presentation of chapter content.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

Chapter organization throughout the text consists of introduction and discussion. A conclusion in which a general, targeted final reflection is provided, however, is missing. Although the same chapter structure is used throughout the text, which will help keep the reader focused as they navigate subsequent chapter content, the authors could discuss chapter presentation, structure, and framework prior to the first chapter. The introduction section could benefit from a few sentences previewing this across-the-board structure.

Chapter lineup could also be more strategic. The chapter "Ethics in Technical Writing," for instance, could go first before "Information Literacy" and "Citations and Plagiarism."

Interface rating: 4

Readers may be distracted by the number of blank pages at the end of chapters. Readers looking to print individual chapters with ample text on each page (or those simply interested in saving trees by minimizing the number of pages printed in multiple jobs) may be disappointed. Text navigation and individual chapter selection, however, are made easy thanks to the hyperlink attached to each line/item under "Contents." Readers looking to go to a specific chapter do not need to engage in much scrolling and are given the opportunity to jump straight to the specific chapter or chapter sub-section by clicking the link.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

No grammar errors have been detected. The authors' occasional use of the "conversational" tone may not be an issue, especially in terms of deciding whether the language matches the universal, agreed-upon conventions of technical writing. The textbook being an introduction to technical writing is meant to provide a general overview of the field, and technicality at the clause level is not required. The latter is expected to be a feature of advanced-level texts. The authors, however, could consider adding a separate section that discusses style and tone (in addition to orthodox grammar/sentence structure error patterns like splices, fragments, etc.). That the language used in the text may not match the conventions of technical writing - in terms of style and tone - could also be emphasized.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Chapter 13, "Communicating Across Cultures," introduces the reader to the importance of considering the variety of cultures and culture uniqueness (and peculiarity) in technical communication, which I believe does the job. Advanced-level texts may delve deeper into the requisite component of culture and culture sensitivity in both drafting certain technical documents and deciding on the style/tone to be used, context dependent. This textbook subscribes to the general/introductory category in this (i.e., discussion of culture) respect.

Reviewed by Sylvia Hayes, English Instructor, Midlands Technical College on 7/26/21

This book is concise and covers an array of Technical Communication topics and genres. This text provides flexibility in the fact that it focuses on Technical Communication for a more generalized audience and therefore this would work well as a Technical Communications text for a First-Year Writing course at a 2 or 4-year college. The organization of the section is not very logical, luckily most instructors do not use textbook chapters in order. The text could use more examples for students in the medical and legal fields. It could use more visual support within the chapters.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The information presented in this text is accurate, error-free, and unbiased; however, there are no references to original sources for most of the content.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content of this text is written so students can use the information in many different technical communication settings.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is clear, the prose is accessible and it defines and provides adequate context for concepts college-level students may find unfamiliar. There are multiple instances of the text directing you to a hyperlink to another resource that explains the concept in more depth. However, the text does not model the level of clarity necessary for technical communication. There are various sections that are underdeveloped and need more graphics and examples.

Consistency rating: 3

Due to the sheer number of contributing authors, it is hard to create a consistent framework for the chapters. They each seem to be designed by the separate contributors in ways that make sense to them and are not uniform to the book. In terms of terminology, the text is consistent.

Modularity rating: 3

This text is broken up into sections and subsections, that can be assigned at different points within a course. As the organization of the chapters is chaotic, I believe most instructors would have to move sections around as assign them individually instead of starting at chapter 1 and working through the textbook.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 1

The organization of chapters is confusing. Why are citations in between Proposals and Progress Reports? Chapters refer to students learning of concepts found later in the textbook.

Interface rating: 2

Not all sections are set up the same, which makes it harder to navigate and find information. In some versions of the text, you can't see the graphics. You cannot search the text using normal search indicators "AND," "NOT," etc. this makes searching this text much more difficult than some others. Why are there so many blank pages in the PDF, if someone was to print the text they would waste about 1/4 of the pages.

Grammatical Errors rating: 3

There weren't any noticeable grammatical errors. The sentence structure is varied, however, there were some long, wordy, confusing sentences. The tone is very casual and not professional.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

There is no culturally insensitive or offensive language in the text, however, the text is not inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in its examples or images.

Reviewed by Mary Larsen, Instructor, Pittsburg State University on 5/14/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook highlights important components of technical writing, including various forms of technical writing in the workplace and also approaches to audience analysis, graphics, and ethics within the writing of these documents. This text also includes information about resumes and employment, which is very applicable to technical writing and provides readers with a dual layer of content.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content within this text is accurate and mostly error-free. The content is based off of multiple authors rather than one single-viewpoint, which provides additional insights into topics versus only one limited view. Content is cited and derived from David McMurrey, who has experience and a plethora of knowledge in all aspects of technical writing.

The text is relevant to writing in the workplace as it covers aspects of "netiquette," which is something technical writers will encounter more and more as workplace functions are moved more to online formats. The formats covered are also frequently used forms of communication in the workplace, such as email, letters, memos, proposals etc. This provides a large scope of relevant documents that readers could encounter when writing in the workplace.

This text is written in plain language and easy to read. Content is sectioned off pretty well for easier readability and there were few, if any, areas of jargon or overly technical language. Tips are provided in various sections that assist readers in actually applying the content.

Consistency rating: 5

How text and visuals are presented and the sense of organization of various chapters and sections are all consistently presented within.

Modularity rating: 4

Subheadings are used within for easier readability; however, content is text-heavy at times. Content jumps around some, but is otherwise organized into a logical progression of points (such as discussing audience and types of documents in the beginning and saving design and employment content for later in the text).

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization follows a logical progression of ideas and concepts that would be presented within a technical writing course. The Table of Contents includes easily recognized sections and page numbers and each new section is noted at the top of the page. At times the images presented conflict with the text and spacing on pages, but is otherwise easy to attribute to the content pertaining to the image.

Interface rating: 5

Some of the images / videos are pixelated. The textbook includes links to videos and images that further touch upon the concepts of a chapter, which is very helpful and engaging. Images link to direct PDF files for easier access of a document. Seems to be some unnecessary space left on pages or between section changes.

Text is mostly free of grammatical errors, although a few minor grammar mistakes were present. For example, "insure" is used instead of "ensure" in Section 3.7.

Chapter 13 of the text is "Communication Across Cultures," which lends to its response to cultural sensitivity. The text seems to keep in mind readers of various races and backgrounds and uses relevant pop culture references that are inclusive. If anything, the textbook could incorporate aspects of gender in relation to technical writing in the workplace.

This textbook covers most all of the content I currently use in my own technical / professional writing courses and I am considering adopting this textbook in future courses that I teach.

Reviewed by Bjorn Smars, Career Instructor, University of Oregon on 7/2/20

As far as I can tell, this textbook does not include an index or glossary. However, each chapter is broken into separate sections with descriptive titles and headings, so navigating to specific concepts and ideas is not difficult without the use of an index. My only complaint about this text, at least in regards to its comprehensiveness, is that many of the sections or pages are underdeveloped or do not contain sufficient explanation and/or examples to illustrate important concepts. For example, the chapter on communicating across cultures provides useful tips that students can use to think critically about cross-cultural communication, but these suggestions are limited in that they are designed to apply broadly to most situations in which cross-cultural communication occurs and therefore do not offer clear guidelines or practical strategies for students to learn about and identify a particular culture's communication norms.

As far as I can tell, the information presented in this text is accurate, error-free, and unbiased. The purpose of this textbook is to serve as an introduction to technical writing, and as such is designed to provide students with practical strategies for engaging in effective technical communication.

As I mentioned in an earlier comment, most of the content in this textbook is written in such a way that it can be applied practically and broadly to a variety of situations in which students may find the need to engage in technical writing and/or communication. The focus is more on providing practical strategies and helping students develop critical thinking skills than it is about using a particular software.

The prose is clear and accessible to college-level readers, and unfamiliar concepts are either defined in-text by the textbook's authors or via hyperlink to another source. For example, in chapter "13.2 Understanding Cultural Context," the authors provide a link to a YouTube video that explains the differences between high-context and low-context cultures in more depth.

The textbook uses consistent terminology and frameworks throughout.

As I mentioned in an earlier comment, the organization of the textbook is easy to navigate and understand. Each chapter is broken into separate sections with descriptive titles and headings. My only complaint is that there is some inconsistency between the lengths of each chapter's subsections. Some sections are very short (150-300 words max) while others are much longer, ranging in the 2,000-3,000 word range. That said, each section is clearly labeled, and the headings are highly descriptive.

See previous comment.

Each chapter's subsection has navigational arrows that allow the reader to move on to the next section easily, and the table of contents is easily accessible on every page. However, locating the table of contents may not be intuitive for some students, and some students may not know how to navigate through each chapter's subsections.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

As I mentioned in an earlier comment, this text could provide more examples to help students better understand cultural differences in terms of communication. More examples that are relevant to students attending one of Oregon's many colleges or universities would help to illustrate these cultural differences and provide students with a practical, real-world strategies for engaging with their peers, professors, and other folks from other cultures and/or regions.

Overall, I found this textbook very useful, though I had to supplement much of the information either with links to other sources or with material I developed personally. It's a useful and accessible introduction to technical writing for most undergraduate students, but it is not a comprehensive document and therefore may require the instructor to provide additional information or resources.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Aydelott, Part-Time Instructor, Lane Community College on 6/26/20

This text covers almost every topic that I would cover in a Technical Writing Class for generalized studies. A class geared toward a specific aspect of the field - engineering or a medical field, for example - would need to add material. This text... read more

The information is accurate, the citation guide up-to-date, and most material is relevant to any aspect of the field.

The content is almost all up-to-date. I would suggest adding a section on conference calls in the chapter on Professional Communications. That format has its own specific netiquette rules, ethics, and audience considerations. And conference calls, in a variety of formats, are increasingly essential to the working life.

Clear, common sense prose. The beginning of each chapter should probably be titled "Overview" or something similar, perhaps with a brief outline, for more clarity.

The book's structure changes with each format. I suggest that the instructor designate a preferred version for the class. Within the text, however, it becomes fairly easy to navigate through the material.

This text would be easy to assign in appropriate chunks for the students.

The text has a logical order, but I would assign the last chapters first since I usually begin with employment application materials and then cultural awareness almost immediately afterwards.

Interface is fairly straightforward and clear. Some of the videos, particularly in the beginning, are a bit referential to a specific course rather than to the topic in general.

Grammar has no problem. I wish, though, that a general chapter on grammar was included for the students.

I really appreciated the chapter on Communicating Across Cultures, but I wish it had been included earlier in the book. Perhaps a reference to Cultural Literacy within the chapter on Audience.

I'm confused about why the Open Textbook Library lists the book with only one author instead of the seven listed in the book itself.

Reviewed by Christopher Schott, Assistant Teaching Professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis on 4/23/20

This book really does cover a great deal of ground. However, I found the pacing and the organization of the section to be a little sporadic, especially if the book were to be read linearly by students. This may not be a serious concern as, especially in a digital format, the book can be navigated easily from topic to topic. Many chapters are short (some are quite detailed, though), which can be a real asset, but the lack of technical writing theory might be a concern for instructors looking to balance practice with understanding approach. While the book does cover a great of texts that are useful for students studying engineering and computer science, it may provide fewer examples and cover less in terms of students looking for technical communication instruction in medical fields, journals, legal fields. Another issue, when it comes to comprehensiveness, is the lacking of exercises and assignments. For my own teaching, this is not an issue (I try to craft assignments that fit the culture of my students' academic programs), but I could see it limiting the use of this book for other professors who would like corresponding assignments and readings.

As a reader, this book seems unbiased to me. That said, there are some prescriptive outlooks on crafting documents that may lead a reader to believe there is a one-size-fits-all way to compose a text. For example, there is a recommendation that emails are limited to three paragraphs, which is a very narrow view of that genre (shouldn't it depend on the rhetorical context, audience, etc.?). Overall, the content in the book appears accurate, even if a little prescriptive at times. However, this can be remedied through instruction from the professor.

The information that is presented in this book is very similar (and in some cases, exactly the same) as the information I've been teaching for the ten years I've been teaching technical communication. Some concepts in this course, such as audience, purpose, tone, precision--these will forever be touchstones of any professional writing course, technical writing is no exception. I very much am happy to see a chapter on information literacy, which is honestly and unfortunately absent from a surprising amount of existing (and expensive) technical writing textbooks. Some of the information does seem to not work (some links, for example), which may hurt longevity, but the authors do note this might be a possibility when using the book.

This book is clear. As a technical communication text, I would hope it would be and I was happy to see the authors not utilize jargon, instead stick to very explicitly presented ideas, sentence structure, and offering simple language that will appeal to readers, make them feel smart, all while retaining the level of academic rigor a text like this needs.

The chapters in this book are all formatted relatively the same. This offers readers a consistent and predictive reading experience (which, in itself, is a valuable technical communication skill). Each chapter starts with a very useful introduction, leading nicely into the rest of the chapter. There are, at times, inconsistencies in how thoroughly topics are treated and covered, but that is to be expected with many textbooks.

This text seems to be designed for purposeful fragmentation in a course. By this, I mean that the text does not have to be read linearly to be useful for students. In fact, and this is something the authors may have had in mind when writing, but most textbooks are not read and interacted with linearly anyway. Chapters are skipped, brought back, and revisited. I think this is just fine and, in many ways, provides a more fruitful reading experience.

Along with the previous idea of Modularity, I do not think the text is perfectly organized. One could argue that a textbook should move from more simple to more complex concepts. However, I disagree and do not think this needs to be the case. Instead, while the chapters here might seem a bit out of order in terms of their "difficulty," to do seem to be ordered nicely in terms of some theoretical understanding (though, very little) into more genre-based writing. Because the text can function in ways that benefit the class, this is not an issue.

The book is incredibly easy to navigate and use. Some links are broken, which can be frustrating, but it doesn't distract from the usefulness of the book overall.

I did not notice any grammar and mechanical errors in the text.

Despite an opening comment in the Introduction that claims students will learn to write "in such a way that even Grandad can understand," a which is a bit insulting to grandpas everywhere (it's ageist), the book seems to be culturally respectful and appropriate. I am a big fan of the cultural sensitivity section in the book, which I think is very carefully and thoughtfully presented to readers. There are topics that can be included that were not. In technical communication, it's important to remember that standards are always changing in business and this will undoubtedly shift the way professionals communicate, interact, and write. For example, a section on language inclusivity would be useful.

I'm grateful for this book. The authors have really put together a text that is useful in terms of what it can do in different kinds of technical communication classroom. I've seen many different kinds of technical writing courses and they are all taught differently. It seems this book has the unique ability to fit many different kinds of teaching styles, learning environments, and student abilities--and the book's design and functionality allows for professors to be very malleable in their pedagogy.

Reviewed by Brian Ballentine, Professor, West Virginia University on 4/20/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

The book is being reviewed the book in the web PDF format. At least one other reviewer has noted that there are inconsistency issues across various formats in which the book is offered. The web PDF format functions as expected in Acrobat reader with the sidebar thumbnails and toc providing hyperlinks to specific pages and sections. This format does not have a much-needed index or glossary. The book does not have the same comprehensive content that a student would find in one of the large, mainstream, and admittedly costly technical communication texts by authors like Markel and Selber, Lannon and Gurak, or Anderson. There isn't enough or any coverage on important topics like instruction sets, technical procedures or definitions, user experience testing (including testing instruction sets and other technical documentation), and oral presentations. Documents like instruction sets are mentioned but only in passing. E.g., "Examples are one of the most powerful ways to connect with audiences, particularly in instructions" (2.3). There is content on preparing PPT slides but no content on giving a presentation.

The content does not cite original sources. Each chapter and even sub-section has author attributions for the book itself but rarely does it reference external sources. This becomes particularly obvious for writing instructors in parts of the book like chapter 14 that contend with genre, genre analysis, and genre systems but with no references to the writing scholars we attribute to genre studies (Miller, Bawarshi, Russell). This is not to say that the content is automatically inaccurate but one of the points the authors themselves make about the need to cite sources is the importance of using those sources to build confidence in the audience.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 1

The book opens with content on texting and email but then largely abandons digital communication platforms. Again, in larger technical communication textbooks instructors would expect to find chapters dedicated to "blogs, wikis, and web pages" and "social media" platforms as in offerings by Lannon and Gurak. A more contemporary text would no doubt include online collaborative tools and meeting platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The recommendation here would be to create a separate chapter or chapters dedicated to technology platforms with the idea that it would be easier to update in the future.

Clarity rating: 2

The writing is more conversational than professional. The book does not model the level of clarity needed for technical writers. E.g., section 9.2 on "Presentation of Information" begins with a longer paragraph that attempts to summarize the space shuttle Challenger disaster as an example of why clear communication is important. The textbook authors write: "Possibly the engineers were just poor writers; possibly they did not consider their audience; or possibly they did not want to look bad and therefore emphasized all the things that were right with the Challenger. (Incidentally, the O rings had worked fine for several launches.)" Edward Tufte's now famous case study of the Challenger contradicts this summary. The rocket company and its engineers did indeed make a no launch recommendation (their first in 12 years) precisely because they had data showing the O-rings failed in cold temperatures. It is moments like these in the textbook that give me pause.

Consistency rating: 2

The multiple authors on this textbook likely pose challenges for creating consistency across the project. For example, in the chapter dedicated to Proposals, the first section is titled "Some preliminaries" and it offers a narrative overview of proposals and the roles they may play. In the chapter dedicated to "Progress Reports," the first section offers "functions and contents of progress reports" that has just two bullet lists. Students like to become acquainted with a consistent format across a book's chapters so they know where to find answers/resources that they need, regardless of the topic.

The textbook does contain self-referential content but overall the chapters could be used in a modular fashion to supplement other learning materials/readings in a technical writing course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 2

Even if the textbook was designed to be modular, it is still prepared and presented in a specific order (with linked toc in the PDF version). Concepts of genre and genre analysis are presented as fundamental to understanding the writing process yet they come at the end of the text. Audience analysis comes much earlier (chapter 2) but not before texts, emails, and netiquette. Proposals are in chapter 3 but information literacy, including instruction on how to begin research for a proposal isn't until chapter 4. Organizing a textbook toc must be incredibly challenging but there are many models out there that overcome some of these organizational challenges.

Interface rating: 3

The PDF version of the textbook works as expected in terms of the links in the toc and the thumbnails visible in Acrobat. It can be challenging to orient yourself in the text especially because there are many pages with minimal content. The PDF version has 242 pages but I would recommend to students that they only print selectively as many pages are blank.

Despite having many authors (and some open source content), the book does not have an abundance of grammatical errors. As mentioned before, the more casual tone of the textbook does not help with modeling technical and professional communication. There are grammatical issues (or perhaps more stylistic issues) that could be edited. E.g., the book uses the opening phrase, "In other words..." ten times throughout the book. Overall, though, the book scores high in the grammatical category.

Chapter 13 is dedicated to "Communicating Across Cultures" and offers students an overview of "culture" as a term as well as some important guidance on global communication. The book does break some of its own advice in these sections with references to authors with no attribution. E.g., "Geert Hofstede views culture as consisting of mental programs, calling it softwares of the mind, meaning each person 'carries within him or herself patterns of thinking, feeling, and potential acting which were learned throughout their lifetime.'” This chapter could make more specific references to technical communication and globalization. A longer paragraph in 13.4 on intercultural communication uses sheep as an example when there are so many ways to talk about the importance of good technical writing in support of technical products and services when they go global.

I would like to thank all of the authors as well as David McMurrey for their efforts in writing and editing this open source textbook. I will likely use chapters or sections to supplement other course materials in an effort to save students money on textbook costs. It may be possible to pair chapters from this textbook with one of the smaller "handbooks" on technical communication out there. While the ratings here aren't overly high, the standard of comparison was challenging. I am looking for options to supplant one of the large, mainstream technical communication textbooks and that is a high bar.

Reviewed by Lars Soderlund, Associate Professor of English, Western Oregon University on 3/7/19

The book has a strong balance of topics. In addition to the mix of genres that it discusses, the book is also effective in its coverage of different aspects of writing such as audience, context, ethics, etc. read more

The book contains no inaccuracies as far as I could tell, nor any political or social bias.

The book is relevant in a way that seems sustainable. It is not at the cutting edge of technical writing technologies or software, but it is the sort of book that would have (and probably has) helped students a decade ago and will still be useful in another decade owing to its coverage of general topics and its emphasis on writing fundamentals.

The book is extremely easy to read, and should not hold any students back.

The book's format changes occasionally, probably owing to the various authors involved, but it is not especially noticable and does not affect the book in a negative way.

The book seems to have been designed for modular use, and indeed that is how I plan to use it in my future classes. The way that the book starts with a quick reference guide to genres and then moves into the big-picture writing theory is evidence that the writers want the book to be immediately useful.

The book's organization seems maximally effective for teachers and students. As I mentioned above, the book starts by covering genres with relative swiftness, then it digs into essential writing topics, and then it covers larger genres in more detail. It ends with a section on "Thinking About Writing" that is pretty clearly designed for more advanced readers, and I think that's an effective choice.

The book was extremely easy to navigate and to use.

The book is very well-written and contains no grammatical errors.

The book is fairly dry, and so I did not notice cultural issues that might be of note.

The book is very good, and I look forward to using it.

But I do want to say that although above the book got 5-stars across the board, I'm not sure if I would give it a perfect review if I were to rate it. Basically, I find that students seem to flourish when a class (and a textbook) regularly comes back to explicitly stated themes, and the book didn't necessarily have those. They were there (audience, genre, etc.), but they weren't really up-played in a way that students will definitely get.

Still, again, this is a very strong book and I plan to redesign my future Technical Writing class with it.

Reviewed by Kathryn Northcut, Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology on 1/13/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 1 see less

The book is offered in various formats, and they aren't parallel. The organization of chapters in the web-native version defies logic. The expandable table is tricky to get used to because the hyperlink from the Chapter title goes to the chapter but the arrow on the right shows the subsections. It's hard to remember where you are as you navigate. I did not locate a glossary or index, and the book is not fully searchable in the web-native version because all sections can't be expanded onto one screen.

Content Accuracy rating: 1

Almost none of the content has references to original sources, and far too little theory is made explicit. Too much of the writing is chatty and conversational to provide a model of technical writing for university students.

The first section includes both platforms and genres. However, currently relevant platforms like Twitter are excluded from this section. Mixing platforms and genres seems odd logically. Later chapters jump between concepts and genres with no obvious logic to the order.

The style is accessible but not professional. The writing attempts to be engaging but is not rich enough in evidence, references, or good, contemporary examples for university students.

Consistency rating: 1

Unfortunately, the book consistently raises questions about whether these authors/editors have worked in technical contexts recently. Their advice seems to be off-base, including comparing omitting a conclusion to slamming down a phone on a caller. In fact, much professional writing starts with an abstract, executive summary, or cover sheet that obviates the need for a conclusion. The worst thing we can do in much scientific and technical discourse is build suspense and save the point, answer, or recommendations to the end. The way this book is designed and written does not seem to engage the exigencies of technical writing as I'm familiar with them. Other textbooks, whether consistent or not, provide better examples of practices from many industries to help prepare students from writing after college. This textbook focuses not just on the college experience, but on the Central Oregon Community College experience to the exclusion of other contexts.

Modularity rating: 2

The text does not contain modules that stand independently, despite appearing at the outset to be designed that way. Many phrases such as "as seen in the last section," make it difficult for students to follow what's happening. The videos address students in a single section writing a specific assignment and the content of the videos is not transferable to other contexts. The videos I viewed would not work in my courses, ever. Further, the textbook refers constantly to watered-down assignments that I would not assign. In my courses, students DO write a full proposal, not just an academic topic proposal. No one in industry writes topic proposals, so I would not teach that genre in my technical writing course. In fact, this textbook constantly focuses on the specific introductory assignments and methods at Central Oregon Community College, so a more ambitious, advanced curriculum would directly contradict the information in the textbook. If you wanted to teach your students to write proposals, you would be better off with online examples of successful proposals and top-of-the-head commentary than this textbook.

The organization of the textbook appears to be clear and clean, but gets difficult to manage once specific questions are asked, such as, "how should I assign readings to prepare my students for specific assignments?" One of my specializations is teaching proposals. This book doesn't handle proposal writing in a way that fits what I know of proposal writing outside of essay topic proposals used in composition courses. Why is information on Citations and Plagiarism after the chapter on proposals? Professional and academic proposals are robust documents which cite sources, so that background information would be useful earlier. Despite the textbook attempting to be modular, numbering chapters does suggest that there is a logic to the order. Non-numbered TOC might be a solution to this problem. In this book, short chapters are split up into tiny subparts, and navigation between them is tricky in the web-native version. Other Technical Writing/Communication textbooks, from Burnett's 2005 Technical Communication 5th Ed., to the current editions of Markel (and Selber) and Lannon (and Gurak) are superior in terms of internal logic, as is the Engineering Communication Manual (House et al) if the authors/editors need better examples of structure.

Interface rating: 1

I found the design appealing initially. Using it was confusing and there are many incompatibilities between the various versions available. The students would have difficulty locating the correct version of the textbook unless a PDF were provided to them by the instructor, and the PDF is problematic in terms of design and omission of content. In the web-native version, the sections are all very short and navigating to the next section requires clicking back and re-finding your place every time. Not having a "next section" button or arrow almost ensures that students will not complete the readings because they will think, incorrectly, that they are done with the (very short) chapter. The PDF version has many blank pages, making navigation cumbersome. The PDF document is much thinner than the large number of pages suggests. If a student were to print the PDF, much paper would be completely wasted and blank.

The conversational tone isn't ideal for educating students who will need to do technical writing in industry, but there are few overt typographic and spelling errors. The ones that exist are obvious and instructors can correct them if they use those chapters. Sometimes the authors refer to specific genres (like reports, in section 5.1) in a way that would confuse students (because writers cite sources in proposals, memos, and presentations, not just reports), and those errors should be addressed lest the students be misled about the conventions of the genres. Further, references to "your paper" and "paper" demonstrate lack of focus on rhetorical concepts of audience and purpose that should drive every technical communicator in every task. Most of our work is electronic/digital/online, so references to paper may not be incorrect, but they are largely archaic. When the authors refer to student assignments, they might call them "assignments," not "papers." The writing in section 5.2 needs editing. Overuse of "it" and "there" and back-referencing through pronouns ensures that students will have difficulty parsing the information. Further, students are seeing a poor example of a strong technical writing style because the sentences are written in a vague style that would lead to comprehension and translation errors. Further, the authors state that plagiarism is institution-specific, but that's only true in our academic bubble. In fact, plagiarism is an important IP (intellectual property) concern globally, so reference to international publication and copyright standards would be far more useful to students, who are students for 4 years or so, but professionals for up to 40 years.

Cultural Relevance rating: 2

Ideally, the authors would employ a plain style to avoid usability problems for non-American-dialect users. In the section (2.1 types of audiences) about audience, an opportunity is missed by not getting into user profiles and usability theory. Contrary to what is stated, technicians do not always lack sophisticated theoretical knowledge. It is not true that executives are always the audience for whom our students will or should write. The lack of robust user-based terminology is a problem with this book. I wonder if any of the authors are currently active in the technical communication community or have worked in nonacademic technical environments on communication design tasks. If they have, I would implore them to use better industry examples and the jargon of writers in technical professions. The authors should also focus on plain language in this book, and exemplify it in their prose. Karen Schriver's work is a good starting point.

I recommend this book (only) to instructors at Central Oregon Community College, where it perhaps serves a useful, important purpose. Its structure and content is unsuitable for majors in professional fields including engineering and science, and therefore is not a good choice for instructors teaching at most institutions where the course is offered. The emphasis on MLA style demonstrates the limited appeal of the textbook (to English majors). To be clear, MLA is not used in a single industrial or professional context I am aware of, outside English departments and literature-oriented professions. No mention is made of IEEE, which is the largest professional society in the world and which publishes professional ethics and authorial style guides that many professionals will encounter. It's great to include APA, but that social-science emphasis should be balanced with another professional style such as ASME or IEEE. The authors may have heard this, because they mention ASME in section 5.1, but they give no examples of what ASME looks like in practice. I worry that this textbook potentially does a disservice to the technical communication field as well as to open-access materials, which should be of high quality and represent best practices based on an awareness of the range of communication tasks working professional undertake. David McMurrey's work was far more technical and usable in its time; I'm sad to conclude that this textbook does not build productively on his legacy.

Reviewed by Jennifer Wilde, Adjunct instructor, Columbia Gorge Community College on 12/18/18

The text does many things very well, but it is too uneven to be truly comprehensive. It will work best as an introduction to technical communication and business writing. It is less helpful, I think, to students going into health care fields and the social sciences. Chapters are brief and pragmatic, with no discussion of theory, no instruction on clarity or sentence structure, and little discussion of diction and style. The index is helpful; there is no glossary, but this does not seem to be an omission as there is little jargon used throughout the book. Some of the chapters are extremely brief and rudimentary, while others are detailed and nuanced. An example of the former is the section headed "Types of audiences", and an example of the latter is the section on ethics of technical writing. One of the earliest chapters is about texting. There are useful chapters dedicated to resumes, incident reports, proposals, and several other genres - and there is an interesting, though perhaps not as practical, discussion of genres in writing. Like most other technical writing resources, this book has nothing to say about case reports, medical or nursing notes, letters to the editor or position papers for professional and trade journals, all of which are pertinent to the daily work of many professionals in human services or advocacy. Another issue with the book is the lack of writing exercises and assignments. There are some areas with a "Try This" section, but not very many of them, and the assignments lack an assessment component.

The book seems unbiased, although some advice feels a little arbitrary, such as the recommendation to limit emails to three paragraphs. I do not find any errors of content. There is a technical error in the middle of the book, where the author refers to a graph about voting in Australia; that graph does not exist on the page but there is this editorial comment that was no doubt not intended for publication: [“How to vote…” – this image is on a blog that is CC-licensed but I don’t think the author used the image with permission. Is it possible to find a sub?] Who is who? Which Australian are we voting for?

Much of the advice will be appropriate forever: know your audience, know your purpose in writing, be respectful, be specific and clear rather than general and vague. The sections about how to present information visually are helpful: contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity are given the unfortunate acronym CRAP (so no doubt the reader will never forget it!) I also appreciate the chapter on information literacy, which includes information on scholarly, professional and general publications. This includes trade journals, something that WR 121 classes tend not to mention but are important for technical writing students. Of course, there is some information about PowerPoint that is likely already past its best-buy date, but the authors discuss that and point the reader towards existing and upcoming technologies other than PowerPoint. I was able to see the video on the writing situation but not all of the other links worked. The authors include a caveat that not all links will work, so that seems fair, but a comprehensive resource would not rely on links to external sources with all their potential foibles.

The authors resist the temptation to use jargon, and they stick to simple sentence structures for the most part. In that sense, they exemplify the sort of simple, crisp (if unexciting) prose that technical communication strives for. There is abundant use of the colon to introduce lists, and the authors use bullet points frequently.

The book is highly consistent. Each chapter starts with a brief introduction to what comes in the sections included in the chapter. That means that the first segment of each chapter is extremely short, followed by more detailed segments. What is not consistent is the amount of time spent on various elements of technical writing, which, as mentioned in the section on comprehensiveness, varies quite a bit.

Chapters could be read out of order, and instructors can certain assign some sections and not others. I would be most inclined to use the chapters on ethical issues, research, and proposals. I think that's OK, but the book is almost too modular. Chapters do not relate to one another and the order in which they appear feels arbitrary. There is some redundancy - for example, the issue of audience is addressed repeatedly without adding anything new on the subject. I generally prefer a text in which each chapter leads logically to the material in the next chapter and adds to the student's understanding of technical writing, but there are advantages to a source like this, too.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The book is highly modular and the chapters do not flow into one another. I'm not sure why the chapters are ordered this way. I would tend to put some basic information about what constitutes technical writing at the beginning, followed by some guidance around doing research and writing ethically, followed by chapters on different types of technical writing: texts, emails, case reports, letters, resumes, proposals, recipes, instruction manuals, position papers, abstracts, encounter notes from a visit or interview, letters to the editor, mini-biographies and autobiographies ("about the author"), annotations. I would include an appendix about conventions: when to use a colon, how to convey numbers, the rules of capitalization, and the like.

The navigation was extremely simple and easy to use. The charts and images that are used are minimal but every one is highly useful and easy to see. Some links are broken.

I am prone to noticing grammatical and punctuation errors, but nothing jumped out at me in this textbook.

There is an ageist comment about "so easy that Grandpa could understand it" in the early pages defining technical vs academic writing. There is a very thoughtful section on cultural sensitivity. The authors use an interesting example of cultural differences, using a world map to illustrate the different meanings of the color red in different countries. However, it seems like a serious omission to leave out a discussion of inclusive language. Things in that field are always changing, but the authors could provide information about where to find the most up-to-date recommendations on inclusive language, such as the acceptability of "they" as a singular personal pronoun for gender nonbinary people, and what language is appropriate to describe ethnic groups etc.

The book is quite well written and useful, but not comprehensive. I would love to see this text updated with more sections. Chapters on lab/case reports, medical/interview notes, abstracts, introductions, mini-biographies, position papers and letters to the editor would enhance this text and broaden its appeal to new audiences, especially social science/health care students. I would love to see sections on effective sentences, collaborative writing, inclusive language, and grammatical conventions. Finally, an effective text on this topic should include assignments along with discussion of how to assess the assignments.

Reviewed by Cynthia Kimball Davis, Chair of the Integrative & Interdisciplinary Studies (IES) Department, Southern Utah University on 8/2/18

Comprehensiveness - Appears to offer all of the standard technical writing topics with an excellent easy bulleted table of contents. It also contains an excellent index and glossary. read more

Comprehensiveness - Appears to offer all of the standard technical writing topics with an excellent easy bulleted table of contents. It also contains an excellent index and glossary.

Content Accuracy - Appears to provide accurate content.

Relevance Longevity - Information appears to fit the relevant longevity category with the exception of the Professional Communication chapter; however, that would be an easy update.

Clarity - Information is presented in a simple and clear format.

Consistency - Information was not found to be incongruent in any way.

Modularity - The text is laid out in chapters with clear and simple sub-headings underneath each one.

Organization Structure Flow - The flow of the text is easy to follow.

Interface - The images could be more ascetically pleasing to the eye. In come cases, it appears that a high school student made them. Investing in a graphic designer might make the graphics more ascetically appealing. Furthermore, breaking the text apart with colorful questions and answers, activities, quotes, etc., is suggested.

Grammatical Errors - There were no grammatical errors found.

Cultural Relevance - The text appears to be culturally sensitive of all races, nationalities and ethnicities.

A text I definitely want to consider for my Technical Writing course. :)

Reviewed by Adam Karnes, Adjunct Instructor, Linn-Benton Community College on 6/19/18

The book covers the typical range of topics for a technical writing guide. At times, the balance feels off. A significant amount of the length is dedicated to topics usually covered in other classes (including research, citations, outlining). I would have preferred to have more info about the modes typical to technical writing, but what the book has is useful. Also, while the book has examples, I would appreciate even more examples. The book has a dropdown menu with a table of contents and a search feature in the reader.

The book is accurate. I did not observe inaccuracies.

On the whole, the book is relevant and should remain so for several years without the need for updates.

One important consideration regarding relevancy is the thematic dominance of references to Oregon. While the frequent mention of things related to the Pacific Northwest does not limit the readability of the text, this reoccurring theme makes the book more relevant for readers from this area than from others.

The book is clear and written with appropriate vocabulary for the typical student of technical writing. The body of the text goes into an adequate depth in the explanation of key concepts. Crucial terms are adequately explained. Examples are frequently included, although even more examples would be a welcome addition. The book lacks a glossary, which would also be a helpful addition.

The text is adequately consistent from beginning to end, but at times the sections feel disconnected. In this respect, the text works well as a modular book with distinct sections. The various parts do seem separate, however. The crossover between chapters could be stronger. This is probably the case due to chapters being derived from other sources. The differences do not render the text unreadable, just lack cohesive than the average textbook.

This text excels as a modular work. The sections are distinct and could be read independently. Teachers can easily pick and choose between sections without assigning the entire text.

The order in which the book’s contents are presented is somewhat arbitrary. (The section on resumes, for example, comes at the end—in many technical writing texts, this would come at toward the beginning.) Still, the ordering of the text is not confusing.

Navigating the text can be slow, with lots of scrolling and clicking through. Some of the sections are particularly long, and can be tiresome to scroll through. However, the table of contents is accurate and helpful. The book also has a search feature.

The text has no grammatical errors. The overall quality of editing is high.

The text is geared towards an American culture. However, the text discusses at length the importance of audience awareness and cultural differences in writing, particularly applications that span multiple cultures.

The greatest value this book offers is the ease with which teachers can select limited portions to assign to students based on the class objectives. This could easily replace a standard technical writing textbook in many courses, particularly if other texts further supplemented the class.

Reviewed by Susan Engel, Instructor, St. Cloud Technical and Community College on 6/19/18

Although an index/glossary is not provided, the Table of Contents organizes the material and allows for readers to see the breadth of areas and subjects within the Technical Writing textbook. Topics common to technical writing courses are explored in this text and include an important section (4.6) on evaluating sources as well as sections on plagiarism and the importance of citing sources. Topics that could perhaps be added to the text include social media (LinkedIn in Chapter 12: Employment Materials, for example) and technical writing for web pages or using online technologies.

Overall, the content appears accurate, error-free, and generally unbiased. Figure 13 in Chapter 11.4, however, doesn’t offer a resume sample for the exercise and simply states “Text of fake resume here”.

Content appears to be mostly relevant and offers up-to-date information on information literacy and other important technical writing concepts. Some of the content could be further updated, however. For example, chapter 12 discusses the idea of the cover letter being potentially outdated but then proceeds to offer guidance on writing one. This and other sections could offer updates, particularly regarding electronic and online documents.

The text is accessible and concise in delivery. Further clarification is offered through examples/samples in the sections on emails, memos, outlines, cover letters, technical reports, and others. Examples could be given in sections on proposals, progress reports, and other sections to offer further clarity.

The text offers consistency through the organization of the chapters and sections. Some chapters have features that others do not have, however. For example, Chapters 11 and 13 are structured with interactive activities not found in other chapters. The “activity” and “try this” in these chapters would be helpful in other chapters, too.

Chapters and sub-units within this text are clearly labeled. Although some overlap is offered, overall chapters and sections can be used individually in a course.

The organization is clear, user-friendly, and easily navigable using all-cap chapter headings and numbers and lower case section headings and numbers.

This text is offered in various formats which likely will help eliminate interface issues with certain sections. The section on resumes and cover letters, for example, might offer display differences depending on the format.

Grammatical errors were not detected.

Much of the text appeared to be neutral, and sections were dedicated to discussing cultural sensitivity within workplace writing. With that said, additional work on representation could be added within the examples. Also, ideas for inclusivity through accessibility in design of workplace documents might be added, too, as well as an updated discussion on gender in written communications beyond using Mr. or Ms. in the sections on email, cover letters, and audience.

This text is well organized with topics appropriate to technical writing, and I will consider using it in technical writing and workplace writing courses for first- and second-year students.

Reviewed by Erica Stone, English Instructor, Technical Writing, University of Missouri Kansas City on 6/19/18

The textbook is comprehensive; however, it seems to cover both technical writing and professional or workplace writing. It is absolutely appropriate for a comprehensive service course, but the authors should consider another title. Perhaps... read more

There are a few minor typos and notes from a previous editor in the document and a few leftover editing notes. Regarding bias, the entire text does seem to be written for a particular course. While it is generalized, it does refer to particular assignments and contexts, sometimes without an example given.

The content is up to date; however, it may require revision as technologies evolve and change. For example, the texting section may need to be updated within the next year to account for newer texting apps and conventions.

The entire textbook is clear and accessible. In some places, it is conversational; however, I find that quality increases its accessibility and approachability, which is necessary for a technical writing service course.

The framework and organization of the textbook is consistent and easy to follow.

The modularity is helpful, and the text is well-organized.

All of the topics are presented in a logical and clear fashion.

All of the available interfaces work well.

I did not see any grammatical errors during my review. I did, however, see a few leftover notes from the editor.

The text is culturally appropriate and all example are relevant and inclusive.

In some places, the example links do not work. When there is time, the editors and/or authors should review the book to check for errors and broken links.

As mentioned in my first comment, the textbook could benefit from separating technical writing and professional writing as they are separate disciplines.

Reviewed by Michael Nern, Associate Professor, Emeritus, Ohio University Zanesville on 2/1/18

The book does not contain an index or a glossary. The book's primarily focuses on the proposal but also covers other traditional technical writing assignments such as the cover letter and resume. read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The book does not contain an index or a glossary.

The book's primarily focuses on the proposal but also covers other traditional technical writing assignments such as the cover letter and resume.

The content is accurate. I would not call the book error free.

The book contains relevant content that could be updated with relative ease.

The book's prose is not tightly edited, but the prose is accessible.

The book's content is consistent.

The text is well-organized for assigning smaller sections of reading at different points within a course.

The book's organization is solid and clear.

The text does not have interfacing issues.

The book needs a careful and close editing by one person.

I found the short chapter on ethics to be presented almost as an afterthought and believe it would be of little help to students.

I would use the book as a resource but not as a textbook for students. I might assign certain sections for reading but would more than likely use information from the book to add to already existing lectures and discussions, of course, giving credit to the authors.

In general, I believe both the Web and open source materials provide enough material to work with that textbooks in writing courses are unnecessary.

Reviewed by Jennifer Dareneau, Assistant Teaching Professor, The Pennsylvania State University- Berks on 2/1/18

Based on the Table of Contents, all subject areas mentioned there were covered adequately. However, there are several mentions of the technical report being the main document produced at the end of the term (which is true) and mentions of several prefatory documents needed for benchmarking along the way. Only a couple of those mentioned documents are detailed or explained in the book.

There are a few minor typos and notes from a previous editor in the document, including a question about permission to use a chart. Content itself seemed accurate.

Content is up to date. With the inclusion of sections on MLA and APA citation style as well as the job application chapters, it would need to be updated in about 5 years to reflect changes to those areas.

Clarity of language and expression of concepts is well done. Language is easy to understand but remains at a college student's level. Special terms are explained and defined.

For the most part, the book is internally consistent. There are some inconsistent elements- some chapters include links to samples, but not all; there is a link to one video only; some chapters include an activity prompt, but others do not.

Modularity is well done. Each larger unit is broken into smaller, easily understood and relevant sub units.

Organization is simple and logical.

I did not experience any navigation problems. Some images had an editor's note next to them, or were quickly covered by a small icon in the top right. The chapters on graphics had some photos that did not connect well to technical writing, and I suspect students in a class would struggle to understand the rhetorical significance of them (particularly the sections with Obama and the girls gymnastics team).

I noticed only one or two minor typos. There were some fragments and sentences beginning with And or But, which I hope were stylistic choices.

There were no culturally insensitive examples or remarks.

Reviewed by Ethan Jordan, Lecturer, Bowling Green State University on 2/1/18

The book covers a broad range of technical communication genres, and it covers everything I would hope to cover in my upcoming course. read more

The book covers a broad range of technical communication genres, and it covers everything I would hope to cover in my upcoming course.

Due to the objective nature of most technical writing, this book certainly follows suit and contains little in terms of bias or subjectivity. The document genres covered fit with standards in the field, and I have found very few errors.

I agree that this book will remain relevant over time. Certainly, notions of "netiquette" and online forms might change, but the essential tech comm genres covered will remain an essential component of workplace literacies, and as such, this book should remain relevant and be easy to update as needed.

The textbook is written in a voice that is straightforward and no-nonsense for students. It isn't the most scintillating reading, but a book on technical writing clearly doesn't need to be! The voice of the text is one that I feel students would appreciate - let's get to the point!

I don't see any major inconsistencies. The text works to reinforce technical communication concepts both in its subject matter and in the style of the text itself. Clarity and intelligibility are essentials, and the text appears to work within those frameworks.

I appreciate the way the sections aren't overly extended or complicated - the individual components make up the larger whole and could easily be reconfigured to suit the needs of instructors. I feel like this is less of a textbook to read in order, but a set of modules for instructors to customize.

The overall structure of the piece makes sense, and I found myself following the process outlined within the overall book structure. It also is able to be modified quite easily if needed, so that's a plus.

Some of the graphics are a bit low-res, but nothing that would inhibit meaning... it's well presented overall.

Very few that I can see!

I see no issues here - it's quite objective overall.

I'm really happy I found this one! It will be a huge help in my upcoming course, and I'm excited to use this as a supplement to my in-class discussions!

Reviewed by Elizabeth McClure, Lecturer, University of Maryland, College Park on 2/1/18

This text includes several sections that I would expect to see in a technical writing textbook: job search materials, reports, proposals, using graphics, professional communications, and audience analysis. It also includes a couple of sections I wouldn't necessarily expect, but that would be very useful in any professional writing class: discussions of the ethics involved in report writing, information literacy, and document design. However, there was no section related to manuals or instructions, which is a large gap.

In terms of usability in relation to comprehensiveness, the table of contents is nicely detailed, but no index appears so locating overlaps of information among and between chapters would not be as simple or straightforward as it could be.

In general, the information in the text is accurate, although some areas and issues would benefit from more nuanced or complex discussion. For example, in the section on job materials, professional advice varies widely related to the design of resumes, but this text does not discuss any of the variety of advice.

One minor note: There are several sentence-level errors (i.e., subject-verb agreement) that don't compromise communication but are occasionally jarring.

The content generally seems up-to-date, and the chapter organization and breakdown appear to lend themselves to easy updating.

Clarity rating: 3

The text’s language is clear and accessible. Sufficient background information is presented to give context for new concepts.

Other structures that would enhance clarity are not consistently present, however. For example, not all chapters provide examples to illustrate concepts or discussion/reflection questions to encourage students to apply concepts to other situations. Additionally, most chapters have no graphic material – pull-out text boxes, illustrations, summary lists, etc. – that would offer a different presentation method for readers.

This text is consistent in its approach, terminology, and framework.

This text is divided into sections in such a way that individual sections could easily be assigned out of order and at different points in a course. There are few, if any, instances in the text that refer to earlier material in a way that would make non-consecutive reading unworkable or unwieldy. In general, sections are relatively short and are organized under useful headings. Few subheadings are used within the text itself, although chapters are broken down into sections, each of which is labeled on the page and in the table of contents with a heading. These headings should make finding relevant sections in the text fairly easy.

The topics in this text progress clearly enough to avoid confusion, but less clearly than they could. For example, starting with Audience Analysis rather than with a variety of workplace communication genres (text, email, memos, etc.) would be more rhetorically sensible. The progression from Proposals to Information Literacy (research) to Citations to Progress Reports makes sense in that it follows the progression one might follow in a particular workplace project. However, while the order of chapters follows the process of writing a workplace document (proposal, research, progress report, technical report), it doesn’t necessarily follow the order of writing skills. For example, research is usually an integral part of developing a writing topic rather than something that happens at a single defined point mid-way through a project; likewise, a discussion of ethics should happen before a technical report is underway, perhaps in relation to an analysis of audience or to a discussion of the rhetorical situations present in professional writing generally. Because these chapters can be read out of order, the problem isn’t serious, but the chapter order doesn’t make as much use of logical development as it could.

In general, the text’s interface is user-friendly. There are a couple of places, however, notably in the chapter on design, where graphics don’t appear above the caption.

The text is overall clean but there are a handful of grammatical errors.

The text is inoffensive. Its examples aren’t culturally specific – examples don’t refer to particular groups at all, so diversity does not seem to be at issue.

Reviewed by Pam Orel, Senior Lecturer , University of Maryland College Park on 2/1/18

This is a very compact book, with easily managed lessons in basic concepts that are a quick and easy read for most students in the sciences and technology fields (STEM). Where it summarizes the key details, it does so with general clarity and the links to other, more detailed resources appear to be effective, although one or two are dated. It is not designed as a comprehensive or exhaustive resource on technical writing and avoids a heavily academic tone.

The book’s advice, while brief, is extremely solid, backed up by authoritative evidence, and easy to follow. Students would appreciate the very good detail in the table of contents as well as the ease of navigating from section to section as needed. Charts, where used, easily help students find the key differences in concepts, which is something that more detailed, less approachable textbooks tend to overlook.

In general I don’t teach with a textbook, so my comments should be taken in the context of someone who uses texts more as a resource than a work that guides the entirety of our semester’s journey as writers. This is a very relevant work for busy writers who need to grasp the essentials quickly, and get leads on how to find more detail as needed. It is particularly good at using graphics to shape ideas which is a factor in more and more writing courses. If I had to point to one area where it might need updating, it might be in allowing more space for instructions, presentations and video content, as these are emerging as valuable tools and I am not seeing a lot in the text. It appears to focus a lot on the preparation of reports and print materials, but is a good basic resource in those areas.

Very clear, with short, effective paragraphs and guides to other resources clearly labeled as such. As noted earlier, graphics are well supported in the version that I reviewed. It should be noted that different formats might have issues relating to page presentation, as I have noticed that in other primarily online references I have seen.

It can be inconsistent in terms of the amount of space given to, say, some issues over others. However, in general the issues which are not treated in great detail are those for which often there are other, key resources focusing on general principles involved that are attached. Also, in some instance (plagiarism is one example) there are a wealth of other resources available in most higher education communities.

The sections in the book are effectively broken into segments which are short but emphasize key points in about a page or so. This is one of the areas where it might be most attractive to students who rely on it as a reference rather than a week-to-week resource. Teachers who wish to use, say, one or two segments while not using others would find this a very helpful resource.

This is an area of strength for this publication, as it shapes very well around ideas for most proposal writers as well as the ethics of the field as we know it today. Ethical concepts are generally brief, but clear as to impact on the STEM fields. It would be stronger with a little more emphasis on presentations and video, as noted, which are important as digital communications tools for STEM majors.

The online interface I used was generally very easy; with both arrows and a table of contents, writers can easily move to where they need to get their information. It is noteworthy that it does not have questions in the back of each section, so it’s not designed for, say, test development or study for exams. But most technical writing courses don’t focus on exams (there may be quizzes on concepts) so that is not a significant barrier.

I was not able to find any significant errors in grammar.

This could be stronger in its approach to culture across the STEM communities, which is not a small issue in a global economy. However, one challenge with that is attempting to keep it current -- culture, like everything else in science and technology, changes very rapidly.

I have taught from a range of different resources, which change from year to year as it’s important to keep a course relevant in the rapidly evolving STEM fields. I have had trouble finding resources, particularly open source ones, that are approachable but convey the key concepts in an easy to access format. Students in my classes use a text as needed, rather than as the foundation of an entire course. This has worked very well in that role in this semester, and I am hoping to keep it on my list of resources moving forward.

Reviewed by Amanda Izenstark, Professor, Reference & Instructional Design Librarian, University of Rhode Island on 2/1/18

This text covers numerous facets related to technical writing, including basic business correspondence and determining how best to reach the audience for the particular type of technical writing being done. The authors cover related and integral elements that help writers produce better documents, including using outlines and graphics as well as information literacy skills that writers should have. While there is no index or glossary, the table of contents clearly displays the content of the text. It’s worth noting that the table of contents on the Open Textbook Library website does not include the two final sections of the book, which cover “Design and Readability of Publications” and “Employment Materials.”

The book is accurate, and even in sections where elements might change - such as screenshots in the Information Literacy chapter - they are general enough that even if the interface changes, the instructions will be relatively similar.

The topics in the book are not likely to become dated immediately. Some of the basic material related to communication and being concise will be consistently useful. While some of the linked material may change over time, that isn’t the fault of the authors. When I reviewed this text, the links tested were still working and relevant.

The text is written at a level accessible for college-level students, and perhaps some high school students. The materials are logically arranged and easy to understand.

As some of the material includes elements remixed from other open texts, there are some differences in the language and layout of chapters. For example, some of the elements of chapter 12 related to cover letters and resumes use color, and have more modern examples than those in chapter 1, which focuses on online etiquette.

Many of the chapters will do well on their own. I plan to adopt this for my information literacy and writing course, and anticipate re-arranging sections to fit the course structure.

This may be a result of my background as a teacher of information literacy first, but it might make more sense to start with the sections on information literacy and citations, then progress to audience analysis and outlines. It seems the chapter on “Professional Communication” might fit better toward the end. Otherwise the flow and structure are generally logical.

The online version of the book is hosted on the Pressbooks platform, which is intuitive to use, but long sections require significant scrolling. The PDF version of the book works as expected, with functioning links in both the table of contents and the text.

There are no grammatical errors in the text, which is what one would expect from a writing textbook.

As appropriate, the book highlights cultural issues to consider when writing for an audience. Examples don’t highlight a variety of backgrounds, but neither are they so pervasive that it’s a problem.

Given the appropriately broad coverage of this text, I can envision it being useful to students after they leave my course and have jobs in their chosen fields.

Reviewed by Jim Crawford, Adjunct English Instructor, Germanna Community College on 2/1/18

I examined this textbook as a resource for a 100-level Technical Writing class. In this context, questions of comprehensiveness arose almost immediately. The authors offer no discussion of theory, despite a claim on page 1 that theory underlies technical writing. There was no mention of the writing process, a confusing oversight on two fronts. First, the omission raised questions about course level. Did the textbook assume students already understood writing as a process? That would put this text higher than entry-level; writing as a process is usually taught in 100-level English. Or, by omitting the writing process, does the textbook defy modern writing pedagogy and emphasize the products of technical writing over the process?

There was also no mention of the rhetorical situation: the amalgamation of purpose, stance and tone, genre, media, and, of course, audience. The text offers a separate chapter on analyzing the audience, but no holistic examination of the roles that purpose, stance and tone, genre, and media play in reaching the audience.

Omitting a discussion of the rhetorical situation elicits more questions about course level and students’ prerequisite knowledge. Does the text assume students understood the interaction of purpose, stance, and genre in a writing project? The textbook mentions purpose, almost in passing - the purpose of a memo, for instance, or a report. Stance - how the writer feels about the topic versus how she expresses it through her tone - was not addressed at all. Given that technical communicators may be asked to write about things they don’t care about or may disagree with (e.g., an environmentalist writing a press release on new oil exploration), a discussion of stance and tone is important.

Lacking an essential discussion of theory and concept, the textbook covers a limited range of genres, another writerly term that is not mentioned. The first chapter reviews types of correspondence, starting with, oddly enough, texting. Next, comes e-mail, then an interjection about netiquette, followed by brief discussions of memoranda and letters. Later chapters describe proposals and progress reports. A recent revision added a chapter on employment-related documents, such as résumés.

While this is an adequate list of technical genres, the choices seemed limited and specific. Why the focus on progress reports? A broader chapter covering incident or recommendation reports seems more thorough. Other key genres are missing entirely. Instructions get no mention, although giving directions and documenting procedures are common workplace tasks. Presentations are another key genre for technical communication that is overlooked in the textbook.

Among the genres that are discussed, accuracy falters due to a handful of random, undocumented prescriptions. On page 12, for example, the authors declare,” a good e-mail should get to the point and conclude in three small paragraphs or less.” Really? According to who? In my 30 years of experience in the technical workforce, I have read, and written, countless e-mails longer than three short paragraphs. While I agree that students should keep e-mails short and direct, especially when corresponding with the instructor, there is nothing inherently wrong about a longer e-mail message. Some arguments cannot be made in three short paragraphs. Are the authors saying that longer arguments are better suited for a memorandum or a letter? If so, that indicates a need to discuss the conventions of genre. If the authors are recommending the abbreviated length as a best practice for emerging technical communicators, they should say so. If the authors proclaim the three-paragraph limit as their personal preference, they should say that, too. However, they must also inform students that they may occasionally need to write, and read, longer e-mails in the workaday world.

A similar prescription occurs on page 36, with the decree that “an average between 15 and 25 words per sentence is about right. Sentences over 30 words are to be mistrusted.” Again, I wondered, “Says who?” Had the authors cited evidence — a study finding that sentences over 25 words are ignored by readers, for instance — the claim might be more compelling. Lacking documentation, it’s puzzling at how five additional words can separate an effective sentence from an untrustworthy one.

Furthermore, while conciseness is an essential feature of technical and professional writing, establishing an arbitrary sentence length may encourage students to emphasize conciseness at the expense of clarity and accuracy. It would be more effective to educate students on the relationship between clarity, conciseness, and accuracy, and teach them to use the shortest, clearest, most direct language needed to effectively address the audience and accomplish the purpose of the text. But this relationship is impossible to discuss with this text, since overarching concepts and conventions are never introduced.

The digital nature of the textbook assures easy editing and the potential for long-term relevance. In fact, between July 2017, when I downloaded a PDF copy for review, and October 2017, when I began writing the review, the authors added chapter 11 on design and readability, and chapter 12 on writing employment materials. They also expanded chapter 10, adding information about successful report design.

As with comprehensiveness and accuracy, clarity is marred by odd omissions. Page 12 advises that “professional communications require attention to the specific writing context” but there is no explanation of what context is. Again, a question about prerequisite knowledge arises. Can the authors assume that students understand what context is, and how it impacts a writing product?

Another missed opportunity occurs on page 16, where the authors admonish “culture and even gender can play a part in how people communicate.” While this is undoubtedly true, two questions arise. First, can instructors assume that students will recognize this intricate interaction? Second, can instructors assume that students will tailor their writing to navigate the interaction and improve communication? Lacking examples, explanations, or a declaration of prerequisite knowledge, the answer to both questions is “no.”

Clarity is further diminished by Inconsistencies within the text. Chapter 8, “Creating and Integrating Graphics,” recommends “including identifying detail in the graphics” (128), yet does ignores its own advice. The sample bar chart on page 123, depicting types of produce grown in Sisters, Oregon, has axis titles, but the y-axis, entitled “Percentage produced in 2015,” has no scale. The chart shows that potatoes are the most plentiful crop. Its bar towers over that of carrots, the closest competitor, by about two-thirds. But, without a scale, the value for potatoes could be 30 percent, or 3 percent, compared to carrots at 10 percent or 1 percent.

A pie chart on page 122 shows a similar dearth of detail. The chart is entitled, simply, “Success with Vegetables Grown.” Potatoes account for 60 percent of vegetables grown; carrots for 23 percent. But percent of what? The pie chart doesn’t say. Is it percent of all total crops grown? Is it percent of crop yield, compared to crops planted? Students are left guessing, and, from this, may learn to create charts that inspire their own guesswork. More subtle inconsistency arises in the textbook’s formatting. Chapter 1, on correspondence, uses at least three different formats for bullet points. Pages 12-13 list characteristics of e-mail with bullets featuring a bolded opening phrase. Pages 15-16, on netiquette, uses headings, along with simply, un-bolded bullet points. Meanwhile, page 24 presents a list of correspondence types with no bullets at all; the different types are simply bolded. These inconsistencies model poor document design for students. This is especially problematic given the text’s emphasis on longer documents, such as the progress reports, which require consistent formatting throughout.

Formatting inconsistencies notwithstanding, the text is well-marked for modularity. Clear, consistent headings and sub-headings are used throughout. Students should have no trouble identifying a reading assignment such as “chapter 9, sections 9.1 through 9.3.”

Alas, the headings and sub-headings demarcate a haphazard arrangement of content. Topics are not grouped according to theory (should there be any) and practice, strategies and genres, or from easiest material to more challenging. The chapters appear randomly, with an early chapter often referring to material that has not been introduced yet. Chapter 1, on correspondence, advises, “careful consideration should be given to the audience...” (9), but the chapter on audience analysis follows 14 pages later.

Considering the recent addition of chapters on design and employment documents, it appears that chapters are organized in the order that they’re added. New chapters are simply tacked on at the end. While such labor-saving is understandable, it may be worth the effort to reorganize the textbook by introducing overarching concepts, such as audience, research methods, and ethics at the beginning, with specific writing strategies (e.g. outlining) and genres to follow.

This review was prepared from a print-out of a PDF file generated on the textbook’s Web site. Although the charts and graphics conveyed when printed, the videos, understandably, did not. It would have been helpful to include URLs for the videos, so that students preferring a paper-based text could find and watch the videos while reading.

The interface for the Web version of the book is clear, simple, and unobtrusive. [Home] and [Table of Contents] buttons are fixed on the right-hand side, allowing students to easily jump among sections. Gray “forward” and “backward” arrows, on the right and left, respectively, make it easy to flip pages. A “search” box, almost invisible in the upper, right-hand corner, offers quick full-text searching. A search for “audience” returned a list, itemized by clickable links to specific sections containing the term. Traditional search conventions, such as double-quotes to find phrases, work as expected. However, more sophisticated search operators, such as “AND,” “OR,” “NOT,” and “NEAR” do not work, though this is not a major shortcoming.

There were no noticeable grammatical errors, though there were occasional long, wordy, confusing sentences. The sentence describing crop yields in Sisters, Oregon was a staggering four lines long, strung together with “and” between three independent clauses (121).

Generally, the text is inoffensive. There was, however, one off-putting cliché: the notion that older people are slow to grasp technical concepts. The book’s Introduction advises, “…plan to write in such a way that even Grandad can understand!” (3). While this was surely a throwaway attempt at levity, the cliché may be discouraging to older students, while cultivating the bias of younger ones.

Reviewed by Linda Stewart, Instructor, Portland Community College on 6/20/17

The text covers proposals and progress reports in depth with links to examples of other types of technical writing including resumes and instructions (but no discussion of these forms in depth). The text does not cover multi-cultural audience in any depth and does not consider disabled audiences (including visually impaired audiences). The text does not include an index or glossary.

The book is accurate, error-free, and unbiased.

The text begins with the most common kinds of professional communication, including texts and e-mails, which demonstrates an understanding of current workplace needs. This section may need updating since technology brings changes to workplace communications. The section on research rightly emphasizes electronic sources, and this too, may need updating as library databases and other electronic sources may change. Other sections, like the ones on audience and ethics, will not need updating.

Students would enjoy the bulleted lists and simple, readable prose. The authors provide some excellent, labeled figures and graphics so that students can comprehend the main ideas quickly. The authors do a good job of defining terms, but students will need to read the text to discover the important terms; no sidebars or lists are used to call attention to specialized vocabulary.

The formatting and tone are consistent with good use of numbered sub-topics and bulleted lists in each chapter. The sources provided as links are not consistent with the formatting of the main text. For instance, the link to examples (titled "Online Technical Writing: Contents") uses yellow background and blue lettering, and does not include any explanatory text. This linked resource is not formatted as professionally as the main text. The terminology is internally consistent.

The text is well organized and clearly divided into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course.

Problems with organization: Since the topic of "ethics" is one that applies to all forms of technical writing, it seems out of place as "Chapter 9." It also seems that "Outlines" might be addressed sooner since those could apply to writing proposals as well as progress reports. Finally, it seems odd to separate the chapters on graphics and document design (they are chapters 8 and 10 with the ethics chapter in between them.

The overall organization progresses logically from shorter forms of technical writing to longer, more complex ones.

The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems or problems with display.

The authors observe standard conventions of grammar.

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive. The authors could do more to include a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds as part of their discussion of "audience"

The text does an especially good job of explaining how to write proposals and reports in a clear, step-by-step manner.

Reviewed by Carol Jacobson, Instructor, Century College on 6/20/17

The text covers all areas that are part of the technical writing curriculum. There is a detailed Table of Contents that lays out the subjects that are covered. There is no index or glossary. read more

The text covers all areas that are part of the technical writing curriculum. There is a detailed Table of Contents that lays out the subjects that are covered. There is no index or glossary.

Content is accurate and error-free.

Content is current for the technical market. It covers current topics and concerns, but also includes all the traditional topics expected for Technical Writing courses.

The text gives full explanation of the content.

The text was consistent with its terms.

The text is divided into multiple sections that are each on a different topic or focus so these sections could be easily assigned at different point for a course.

The topics of the text are ordered in a logical way, beginning with topics that should be covered first in a Technical Writing course.

Some of the images are blurry and hard to see. The 2 videos are designed by an instructor for a specific course and reference specific assignments for that course so these are not good choices for this textbook that is meant to be a general source for any Technical Writing course.

The text contains no grammatical errors.

The text is presented in a neutral way with no offensive or insensitive words or examples.

The format of the content is very text heavy in paragraph structure, which is odd for a Technical Writing book because a general rule in Technical Writing is to use shorter, concise paragraphs with more lists, bullets, and tables for easy reading and referencing of the information. In addition, the text needs more real-life example that demonstrate the points being made in each section.

Reviewed by Shannon Kelley, English Faculty, Chemeketa Community College on 6/20/17

The text covers a good amount of information related to technical writing; some of the sections are more in depth than others. Many sections would benefit from further inquiry to assist students with more complex issues in the field of technical writing and communications. While all of the topics are relevant, it sticks to the basics of each topic without exploring innovations and trends in the field. The topics covered are appropriate for a low-level, introductory course in technical writing.

The book is accurate and unbiased. It is a straight-forward text that introduces the basics of technical writing in a clear, error-free format. Each chapter provides references and is accurately cited. The examples are neutral and helpful.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

The content is relevant, but not exhaustive. The text does not cover new trends in the field. Many technical writing students, particularly in community college courses, are entering a variety of fields. While this text provides the basics of technical writing, it does not help with a variety of concerns students may face in their chosen fields.

The text is arranged in way that will allow for necessary updates moving forward. The text seamlessly incorporates modalities, like video links, that prove helpful as examples. More of these new modalities are desirable as writing and reading moves to the Internet. There are places in the text that could benefit from utilizing new, innovative examples.

The text is written clearly and concisely. Each chapter is divided into sections. The section and chapter headings create parallelism that helps its overall clarity. The table of contents is clear and easy to use. There is not a lot of technical jargon present; the lack of technical writing terminology is one reason the book reads like introductory material.

The text is consistent in its layout. It is easy to use and access. The structural framework of the text is effective for online reading.

The text is not self-referential, but it does reference information only relevant to COCC. The text is divided in a way that feels manageable for students. The downside is the text borders on being too modular. The sections felt purposefully shortened and many chapters left me wanting more information. For instance, visual rhetoric and page layout were lumped together with audience. And in terms of this topic, topics like those deserve their own exploration.

The text works itself through the basics, from small workplace writing tasks like emails and memos, up through more complex writing like proposals and reports. Thought was given to the order of the text and it is logical and predictable.

There were no interface issues as I reviewed the text. i downloaded it as a PDF and also read some parts online.

The text contains no grammatical errors. It was edited well. The grammar is basic and reads at an introductory level reading.

The text remains neutral and uses voice or cartoon like figures in some of the videos. I would have liked to see more examples throughout the text. Visuals and page layout are important features of a lot of technical writing and this text doesn't take advantage of opportunities to incorporate a variety of examples. There are opportunities throughout the book that allow for incorporation of examples from fields of nursing, human services, engineering, computer science, and education.

It should be noted that I am reviewing this text for a 200 level course. At Chemeketa Community College students enter technical writing after completing two-three levels of prerequisite writing courses. Technical writing is the highest level of writing students receive before they enter their professional fields or transfer to four-year universities. The book is well written, clear, useful, and comprehensive for an introductory course, but not for a higher level technical writing course. Much of the focus felt repetitive and covered skills students in technical writing should already possess. There were missed opportunities to expand some of the more relevant topics, like the importance of visual rhetoric in page layout; solicited and unsolicited proposals; and, analytical report writing like feasibility studies.

Reviewed by Daniel Hocutt, Web Manager & Adjunct Professor, University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies on 4/11/17

The text does not include an index or glossary, but does provide a comprehensive table of contents. The text introduces itself as an introductory text to technical writing (or communication), and provides a definition of technical communication that is limited to the types, content, and coverage of texts created. A more comprehensive text would address some of the responsibilities of technical writing as it relates to the technical writer herself: team building and collaboration, intermediary across multiple departments and divisions; and negotiator of meaning in workplace cultures. Also missing from the text are generous examples of document types generated by technical writers, like websites, brochures and flyers, and other types of written communication. The text's focus on report writing seems limiting, and its approach to technical writer as largely autonomous does not accurately reflect the complexity of technical writing workplaces.

The content is up-to-date and appears to be thoroughly accurate. Its authors clearly understand and practice technical communication, and its integration of external tools and links are current, complete, and appropriate to the content of the text itself. Chapters in the text address real-world examples and seek to connect communication techniques to workplace and technical contexts. Of particular importance is the text's approach to communication as audience focused and customized; this reflects theoretical accuracy and currency in technical and professional writing and, more broadly, in rhetoric and communications.

The applicability of this question to a text on technical communication is somewhat misplaced; technical writing handbooks must follow technical advances that will necessarily render older technologies less relevant. For example, the section on texting would not have appeared in earlier editions of this text, while the section on memoranda feels somewhat dated in paper-less or paper-reduced workplaces. As a result, the content will regularly have to be updated as modes and media of communication and writing evolve. This is a problem of all technical writing texts, but it's particularly acute as it relates to an online text, which will likely be expected to be current, relevant, and inclusive of the latest trends in technology and writing.

The text is remarkably approachable to its intended audience, those entering into the field of technical writing or those who will, by virtue of their technical positions, be required to compose technical artifacts. Its prose is clear and specific, and it follows the guidelines for writing technical prose that it presents to reader: clear, concise, and effective.

The field of technical and professional communication tends to use terms somewhat synonymously, so the conflation of certain terms in the text is not unusual in the field. For example, “writing” and “communication” are often used largely synonymously in the field, and that practice is also followed throughout this text. The same is true of “business” and “professional” as it relates to writing and communication. An introductory text should seek to better follow consistency while explaining the issues that exist in the field.

The text is quite modular, to the point that certain parts of it might be combined to keep from creating extremely short chapters or sections. This is especially true of several introductory sections. In general, segments are only a few paragraphs in length, with modules easily excerpted for re-use or revised usage. I could definitely see the potential of a teacher taking certain sections and incorporating them into class notes or as a customized resource. But I also see the value of using the entirety of the text as a stand-alone text; I believe the text’s structure enables both uses with little revision or customization necessary.

The text’s organization is not as clear or logical as I would expect. Given that modules or sections can be reordered on demand, this is not a significant drawback. However, I found the default order of modules confusing, shifting between more general, theoretical approaches (like audience analysis and information literacy) and more specific practical approaches (like proposals and progress reports) without a clear rationale for shifting from one to the other. A more logical structure might be to address the general theory in an opening section that includes examples for illustration, then to include a second section to address specific genres and types of technical writing. The structure is not off-putting, but as someone who might consider teaching from this text, I question the rationale behind the logic but am given little explanation.

The text’s interface is clean and clear. Serif fonts are a little unusual in web documents, but the type style used is quite readable online. Table formats don’t always fit on the page, and this requires left/right scrolling to access some of the columns. The text includes few images; most are linked to accessible PDF versions, which are full-screen and easy to read. Embedded videos appear to function as expected; the interface could benefit from a column-width inline viewer that would keep the video window from being narrower than the text columns. This is likely a result of making the interface mobile responsive, and represents what is often a necessary compromise.

Like its prose, the grammar appears to be clean and normalized to American standard English. The tone can be academic, but that is to be expected from a text used in an introductory classroom. I found no grammatical errors.

I did not encounter ethnicity- or gender-specific language in the text. The examples provided represent a number of different document types and genres, generally focused on the professional workplace or the academic environment. However, no text will free itself completely from ideology; I might like to have seen the text more directly address this issue as it relates to business writing. The text could do more to explore cultural contexts in which technical documents are planned, prepared, and consumed, especially given increasing internationalization of workforces. This may reflect an issue with the field — we tend to classify international communication differently from general technical communication — but a section on writing in the global community and for cross-cultural audiences might be useful.

I did not expect to find an open textbook as useful or well-constructed as this is. While its cover and design are unassuming — which, for a text on technical writing, might be a drawback — its content is erudite and targeted to its primary audience and purpose. I would consider using this text in an introductory technical writing class, with the addition of several notable sections identified elsewhere in this review.

Reviewed by Ruth Perkins, Adjunct instructor, Chemeketa Community College on 4/11/17

The text clearly focuses on research and report writing in a business context. These are appropriately and adequately covered. The table of contents is detailed and accessible on each page with a link to each section. The chapters lead students through the steps of producing a formal report including research, proposals, citation, and progress reports. There is a useful section on information literacy and conducting research beyond the first items in a Google search.

The importance of keeping readers in mind is stressed throughout. In addition to a link to an audience worksheet, there is a clear explanation of how reports might be used by different readers.

Chapter 10 includes a link to a wide variety of examples of technical writing.

Missing are sections on topics often included in technical writing: instructions, procedures, descriptions and definitions. These could be easily fit into the overall structure of the text although obviously other sources of information would need to be found.

The principles of professional communication are accurately presented. The authors make the useful point in several places that a business, agency, journal etc. will likely have its own preferences for professional communications but that some aspects, such as avoiding plagiarism, doing proper research, are consistent.

The content is up-to-date since there are not apt to be quick changes to the principles of technical writing nor to the precepts of e-mail, texting etc. and their place in business. Any changes could be quickly made.

There are links that are specific to or have comments that are specific to COCC that instructors will probably want to point out and substitute their institution’s or their class policy. Examples are the links in 1.3 and 6.2.

The book is clearly written in an informal, conversational tone that should appeal to students. The terminology is basic without down-writing. Any specialized terms are defined.

The link in 8.4 to visuals that need revision is probably not useful for most classes. Figures 1 and 2 are very specialized.

The text is consistently organized. There are clear signals that link each section to the main section. The emphasis is on professional communication throughout so chapters are linked through that context.

In section 4.1 there is inconsistency in terminology where “academic” and “scholarly” are used interchangeably.

The book is clearly arranged into chapters with clear titles and headings. The table of contents is linked to each section for quick finding. The pages have ample white space and large readable type.

The book is clearly organized around the perspective of researching and writing a final report. The chapters can easily be rearranged according to an instructor’s preference since the table of contents is linked to each section.

However, the book is arranged in a logical progression through the different aspects of research and writing the formal report.

The book is posted in 4 different formats which makes it readily accessible to students. There is an important missing link in 9.2. This link in 4.3 is no longer valid: The Research Cycle derived from A Cycle of Revolving Research by UC Libraries, CC: BY-NC-SA 3.0 Otherwise there are no issues.

There are grammatical errors in section 9 as well as confusing switches in point of view.

Grammar errors: 9 “Writers . . . she” 9.3 “. . .your employer to pursue and action” and “the groups’ goal”

Point of view First, chapters 1-8 and 10 are written in second person. Chapter 9 is written partly in second person, partly in third person. While some references to “the writer” are logical, it inconsistently directly addresses readers or talks about writers in general.

Second, there is inconsistency in an attempt to be gender neutral in the third person. In 9 “she” and “he” are used interchangeably. 9.3 uses “her/himself,” “s/he,” and “his/her.”

The examples in the text and references to writers are neutral. There is nothing to identify a particular culture, race or ethnicity.

The book doesn't completely fit the course in technical writing that I teach but I would consider using if it did. However, I do have some problems with Chapter 9, ethics in technical writing, that I would like to see addressed. These are in addition to the grammatical issues.

In 9.1 General Principles, the authors give examples of ethical dilemmas that range from trivial to life and death. These do more to complicate the subject than clarify it. Part of this is due to the phrasing about the friend’s haircut, “This lie, though minor, preserves . . .” What is “though” doing in this sentence? It signals a contrast which isn’t there.

More of a concern though is the phrasing of the third choice of saving lives. The person might “risk [her life] to save her children” but to save the stranger, she would have to “choose to die.” Risk and certainty are not equal choices.

The second paragraph concludes that “If you would . . . lose your job. . . the action is probably unethical” oversimplifies -- one can lose a job for being ethical as well.

Section 9.2 includes the Challenger disaster as an example of unethical writing. The missing link is vital here since there are definitely different accounts of the underlying causes beyond the O rings. The authors speculate about possible motives of the engineers with no source information to support their conjectures. They make statements about the priority of information in the engineers' report which imply that they are in a position to make that judgment.

I suggest deleting or re-writing this section of the book.

Reviewed by Corrine Holke-Farnam, Instructor, University of Northern Iowa on 2/8/17

The text provides an adequate overview of the field for beginners in technical writing. read more

The text provides an adequate overview of the field for beginners in technical writing.

The content is accurate and straight forward.

The text is up-to-date and covers the range of topics addressed in introductory technical and professional writing courses.

The information is presented effectively in clear, concise language. Provides accurate definitions and many links to examples for easy understanding.

I found no internal inconsistencies.

Text is user-friendly. Effective use of white space. Employ small chunks of text, bullet point lists, and hyperlinks.

Many technical writing textbooks begin with audience analysis. Hamlin, Rubio, and DeSiva begin with common types of professional communication like email and memo format; doing so provides an effective context for beginning writers. The chapters of the book could be easily reorganized to fit user needs and/or preferences.

The text is free of interface issues. Navigation between and within chapters is smooth. Website links opened easily.

Technical Writing contains no grammatical errors.

The text revolves around professional communication. Does not contain offensive or insensitive material or links.

This text seems like a good fit for students in my Technical Writing for Electrical Engineering Technologists course. Practical information, concise presentation.

Reviewed by Jennifer Barton, Advanced Instructor, Virginia Tech on 2/8/17

The book appears to be written for a course designed around a specific major project that asks students to write a proposal for a technical report and then to research and write the report itself. Those sections are adequate, but I would like to... read more

In particular, I would like information on writing instructions and technical descriptions, as well as the finer points of correspondence writing, like strategies for persuasion, or handling negative news, or emphasizing reader benefits. I would also like to see information on team writing—a must for the modern workplace. The book would also benefit from a section on presentations and a broader section on document design. The current section on design is specific only to reports and is really about organization, not design.

The content is accurate. The book sticks to the basic writing principles which don’t change much over time. I especially appreciate the repeated emphasis on audience and that while particular elements are expected for particular genres, organization and approach can and should be modified to suit the writer’s purpose and the needs of the audience.

The core principles aren’t likely to go out of date any time soon. The limited scope and lack of discussion about the design expectations of the modern audience does make the book feel dated.

Although the concept of linking to examples and additional information is an excellent use of this medium, the choice of links could be improved. For example, many of the linked reports are nearly twenty years old, and while they may demonstrate many of the writing principles that stay constant over time, they do not demonstrate contemporary expectations for design, and the topics are so dated as to make them seem irrelevant to most students.

The authors do an excellent job of adhering to plain language principles. The style is clear, simple, and direct. It reads like the authors are speaking directly to the audience.

As mentioned previously, the book reads as though it were designed for a very specific class. It shifts quite a bit between universal advice about writing for a professional audience and specific advice about writing for an instructor. That’s confusing and limits the book’s applicability.

The book is divided into logical sections that would make it easy to customize for a course if not for the problem previously cited of its being designed around a specific course’s project.

Follows a familiar and standard organization for workplace writing textbooks, beginning with basic correspondence and working towards longer and more complex reports.

Some easily correctable issues here: Many widowed headings (which the text advises to avoid). Figures and tables are not always labeled correctly.

The visual weight of “Chapter Attribution Information,” which is currently the same as chapter titles, should be reduced. In some chapters, that information is repeated before every section, which adds visual clutter.

There are additional problems in the pdf version that make it the pdf only partially usable: Text boxes tend to exceed the width of the page and cannot therefore be read. Everything is rendered as plain text, which means that table formatting is screwy and all images (including images of example documents) are missing. Citations get embedded directly into the text.

Grammar looks fine.

Deals very little with cultural issues, which is surprising given the global ventures of many companies and the increasingly diverse workforce in the US.

The book has the potential to be quite good, but I don't think it’s yet ready to compete with the for-profit options. I look forward to seeing subsequent editions.

1. Professional Communications
2. Audience Analysis
3. Proposals
4. Information Literacy
5. Citations and Plagiarism
6. Progress Reports
7. Outlines
8. Creating and Integrating Graphics
9. Ethics in Technical Writing
10. Technical Reports: Components and Design
11. Basic Design and Readability in Publications
12. Employment Materials
13. Communicating across Cultures
14. Thinking about Writing

Ancillary Material

About the book.

This open textbook offers students of technical writing an introduction to the processes and products involved in professional, workplace, and technical writing. The text is broken up into sections reflecting key components of researching, developing, and producing a technical report. Readers will also learn about other professional communication, designing documents, and creating and integrating graphics. Written especially for an academic setting, this book provides readers with guidance on information literacy and documenting sources. This book was collected, adapted, and edited from multiple openly licensed sources.

About the Contributors

Annemarie Hamlin is an Associate Professor of English at Central Oregon Community College.

Chris Rubio is an Assistant Professor at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, OR.

Contribute to this Page

Technical Writing for Beginners – An A-Z Guide to Tech Blogging Basics

If you love writing and technology, technical writing could be a suitable career for you. It's also something else you can do if you love tech but don’t really fancy coding all day long.

Technical writing might also be for you if you love learning by teaching others, contributing to open source projects and teaching others how to do so, too, or basically enjoy explaining complex concepts in simple ways through your writing.

Let's dive into the fundamentals and learn about what you should know and consider when getting started with technical writing.

In this article, we’ll be looking at:

What Technical writing is

Benefits of Technical Writing

Necessary skills to have as a Technical Writer

The Technical Writing Process

Platforms for publishing your articles

Technical Writing Courses

Technical Writing forums and communities
Some amazing technical writers to follow
Final Words and references

What is Technical Writing?

Technical writing is the art of providing detail-oriented instruction to help users understand a specific skill or product.

And a technical writer is someone who writes these instructions, otherwise known as technical documentation or tutorials. This could include user manuals, online support articles, or internal docs for coders/API developers.

A technical writer communicates in a way that presents technical information so that the reader can use that information for an intended purpose.

Technical writers are lifelong learners. Since the job involves communicating complex concepts in simple and straightforward terms, you must be well-versed in the field you're writing about. Or be willing to learn about it.

This is great, because with each new technical document you research and write, you will become an expert on that subject.

Technical writing also gives you a better sense of user empathy. It helps you pay more attention to what the readers or users of a product feel rather than what you think.

You can also make money as a technical writer by contributing to organizations. Here are some organizations that pay you to write for them , like Smashing Magazine , AuthO , Twilio , and Stack Overflow .

In addition to all this, you can contribute to Open Source communities and participate in paid open source programs like Google Season of Docs and Outreachy .

You can also take up technical writing as a full time profession – lots of companies need someone with those skills.

Necessary Skills to Have as a Technical Writer

Understand the use of proper english.

Before you consider writing, it is necessary to have a good grasp of English, its tenses, spellings and basic grammar. Your readers don't want to read an article riddled with incorrect grammar and poor word choices.

Know how to explain things clearly and simply

Knowing how to implement a feature doesn't necessarily mean you can clearly communicate the process to others.

In order to be a good teacher, you have to be empathetic, with the ability to teach or describe terms in ways suitable for your intended audience.

If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself. Albert Einstein

Possess some writing skills‌‌

I believe that writers are made, not born. And you can only learn how to write by actually writing.

You might never know you have it in you to write until you put pen to paper. And there's only one way to know if you have some writing skills, and that's by writing.

So I encourage you to start writing today. You can choose to start with any of the platforms I listed in this section to stretch your writing muscles.

And of course, it is also a huge benefit to have some experience in a technical field.

Analyze and Understand who your Readers are

The biggest factor to consider when you're writing a technical article is your intended/expected audience. It should always be at the forefront of your mind.

A good technical writer writes based on the reader’s context. As an example , let's say you're writing an article targeted at beginners. It is important not to assume that they already know certain concepts.

You can start out your article by outlining any necessary prerequisites. This will make sure that your readers have (or can acquire) the knowledge they need before diving right into your article.

You can also include links to useful resources so your readers can get the information they need with just a click.

In order to know for whom you are writing, you have to gather as much information as possible about who will use the document.

It is important to know if your audience has expertise in the field, if the topic is totally new to them, or if they fall somewhere in between.

Your readers will also have their own expectations and needs. You must determine what the reader is looking for when they begin to read the document and what they'll get out of it.

To understand your reader, ask yourself the following questions before you start writing:

Who are my readers?
What do they need?
Where will they be reading?
When will they be reading?
Why will they be reading?
How will they be reading?

These questions also help you think about your reader's experience while reading your writing, which we'll talk about more now.

Think About User Experience

User experience is just as important in a technical document as it is anywhere on the web.

Now that you know your audience and their needs, keep in mind how the document itself services their needs. It’s so easy to ignore how the reader will actually use the document.

As you write, continuously step back and view the document as if you're the reader. Ask yourself: Is it accessible? How will your readers be using it? When will they be using it? Is it easy to navigate?

The goal is to write a document that is both useful to and useable by your readers.

Plan Your Document

Bearing in mind who your users are, you can then conceptualize and plan out your document.

This process includes a number of steps, which we'll go over now.

Conduct thorough research about the topic

While planning out your document, you have to research the topic you're writing about. There are tons of resources only a Google search away for you to consume and get deeper insights from.

Don't be tempted to lift off other people's works or articles and pass it off as your own, as this is plagiarism. Rather, use these resources as references and ideas for your work.

Google as much as possible, get facts and figures from research journals, books or news, and gather as much information as you can about your topic. Then you can start making an outline.

Make an outline

Outlining the content of your document before expanding on it helps you write in a more focused way. It also lets you organize your thoughts and achieving your goals for your writing.

An outline can also help you identify what you want your readers to get out of the document. And finally, it establishes a timeline for completing your writing.

Get relevant graphics/images

Having an outline is very helpful in identifying the various virtual aids (infographics, gifs, videos, tweets) you'll need to embed in different sections of your document.

And it'll make your writing process much easier if you keep these relevant graphics handy.

Write in the Correct Style

Finally, you can start to write! If you've completed all these steps, writing should become a lot easier. But you still need to make sure your writing style is suitable for a technical document.

The writing needs to be accessible, direct, and professional. Flowery or emotional text is not welcome in a technical document. To help you maintain this style, here are some key characteristics you should cultivate.

Use Active Voice

It's a good idea to use active voices in your articles, as it is easier to read and understand than the passive voice.

Active voice means that the subject of the sentence is the one actively performing the action of the verb. Passive voice means that a subject is the recipient of a verb's action .

Here's an example of passive voice : The documentation should be read six times a year by every web developer.

And here's an example of active voice : Every web developer should read this documentation 6 times a year.

Choose Your Words Carefully

Word choice is important. Make sure you use the best word for the context. Avoid overusing pronouns such as ‘it’ and ‘this’ as the reader may have difficulty identifying which nouns they refer to.

Also avoid slang and vulgar language – remember you're writing for a wider audience whose disposition and cultural inclinations could differ from yours.

Avoid Excessive Jargon

If you’re an expert in your field, it can be easy to use jargon you're familiar with without realizing that it may be confusing to other readers.

You should also avoid using acronyms you haven't previously explained.

Here's an Example :

Less clear: PWAs are truly considered the future of multi-platform development. Their availability on both Android and iOS makes them the app of the future.

Improved: Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are truly the future of multi-platform development. Their availability on both Android and iOS makes PWAs the app of the future.

Use Plain Language

Use fewer words and write in a way so that any reader can understand the text.‌‌ Avoid big lengthy words. Always try to explain concepts and terms in the clearest way possible.

Visual Formatting

A wall of text is difficult to read. Even the clearest instructions can be lost in a document that has poor visual representation.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This rings true even in technical writing.

But not just any image is worthy of a technical document. Technical information can be difficult to convey in text alone. A well-placed image or diagram can clarify your explanation.

People also love visuals, so it helps to insert them at the right spots. Consider the images below:

First, here's a blog snippet without visuals:

Here's a snippet of same blog, but with visuals:

Adding images to your articles makes the content more relatable and easier to understand. In addition to images, you can also use gifs, emoji, embeds (social media, code) and code snippets where necessary.

Thoughtful formatting, templates, and images or diagrams will also make your text more helpful to your readers. You can check out the references below for a technical writing template from @Bolajiayodeji.

Do a Careful Review

Good writing of any type must be free from spelling and grammatical errors. These errors might seem obvious, but it's not always easy to spot them (especially in lengthy documents).

Always double-check your spelling (you know, dot your Is and cross your Ts) before hitting 'publish'.

There are a number of free tools like Grammarly and the Hemingway app that you can use to check for grammar and spelling errors. You can also share a draft of your article with someone to proofread before publishing.

Where to Publish Your Articles

Now that you've decided to take up technical writing, here are some good platforms where you can start putting up technical content for free. They can also help you build an appealing portfolio for future employers to check out.

Dev.to is a community of thousands of techies where both writers and readers get to meaningfully engage and share ideas and resources.

Hashnode is my go-to blogging platform with awesome perks such as custom domain mapping and an interactive community. Setting up a blog on this platform is also easy and fast.

freeCodeCamp has a very large community and audience reach and is a great place to publish your articles. However, you'll need to apply to write for their publication with some previous writing samples.

Your application could either be accepted or rejected, but don't be discouraged. You can always reapply later as you get better, and who knows? You could get accepted.

If you do write for them, they'll review and edit your articles before publishing, to make sure you publish the most polished article possible. They'll also share your articles on their social media platforms to help more people read them.

Hackernoon has over 7,000 writers and could be a great platform for you to start publishing your articles to the over 200,000 daily readers in the community.

Hacker Noon supports writers by proofreading their articles before publishing them on the platform, helping them avoid common mistakes.

Just like in every other field, there are various processes, rules, best practices, and so on in Technical Writing.

Taking a course on technical writing will help guide you through every thing you need to learn and can also give you a major confidence boost to kick start your writing journey.

Here are some technical writing courses you can check out:

Google Technical Writing Course (Free)
Udemy Technical Writing Course (Paid)
Hashnode Technical Writing Bootcamp (Free)

Technical Writing Forums and Communities

Alone we can do so little, together, we can do so much ~ Helen Keller

Being part of a community or forum along with people who share same passion as you is beneficial. You can get feedback, corrections, tips and even learn some style tips from other writers in the community.

Here are some communities and forums for you to join:

Technical Writing World
Technical Writer Forum
Write the Docs Forum

Some Amazing Technical Writers to follow

In my technical writing journey, I've come and followed some great technical writers whose writing journey, consistency, and style inspire me.

These are the writers whom I look up to and consider virtual mentors on technical writing. Sometimes, they drop technical writing tips that I find helpful and have learned a lot from.

Here are some of those writers (hyperlinked with their twitter handles):

Quincy Larson
Edidiong Asikpo
Catalin Pit
Victoria Lo
Bolaji Ayodeji
Amruta Ranade
Chris Bongers
Colby Fayock

Final words

You do not need a degree in technical writing to start putting out technical content. You can start writing on your personal blog and public GitHub repositories while building your portfolio and gaining practical experience.

Really – Just Start Writing.

Practice by creating new documents for existing programs or projects. There are a number of open source projects on GitHub that you can check out and add to their documentation.

Is there an app that you love to use, but its documentation is poorly written? Write your own and share it online for feedback. You can also quickly set up your blog on hashnode and start writing.

You learn to write by writing, and by reading and thinking about how writers have created their characters and invented their stories. If you are not a reader, don't even think about being a writer. - Jean M. Auel

Technical writers are always learning . By diving into new subject areas and receiving external feedback, a good writer never stops honing their craft.

Of course, good writers are also voracious readers. By reviewing highly-read or highly-used documents, your own writing will definitely improve.

Can't wait to see your technical articles!

Introduction to Technical Writing ‌‌

How to structure a technical article ‌‌

Understanding your audience, the why and how

‌‌ Technical Writing template

I hope this was helpful. If so, follow me on Twitter and let me know!

Amarachi is a front end web developer, technical writer and educator who is interested in building developer communities.

If you read this far, thank the author to show them you care. Say Thanks

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1: Introduction to Technical Writing

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CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

Define technical communication.
Distinguish technical writing from academic writing.
Explain the features of technical writing style.
Introduce the concepts of audience, culture, and ethics as they apply to technical writing.

What is Technical Writing?

You are probably wondering what this "technical writing thing" is. Someone may have even told you, "It's this course where they make you write about rocket science and brain surgery." Well, not really, as you will see in a moment. The field of technical communication is essential in a wide range of fields and occupations. It is a fully professional field with degree programs, certifications, and—yes!—even theory. It is a good field with a lot of growth and income potential, and an introductory technical-writing course for which this book has been developed is a good way to start if you are interested in a career in this field.

Technical writing is designed for users in technical fields such as engineering, chemistry, computer information software and systems, medical professions, aeronautics, robotics, automotive, etc.

Technical writing is designed to:

inform by anticipating and answering audience questions;
instruct the audience to perform a task or follow a procedure, and
persuade the audience via explanations, analysis, and solutions.

Technical writing is an audience-centered means of communication that provides a reader with clear and easy access to information. In the business world, time equates to profit, and profit is the force behind all professional interactions. The technical writer and reader have a vis-à-vis relationship. The writer recognizes, respects, and addresses the importance of time in effective and efficient communication by providing documents written in specific formats, using unambiguous language to send clearly accessible information. The reader in turn thoroughly understands the information in order to give a thoughtful response.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TECHNICAL WRITING

Technical communication is an audience-centered means of communication that provides the reader with clear, accurate, and ethically represented information. According to the Society for Technical Communication, technical writing includes the following characteristics:

“Communicating about technical or specialized topics, such as computer applications, medical procedures, or environmental regulations.”
“Communicating by using technology, such as web pages, help files, or social media sites.”
“Providing instructions about how to do something, regardless of how technical the task is or even if the technology is used to create or distribute that communication.”

The Meaning of "Technical"

Technical communication—or technical writing, as the course is often called—is not writing about a specific technical topic such as computers, but about any technical topic. The term "technical" refers to knowledge that is not widespread, that is more the territory of experts and specialists. Whatever your major is, you are developing an expertise—you are becoming a specialist in a particular technical area. And whenever you try to write or say anything about your field, you are engaged in technical communication.

Academic Writing Versus Technical Writing

Technical communication is distinct from the academic forms of writing you may be more familiar with. The academic writer’s purpose may be to write an essay, a story, a research paper, etc. Such assignments are often designed so that students can “write to learn” and show mastery of information covered in class. Additionally, in academic writing context, student-writers join a conversation that is occurring on a particular topic.

Technical communication, however, is intended for another purpose. These documents convey information to audiences who may or may not have prior knowledge of the material discussed. Technical communicators must, therefore, determine the needs of their audience and design documents that convey information in an accessible and appropriate manner. Depending on the context of communication, it might also be necessary to convey information in a concise and efficient manner, succinctly presenting points and cutting extraneous or potentially distracting material.

Workplace Writing

However, the focus for technical writing courses is not necessarily a career as a technical writer but an introduction to the kinds of writing skills you need in practically any technically-oriented professional job. No matter what sort of professional work you do, you're likely to do lots of writing—and much of it technical in nature. The more you know about some basic technical-writing skills, which are covered in this guide and in technical-writing courses, the better job of writing you're likely to do. And that will be good for the projects you work on, for the organizations you work in, and—most of all—good for you and your career.

STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE TECHNICAL WRITING TASKS

Professional technical writers rely on these strategies to ensure the technical accuracy of their work:

Study of books, articles, reports, websites related to the product.
Product specifications: what the product is supposed to do, how it is designed.
Interviews with subject matter experts: the product specialists, developers, engineers.
Product meetings during the development cycle.
Live demonstrations of the product.
Familiarization with similar, competing products.
Experimenting with working models of the product.
Most importantly, subject matter experts' review of technical writers' work for technical accuracy and completeness.

Considerations of Technical Documents

There are key components of what makes a document strong. Therefore, writers keep these items in mind while constructing technical documents.

The Importance of Audience

Another key part of the definition of technical communication is the receiver of the information—the audience. Technical communication is the delivery of technical information to readers (or listeners or viewers) in a manner that is adapted to their needs, level of understanding, and background. In fact, this audience element is so important that it is one of the cornerstones of this course: you are challenged to write about highly technical subjects but in a way that a beginner—a nonspecialist—could understand. This ability to "translate" technical information to non-specialists is a key skill to any technical communicator. In a world of rapid technological development, people are constantly falling behind and becoming technological illiterates. Technology companies are constantly struggling to find effective ways to help customers or potential customers understand the advantages or the operation of their new products.

Cultural Communication

Technical writers need to be aware of the differences between the behavior and the norms, beliefs and values of specific cultural. According to Edward T. Hall and Mildred Reed Hall, In Understanding Cultural Differences, each culture operates according to its own rules (1990, pp. 3-4). Hall and Hall add that problems occur when members of one culture apply the rules to another culture (1990, pp. 3-4). To communicate effectively with other cultures, the technical writer needs to not only be aware of rules governing behaviors that can be observed but also of the not-so-obvious rules that govern the norms, beliefs, and values of the people of a culture. The invisible rules of a culture dramatically impact the acceptance of ideas, plans, and strategies. The Cultural Iceberg illustrates patterns of world communication, showing indicators of Institutional Culture (the obvious behavior of a culture), which can be clearly seen as the tip of the iceberg, and People Culture (the norms, beliefs and values of a culture), which cannot be seen and which are the barriers to successful communication.

Figure 1 The Cultural Iceberg

Technical writers have a responsibility to their readers and to their employers to follow ethics when writing reports. Technical writers must use words that demonstrate valid appeals to reason, avoiding emotional words and phrases that appeal to basic emotion instead of justifiable reasoning. In addition, technical writers must use valid references to support ideas and strategies, avoiding referencing non experts to sway readers’ support. Also, technical writers must use accurate numbers to report data, avoiding charts and tables that skew data. Using any type of fallacies in technical writing is unethical and could result in dire consequences. Not only do technical writers have a responsibility to report accurate information, but they also have a responsibility to credit accurate sources of information. At no time is it acceptable to rearrange information in order to attempt to indicate that the writer is the source of someone else’s idea or to indicate that the writer read a report that included information he/she cited, when the primary source of the information was cited in another report. All sources must be referenced accurately in the text and cited on a reference page.

Overview of the Technical Writing Style

Technical writing takes complicated ideas and organizes and explains those ideas in easy-to-understand language. The reader of technical documents does not read to engage in a discussion or be entertained. The audience of technical documents wants information. In short, technical writing provides information and seeks to solve problems and help the reader learn.

While some technical writing is composed for experts within the field, most technical writing is composed for the ordinary user - the consumer. While technical writing can organize information so it persuades the user, it must always present complete and accurate information. Technical writing does not use emotionally charged language, redundant adjectives, colloquialisms, or words or phrases that are open to interpretation. As the Society of Technical Writing explains, technical communicators employ a user-centered approach to provide "the right information, in the right way, at the right time to make someone’s life easier and more productive."

Features of Technical Writing

Technical documents must be reader-centered. The information is explained and presented in a style that is easy to navigate and understand. Technical documents value the reader’s time by using the following features:

Accessible – Think about the users of your document. You understand the material and created the document based on that knowledge and understanding, but for your audience, this is new information. So the information must be explained and presented in a style that is easy to understand and follow.
Collaborative - technical documents must consider multiple perspectives; therefore, they are frequently composed by a team of writers.
Concise –To write concisely does not mean to use fewer words. Instead, it means to use all the words you need but only the words you need.
Efficient page design: Use headings, numbered or bulleted lists, tables, easy-to-read fonts, white space, and other elements to help the reader navigate through the material.
Logical organization: use chronological order and emphasize important information.
Meaningful content: include all of the information needed but none of the information that is not needed.
Supplemental material: Abstracts, footnotes, glossary, appendix, definitions, etc., provides readers with additional information when needed.
Visual elements: Use charts, graphs, or images to clarify written concepts or relationships.

Formatting and Language

Formatting and appropriate language are the basic design elements of all technical documents. A format that shows a hierarchical structure and a coordinate structure of information leads the reader through the text. Readers should be able to identify a writer’s organizational pattern very quickly when reading a technical document. This sometimes refers to a document being “reader-friendly.” In addition, using appropriate language is significant in providing the reader with a thorough understanding of the purpose of the document, how the document relates to the reader’s needs, and what action is expected of the reader.

A document may also have one audience (the primary reader) or multiple audiences (the secondary readers). A primary reader is the person who ordered the report to be written or the person for whom the report is intended. These readers will usually read the entire report. Secondary readers are those readers who will read only the sections of the report that relate to them, their jobs, their departments, responsibilities, etc. For example, if a report was sent that detailed funding for different departments, a piping superintendent may only want to read the section that relates to piping. This is where format, the use of headings, is significant in allowing the reader easy access to information. When the piping superintendent can scan through the document and clearly find the heading that identifies his department saves time.

The following table provides general specifications for many types of technical writing documents:

Table 3.1. Document Formatting

Readability in Publications

The way a text looks matters to a reader, so it should matter to a writer. Letters, reports, and websites are more than just words on a page or a screen. How ideas are arranged and delivered in physical form, whether electronically or on paper, can make reading seem intimidating, confusing, or downright unfriendly, even if the content itself is perfect. Your text is like a room for your ideas. Sometimes you want readers to get in and get out quickly, but often, you want them to sit down and make themselves comfortable, put their feet up and stay awhile. Whatever the case, you should be in control of the reader’s experience.

To make a document more reader-friendly, many technical writers rely on visuals to achieve this goal. See Chapter 15, "Visuals in Technical Documents " for detailed information about using visuals.

Ways effective design enhances a document

Effective design makes a document accessible

Good design helps readers understand your information.
Good page design helps readers locate information quickly.
Good design helps readers notice highly important content.

Effective design affects readers’ attitudes, thereby increasing a communication’s persuasiveness.

Good design encourages readers to feel good about the communication itself.
Good design encourages readers to feel good about the communication’s subject matter.

Because page design can have such a significant impact on your communication’s usability and persuasiveness, you should approach design in the same reader-centered manner that you use when drafting text and graphics. Think continuously about your readers, including who they are, what they want from your communication and the context in which they will be reading.

It helps to think about the building blocks of a page design in the way that professional graphic designers do. When they look at a page, they see six basic elements:

Text : Paragraphs and sentences.
Headings and titles : Labels for sections of your communication.
Graphics : Drawings, tables, photographs, and so on — including their captions.
White space : Blank areas.
Headers and footers : The items, such as page numbers, that occur at the top or bottom of each page in a multi-page document.
Physical features : These include paper, which may take many shapes and sizes, and bindings, which come in many forms.

Figure 3.1. Overview of design elements. Notice how your eye is drawn to the blue header and the boxed elements. In these spaces, you can highlight the important parts of your message:

Technical writing is designed to inform, instruct, or persuade an audience. It is informative and concise. Technical writers often collaborate with others in their organizations to develop documents that are formatted and designed to inform their audience in accessible ways. All forms of technical writing -- memos, letters, proposals, reports, and so on -- have different conventions for format and design. Technical writing differs from the academic writing to which many students are accustomed. As you continue exploring concepts of technical communication in this course, remember these introductory concepts to technical writing and work to apply them to the documents you create.

GENERAL TIPS ABOUT TECHNICAL WRITING

Remember that technical writing is not just about computers or engineering. The term should be considered more broadly than that.
Audience is crucial. Before creating any technical document, be certain you understand your audience's identity and needs.
Format your technical documents differently than you might format an academic writing assignment.
Consider cultural and ethical concerns and complications as you develop your documents.

Hall, E.T. & Hall, M.R. (1990). Understanding Cultural Differences. Intercultural Press.

Society for Technical Communication. (2021). Defining Technical Communication. https://www.stc.org/about-stc/defini...communication/ .

This work "Introduction to Technical Writing" is a derivative of " What is Technical Communication? " by Chelsea Milbourne, Anne Regan, Morgan Livingston, & Sadie Johann, Technical Writing for Technicians CC-BY Will Fleming, and " ENGL 145: Technical and Report Writing " by Amber Kinonen,used under a CC BY license. "Introduction to Technical Writing" is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by Tamara Girardi and Mary Richards.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Writing Essays

Dawn Atkinson

The current chapter focuses on essays , pieces of persuasive writing developed around defined topics. This genre’s persuasiveness rests in large part on its logical structure, inclusion of quality evidentiary support, and consistent design, as explained herein; hence, essay writing calls for planning, researching, synthesizing, and revising. Although essays are generally considered a form of academic rather than technical writing, the division is not absolute, and the prevalence of essay assignments in both writing and other university-level courses merits our focus on them here.

While reading this chapter, keep in mind that college essays typically require use of a formal writing style, although the specifics may vary depending on the particular assignment and area of study. For an overview of formal writing guidelines, see the George Mason University Writing Center’s (2017) handout entitled “Reducing Informality in Academic Writing” ( https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/reducing-informality-in-academic-writing ).

Essays can be divided into two broad types: expository and argumentative essays. To define these categories using information adapted from Student Academic Success Services, Queen’s University (2018b, para. 13), expository essays explain—they teach, illustrate, or clarify a subject for a reader—while argumentative essays make claims and seek to convince a reader to accept a position or point of view.

Focusing an Essay

For an essay topic to be manageable, its focus must be narrow enough so that it can be addressed adequately within the word or page count available; however, the topic should not be so narrow so as to impede your research efforts. When deciding on a topic, conduct initial research using library or internet resources to get a sense of current scholarship in the area, as well as points of agreement and contention, which may lead you to a focused direction for research. To pinpoint your particular interest in a topic, you might also consider using listing, mind mapping, outlining, freewriting, looping, or questioning, the brainstorming strategies described in the “Maintaining a Productive Writing Schedule” chapter of this textbook. Talking with your instructor or a librarian about a topic may also help you decide a paper’s focus.

What other methods could you use to narrow the focus of an essay?

Figure 1, a multi-page handout adapted from the Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo (n.d.a, pp. 2-3), illustrates the process of narrowing an essay topic.

Developing and Narrowing a Topic

Develop and Narrow a Topic

A well-written paper depends on a strong topic that is focused and specific. To get there, you need to develop some topic ideas, choose the best one, and narrow that topic further.

Developing A Topic

Researching your subject, brainstorming ideas, and sharing your ideas with others are three steps that can help you develop a strong topic.

Do your research

Doing preliminary research will help you to discover what people who work on the topic are interested in or concerned about.

There are countless ways to brainstorm ideas for a topic; below are three common approaches.

Freewriting: Jot down ideas without revising or proofreading
Questioning: Write down questions you have about your topic without revising or proofreading
Mapping: Starting with a main topic, write down subtopics that come to mind, drawing links that show how the different subtopics relate.

Talk about your ideas

Talking to others helps you to understand your ideas from a reader’s perspective. It can help you refine the topic or even move in a new direction.

Narrowing Your Topic

Narrowing your topic makes your work more manageable and your paper more likely to succeed. A good paper takes a smaller portion of a larger issue or problem and investigates that part in depth. Narrowing your topic allows you to choose a problem that is specific enough to research with vigour. Below is an example of the process:

Move from abstract to concrete

A manageable topic is concrete. As we narrow the scope of a topic, the subject matter moves from abstract concepts to ideas that are more precise. Let’s use bicycles, again, as our example.

Main topic: Bicycles

Subtopics: Design, Safety, Health impacts, Charity drives, Bicycle usage, Bicycles and education, Reuse, Infrastructure, Environmental impacts, Policies, Bicycles and urban development, Bicycles and commercial products, Bicycle culture

Although bicycles are concrete “things,” the word bicycles could mean different things to different people. These ideas, such as design, bicycle culture, or infrastructure, are subtopics of “bicycles.”

Add specific details

As you narrow in on one subtopic, the number of subtopics decreases:

Revised main topic: Bicycles and policies

safety standards for bicycle design
safety gear policies
urban development policies and bike lanes
road policies and cyclists

Tip: Is it narrow enough? In our last example, notice that when you begin to narrow a large topic, the initial subtopics that come up are still broad, general ideas. The more you narrow, the more specific your descriptions become. You can use the traditional journalistic questions (Who, What, Where, When, Why) to help you move towards more specific topics:

road building policies?
building zone policies?
other infrastructure?
metropolitan areas?
medium-sized cities?
small cities?
construction companies?
planning committees?

Using these questions to target the subject matter, we might narrow the topic, bicycle lanes and urban development , even further to the following: policies related to bike lanes in mid-sized metropolitan areas .

As the handout illustrates, deciding upon a suitably narrow essay topic is a process that may require several attempts to complete. Regardless, devoting time to this initial planning process is a wise investment since a defined essay topic will usefully guide a paper’s development.

Structuring an Essay

Essays, like letters and memos, follow an introduction, body, and conclusion structure, although these sections may also be subdivided. The sections need to be fully developed to coherently deliver an essay’s central message to readers. They also need to be proportionate to an essay’s overall length: for instance, a brief essay requires a brief introduction and conclusion, whereas an extended essay can accommodate a longer introduction and conclusion. In general, budget 10 percent of the paper’s word count for the introduction, 80 percent for the body, and 10 percent for the conclusion.

Composing an Introduction Section

An essay introduction establishes context for the reader by commencing discussion of the document’s central message, around which all the other content will coalesce, and by revealing how the essay will unfold. To be more specific, the introduction delimits the scope and purpose of the essay so that readers understand its direction, range of coverage, and intent.

The context-setting information provided at the beginning of an introduction might include definitions of key terms that will be used throughout the rest of the paper, a summation of how something works, essential background on the topic to be addressed in the piece, or articulation of circumstances pertinent to a problem—perhaps a concise discussion of historical events surrounding the topic, previous research conducted in the area, or treatment of the topic in the news. A writer has considerable leeway when deciding how to articulate context-setting information, and inventiveness in this section can help draw readers into the essay. Schall (2014, para. 7), for instance, describes how narration , storytelling in other words, can be used to stimulate reader interest in an essay. The following examples, adapted from Schall (para. 7), present the initial lines from two essay openings, one focused on the “generic nature of America’s highway exit ramp services” and the other on shape constancy in relationship to human visual perception, to demonstrate the interest that narration can inspire.

The observation struck me slowly, a growing sense of déjà vu. I was driving the endless miles of Interstate 70 crossing Kansas when I began to notice that the exits all looked the same. → Notice how the writer uses I to communicate his/her experience.
Our eyes often receive pictures of the world that are contrary to physical reality: a pencil in a glass of water miraculously bends and railroad tracks converge in the distance. → Notice how writer omits I but is nevertheless reflective about the subject matter.

Regardless of the flavor of context-setting information you provide in an essay, the information should help readers connect with the text’s central message. Therefore, avoid beginning an essay with an overly general statement, such as “People argue about many controversial topics,” that could apply to any number of papers. This kind of nondescript material wastes readers’ time.

An essay’s central message is delivered in its thesis statement , a sentence, sometimes more, that articulates the theme of the paper and the writer’s view on it. The thesis thus explains the paper’s controlling idea by specifying what the writer has to say about a particular topic and by clarifying what will and will not be covered. The thesis statement is typically placed at or near the end of the introduction to initiate the reader’s progression into the rest of the paper. Schall (para. 8) explains that a well-written thesis statement should be inexorably tied to the essay it accompanies, carefully constructed, and revealingly focused: “concretely announce the most important elements of your topic and suggest your fundamental approach—even point [readers] toward the paper’s conclusion if you can.” The following two thesis statement examples, adapted from Schall (para. 9), fit this description.

This paper reviews the problem of Pennsylvania’s dwindling landfill space, evaluates the success of recycling as a solution to this problem, and challenges the assumption that Pennsylvania will run out of landfill space by the year 2024.
As this paper will show, the fundamental problem behind the Arab-Israeli conflict is the lack of a workable solution to the third stage of partition, which greatly hinders negotiations for peace.

Notice that each example indicates the paper’s unifying theme and the writer’s viewpoint on the matter.

Developing an effective thesis statement for an essay requires work on a writer’s part. Try using these steps, adapted from the Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo (n.d.c, “Building Effective Thesis Statements”), when building a thesis statement to make the task more straightforward.

Read the assignment directions carefully so you are clear about the expectations.
Conduct preliminary research to gather and organize information about your topic.
What is new about this topic?
What is important about this topic?
What is interesting about this topic?
What have others missed in their discussions about this topic?
Conduct additional research once you have narrowed your focus in order to find evidence to support your thesis. As you research, your understanding of the topic may further develop and evolve.
Refine your thesis statement so it clearly expresses your angle or position.

As this list points out, an effective thesis statement typically develops over time and with concerted effort.

A thesis statement should fulfill the functions set out in its definition otherwise it will not guide the development of an essay. The following list, adapted from McKeever (n.d.c, paras. 12, 16, 17) and Sweetland Center for Writing, University of Michigan (2020a, para. 8), identifies markers of weak thesis statements.

A simple observation (Example: NASA scientists regularly conduct experiments in space.) Although an observation may be true, it cannot initiate a lively and extended discussion of the multiple views surrounding a complex topic.
A statement of fact (Example: Some people are opposed to stem cell research.) To determine whether a statement is a fact, ask if anyone could reasonably disagree with it. If everyone would agree that the statement is true, it is a fact, meaning that it is not open to interpretation or discussion.
A broad generalization (Example: Politics requires working for the people.) It may seem that a broad thesis statement creates the possibility for numerous essay directions, but broad issues contain too many specific arguments within them, and making a broad claim leads to making a shallow argument.
A question (Example: Why are self-service checkout machines popular in stores?) A thesis must be phrased as a statement, although you might decide to narrow the focus of an essay by devising a research question (a question that a research project seeks to answer). A thesis statement answers a research question in sentence form.
A misleading statement (Example: This essay will prove that a person who is old enough to vote and serve in the armed forces should be allowed to drink alcohol too.) The word prove points to a fact, something that is indisputable, and a thesis cannot be a statement of fact. More troubling about the example, however, is that an essay cannot irrefutably prove something, so the statement is misleading.
A statement that uses figurative language (Example: The runaway train of individualism must be controlled and not allowed to jump the tracks and obliterate innocent bystanders.) A thesis statement should enable a reader to clearly and immediately identify the focus of an essay. Figurative language, such as that used in the example, is wordy, vague, and quite frankly confusing, so avoid it.
An unfocused statement (Example: I think the inconsistent penalties for drunk driving, even if enhanced, because of the impact of drinking and driving on families who lose their children, fathers, mothers, or other family members to death and/or disability, are not strict enough in the various states, allowing drunk drivers to go free although there is a high risk of offending again.) A thesis statement that contains multiple clauses and lists is confusing. Oftentimes, such statements also present details that should be discussed in body paragraphs. Remember that a focused thesis statement identifies and delimits the direction of an essay, as this revised example does: The United States needs a consistent, national law that strips drunk drivers of driving privileges for five years after their first offense. Notice that the revised example omits I think since the phrase is redundant; the writer’s view is implicit in the sentence. In general, avoid the phrases I think , I feel , and I believe since they add unnecessary words to an essay and give the appearance of uncertainty.

Prevent the thesis statement problems listed by focusing on a specific topic and articulating your view on that topic in a clear, concise, and unambiguous way. In addition, be prepared to revise the thesis statement as necessary during your essay’s development.

Depending on assignment specifications, disciplinary conventions, educational context, or authorial choice, a writer may integrate a route map , a brief outline of the specific topics the essay will cover and in what order, in the thesis statement or provide this information in a separate sentence or sentences at the end of the introduction. The order of topics in the route map should match the sequence in which they are addressed in the body of the essay; the route map thus serves as a skeleton outline of the essay by giving readers a sense of how the text will be organized.

The essay introduction structure described here takes the form of the inverted triangle presented in Figure 2, with the reader connecting with broad context-setting information before moving on to a more narrow discussion of the essay’s focus area and organizational structure provided in a thesis statement and route map.

Upside down triangle images showing: Context-setting/background information to Thesis statement to Route Map

Figure 2. Moving from general to specific information as an essay introduction proceeds

Figure 3, adapted from the Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service at the University of Ottawa (2016c, para. 10), shows the introduction elements at work in a sample paragraph.

Image of essay. Why is industrial expansion more important than the survival of valuable ecosystems? Last year, that kind of priority resulted in the death of 600,000 red-tailed swallows in Ungolu. While environmentalists protest the destruction of the Ungolu rainforest for the sake of its wildlife, and particularly for the sake of the red-tailed swallow, the inhabitants of the area demand more land for cattle and living space and require more wood to generate revenue. Although the residents insist their society depends on logging practices, this does not justify the effects of these practices. Without a change in policy, the red-tailed swallow will most likely disappear in just a few years. The extinction of this species must be prevented because it would have a devastating impact on the Ungolu rainforest. As this paper will show, the clear-cutting of the rainforest has already eliminated much of the natural habitat of the red-tailed swallow, thus reducing the population growth rate of a species that plays a vital part in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Its extinction would result not only in the destruction of the rainforest, but in the destruction of the ecology that it shelters in as well. Moreover, the extinction of the red-tailed swallow is unnecessary—there are more ecological and long-lasting ways to ensure the economic development of Ungolu than logging.

Figure 3. An introduction with context-setting, a thesis statement, and a route map

If an introduction is clearly focused, comprehensibly organized, and grammatically and mechanically sound, it can inspire a reader’s interest in the remainder of the essay.

Composing a Body Section

The body of an essay expounds upon the central theme articulated in the text’s thesis statement until that theme is fully developed. The body section is divided into paragraphs, and each paragraph centers on one main point that unifies the content of the paragraph and is articulated through an explicit or implied topic sentence. A topic sentence encapsulates a paragraph’s focus, and in technical writing, explicit topic sentences typically appear at the beginnings of paragraphs to expediently deliver needed information to readers. Using this structure, everything that follows the topic sentence in a paragraph—examples, illustrations, explanations, quotations, paraphrases, summaries, reasons—supports the point made in the topic sentence. If a writer instead opts to use an implied topic sentence, he or she may discuss a source, viewpoint, question, or piece of evidence slowly in the paragraph, allowing the paragraph’s momentum to develop the text’s key takeaway. The reader is consequently responsible for inferring the paragraph’s topic sentence in this situation. Whether the topic sentence is explicit or implied, the reader should leave the paragraph with a clear understanding of its main point.

To successfully communicate a paragraph’s main point and give readers a sense of the paragraph’s direction, a topic sentence must be specific. A topic sentence that simply announces the subject matter of a paragraph—“In this paragraph, I will discuss…”—does not fit this description, as the professionals at Student Academic Success Services, Queen’s University (2018a, para. 5) explain. To devise a precise alternative, think carefully about the paragraph’s key takeaway and how that point ties in with surrounding paragraphs and ultimately links back to the essay’s thesis statement; then try to articulate the key takeaway in one focused and unifying umbrella sentence underneath which all the other points in the paragraph fall.

In the process of developing an essay’s central theme through the inclusion of focused topic sentences and relevant and substantive follow-up sentences, the body section of an essay aims to be compelling: for example, an author might try to convince readers to adopt his or her position on an issue; to take a careful look at a text and how it is constructed; to contemplate the layers of complexity surrounding an area of investigation; or, more generally, to consider the well-informed nature of the essay and its fluid delivery of information. The body section thus involves persuasion. To address an essay’s central theme in a comprehensive and fair way, a writer who aims for maximum persuasiveness will speak to the multifaceted perspectives surrounding points of discussion rather than focusing exclusively on his or her own viewpoint. The latter signals bias in an argument, a situation to avoid in academic and technical writing.

Writers may employ certain patterns of development to present information in body paragraphs so that it is logical and compelling. The following list, adapted from Student Academic Success Services, Queen’s University (2018b, paras. 12, 17-21), describes a number of these patterns.

Description: Conveys specific details about the look, taste, smell, sound, or feel of something.
Illustration/Example: Illustrates a general concept with specific examples or uses an example as evidence to support a point.
Spatial: Describes how something looks in relationship to how it occupies space (e.g., inside to outside, top to bottom, front to back, or left to right).
Comparison/Contrast: Examines two or more things to determine their similarities and differences using clearly defined criteria.
Cause/Effect: Examines the causes that have led to certain results.
Evaluation: Measures something by examining it in relation to a given set of criteria; may discuss the thing’s strengths and weaknesses in light of this evaluation.
Classification: Examines something by dividing it into categories or subtypes.
Sequence/Process: Explains how something works in sequential or step-by-step fashion.
Narration: Tells a story in chronological order.
Definition: Explains the distinguishing features of something.
Order of Importance: Places the most important information in a strategic place to affect reader perception.

Writers may combine these patterns when developing body paragraphs or use them separately; assignment directions may also specify the use of a particular pattern in an essay.

Figure 4, adapted from the Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service at the University of Ottawa (2016a, para. 11), demonstrates elements of persuasion at work—in this case a viewpoint (claim) supported with a reason and evidence—in an argumentative body paragraph.

What do you think of the paragraph? Apart from the argument elements identified in the paragraph, what else helps to make it persuasive?

Figure 4. A body paragraph containing a claim supported with a reason and evidence

While Figure 4 uses a quotation as evidence to support a claim, evidence in body paragraphs can take many forms: for example, summaries, paraphrases, tables, figures, equations, anecdotes, personal experiences, facts, statistics, and numerical and word field data.

Composing a Conclusion Section

A conclusion emphasizes an essay’s central message by reiterating its thesis (without repeating it word for word) and summarizing its key points. Because a conclusion brings an essay to a cohesive end, it should not discuss new information; instead, it should follow on logically from content already covered. A conclusion’s very definition—“an articulated conviction arrived at on the basis of the evidence you have presented” (Schall, 2014, para. 15)—points to its unifying function. The following conclusion sample, adapted from Schall (para. 16) and excerpted from the paper “Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Women,” reflects directly on the paper’s hypothesis, stated in the introduction, and presents a logical realization of the paper’s goals.

The majority of evidence presented in this paper supports the hypothesis that exercise positively affects bone mineral density in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Importantly, exercise has been shown to increase bone mineral density in premenopausal women even after the teenage years, and it helps preserve the bone mass achieved in the subsequent decades. Evidence also shows that exercise adds a modest amount of bone mass to the postmenopausal skeleton. As these findings demonstrate, women of all ages can benefit from regular weight-bearing exercise, an increased intake of calcium-rich foods, and—for postmenopausal women—the maintenance of adequate estrogen levels. Women of all ages can prevent osteoporosis or lessen its severity by making appropriate lifestyle choices.

If you experience a roadblock when constructing a coherent conclusion such as this, Schall (para. 14) recommends reviewing the essay’s introduction and body to revisit what the paper set out to do and how it accomplished its aims or reviewing these sections to determine the paper’s contributions to the particular research area addressed.

While focusing squarely on the essay’s central message and the document’s particular purpose, a conclusion may also discuss how the essay’s findings compare with other research in the area; emphasize the implications of the findings (what they mean and why they are important—the so what , in other words); consider the limitations of the research conducted for the essay; or make recommendations for further research. Again, these elements should link back to the essay’s central message so readers understand the context for their discussion. Here is a conclusion example, adapted from the Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service at the University of Ottawa (2016b, para. 7), that emphasizes the essay’s central message and summarizes its key points before underscoring the implications of the findings and proposing a solution to the issue discussed in the paper.

In the end, there is no way to deny the seriousness of the environmental threat. If the current clear-cutting practices continue, the Ungolu rainforest will be unable to support the red-tailed swallow, and it will become extinct. Without this bird, the tree-eating corkscrew beetle will have nothing to stop its spread, and it will disrupt the rainforest’s ecosystem even further. Although the inhabitants of the area request the commercialization of land and wood to encourage the economic development of Ungolu, initiatives with regard to ecotourism and biological agriculture can be pursued to ensure both the growth of the economy and the survival of the red-tailed swallow. Because of the dire environmental consequences of its extinction, it is vital that this species be preserved—and it is possible to do so with a reasonable amount of effort and resources. Indeed, the best way to encourage the inhabitants of the area to let the Ungolu rainforest recover is for northern countries to stop purchasing the products obtained from logging practices and to subsidize the local initiatives discussed in this paper, otherwise the local population will not be motivated to make a significant change. Without quick and decisive action, rainforest tracts will be eliminated, and the inhabitants of the area will be even worse off than before the introduction of logging.

The implications and call to action discussed in this conclusion coherently link back to the introduction and body sections of the essay.

Gathering Quality Evidence for an Essay

In addition to a logical structure, an essay’s effectiveness largely hinges on the quality of its evidentiary support. Evidence that is inaccurate, untrustworthy, irrelevant, insufficient, dated, or flawed in some other way is unlikely to convince a reader to adopt a writer’s perspective and may actually inspire the opposite effect. On the other hand, sound evidence can contribute to the persuasiveness of an essay and demonstrate a writer’s research ability. While the “Writing Topic Proposals” chapter of this textbook supplies tips for evaluating the quality of sources and the evidence they provide, the multipage handout in Figure 5 (adapted from McKeever, n.d.a) offers additional points to consider.

Does anything on the handout surprise you? Why or why not?

Figure 5. A guide to evaluating information sources

You might decide to use the checklist items in Figure 5 to evaluate sources of information for your essay. Figure 6 (Webber, 2018, p. 1) presents an alternative tool: a visual scorecard for source evaluation.

Figure 6. A scorecard tool for evaluating source information

The instruments in figures 5 and 6 can help you apply consistent evaluation criteria to potential sources of evidentiary information for an essay.

Incorporating Quality Evidence into an Essay

After locating quality evidentiary support for an essay, you must incorporate it into your text in a logical and ethical way so that readers understand its presence, its origin, and how it relates to your own ideas. Quotation, paraphrase, and summary offer three means by which to integrate evidence into an essay.

Before attempting to quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source, make sure you fully understand the text’s meaning and feel confident about discussing it. If you are unclear about what the source text says, do not try to integrate its information into your essay; such confusion can damage the persuasiveness of a paper since savvy readers may detect the issue. Instead, read the text several times slowly to grasp its meaning or discuss it with your classmates and instructor before attempting to incorporate its information into an essay. Class discussions about confounding texts can oftentimes provide clarification and fruitful avenues for writing projects.

Using Quotations

When writers quote , they use the exact words from source texts, enclose those words in quotation marks, and cite and reference the sources to document the origin of information. Quotations can provide telling evidence in a paper if they are used sparingly and strategically. Conversely, their overuse can affect the flow of a piece of writing and give readers the impression that the writer cannot formulate his or her own thoughts about a text. Table 1 explains when to use and avoid quotations.

Table 1. Reasons to use and avoid quotations when writing

If you decide to use quotations in an essay, take care to integrate them cohesively.

Quotations cannot on their own provide compelling evidentiary support for an essay; a writer must consequently explain their presence and relevance to readers. In other words, a writer must contextualize a quotation so readers understand its use. The quotation sandwich offers a helpful method for working quotations into papers in a cohesive way. Using this technique, a writer introduces a quotation, provides the quotation, and comments on the quotation’s relationship to the paper. Figure 7, adapted from McKeever (n.d.b), demonstrates use of the quotation sandwich approach.

Figure 7. A quotation sandwich can contextualize source information for readers

The sandwiching method in shown in Figure 7 can also be used with paraphrases, summaries, visuals, and lists to interweave those elements into a document so it flows together effectively.

Using a quotation from the first page of Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities —“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”—textbook writers Last and Neveu (2019, pp. 236-237) explain that the seamless integration, signal phrase, and colon methods can also be used to integrate quotations into a text in a cohesive manner. The following list, adapted from Last and Neveu, explains and exemplifies these methods.

Seamless Integration: Embed the quotation or parts of it into your sentence so that if you read the text aloud, listeners cannot distinguish the quotation from the rest of the sentence.

Example: Charles Dickens begins his 1859 novel with the paradoxical observation that the eighteenth century was both “the best of times” and “the worst of times” (p. 1).

Signal Phrase: Use a signal phrase (author + reporting verb) to introduce the quotation, clearly indicating that the quotation originates from a specific source.

Example: Describing the eighteenth century in his 1859 novel, Charles Dickens observes, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (p. 1). → Notice that a comma follows observes since the verb signals the beginning of a quotation.

Colon: Use a colon to introduce a quotation when your own introductory words constitute an independent clause (i.e., a complete sentence); the colon emphasizes the quotation.

Example: In his 1859 novel, Charles Dickens defines the eighteenth century as a time of paradox: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” (p. 1).

Any of these techniques can be used in conjunction with a quotation sandwich for maximum cohesive effect.

Although a quotation extracts the exact words from a source, a writer might need to adjust the quoted material to interleave it into his or her own text so the language flows together in a concise, grammatical manner that makes sense to readers. For example, the writer might need to alter the verb tense of the quotation so it matches the tense used in the rest of the sentence or insert a clarifying comment into the quotation to help readers understand its meaning. Both of these situations call for the use of brackets (i.e., [ ]). Ellipses, three periods in a row (…), are used to show that irrelevant words have been omitted from the middle of a quotation; four periods are used when a sentence or more is omitted from the middle of a quotation. Instead of quoting full sentences, writers oftentimes integrate short phrases or parts of sentences into their texts, using ellipses in these circumstances. If a writer omits words from the beginning or ending of a quotation, the ellipses are unnecessary.

Last and Neveu (2019, p. 238) call upon the following text from Petroski (2014) to demonstrate the use of brackets and ellipses in action. The text is a long quotation (40+ words), so it begins on a new line and is indented rather than enclosed in quotation marks. When citing a long quotation such as this, place the citation information (in this case, the page number of the quotation) outside the final mark of punctuation at the end of the quotation. These are standard conventions for incorporating long quotations into a piece of writing. The examples that accompany the text are adapted from Last and Neveu (2019, p. 238).

Engineers are always striving for success, but failure is seldom far from their minds. In the case of Canadian engineers, this focus on potentially catastrophic flaws in a design is rooted in a failure that occurred over a century ago. In 1907 a bridge of enormous proportions collapsed while still under construction in Quebec. Planners expected that when completed, the 1,800-foot main span of the cantilever bridge would set a world record for long-span bridges of all types, many of which had come to be realized at a great price. According to one superstition, a bridge would claim one life for every million dollars spent on it. In fact, by the time the Quebec Bridge would finally be completed, in 1917, almost ninety construction workers would have been killed in the course of building the $25 million structure. (p. 175)

Petroski, H. (2014). To forgive design: Understanding failure . Belknap Press.

Brackets can be used to signal a change to the verb tense in a quotation:

Petroski (2014) recounts the story of a large bridge that was constructed at the beginning of the twentieth century in Quebec, saying that “by the time [it was done], in 1917, almost ninety construction workers [were] killed in the course of building the $25 million structure” (p. 175).

An ellipsis can be used to signal the omission of words from a quotation:

“Planners expected that when completed, the…bridge would set a world record for long-span bridges of all types,” according to Petroski (2014, p. 175).

Brackets can be used to signal a clarifying insertion into a quotation:

“Planners expected that when completed, the…cantilever bridge [built using structures that were anchored at one end and projected horizontally at the other] would set a world record for long-span bridges of all types,” explained Petroski (2014, p. 175).

Brackets and ellipses help authors cohesively incorporate quotations into their own writing.

When source material contains a misspelling or other composition blunder, signal the error’s presence to readers in a quotation by enclosing the italicized word sic (Latin for thus ) in brackets and placing it right after the error. Here is an example of the notation used in a sentence.

According to Jones’ (2019) Best Journal review, the book is “an important contribution to gender studies, suceeding [ sic ] where others have fallen short” (p. 2).

The notation informs the readers that the mistake appeared in the original text.

Lastly, when quoting text that already contains quotation marks, change the internal double quotation marks (“ ”) to the single variety (‘ ’) to help readers distinguish the elements. Here is an example that illustrates this use of punctuation.

In their journal article “Fish Tales: Combatting Fake Science in Popular Media,” authors Thaler and Shiffman (2015, p. 88) classify “‘bad science’ as unsound conclusions drawn from invalid premises; ‘pseudoscience’ as sound conclusions drawn from invalid premises; and ‘fake science’ as unsound conclusions drawn from invalid premises.”

Help readers understand how you have integrated quotations into your own sentences by using the standard conventions discussed herein.

Using Paraphrases

Paraphrasing is another technique that can be used to integrate evidence from sources into an essay. When paraphrasing , a writer articulates a text’s ideas using his or her own words and sentence structures and cites and references the original source. This technique has a number of benefits, as the following list explains.

To compose a paraphrase, a writer must have a strong command of a source. Thus, inclusion of a paraphrase in an essay demonstrates that a writer has engaged actively with the source and can discuss it in an informed way using his or her own words.
A writer can oftentimes incorporate a paraphrase into an essay in a more straightforward way than a quotation by maintaining his or her own writing style.
If a source uses complex technical terms, a writer can translate this wording for a general audience of essay readers by articulating the ideas in a paraphrase.

Paraphrase when a text’s ideas are more important than how a source communicates them. Also bear in mind that paraphrasing and summarizing are the norm in much academic and technical writing, while quotations are used sparingly if at all.

To be certain you are using your own words and sentence structures when paraphrasing, follow these steps.

Read the source text carefully to make sure you understand it.
Decide which short section of text (a sentence or two or a brief paragraph) you intend to paraphrase.
Note down key points about the text on a separate piece of paper using your own words.
Put the source text away so you cannot see it.
Write your own version of what the original text said using your notes.
Leave the paraphrase alone for a while, and then revisit it to see if it can be improved.
Check that the paraphrase expresses the overall idea of the source text in a new form.
Enclose any unique terms borrowed from the original source in quotation marks.
Provide an in-text citation and accompanying reference list entry for the original text.

The example below, adapted from Last and Neveu (2019, p. 239), follows the principles conveyed in the list while paraphrasing the final two sentences of the Petroski (2014) text presented earlier.

At the end of its construction, the large cantilever bridge in Quebec cost $25 million, explains Petroski (2014, p. 175), but the cost in lives far exceeded the prediction of one death for each million dollars spent. While the planners hoped that the bridge would set a global record, its enduring reputation was much grimmer.

An unacceptable paraphrase is one that simply replaces source language with synonyms. To avoid this form of plagiarism, use the steps listed here to express the meaning of a source in your own words.

Using Summaries

Summarizing , when a writer communicates a text’s central idea or theme in his or her own words while excluding details, is another technique that can be used to integrate source evidence into an essay. Although the “Reading Actively” chapter of this textbook contains detailed summary-writing guidance, Figure 8, a handout adapted from the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga (n.d.), lists essential reminders for constructing a summary.

In what instances might you use summaries in essays?

Figure 8. Steps for composing a summary

The following example, adapted from Last and Neveu (2019, p. 239), follows the principles discussed herein when summarizing the Petroski (2014) text.

According to Petroski (2014, p. 175), a large bridge built in Quebec during the early part of the twentieth century claimed the lives of dozens of workers during its construction. The collapse of the bridge early in its construction represented a pivotal design failure for Canadian engineers that shaped the profession.

As the sample illustrates, a summary condenses an extended text down to its essential meaning, providing readers with an overview; a summary also supplies readers with a citation and reference for the source text.

Synthesizing Ideas for an Essay

Although this chapter has discussed quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing as means to integrate source information into essays, before you can use these techniques to their fullest potential, you must think carefully about the points your essay sources make, how they concur or disagree with one another, and how they connect to and extend your own ideas about an essay topic. Collectively, these activities facilitate synthesis , or connecting with sources by responding to their ideas and research in a piece of writing in order to contribute your own unique insights to the area of focus. Many composition scholars liken synthesis to engaging in conversation with sources since it involves establishing how sources relate to one another and to your own thoughts about a subject.

Using Summary to Synthesize

To demonstrate synthesis in action, we will explore a scenario adapted from Excelsior Online Writing Lab (2020f). Imagine you are researching a topic. You will likely encounter a variety of sources about the subject that contain different information and points of view, and you will need to compare and evaluate this information to draw your own conclusions—a process that leads to the synthesis of new ideas. It may help, at this point, to compare synthesizing to analyzing. Whereas analysis breaks something into parts to examine how they work together, synthesis combines ideas to form new ones. Regardless, synthesizing is not the same as summarizing; summary involves concisely stating someone else’s ideas, while synthesis is a critical and creative process in which you compare or combine the ideas you have read to form new ones. Although synthesis can involve summarizing ideas from other texts in order to compare them and draw a conclusion, the result is a new idea.

To continue the scenario, we will read two passages that express different points of view about bike lanes: first, we will summarize the authors’ main ideas, and then we will compare them and draw a conclusion. The author of this first passage is in favor of bike lanes.

Bike lanes are an essential feature of modern, urban life. Indeed, many urban residents have traded their cars for bicycles. Bicycling offers many advantages to driving: bicycles do not get stuck in traffic, run out of gas, break down often (and even when they do, repairs are inexpensive), need insurance, produce pollution, or receive parking tickets. They also offer an excellent way to add exercise to a busy schedule. Many cities across the nation have encouraged bicycling to cut down on traffic, accidents, and pollution and have added bike lanes to downtown areas to provide safe and speedy thruways for bicyclists, producing a net positive result for all parties.

We can summarize this argument by pulling out some keywords: bike lanes, advantages, urban, traffic, accidents, pollution, inexpensive, safe, and exercise. Putting this information together, we can summarize the author’s argument as follows.

Placing bike lanes in urban areas is beneficial because bicycling reduces traffic, accidents, and pollution and offers an inexpensive, safe, and healthy way to travel.

The author of the second passage opposes bike lanes, as this text reveals.

Bike lanes remove valuable space from already crowded inner-city streets. Urban areas already suffer from traffic and pedestrian congestion, and such overcrowding is worsened by the introduction of legions of reckless bicyclists. Many bicyclists also ignore street signs, causing additional accidents with cars and people. Furthermore, parked bicycles clutter congested sidewalks, making many areas impassable. These problems far outweigh the benefits of bicycling. People who do not want to drive can hop on a bus or subway and gain most of the benefits of bicycling without taking up precious space on the roads.

We can use several keywords to summarize this argument: bike lanes, urban, space, crowding, accidents, congested sidewalks, problems, buses, and subways. Combining this information leads to the following summary.

Placing bike lanes in urban areas is problematic because bicycles take up valuable space, create additional crowding, cause accidents, and congest sidewalks. Bike lanes can also be replaced with better alternatives, such as buses and subways.

Having summarized the passages, we can practice synthesizing by combining the two summaries and drawing a conclusion.

In the first passage, the author argues that placing bike lanes in urban areas is beneficial because bicycling reduces traffic, accidents, and pollution and offers an inexpensive, safe, and healthy way to travel.
Synthesis: These opposing viewpoints demonstrate that while bike lanes encourage a healthy, safe, and low-cost way to travel in cities, they also cause problems that need to be addressed through better urban planning.

The synthesis statement fuses the two passages by combining and comparing the two summaries and then drawing a conclusion that raises a new idea about the need for better urban planning to support bicycling.

Using a Matrix Tool to Synthesize

When exploring the connections among various sources for an essay, you might also decide to use a matrix tool to create a visual representation of source relationships. When using this type of tool, a writer groups common themes, arguments, or points raised in sources in tabular fashion to facilitate synthesis. Table 2 is an example of a synthesis matrix.

Table 2. A matrix tool to facilitate synthesis

When using a matrix tool, it is vital to consider your own thoughts regarding groupings in order to encourage synthesis, as the right column of the figure indicates.

Signaling Synthesis in an Essay

When synthesizing ideas in an essay, you can help readers understand how they connect by using sentence structures that signal relationships. Bruce and Gagich (2018, p. 93-94) explain that these sentence structures oftentimes point to a writer’s agreement or disagreement with sources, although you can also use them to discuss patterns of thinking, errors in logic, omission of points, or other matters that add to the research conversation. The textbook authors provide examples of sentence structure templates (adapted below) that can be used to establish synthesis.

Source A asserts…Source B agrees when stating…
According to sources A and B…
The combined conclusions of sources A and B seem to indicate that…
The evidence shows that…
Source A is correct that…However, source B’s point that…is also valid.
Source A makes a convincing case when she argues…
I agree with source A’s conclusion that…
Source A asserts that…, while source B offers a different perspective by…
Sources A and B disagree regarding…
Contrary to what source A has argued, my view is that…
I argue that X is the best option even though source B proposes a different solution.
I would like to offer several objections to the opinions expressed by source A…
While source B makes a strong argument, I would disagree with…because…
Instead of focusing on…as source A does, source B emphasizes…
While most of the experts on X see…as the primary cause of…, only source A acknowledges that there may be other…causes.
When I began researching topic X, I expected to find…To my surprise, neither source A, B, nor C address this reason, which leads me to believe that…
Because source A is an expert in the field of X, most others writing about X accede to A’s authority, but a closer examination of A reveals an important omission about X.

These templates demonstrate how you can weave together source information with your own thoughts to create new ideas about a topic.

Although synthesis is critical to developing an effective essay, you will also regularly call upon the skill when producing other types of writing assignments as well.

Formatting an Essay

As with any other type of document you write, design an essay with the principle of consistency in mind so that readers can concentrate on its content rather than on formatting variations. When producing an essay, use double spacing throughout, one-inch margins, and indentation to signal the beginnings of new paragraphs, unless you are told otherwise. This list, adapted from Lambert (2019, paras. 4-8), indicates other ways to stay consistent with design.

Make sure your font and type size is the same throughout the entire paper. If you opt to use different fonts or type sizes for headings and body text, employ this design decision consistently.
Use the same style bullet points throughout lists in the paper. Remember that numbers and letters indicate rank or sequence, whereas bullets do not.
Design lists in a consistent manner. In general, capitalize the first letter of the first word in a list, and use punctuation at the end of full-sentence list items.
Format all same-level headings the same way, using uniform design choices (bold or italic lettering), standardized positioning (center or left alignment), and a consistent pattern of capitalization.
Apply the design principle of repetition when implementing color. If you decide to employ color in visuals, aim to use the same or a similar color in more than one visual.

Keep in mind that certain formatting conventions (e.g., heading design and placement) are associated with documentation styles. The “Reporting Research Outcomes” chapter of this textbook provides specific guidance on formatting documents using APA (American Psychological Association) style.

Developing an Essay Title

An essay’s title offers insight into the accompanying text’s direction, purpose, and content, so devise a precise title that is particular to the paper you are developing and is clearly written with an envisioned audience in mind. Implementing this piece of advice may mean fully drafting the essay before composing its title.

To elaborate on the previous paragraph while adapting advice provided by the Sweetland Center for Writing, University of Michigan (2020b, paras. 5, 11-16), readers typically find titles like “Essay One,” “Society and its Many Problems,” “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words,” and “Technical Writing Assignment Two” unhelpful. These types of titles are simply too general to provide any needed context. To avoid such titles, think carefully about the essay’s thesis, research, and implications, and identify keywords that succinctly encapsulate these. Imagine, for instance, that you are writing an essay about animal behavior. You have a particular species to study, conduct relevant research, and have conclusions to offer. Here is your first attempt at an essay title: “Monkey Behavior.” This title says nothing about the kind of monkey or its distinctive behavior and does little to attract or inform the reader. Your second attempt is a little better: “The Effects of Sugar on Monkey Behavior.” This title is clearer and somewhat amusing. Regardless, it still does not offer many specifics or include key terms from the paper. Readers can already conjecture that sugar would have some effect on monkey behavior, so the title needs to be markedly more precise. Here is a revised version: “Sugar Stimulates Intensity of Tail-Twitch Social Behavior in Panamanian Monkeys.” This title contains specific terms, includes a clear location, and provides an explicit claim—information the reader can use to immediately identify the paper’s focus.

Developing Essay Headings

Create specific and informative headings for essay sections since headings signal a paper’s organization and scope and help readers follow the text’s development. So, rather than using the vague Body as a heading, divide the body section of the paper into segments organized by the main points covered in paragraphs, which should all relate back to the paper’s thesis statement, and give the sections explanatory headings. By reading an essay’s explanatory headings, the reader should be able to discern the general progression of the piece and what the essay sections cover.

Revising an Essay

Like any quality piece of extended writing, an essay requires time and effort to prepare, and revision is a key step in the composition process. Revision is most effectively completed in stages: a writer begins the process by looking for big-picture issues that might affect an essay’s coherent construction, then considers mid-level issues that can impact paragraph development, and finishes by checking for sentence-level errors that can influence reader understanding. The following list provides guiding questions that can be used during each stage of revision.

Do you have a clear thesis? Do you know what idea or perspective you want the audience to understand upon reading your essay?
Is your essay well organized?
Is each paragraph a building block in your essay: does it explain or support your thesis?
Does the essay need a different shape? Do parts need to be moved?
Do you fully explain and illustrate the main ideas of your paper?
Does your introduction grab the reader’s interest?
Does your conclusion leave the reader with an understanding of your point of view?
What is your paper’s strength? What is its weakness?
Does each paragraph contain solid and specific information, vivid description, or examples that illustrate the point you are making?
Can you add other facts, quotations, paraphrases, examples, or descriptions to more clearly illustrate or provide evidence for the points you are making?
Can you delete any sentences, words, descriptions, or information because they may confuse or tire the reader?
Are your paragraphs in the right order?
Does each paragraph explore one main idea?
Do you use clear transitions so the reader can follow your thinking?
Do any of your paragraphs contain redundancies that can be deleted?
Have you been consistent in your use of tense?
Do your pronouns agree with their antecedents (referents)?
Have you accurately and effectively used punctuation?
Do you rely on strong verbs and nouns to enhance descriptions and build clear sentences?
Are your words as accurate as possible?
Do you define any technical or unusual terms that readers may not know?
Can you delete any extra words from your sentences?
Have you avoided clichés and slang?
Do you vary your sentence structures?
Have you accurately presented facts?
If you are writing an academic essay, have you tried to be objective in your evidence and tone?
If you are writing a personal essay, have you used a lively narrative voice?
Have you spellchecked your paper?
Have you ethically incorporated source material by effectively quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing it?
Have you consistently cited and referenced source information using a standard documentation style?

Although a draft paper represents an important milestone in a writing project, a draft typically needs considerable revision and refinement before it is ready for submission. Figure 9, an essay extract reproduced courtesy of Excelsior Online Writing Lab (2020d, “Rough Draft Example”), illustrates this point.

Figure 9. The revising process at work in an essay extract

Think of revising as a recursive activity, meaning that you may proceed through the previously listed revision stages multiple times during an essay’s development.

In addition to revising a paper in stages using the prompt questions listed, you may also have the opportunity to revise an essay based on peer feedback. Peer review sessions offer valuable chances to find out what others think of your writing and what suggestions they can contribute to help you during revision; the sessions also give you the chance to supply constructive feedback on your classmates’ writing—a vital skill you will need in the workplace. When supplying constructive criticism, identify what needs to be changed in a paper, why it needs to be changed, and how it can be changed. Alternatively, highlight what works well in a paper, why this is the case, and how the positive aspect affects you, the reader. Figure 10, a multipage handout produced by the Writing and Communication Centre, University of Waterloo (n.d.b), offers further peer review advice and a feedback template that can be used during peer review sessions to help ensure they are maximally productive.

Have you ever participated in a peer revision session before? What did you think of it? What do you think of the peer review advice presented in the handout?

Peer Review Theory and Practice

Peer review is one of a number of revision and proofreading strategies available to you. While there are many ways to structure peer review sessions, at its core, this technique involves soliciting feedback on one or more aspects of your writing from classmates or colleagues.

Peer Review: Purpose and Scope

interact, models, concrete advice, and think and learn

While peer review has the obvious benefit of getting feedback on your writing, it also has benefits for the person doing the reviewing:

We become better writers by being diligent peer reviewers
We learn good writing habits by writing often and by reading the writing of others
Giving feedback requires us to think carefully – not only about what we think about someone’s writing, but also about how writing is constructed and why we are making specific suggestions.

It is up to individual peer review groups to determine what aspects of writing a given session (or series of sessions) will look at. Broadly speaking, the following aspects of writing are the ones that you could potentially focus on:

Content : arguments, analysis, logic, evidence
Structure : organization, transitions, connections
Style : tone, word choice, formality
Mechanics : punctuation, sentence structure, spelling

General Tip :Avoid the urge to focus initially or primarily on mechanics. The revision and proofreading process will be more effective when you focus on higher-order concerns (content and structure) first and lower-order concerns (style and mechanics) second. See our handouts on revision and proofreading for more strategies that you can use.

Done correctly, the peer review process is a social, productive, and engaging way of participating in your discipline’s community of practice. However, though some instructors or supervisors will encourage their students to work together in a peer review process, others may require that projects be completed independently. In order to avoid any issues around academic integrity , make sure to consult with your instructor or supervisor before engaging in peer review.

Peer Review: Spaces

There are lots of spaces available for conducting peer review, including the following:

Face-to-Face

Coffee shop
Someone’s home
Google Hangouts
Google Docs

Peer Review: Practice

Steps in peer review.

explain what to look for, exchange, feedback for improvement, and discuss and plan

Write notes for your reviewer on the peer review sheet and exchange papers. If you are not using a peer review sheet, discuss the specific questions or concerns that you’d like your reviewer to pay attention to.
Read actively and critically . Make notes in the margins of the paper or in the track changes feature if using Word. If using a review sheet, make general notes there, too.
Return the paper (and the review sheet, if you used one) to the original writer; discuss the feedback and create an action plan for revision and proofreading.

Sample Peer Review Worksheet

Feel free to adapt the templates of these peer review worksheets to suit your needs Printable version of Peer Review Worksheet (PDF) Fillable Peer Review Marking form (PDF)

Peer Review Marking Sheet

Name of Writer:

Name of Reviewer:

Notes from the writer to the reviewer:

Aspect of Writing Being Reviewed: Content / Structure / Style / Mechanics

Additional comments on writing :

Post-Review Discussion

Action Plan: How will you (the writer) incorporate the suggestions of your reviewer into your edits? What steps will you take during the editing process? Be specific:

Figure 10. Peer review guidance and a feedback template

Notice that the final procedure on the handout asks you to specify how you will use peer comments to revise your paper, a crucial step when working with feedback.

Drawing the Chapter to a Close

Take the advice in this chapter into account when preparing an essay to persuasively communicate with readers.

Activity A: Producing a Reverse Outline and Answering Questions about an Essay

This chapter discusses revising in stages and peer reviewing as means to facilitate the revision process. A reverse outline offers another technique that can be used to revise an essay, as the following handout, adapted from Student Academic Success Services, Queen’s University (2018c), describes.

Reverse Outline

Practice using the reverse outline technique with the sample proposal essay provided on upcoming pages (Hanna, 2020, as cited in Excelsior Online Writing Lab, 2020e, “Sample Essay”). The essay argues for streamlining the recycling infrastructure on a college campus to encourage recycling.

Sample Essay

After reading the proposal essay, also answer the following questions about it. Be prepared to share your answers in class.

In what way does the author create a narrowly defined focus for the essay?
Does the author provide sufficient coverage of her topic in the paper? How?
Identify the introduction, body, and conclusion sections of the essay. Are they logically structured and easy to follow? What makes them so?
A proposal aims to persuade readers. What does the author do to try to persuade you in her essay?
What do you think about the evidence the writer uses? For instance, is it accurate, trustworthy, relevant, sufficient, and timely?
How does the writer incorporate source evidence into the essay? Could her technique be improved in any way? If so, how?
Where do you detect synthesis in the essay?
What do you think of the essay’s formatting? Could it be improved in some way?
Do you think the writer has put sufficient effort into revision? What makes you think so?
Imagine you are giving constructive criticism to the author during a peer review session. Identify one thing that needs to be changed in the paper, why it needs to be changed, and how it can be changed. In addition, name one thing that works well in the paper, why this is the case, and how the positive aspect affects you, the reader.

Activity B: Reading and Answering Questions about an Essay Focused on Source Credibility

Read Warrington et al.’s (2020) essay entitled “Assessing Source Credibility for Crafting a Well-Informed Argument” located at https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/books/writingspaces3/warrington.pdf . To reflect on the essay and its relevance to your own academic work, answer the five questions starting on page 202 of the text. Be prepared to talk about your answers in class.

Activity C: Applying the Ideas Discussed in the Essay to a Text

Working with a group of classmates, apply the credibility questions Warrington et al. discuss in their essay to the journal article “Fish Tales: Combatting Fake Science in Popular Media” (Thaler & Shiffman, 2015), which is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569115000903 . Afterwards, share your group’s determination about the article’s credibility with the whole class during a brief informal presentation. This activity is adapted from Warrington et al. (2020, p. 203).

Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service, University of Ottawa. (2016a). Body . License: CC-BY 4.0 . https://sass.uottawa.ca/sites/sass.uottawa.ca/files/awhc-body.pdf

Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service, University of Ottawa. (2016b). Conclusion . License: CC-BY 4.0 . https://sass.uottawa.ca/sites/sass.uottawa.ca/files/awhc-conclusion.pdf

Academic Writing Help Centre, Student Academic Success Service, University of Ottawa. (2016c). Introduction . License: CC-BY 4.0 . https://sass.uottawa.ca/sites/sass.uottawa.ca/files/awhc-introduction.pdf

Bruce, Y., & Gagich, M. (2018). Synthesizing in your writing . In M. Gagich, E. Zickel, A. Lloyd, C. Morgan, J. Lanning, R. Mustafa, S.M. Lacy, W. Breeze, & Y. Bruce , In practice: A guide to rhetoric, genre, and success in first-year writing (pp. 93-94). MSL Academic Endeavors. License: CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0. https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/

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Excelsior Online Writing Lab. (2020e). Sample proposal assignment . License: CC-BY 4.0 . https://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/argumentative-purposes/argumentative-purposes-sample-proposal-argument/

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How to Write a Technical Essay

How to Write a Dissertation Summary

Unlike a personal or an expository essay, technical essays are intended to educate and inform about a technical topic. They tend to have a more regimented format than other types of essays. They naturally include an introduction, a body and a conclusion, but they also include elements that make them more like research documentation, including references and an abstract. Thus, writing one requires a sense of organization and credibility.

Essay Purpose

The technical essay is intended to explore a technical or scientific subject, to explain how to carry out a particular technical task, or to argue for a particular method of doing something. Essays could involve subjects in mathematics, computer science, physics or any other topic that could benefit from a written explanation of the processes required to complete a task or the reasons a researcher chose a particular method.

Essay Format

In general, these types of essays follow a similar format as research or other academic papers. If you're writing the technical essay for a specific journal or a college course, check whether there are any specific requirements for formatting your essay. You may be required to use a specific font in a specific size, for example, or justify the paragraphs to the left-hand side of the page without paragraph indentations. In addition, you may have specific requirements for how to format the section titles and reference materials or works cited. Research papers often employ the American Psychological Association, or APA, citation style. In an academic setting, not getting these elements perfect could cause you to lose points; in a business setting, poor formatting could make you look like an amateur.

Essay Structure

A technical essay typically presents a question, details the methods explored to answer the question, and then presents a conclusion. Like with academic research papers, start off with a compelling title that describes the question you seek to answer or the methods you're going to describe, then begin with a section titled "Abstract" that details your question or method, your process of inquiry and your conclusion, all in a brief paragraph of a few sentences. Following that, create headings such as "Introduction" -- sometimes also called a "Thesis" -- and then "Methodology" and "Conclusion." Create this structure first, and then make a few notes about what you plan to include in each section. Creating this structure first can help you start to organize your thoughts and make the task of filling in the details less overwhelming.

Filling in the Sections

In the "Introduction" section, describe why you decided to explore this particular topic and why it might matter to the readers; the Writing Center at Harvard University also suggests to provide the background historical context that precipitated your inquiry. Follow this up with a description of what you're going to explore in the subsequent paragraphs, then dive into the details of your exploration in the "Methodology" section. If you carried out several experiments or explored several questions in your research, you might need to break this section down further and create subheads that describe your practices. Throughout the section, stick to tight, declarative sentences that describe the methodology as clearly and simply as possible. If you're explaining a complicated process, use bullet points to visually break up each step and make it easier for the reader to digest. In the "Conclusion" section, briefly review your question and methodology again, and describe what result you've come to through this process. At the very end, include your references.

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Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

Technical Writing and Its Types Essay

Introduction.

As a form of technical communication, Technical Writing is applied in such spheres as computer software and hardware, and other technical fields, including engineering and machinery. Technical writers, either professionals or amateurs indulge in technical writing by shaping an understanding of the purpose of the technical document they plan to create. They should be professionals in the above-identified areas to gather information and present proper technical writing. Due to its orientation on the audience and sources, Technical Writing should be concise, clear, and complete because it helps the reader to grasp a full idea of the document.

The emergence of Technical Writing dates back to the World War during which the need for technical documentation appeared in such fields as electronics, manufacturing, military, and aerospace industry. Later in 1953, the technical communication practice has been developed into the discipline by two organizations – the Association of Technical Writers and Editors and the Society of Technical Writers. In 1957, these organizations were united and created the Society of Technical Writers and Editors, which further became the predecessor of the modern Society for Technical Communication.

The core feature of Technical Writing is audience analysis through communication served to render specific information to the target audience for specific purposes. There are procedural technical writing and persuasive technical writing. The former translates technical instructions and concepts whereas the latter is aimed at selling products and altering behaviors. Technical writers apply a presentational approach while delivering technical documents because of the context and purposes of Technical Writing.

Most technical documents include headings, short paragraph structure, and plain and laconic style of details exposition. Technical writing is based on a top-down strategy which implies the representation of the main ideas at the beginning and further elaboration on this idea. It is also important to note that technical documents often have specific types of representation. Therefore, Technical Writing expands opportunities for readers to learn more information.

Technical writers use various types of electronic communication equipment for accomplishing their work. According to 2010 statistics, the Median salary of technical writers equals about $ 63,000 annually and about $ 30 per hour. There exist about 50,000 types of jobs for technical writers with experience from 1 to 5 years. In order to become a technical writer, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

In terms of writing style, level of knowledge exchange, and audience, Technical Writing can be split into three types. The first one involves end-user assistance in which data product allows a user to grasp the way hardware and software products should be used. Traditional technical documentation is another type of Technical Writing that aims to communicate to a particular audience. This category includes such documents as engineering specifications, reference works, research papers, technical journals, annual reports, and repair manuals.

Marketing communication is a type of technical writing which involves the description of products and services in the form of a catalog, advertisements, brochures, press releases, and home pages of web sites. Technical Writing is often represented as online help for users who need to receive accurate instruction for handling a specific device.

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IvyPanda. (2021, March 31). Technical Writing and Its Types. https://ivypanda.com/essays/technical-writing-and-its-types/

"Technical Writing and Its Types." IvyPanda , 31 Mar. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/technical-writing-and-its-types/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Technical Writing and Its Types'. 31 March.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Technical Writing and Its Types." March 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/technical-writing-and-its-types/.

1. IvyPanda . "Technical Writing and Its Types." March 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/technical-writing-and-its-types/.

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IvyPanda . "Technical Writing and Its Types." March 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/technical-writing-and-its-types/.

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Artificial Intelligence AI in Technical Writing – Examples and Reusable Prompts

1) Generate User Manuals using AI:
2) Prepare Instruction Manuals using AI:
3) Write Procedural Guides using AI:
4) Prepare Technical Reports using AI:
5) Create Business Proposals using AI:
6) Generate White Papers using AI:
7) Draft Policy Documents using AI:
8) Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using AI:
9) Write Troubleshooting Guides using AI:
10) Complete API Documentation using AI:
11) Generate Scientific Papers using AI:
12) Write Proposal for Research Funding using AI:
13) Prepare Feasibility Studies using AI:
14) Write Marketing Copy for Technical Products using AI:
15) Generate Training Manuals using AI:
16) AI for Technical Content Drafting and Editing:
17) AI Automated Documentation Generation:
18) Multilingual Translation:
19) Error Detection and Correction:
20) Regulation-Proof Technical Docs
21) Code Snippets, Minus the Confusion
22) The Future of Technical Writing is AI

Will AI replace technical writers? What is the future of AI in technical writing?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an 8% expected increase in technical writers’s demand from 2023 till 2032. This growth is faster than the average for all occupations, highlighting a positive outlook for technical writing careers [1].

While AI will not replace Technical writers, AI writing assistants are an important weapon in any technical writer’s arsenal. From content drafting to reviews, translation and more, AI tools for technical writing can assist with a number of use cases.

Let’s take a look at AI Technical writing use cases in daily life:

Generate User Manuals using AI:

User manuals are comprehensive documents designed to guide end-users in understanding and using a particular product or system. They provide step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting tips, and essential information for a smooth user experience.

AI Technical Writing Prompt:

Create a [user manual] for [a new smart home device], guiding users through setup, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

Prepare Instruction Manuals using AI:

Instruction manuals focus on guiding users through specific tasks or processes, offering clear and detailed step-by-step instructions. These manuals often include visual aids, such as diagrams or illustrations, to enhance comprehension.

Craft step-by-step instructions for [assembling a piece of furniture], including clear visuals and concise explanations for each step.

Write Procedural Guides using AI:

Procedural guides detail the steps involved in performing a specific process or operation. They provide a systematic and organized approach to completing tasks, often in industries such as software development, manufacturing, or operations.

Develop a procedural guide for installing a [widely-used software application], detailing system requirements, download instructions, and configuration steps.

Prepare Technical Reports using AI:

Technical reports present detailed information about a scientific study, research project, or experiment. They follow a structured format, including sections on methodology, results, analysis, and conclusions, catering to a specialized audience in academia or industry.

Write a technical report summarizing the findings of an experiment in a scientific field of your choice, covering methodology, results, and conclusions.

Create Business Proposals using AI:

Business proposals are persuasive documents created to propose a specific project, product, or service to potential clients, investors, or stakeholders. They typically include details on project scope, budget, and anticipated outcomes.

Draft a business proposal for implementing a new project management system in a fictitious company, addressing costs, timelines, and anticipated benefits.

Generate White Papers using AI:

White papers are authoritative documents that explore and explain complex topics, often related to industry trends, technologies, or policy issues. They aim to educate and inform a target audience, providing in-depth analysis and insights.

Create a white paper exploring the potential applications and impact of a cutting-edge technology in a specific industry.

Draft Policy Documents using AI:

Policy documents outline an organization’s rules, guidelines, and principles. They communicate expectations and standards to employees, ensuring a consistent approach to various aspects such as conduct, operations, or data privacy.

Formulate a policy document for a company’s approach to data privacy, outlining guidelines for employees and best practices.

Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) using AI:

SOPs define step-by-step instructions for performing routine tasks or operations within an organization. They serve as a reference for employees to ensure consistency, safety, and compliance with established protocols.

Develop SOPs for the safe operation of a complex piece of machinery in a manufacturing environment.

Write Troubleshooting Guides using AI:

Troubleshooting guides assist users in identifying and resolving issues with a product or system. They provide a structured approach to problem-solving, often including a list of common issues and corresponding solutions.

Craft a troubleshooting guide for a software application, providing solutions for common issues and user-friendly explanations.

Complete API Documentation using AI:

API documentation explains how to use and integrate a software application programming interface (API). It provides developers with information on available endpoints, request methods, parameters, and response formats.

Write comprehensive documentation for a programming interface, guiding developers on integration and usage.

Generate Scientific Papers using AI:

Scientific papers report the methods, results, and findings of scientific research. They adhere to a formal structure, including abstracts, introductions, methodologies, and conclusions, catering to a specialized audience in the scientific community.

Create a scientific paper on a topic of interest within the field of environmental science, adhering to the standard structure of scientific publications.

Write Proposal for Research Funding using AI:

Proposals for research funding seek financial support for specific research projects. They outline the research question, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and budget, aiming to convince funding agencies or sponsors.

Develop a compelling proposal seeking funding for a research project in a field of science or technology that intrigues you.

Prepare Feasibility Studies using AI:

Feasibility studies assess the practicality and viability of a proposed project or initiative. They analyze factors such as costs, benefits, potential risks, and environmental impact to determine whether the project is feasible.

Conduct a feasibility study for implementing a renewable energy project, exploring costs, challenges, and environmental considerations.

Write Marketing Copy for Technical Products using AI:

Marketing copy for technical products aims to promote and sell a product by highlighting its features, specifications, and benefits. It often uses persuasive language to attract and engage the target audience.

Write engaging marketing copy for a new technical product, focusing on highlighting its features, specifications, and benefits.

Generate Training Manuals using AI:

Training manuals provide structured information for training purposes. They guide instructors or trainers in delivering consistent and effective training sessions, covering topics such as processes, procedures, or skill development.

AI Technical Writing Prompt:

Create a training manual for customer support representatives, covering essential communication skills, troubleshooting techniques, and company policies.

AI for Technical Content Drafting and Editing:

Crafting the initial draft can be time-consuming and challenging. AI tools, however, provide a head start by generating coherent drafts. Personally, when tasked with outlining complex software features, AI-generated drafts helped me focus on refining technical details rather than wrestling with a blank page.

AI tools can quickly draft and edit technical content, allowing writers to focus on refining ideas rather than spending excessive time on initial drafts.

“Generate an introductory paragraph on the importance of cybersecurity in modern business.”

AI Automated Documentation Generation:

Extracting details from intricate source code can be intricate. AI’s ability to automate this process is a game-changer. In my experience, automating the generation of API documentation not only sped up the process but also ensured accuracy, reducing the likelihood of manual errors.

AI tools can automate the generation of documentation by extracting relevant information from source code, significantly reducing the time and effort required for technical writers.

“Create a user guide for a software application with emphasis on troubleshooting.”

Multilingual Translation:

Translating technical content without losing accuracy is a significant challenge. AI-powered translation tools, however, excel at preserving technical nuances. While translating a user manual for a global audience, AI ensured that the technical details remained intact across multiple languages.

AI assists in translating technical content accurately across languages, ensuring that the meaning and nuances of the information are preserved.

“Translate a technical manual from English to Spanish while preserving technical accuracy.”

Error Detection and Correction:

Spotting and rectifying grammar errors can be time-consuming. AI tools proficiently handle this, enhancing the overall quality of writing. During the creation of a software release note, AI not only expedited the process but also ensured the document was polished and error-free.

AI tools assist in detecting and rectifying grammatical errors, enhancing the overall quality and professionalism of technical writing.

“Identify and correct grammatical errors in a software release note.”

Regulation-Proof Technical Docs

Tech world is full of rules and processes and it can be quite time consuming to follow strict tech writing compliance rules.

AI checks your docs against the rulebook, making sure you’re not breaking any compliance codes.

“Give this [technical report] a once-over for [compliance] – keep it on the straight and narrow.”

Code Snippets, Minus the Confusion

Incorporating code snippets in a programming tutorial without overwhelming beginners is a challenge for technical writers.

AI reviews and simplifies the code snippets, making sure they are beginner-friendly while still conveying essential programming concepts.

“Make these [code snippets] newbie-friendly without sacrificing accuracy.”

The Future of Technical Writing is AI

In a nutshell, the future of technical writing is AI-driven. Artificial Intelligence is set to revolutionize how technical information is created and delivered, automating tasks, improving content quality, and making technical communication more efficient and user-focused. Expect personalized documentation, real-time updates, and a shift towards more accessible and accurate technical content.

References:

[1] Technical Writers – Bureau of Labor Statistics USA

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348 Interesting Proposal Essay Topics and Ideas for 2024

A proposal argument is an essay in which you describe a specific issue that needs fixing. It focuses on problem solutions.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Are you interested in writing high-quality proposal essays? Or maybe you’re wondering what can make your writing truly outstanding? Here you will find answers to these questions as well as 348 brilliant proposal essay topics collected by Custom-writing.org .

🔝 Top 10 Topics

📝 What Is a Proposal Essay?

🌐 Environment Topics
👔 Business Topics
🎓 Education Topicsn
🏥 Healthcare Topics
💸 Economics Topics
🎭 Culture Topics
🖊️ Other Topics
💡 Writing Guide & Example
✏️ Frequent Questions

🔝 Top 10 Proposal Essay Topics

How to deal with job burnouts.
The ways to deal with exam stress.
Better methods of tree harvesting.
Embracing cycling for the environment.
Deforestation: raising awareness.
Use of gamification in online education.
Do positive affirmations improve one’s health?
Community involvement for crime prevention.
Grading system to encourage student development.
Public transport use for air pollution prevention.

A proposal argument is an essay focused on an issue that needs fixing. In it, you propose solutions as a response to a problem.

The picture shows the definition of a proposal essay.

Before writing a proposal, it’s important to know that it’s a type of argumentation. Argumentation is the process of persuading the reader via reasoning and evidence. This means that your proposal essay’s aim is to influence the audience’s beliefs and actions. If you perform argumentation correctly, you can convince even the most skeptical readers.

Before you start writing, you need a topic to work with. If your instructor didn’t assign you one, you would need to do some research and brainstorming.

Want to save yourself some time? Then check the proposal essay topics list below.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

🌐 Project Proposal Ideas: Environment

The environment is degrading as globalization’s negative impact becomes increasingly apparent. That’s why it’s a good idea to propose a solution to this issue. For instance, you can focus on innovations that can help stop global warming.

How can an individual change their routine in an environment-friendly way? Environmental consciousness is a crucial part of living in the modern era. People can adjust their lifestyle to bring more benefits to the world. List environmentally conscious practices that anyone can do.
Who are the most significant contributors to climate change ? A variety of factors lead to global warming . Some of them are minuscule, while others are much bigger. Knowing them will help us prevent irreversible damage to the biology of our planet.
Which parts of the world will be most affected by the melting ice? Melting ice sheets are one of the consequences of climate change . The rising of sea levels leads to the additional release of CO2 into the air. Analyze these phenomena and become more aware of the issues.
How can people emotionally cope with the irreversibility of climate change? The nature of climate change is difficult to reconcile with emotionally. Some may feel despair or dissatisfaction with human development. Write about techniques to understand one’s place within the world.
Technological advancement: gateway to pollution or a solution to a problem? Technology is developing with the advancement of civilization. It’s facilitated by the need to solve problems that arise with the progress. Is further progress able to mend the mistakes of the past? Or will it serve to exacerbate existing issues even further? Answer this question in your essay.
How do pet owners contribute to pollution, and what are environmentally friendly options for them?
What energy sources can help reduce global warming?
How can we battle famine and food waste excess at the same time?
Ways to manage water resources in India during the summer.
What is the most efficient energy type people can use?
An action plan of how to wisely use coal resources.
How can we protect woods in Australia from fires?
What is energy conservation , and what are its benefits?
The most effective solutions to land degradation.
Implementing renewable energy technology in developing countries.
Floating cleaning devices as a way to battle ocean pollution .
Ways to measure air pollution in remote areas.
Forest conservation as a method to preserve biodiversity.
How can we reduce the damage that dams cause the environment?
How can we stop desertification?
Casual veganism as a way to manage food resources with a growing population.
How should we educate students about environmentally-friendly behavior?
Investigate the powers of new energy sources. How could they help us?
What are the most effective ways to prevent deforestation?
Biodegradable materials as a substitute for plastic.
What is the best solution to the problem of plastic bags ?
How can countries promote bicycle use for short journeys?
How can governments tackle the problem of electronic waste? Contrast export to developing countries vs. recycling.
Using electricity from wind to reduce global warming.
Evaporative coolers as green alternatives to air conditioners.
What are the benefits of zero-waste living, and what solutions can communities implement straight away?

👔 Proposal Argument Essay Topics: Business

Business is a relevant topic that offers an array of essay ideas. From improving business performance to developing effective marketing strategies, you can easily craft a proposal paper that may be useful for your future career.

The effects of lockdowns on consumer buying power. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that extreme circumstances are dangerous to the economy. It also offers insights into how to avoid making the same mistakes. Analyze them with this proposal topic idea in business.
Personal qualities of a leader. Leadership is a challenging function to perform. A good leader is careful and daring, stern and understanding. To define a leader, take into account their personal qualities.
A healthy work environment as a gateway to business success. While many other factors are essential to consider, cultivating a healthy environment is especially beneficial to a developing business.
Customer satisfaction and communication styles: which approaches are the most beneficial? The way a business approaches communication greatly influences its brand image. Some strategies to speaking with clients are tested and true. Others are less valued in the corporate setting.
Business and crime: the portrayal of corporate crime in the media. Companies often fall into the limelight for negative reasons. Some of these are related to executives’ individual actions. Or, it can be the decisions made on the corporate level.
How can small businesses recover quickly after an economic crisis?
Preferring local farmers to the international grocery chains to support the development of small businesses.
What are the methods to eliminate the erosion of trust in business?
When bankruptcy is coming, what are the ways out with minimum damage?
Paid internships as a solution for youth unemployment.
What are the benefits of keeping private emails available at the workplace?
Overtime payments as a way to prevent qualified teachers from leaving.
How should parents educate their children in finances?
How can we reduce the underemployment rates?
What should a customer do if they notice that a salesperson is lying?
Ways to prevent misunderstanding with customer rights.
Healthy snacks, corporate weekends, and gym memberships as ways to support employee motivation.
What is the best way to create an ethical policy in a company?
Discuss the benefits of advanced training instead of firing in cases of low performance.
Volunteering at college as a way to boost the graduate’s CV.
How should companies adjust their policies to attract talented students ?
What is corporate responsibility , and how can it be improved?
Innovative ideas on creating more jobs with the help of social media.
How can we make opening a business be more accessible for students?
Suggest how small businesses can survive national riots.
Outsourcing as a solution for backup business activities.
What transformations does corporate culture need for more effective mergers?
Training programs for effective assimilation of new employees.
The use of performance feedback for retention of valuable employees.
What e-commerce strategies can be used to attract new customers?

🎓 Project Proposal Title Ideas in Education

Issues in education are always high on the agenda. Many topics need closer inspection, from supporting teachers to improving students’ educational outcomes. Check out these school-related suggestions for your proposal.

Punishment as motivation: effectiveness and consequences. Fear of repercussions is capable of influencing human actions. It’s often discussed in relation to rules. Consider how the prospect of punishment affects people’s incentive to learn.
How effective is the process of learning among older adults? The pace at which people learn information can differ. Discussing how education among older people differs from younger people is an excellent proposal paper idea. Use it to further the discussion and bring about understanding.
Education systems throughout the years: how the way we educate children has changed. Education is a field where changes are inevitable. We continuously discover more and more about the world. Meanwhile, we develop new ways to impart knowledge to others. What changes are more effective than others? You can focus the research on your school or college.
Historical revisionism in education. A lot of what people know about history relies on accounts of the past. We process them through our current understanding of those times. In most cases, history is relayed somewhat accurately. Still, there are instances of intentional misinformation.
Education in a non-classroom environment. Classrooms are a long-standing staple of the education sphere. They serve as the formal space where students learn and practice their skills. However, they’re not the most efficient environment for some situations. What approaches may be more suitable for different activities?
Best ways to let educational shows have more airtime on TV.
How can you improve the effectiveness of language courses?
The benefits of implementing more foreign languages into the school curriculum.
Effective ways for teachers to prevent bullying in schools.
The best solutions for boosting reading comprehension in preschool.
Why is sex education essential, and how do you convince schools to include it?
Letting students learn from mistakes instead of failing them.
The most fruitful ways for parents to get children interested in science .
What methods can teachers use instead of grading ?
Psychological support for students coming from teachers.
What psychological techniques can teachers use to motivate students?
How can students prevent procrastination?
Educating students about their health as a mandatory practice.
How can students make the most of the time they spend on physical activity at school?
Simple ways to talk on taboo topics with kids.
Best ways to enjoy and benefit from a subject you don’t like.
What are the advantages of separating classes according to gender?
Ways to limit smartphone usage at schools.
Should practical classes and debates substitute lectures ?
Self-esteem boosting practices for students and teachers.
Programs encouraging students to do sports more frequently.
Exercises improving students’ reading comprehension .
How can you adapt standardized tests to the needs of ESL students and students with learning disabilities?
What classroom activities can improve students’ motivation and involvement?
Social support for young teachers in rural areas.

🏥 Proposal Essay Ideas: Healthcare

An essay on healthcare can go in various directions. One way is to explore patient-physician relationships. Alternatively, you could look at the system as a whole. Below you’ll find plenty of proposal topics to choose from.

The use of music in therapy and recovery programs. It’s undeniable that music has a profound psychological influence on individuals. The use of music can open new possibilities for faster recovery. It can also make medical procedures more pleasant.
Communication with patients as a treatment method. Communication plays a vital role in the medical field. Doctors are the main assistants and confidants for their patients. They can not only assist in overseeing treatment but also participate in healthy interactions.
Mobility devices with increased accessibility and maneuver potential. Wheelchairs are a large part of many individuals’ lives. Still, the progress of designing other types of mobility devices is slow. How can we accelerate it?
The stigma around wheelchair use among disabled people. The use of wheelchairs is generally accepted and understood. Yet, this trend is not fully translated to all of the population. Decreasing the stigma around the practice is a great medical topic for a proposal essay.

The picture enumerates the main components of healthcare.

Private and public healthcare: pricing and accessibility. Healthcare is an issue that concerns everyone. Some may have the necessary resources to take care of their needs. Others are not as fortunate. In your essay, propose the most effective strategy to address the lack of readily available healthcare.
How can we decrease the rate of in-hospital deaths among minorities?
Organ donation: raising awareness.
Physical education: how can we ensure positive sports experiences?
The healthcare in minority groups: medical treatment and the LGBTQ.
Does the patient’s privacy always need to be a priority?
Income-related payments for previously uninsured citizens.
Training programs for improvement of physician-patient relationships .
Should pharmaceutical companies share their findings at pre-competitive stages to reduce research and development expenditures?
A program for attracting more men in the nursing profession .
Improving the integrity of interdisciplinary teams.

💸 Proposal Topics in Economics

The world revolves around money. It concerns individuals as well as big corporations. Due to this, economics is the perfect subject for proposal essays.

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The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. The world economy has seen an unprecedented decline in 2020. Describe the factors leading to the crisis.
Impact of globalization on the economic development of various countries. The economy is affected by a variety of factors, including the globalization efforts of the world. Explore them in your paper.
Economic development and the emotional wellbeing of people. Economic growth affects people’s ability to seek and receive the assistance they need.
Mental health statistics and their effects of the economy on the mental stability of the nation. Mental health and the economy are two fields that may not be seen as connected but have an underlying significance to each other.
The economic development of the country and the attitude towards minorities. Economic growth can be a signifier for many variables within a society. It includes its ability to understand and welcome people different from the perceived norm.
Economic stability and the minimum income of a family.
How the economy affects the way people make their purchasing decisions .
Is economic development affected by the economy of other countries?
The economy impacts the lives of every citizen in the country: is it true or false?
Accumulation of wealth and monopolies are harmful to the economy.
The scarcity of economic resources with regards to poverty , income gaps, and the distribution of wealth.
The economics of death and disease: how industries impose unnecessary regulations to increase revenue.
Agree or disagree with the following statement: there should be a limit placed on private property ownership.
Has the 2008 economic collapse ended? What has been the impact of this crisis on the modern economy?

🎭 Proposal Argument Topics: Culture

Everyone expresses their culture differently. That’s why cross-cultural communication can be tricky. Do you want to explore how people with diverse backgrounds interact? This section is for you.

What can communities do to facilitate integration for immigrants? The process is vital for every person moving to a different country. However, some individuals are often better integrated than others. Language barriers and cultural differences are significant obstacles on the path to integration.
How can recruiters avoid an ageist bias when considering candidates? On the job market, ageism is a common occurrence. Hirers, especially in the IT sector, routinely deny interview requests from people above a certain age. Discuss this issue in your essay.
How can one avoid falling for problematic nationalist promises? Nationalism is on the rise in many countries. Some leaders use populist rhetoric to fixate the population on their nation’s glory. What can be done about it?
What is the best way to eliminate the gaming industry’s misogyny? Sexist clichés and anti-feminist sentiment are prevalent in this industry. In your essay, analyze this problem and propose a solution.
How can one determine if culture is used to justify ignorant behavior? Cultural practices can encompass many things. Some of them might seem strange to an outsider, while others are outright hurtful.
On what basis should states grant minority rights?
Is positive discrimination a worthwhile practice?
Think about how to make cross-cultural communication more efficient.
What obstacles do couples with diverse backgrounds often face?
Examine ways of to modernizing old-fashioned cultural values .
The definition of cultural awareness: when does it become relevant?
Simple ways to end the debate on stereotyping and cultural profiling.
Racism and reverse racism in college campuses: how students deal with the ongoing discussion on race in light of recent cultural developments.
The impact of extreme patriotism on the reputation of Americans in the international arena.
Excellent questions to ask a foreigner to step away from cultural stereotyping .
The long process of cultural accommodation: what to do and what to avoid when entering a foreign culture.
Explain how the debate concerning racial profiling should be managed. In doing so, concentrate on the role of so-called “social justice warriors.”

🖊️ Proposal Topics List: Other Ideas

Proposal essay topics: social life and social issues.

Our society is facing many challenges nowadays. Poverty, racism, and stress are some of the most prominent social issues. What can we do to improve our co-existence? You can answer this question in an essay with one of the following engaging prompts:

Social workers and incentive to care. Social workers fulfill an irreplaceable role in society. Still, their work is rarely discussed. The struggles of social workers themselves are also often overlooked. You can dedicate your project to this issue.
Crime rates and wealth distribution: a disparity fueled by desperation. Crime rates in low income areas are more prevalent than in wealthier places. The difference, however, is born out of the underlying conditions perpetuated by wealth inequality. Society can address them in specific ways. Explore them in your policy proposal essay. The topic allows various interpretations.
Discrimination in the workplace and sensitivity training. This issue can be an interesting proposal essay topic. For example, businesses can combat disrespectful behavior via promoting relevant training among employees. Persuade the readers that it’s an effective way to tackle the problem.
Harassment on social media and mass reporting. With the widespread usage of social media, thousands of people become famous for their presence on the internet. This trend is also accompanied by online harassment. In your essay, propose warranting methods of combating its spread.
Environmentally-friendly ways to use modern technology . The questions on the sustainability of new technology are becoming more and more vital. Discuss how people can enjoy technology while making a positive contribution to the environment.
Cleaning marathons as a way to engage citizens in keeping their neighborhood tidy.
Safe driving educational materials as a preventive measure.
Is there a way to make students more socially responsible ?
How can a person help orphans without spending money?
Best ways to promote subcultures and manage their activities.
What are the sexism -related issues at school? How can we solve them?
Social programs for educating the general public about disabled people’s problems and needs.
Installing book exchange boxes around the city to promote reading.
Support groups for teenagers suffering from depression.
Think of the most effective ways to help your friend if you suspect they are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Banning social media : can it be a solution to reduce suicides?
What can you do to be less susceptible to advertisements ?
Choosing the right idols for teenagers to encourage positive lifestyle changes.
Ways to support single-parent families in times of need.
What should you do if you realize your friends are toxic?
Ways to show how social media controls people’s lives and how to change it.
How can you prevent daily information overload?
Practical solutions for skyrocketing cybercrime rates.
How can people preserve national identity in times of globalization?
Reasons to implement more restrictions on legalized substances.
Script for an educational film for enhancing population awareness of the hazards of excessive television viewing.
Hate-crime laws as a response to increased violence against minorities.
Propagating healthy eating habits to reduce obesity levels.
Can cyber-bullying alerts decrease online harassment?
Healthy alternatives to free beer parties to prevent the dangers of unrestrained drinking.

Proposal Argument Topics: Technology

Technological advancements have drastically changed how people live and communicate. That’s why these essay ideas are related to exploring the impact of progress in modern societies. Be creative: think about the role technology plays in your life and provide real-life examples.

Technology accessibility for the disabled . For some, new technology is less accessible than for others. This category includes people with disabilities and impairments. Use this proposal argument topic to suggest a plan of action.
Technology to make public spaces more accessible. The inclusion of disabled people and those who require further assistance is on the increase. How can technology make public spaces more accessible to people with impairments and disabilities?
Technological advancements in study environments . With the use of technology, we can achieve more effective functionality in different fields. For example, by introducing technology to the educational sphere, we can improve its quality.
Technology in the house : balancing privacy with functionality. Many homes are now using smart technology. It makes the question of confidentiality more prevalent. The issue of balancing personal space and the use of new technology is quickly gaining traction.
Safety and security online: ways of controlling the online experience. Today, millions of people are using social media. Each of them has to manage the amount of private data they post online. Understanding what is safe to publish on the internet is a good proposal topic to explore.
How can one keep up with the increasing speed of technological development ?
Digital detox as a preventive measure for depression and apathy.
What is the optimal way to implement more technologies into the educational process ?
Child control applications for looking after children’s safety on the internet.
What are the financial benefits of switching to wireless technologies ?
Effective ways to resolve the issue of online identity theft .
Would implementing modern technologies in libraries encourage people to visit them more often?
Online safety and personal data protection .
Cyberbullying at schools: what are the most effective strategies to fight it?
How can virtual reality help children with learning disabilities?
How to preserve your imagination while using modern technology .
Limiting the age of modern technology users for the sake of healthy child development.
Implementing censorship in the media to stop the collapse of moral values.
Does technology help college students in their performance? If so, how can they use it to boost their grades?
Banning children from watching TV : is it the best solution for the development of inappropriate behavior patterns?
How can one make the best out of technology in medicine for inheritance disease testing?
Research current issues with mechanical reproduction and find the most appropriate ethical solutions.
Technology and the food industry : using GMO to stop world hunger.
How can technology solve some of the environmental issues?
Recommendations on how to use modern technologies and preserve mental health .
Machines have replaced people in many fields. Has this trend brought more benefits than disadvantages?
Computers and smartphones make younger generations less sociable: is this statement true?
How has technology changed the way modern businesses work?
Develop a paper with solutions and recommendations for overcoming the gap between the rich and the poor that has been caused by technology.
What problems do parents face when preventing their children from accessing the internet unsupervised?

Proposal Argument Topics: Law and Justice

Do you wish to make the world a more just place? Start with a proposal essay on law and justice . These topics will help you choose the right direction.

Justice system and the lack of fresh talent: a need for change? Similar to other fields, the justice system needs to work within the boundaries of the current age. However, it isn’t easy to accomplish. Currently, high-ranking positions are occupied primarily by older people. Discuss the need to give way to new perspectives and promote young talent.
Juvenile justice system : what is the best course of action for children? Juvenile justice is a complicated issue. Many people don’t know how to approach it. Right now, there’s a need to guide and reprimand youth for their illegal behavior. What other solutions can be effective?
Rehabilitation of convicts: education as a betterment tool. It’s generally believed that criminals should be punished for their wrongdoings. However, it may be impractical to rely on punishment as a way of correcting unruly behavior. Use this essay idea to propose a more effective solution to the problem. For example, think of rehabilitation that helps convicts acquire new skills.
Legalization of drugs and its possible benefits. The effects of using psychoactive drugs are well-known among the public. Most people find the risk not worth the benefits of addictive substances. In your paper, consider the decriminalization of some drugs as a way of combating drug use.
Simple interpretations of the law as a tool a raising awareness. Law is a difficult subject to approach for an unprepared person. The issues presented by the justice system require knowledge that’s difficult to acquire for the general population. Adapting law into simpler terms may be useful in increasing awareness.
Elimination of a judicial bias from the trial process .
Social justice as an aspect of the legal sphere.
Increasing the influence of law through societal encouragement.
Law as a source of societal order and control.
Punitive justice: is it an ethical way to prevent crime?
Solutions for overcoming prison overcrowding and prison violence.
Discuss some of the most controversial issues that persist in courtrooms: false confessions, mistreatment of evidence, and witness framing.
The duty of care for senior citizens: who should be held accountable for the mistreatment of residents and wrongful deaths in nursing homes?
“He said—she said”: is “innocent until proven guilty” still valid when it comes to sexual assault allegations?
Arguments for and against police funding to increase neighborhood safety.
Types of civil litigation cases everyone should know.
Business and law: how to manage sexual harassment lawsuits in the workplace.
How to mitigate the negative impact of police violence on the reputation of law enforcement agencies.

Proposal Writing Ideas: Literature

If you enjoy reading, why not write about it? A paper is a perfect opportunity to show off your literary knowledge. Best of all, you can use these interesting proposal essay topics to practice for the ISC.

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What are the central vices portrayed in Nabokov’s Lolita ? Vladimir Nabokov’s novel deals with the subjects many people of today may find controversial. The novel’s main focus is on the main character’s sexually deviant relationship with a young girl. You can explore other characters’ vices as well.
Is An American Tragedy a deconstruction of the American dream ? Explore the novel’s main themes and plotlines in your essay. Consider looking at the nature of the upper class society and superficial human relationships.
How The Yellow Wallpaper portrays emotional abuse in families. The Yellow Wallpaper is one of the foundational books to feminist literature in America. Its focus is on the inner struggles of a woman stuck with her thoughts for far too long. It covers a multitude of topics, including misogyny and emotional mistreatment.
Literary trends that permeate modern literature . The number of books written in years and years of human development is incredibly vast. The conditions of the society during every epoch have an overarching influence on literature. Compare modern literature to other periods and say what makes it special.
Objectification of women in literature. Writing compelling female characters is difficult, especially considering the discrepancies between men and women in societies. Across history, men were often unable to write about women understandably and respectfully. It’s further reflected in how people perceive female literary characters.
Satire of propaganda in literature.
The occult in fiction is a gateway to mysticism: is this statement true?
Discuss the effect of classic literature on international outlook among counties.
Does literature always signify the author’s personality?
“Death of the author”: uses of the term and its consequences on interpretation.
The most prominent symbols and motifs in The Great Gatsby and their influence on storytelling.
Use of satirical dialogue in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
How Shakespeare’s “To be, or not to be?” became one of the most iconic questions.
Meaningful lessons that readers can take from Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five .
Contemporary writers who have influenced literary trends.
Discuss programs targeted at encouraging children and teenagers to read classic literature.

Creative Proposal Writing Ideas

Essays, short stories, and novels all come with their challenges. In your paper, you can find the best way to overcome them. If you need brilliant proposal ideas for your English class, this section is for you.

Writing as a way to alleviate stress. Writing is a hobby for many enthusiasts. The creative process demands a lot of emotional effort from a person. Yet, it also gives them the ability to work through their worry in an artistic format.
Chances for success in writing. Writing is an intriguing career . Depending on the type of content a person produces, their chances of succeeding in the literary industry vary greatly. Describe these and other factors in an essay.
The importance of setting and background in writing. Characters and their actions are the most important parts of creating a story. However, smaller details are crucial for the reader’s engagement.
Immersive writing: keeping the audience invested. Immersion dictates how much the audience will care about the events of the story. By establishing a setting, the author can retain audience investment. Explore how one can achieve it.
Importance of negative emotions in response to written media. Writing is something people can do for entertainment. In many cases, eliciting positive emotions is the desired goal behind writing a story. But, that is not always the case. Negative emotions can create engagement and interest in the audience just as well. Present the reasons why it happens.
How can we retain the context in translations ?
Discuss writing as an exercise in imagination .
What are the possible pitfalls of pursuing writing as a career?
Burnout is a consequence of long-standing authors’ success.
Writing minorities: what’s the best approach?
How to structure a research proposal : from the abstract to the list of references.
Writing a 1000-word summary of a book : what to include and what to avoid.
Recommendations on becoming a citation style expert (MLA edition.)
Practical guidelines for writing an astonishing discursive paper.
The quickest method to write a 5-paragraph reflective essay.
Specifics of technical writing : how to differentiate between specialized and non-specialized text.
Coming up with memorable titles for articles and research papers: how to capture the audience’s attention.
The easiest way to develop a draft for any paper.

Proposal Argument Topic Ideas: World History

Much has happened since the dawn of humanity. Human actions have left their marks all around the globe. Check out these essay ideas if you want to dive into past times .

Why was the Cold War one of the tensest periods in world history? The Cold War has signified the continued arms race between the two biggest nations of the world. While tensions were slowly rising, the world has come closest it has ever been to destruction.
World history: effects of misinformation on communication. History is unique to each nation of the world. The approach countries take to recording their history is ultimately unreliable. Discuss why such misinformation is ineffective in bringing people together.
The Iron Curtain and the years of hidden developments. The progress America and Asian countries made during the 20 th century is impressive. Meanwhile, Russia, one of the major nations of the world, was uninvolved in the global trade and has chosen an alternative path for its development. Write about the factors that elevated the Soviet Union to the global stage.
World history as a tool for understanding other cultures . History simultaneously unites and separates people all over the world. In many cases, working together with people of different upbringings may prove difficult. Explore how we can turn to history itself for guidance in such situations.
Cultural separation between the East and the West. People usually divide the world into the East and the West. These culturally and historically different categories encompass several nations. Meanwhile, Europe is unique, as it displays a remarkable variety of cultures and traditions. You can discuss Europe’s place in the world between the East and the West.
Write about the America-centric historical approach and its consequences.
Discuss studying the mistakes of the past as a way to guide the present.
Is the downfall of ancient civilizations a blueprint for understanding the development of modern societies?
Assess the impact of conservative belief on how history is studied.
Explore the effectiveness of non-location-centric approaches to teaching history .
How did strong female leaders such as Jeanne d’Arc impact the development of societies?
An introduction to the Paleolithic Age : the development of societies through fishing, scavenging, and hunting and gathering.
A list of the most significant historical events that shaped modern society .
Speculate on the basis of historical sources: What could have happened after WWII if the axis had won?

Proposal Essay Ideas: Religion

Religion plays an important spiritual role in many people’s lives. It’s also an interesting subject to study. If you want to explore it in your essay, consider any of these topics:

Ways to fix the Catholic Church’s reputation. The Catholic Church is often at the center of scandals. Dedicate your assignment to finding ways to restore its good name.
How can we raise money for church renovations? Churches are often considered architectural wonders. Sadly, many of them are now dilapidated. Discuss the ways to fix this situation.
What can communities do to bring pagan rituals and beliefs back? Plenty of ancient traditions died out with the rise of Christianity . In discussing this topic, think about how the existing practices can be preserved.
Multiple religious belonging: different approaches. Being a member of a specific religion often requires you to renounce other beliefs. Is it possible to simultaneously believe in different creeds?
The virtue of modesty in the modern world. Modesty is a staple for many religions. What’s the best way to follow this virtue?
How can you reconcile religious beliefs with modern science ?
Improving religious education in class 11.
Suggest ideas to raise the popularity of Buddhism in the West.
A life in monastic abstinence as the best way to find true peace.
How can priests make young people interested in sermons?
A short evaluation of current issues prevailing in the Catholic Church : what has changed and what has not?
A factual analysis of the Bible : comparing historical facts with the descriptions of events given in the religious text.
Advantages and disadvantages of religious education and how it influences children’s worldviews.
The best solution for overcoming religious discrimination. A fruitful approach could be to explore the Christianity – Islam opposition .
Different views on the importance of religion, including how it helps people and how it harms them.

Proposal Essay Ideas: Politics and Government

Surely, at some point, you wondered: “Why doesn’t the government just do this?” Now is the time to use this thought creatively! Whether you want to write about animal treatment or expensive engineering projects, these essay topics will inspire you.

Voting as a tool of change: effectiveness and results. Voting is one of our fundamental rights. With its help, people can influence how their government operates. It also allows them to participate in making changes to society. But is it always effective?
Political affiliation as an instrument in understanding personal character. The role politics play in the daily lives of many people is often understated. Explain what a person’s affiliations can tell about their values and character.
Foreign intervention and the right to sovereignty in modern society. Any system of power should have the ability to make its own decisions unaffected by outside influence. It’s essential in the age when many countries are fighting for their personal political goals.
The political power of the masses and the ways of displaying it. Technically, the government holds power in any given society. Yet, it’s true as long as people believe in its legitimacy. The public can take power away from the government if needed. Describe how it can be done.
Refraining from voting as a form of political protest. People have attempted many forms of influencing the government’s deciding power. One of such efforts is the refraining from voting. Debate whether it’s a valid strategy for protest.
Voting in a two-party system : is it worth it?

The picture shows a quote by Blaise Pascal.

Government support for low-income families: a benefit or a vice?
Government support of corporations and individuals during a crisis: difference in approach.
Political alignment and the likelihood of donating to charity .
Government persecution of political opposition: is it an effective way to prevent violence?
Interesting insights into whether governments should make decisions about their citizens’ lifestyles. If so, what limitations are there?
Subjects to discuss with your local government : its role in the economy, social equity, and the well-being of neighborhoods.
Should the government be involved in controlling the interne t and other media outlets for news?
Problems in society that government intervention had caused.
What role should politicians play when providing formal support for underserved and underrepresented communities?

Proposal Essay Ideas in Psychology

Studies in psychology and personal development can profit from both qualitative and quantitative research. Are you looking for interesting prompts in either direction? Check out the following sample topics:

Self-improvement apps. Plenty of phone apps and programs promise you to become your best self. How do you find out which one is right for you?
Discuss ways to use personality test results to your benefit. Personality tests claim that within a few ticks, you know what type of person you are. But how useful are these predictions?
What can governments do to ensure everyone who needs it can get therapy? There are not enough doctors to satisfy the demand for psychotherapy. Waiting lists are endless, and many patients give up even before trying.
Ways of reducing employee burnout . Nowadays, burnout is a common disease among workers. What can employers do to provide a less stressful environment?
What’s the best way to stay stable in tough times? Depression has developed into a global public health issue. Propose a way to avoid it in times of crisis.
What can you do to make getting up in the morning easier?
How do you build resilience?
The best way to document your habits and stick to them.
Management and psychology: effective workplace organization.
How can psychology help to make houses more intuitive to navigate?
How harmful is the advertising industry to the development of a child?
Develop a descriptive essay about the experiences that have shaped your personality and your sense of self-worth. Have you learned more from positive or negative experiences?
What format should training courses and personal development sessions take when working with developmentally disabled individuals?
To what extend do you agree with the statement that people’s genetic heritage predetermines their personalities? Is it true that it’s impossible to alter personality traits?
Discuss the current theories about anxiety and the impact of this disorder on the development of individuals.
Recommendations for managing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .

Proposal Essay Topics: Music and Art

It’s hard to make it in the music or arts businesses. How should successful people use their influence? How can we make arts more accessible for everyone? Keep these two questions in mind when researching for your paper.

Music as a way of alleviating stress. Music has several positive effects on the brain and the body. It’s demonstrated by a variety of tests and research. The use of music is effective in addressing the problems that traditional medicine is unable to solve.
Music instruments in the modern age. Music is an ever-developing and art form that attracts a variety of people. With the availability of new technology, many people start to use unconventional means for creating music. Outline them in your essay.
The spread of music production-oriented software as a gateway to creating more music. With the introduction of the personal computer , software suited for making music has become available to a bigger public. The ability to create without the need for specialized tools allows many more creators to try their hand at making music. What does it mean for the future of the industry?
The place of traditional painting in the digital age. The computer has made digital painting possible while streamlining the process for convenience. With the advent of drawing software, traditional art may be experiencing a decline in its quantity. Can it be detrimental to the art scene in general?
People’s opinions on the value of abstract art. Abstract art is a divisive subject for many people. Some consider it to be a testament to human creativity . Others see it as a farce parading as meaningful creation. Give your opinion on this interesting proposal essay topic.
Art as the means of channeling emotions.
Can commissioned art be considered a work of true creative freedom?
Do paintings reflect the personality of an artist?
Can music effectively control the moods and emotions of people?
Music as a tool of conditioning.
Should the government invest in funding and grants for up-and-coming musicians and artists?
Discuss the benefits of art for societies in juxtaposition to art for individuals.
Which contemporary artists and musicians have had the most impact on you as a person, and why?
Does rap music influence the behavior of modern teenagers? If so, is there a difference between the rap of the 70s and modern rap regarding their messages for society?

Proposal Essay Ideas: Globalization

It seems as if globalization has reached every last corner on Earth. Where should humanity go from here? Decide in your paper.

Globalization as a way to increase income levels in poor countries. Globalization is an inevitable and quick process in the modern generation. It affects the way nations grow and develop. Global growth can foster particular behaviors among different populations, used for personal profit and public benefit.
The effect of globalization on erasing local cultures. Globalization efforts have a variety of positive effects on how countries develop. Still, there can be a multitude of negative consequences. The erasure of local culture, language, and traditions are among the most apparent effects. Discuss how globalization is endangering small communities and the livelihood of individuals.
Globalization and the spread of the English language. English has become the international language of the world through the colonial expansions of the British Empire . The ability to speak in a shared language is undoubtedly a benefit. It’s also important to understand the underlying reasons why the world has accepted English as a lingua franca.
The effect of globalization on CO2 emissions. Climate change is one of the most apparent negative consequences of globalization. CO2 released into the air is harmful to life on Earth. Explore the link between these phenomena in your essay.
Can globalization be stopped? Globalization seems to be an inseparable part of the human experience in the 21st century. Is there a way to stop it and its harmful effects?
Globalization and the rapid development of the Chinese economy.
How globalization affects the rates of growth among 3rd world countries.
The impact of globalization on education levels and progressive outlook among the population.
Is there a correlation between globalization and an increase in LGBTQ acceptance?
Globalization as a tool for creating a unified culture.
Discuss the negative consequences globalization has had on societies .
What’s the role of globalization in agriculture?
Explain the correlation between global wealth and the transfer of knowledge between countries and cultures.
Has globalization affected you personally? If so, what did you do to mitigate the impact of this process?
Based on the example of developing economies, investigate the relationship between globalization and democratization.

💡 How to Write a Proposal Argument Essay

Now, let’s see what you need to take into account before writing a proposal argument paper.

Choose a problem that interests you personally. It can be related to your school, city, or your hobby. Make sure the problem you’ve chosen is concrete and feasible.
Think about the potential readers of your essay. Consider whether they are already aware of the problem you’re describing. If not, make sure you provide enough background information.
Present various kinds of evidence. Naturally, you want your essay to be persuasive. Using credible sources is a must, but you can also add some personal anecdotes. Vivid real-life examples are a great tool in argumentative writing.

Making your essay well-structured is a part of its success. Like any argument, your proposal should consist of three parts:

A claim that proposes some action to solve a problem.
Evidence that illustrates the solution’s effectiveness.
Reasoning that proves that the proposed solution will work.

Here’s what your proposal argument can look like:

Claim: Reducing stress levels helps to improve one’s quality of life.

Evidence: Excessive stress leads to physical and mental health problems.

Reasoning: Managing stress helps to avoid health problems and thus improves one’s quality of life.

Keep this structure in mind while planning your paper and you will surely ace it.

Proposal Argument Essay Outline

Now, let’s take a closer look at each part of a proposal essay.

Follow this outline to write an excellent proposal!

Proposal Essay Examples & Formatting Tips

Now you know how to write proposal arguments and have a topic to work with. In this last part, we want to give you some formatting tips. Depending on your requirements, you can choose either MLA or APA format.

Below you’ll find a free sample of a proposal essay. You can use it as inspiration for your own paper. Pay attention to the way it’s structured:

You are welcome to use these proposal essay suggestions to write A+ papers. Choose a proposal essay topic idea that matches your interests. This way, you can enjoy the essay writing process and later reap the fruits of your hard work. Good luck with your studies, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends!

Learn more on this topic:

Top Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
Best Argumentative Research Paper Topics
97 Inspirational & Motivational Argumentative Essay Topics
Great Persuasive & Argumentative Essay on Divorce
Gun Control Essay: How-to Guide + Argumentative Topics
Free Exemplification Essay Examples

✏️ Proposal Essay FAQ

A proposal essay is a description of a well-defined problem with a solution proposal and supporting arguments. A good proposal essay contains some elements of research and persuasive writing (explain why your solution is the best option.)

The key to writing an outstanding proposal essay for college or your job are persuasive arguments. They should convince your readers that your solution is the best one. Try to make your paper impressive yet modest. Creating an outline might be helpful.

Create an outline for your future thesis first. Start off with ideas to cover in the body part. Make sure to include relevant examples and supporting arguments. Then, add an appropriate introduction.

Any problem that might have a list of possible solutions to choose from can become your topic. Some ideas are “the optimal meeting format,” “the best way to celebrate something,” or even “finance allocation.”

🔍 References

Argument: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Proposal Essay: Kean University
Elements of Reference List Entries: APA
The Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice Debate
The Importance of Self-Worth
How to Prepare a Research Proposal
Most Reliable and Credible Sources for Students
40 Ways to Be Successful in School: Practical Tips for Students
Research Proposal Example
Proposal and Academic Support Center Essay
How to Write a Proposal Essay
Conference Papers Writing
Writing A PhD Proposal
122 Tone Words to Set the Mood in Your Story
Environmental Topics: US Environmental Protection Agency
Responding to Climate Change: NASA
Managing People: Harvard Business Review
Business Topics: University of Michigan-Flint
Education Technology: Vermont Official State Website
Education Research Topics: University of York
Social/Family Issues: Medline Plus
Social and Policy Issues: Gallup
Tech Topics: CES
Technology Innovation Strategy: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hot Topics in Health Care: The University of Arizona
10 Healthcare Technology Trends to Improve Your Well-Being: G2
All Topics: Office of Justice Programs
Legal Topics: New York City Bar Association
Choosing a Literary Topic: Northern Michigan University
Why Do We Write?: University of Nottingham
Topics: History.com
Access to Health Services: Healthy People
Politics Topics: Pew Research Center
Research Themes: Politics and International Relations: University of Southampton
Impact of Globalization on World Culture: Research Gate
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Classification Writing: How to Group Ideas Effectively

Discover the power of classification writing. Learn how to organize and categorize information, enhancing the impact of your content.

Classification writing is a type of writing that organizes information into categories. This can be a helpful way to make sense of complex information and to communicate it effectively to others. It can be used in many fields, including academia, business, and government . In this article, we will explore the basics of classification writing. Whether we’re sorting animals into groups or arranging books by genre, classification gives us a clear way to understand things. We’ll take a closer look at classification writing, learning its basic principles, practical methods, and how it can be used in situations like academic essays and scientific research.

What is Classification Writing?

Classification writing is a form of expository writing that organizes and categorizes information into groups based on common characteristics, traits, or criteria. The primary goal of classification writing is to provide clarity and structure to complex or diverse subjects by sorting them into distinct categories. This allows readers to better understand the relationships between different elements and identify similarities and differences within the groups.

In classification writing, the writer typically presents a clear thesis statement that outlines the basis of the classification and then provides supporting details and examples for each category. The content is organized logically, with each category having its paragraph or section. Transitions are used to guide the reader smoothly from one category to the next. It is commonly used in academic writing, textbooks, research papers, and explanatory essays to provide structure and organization to a wide range of topics.

What Is A Classification Essay?

A classification essay is a form of expository writing that categorizes subjects based on specific criteria, aiming to provide clarity and organization. The essay begins with an introduction presenting the thesis and the categories to be discussed, followed by body paragraphs that elaborate on each category with examples and evidence. The conclusion summarizes the main points and emphasizes the significance of the classification. This type of essay is commonly used in academia to explain complex subjects by grouping them into distinct categories and offering readers a structured and comprehensible understanding of the topic.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a concise and clear statement that appears at the end of the introduction of an essay or research paper. It serves as the main idea or central argument of the writing, guiding the focus and direction of the entire piece. A strong thesis is specific, argumentative, and supportable, giving readers a preview of the paper’s content and inviting them to engage with the author’s perspective. It ensures clarity and coherence, helping to maintain focus and structure throughout the academic work.

Read more here: What is a Thesis Statement and How to Write It?

Classification Essay Introduction

The introduction is the gateway to the essay, providing essential context and setting the tone for the reader. In a classification essay, the introduction is designed to capture the reader’s attention and introduce the broad topic that will be classified. Its primary purpose is to present the thesis statement, which outlines the basis for classification and the specific categories that will be discussed in the subsequent body paragraphs.

Engaging Techniques

To create an effective introduction in classification writing, writers often use various techniques to engage the reader from the outset. These techniques may include starting with a thought-provoking question, sharing an intriguing fact or statistic, presenting a relevant anecdote, or providing a vivid description of the subject matter. The aim is to generate interest and curiosity, encouraging the reader to delve further into the essay.

Significance Of The Thesis Statement

After grabbing the reader’s attention, the introduction should smoothly transition to the central focus of the essay. It clearly states the broad topic to be classified and establishes the context for the classification. The most critical element of the introduction is the thesis statement. This concise and clear statement appears at the end of the introduction and presents the central argument of the classification essay. The thesis statement outlines the specific criteria or basis for grouping items or ideas into categories.

Classification Essay Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are responsible for organizing and presenting the categories or groups that have been classified based on specific criteria. Here’s an explanation of each component of body paragraphs in classification writing:

Topic Sentences

The topic sentence is a critical element of each body paragraph in a classification essay. It acts as a clear and concise preview of the main category or group being discussed in that paragraph. It should directly relate to the thesis statement and the basis of classification established in the introduction. The topic sentence sets the tone and direction for the paragraph, guiding the reader’s understanding of what will be covered and how it contributes to the overall classification.

Supporting Evidence And Details

To justify the inclusion of items or ideas within a specific category, the writer must provide supporting evidence and relevant details. This evidence can take the form of specific examples, characteristics, traits, or any distinguishing features that define the items in the group. The goal is to demonstrate why the items in the category belong together based on the established criteria for classification. The writer should offer sufficient evidence to substantiate the classification and make it convincing to the reader.

Range Of Activities And Subject Matter

Each body paragraph in classification writing should encompass a broad range of activities or subject matter that fits within the assigned category. This variety helps readers understand the diversity of the group being discussed and gain a comprehensive understanding of the classification. Including multiple examples broadens the scope of the category and ensures that the classification is comprehensive and representative.

Basis For Classification

The basis for classification is the underlying principle or concept upon which items or ideas are grouped together. It is crucial to clearly explain the basis for classification in each body paragraph to maintain consistency and logic throughout the essay. The basis can be a specific characteristic, feature, or quality that the items share, allowing them to be categorized together.

Criteria For Classification

Criteria for classification are the specific standards or characteristics used to sort items or ideas into a particular category. These criteria should align with the established basis for classification and provide a clear rationale for grouping the items together. For example, when classifying cars, the criteria might be based on factors such as size, fuel efficiency, or price range. Defining the criteria precisely ensures that the classification remains coherent and well-organized.

Typical Representation Of The Broad Topic

In classification writing, each body paragraph presents a typical or common representation of the broad topic. The examples provided should be representative of the category being discussed, demonstrating the essential characteristics and features shared by the items or ideas within that group. This helps readers grasp the central elements of the category and understand its significance in the overall classification.

Classification Essay Conclusion

In a classification essay, the conclusion is the final part of the paper where the writer provides a summary of the sub-topics discussed in the body paragraphs and reiterates the thesis statement. The conclusion serves to bring closure to the essay by reinforcing the main points and restating the central argument.

Summary Of Subtopics

In the conclusion of a classification essay, the writer should briefly summarize the main categories or subtopics that were presented in the body paragraphs. This summary helps reinforce the organization and structure of the essay, reminding the reader of the different groups and how they contribute to the overall classification. The summary should be concise and to the point, providing a quick overview of what has been discussed.

Reiteration Of Thesis Statement

The conclusion is an appropriate place to restate the thesis statement that was introduced in the essay’s introduction. By reiterating the thesis, the writer reminds the reader of the main argument and the basis for classification. However, it is essential to rephrase the thesis statement rather than simply copying it word-for-word. This reiteration should reflect the main idea and core message of the thesis in a slightly different way to maintain interest and avoid redundancy.

The conclusion should not introduce any new information or present new categories. Instead, it should focus on summarizing the essay’s content and reinforcing the significance of the classification. The goal is to leave the reader with a strong impression of the essay’s central argument and a clear understanding of the categories discussed. A well-crafted conclusion contributes to the overall cohesiveness of the classification essay and leaves the reader with a sense of closure and satisfaction.

Organizational Structure

In classification writing, the organizational structure is how the different categories or groups are presented. In classification writing, the organizational structure is crucial for effectively categorizing and grouping items or ideas based on specific criteria. A well-organized classification essay allows readers to understand the relationships between different categories and easily follow the writer’s logic. There are two main types of organizational structure in classification writing:

Hierarchical

In a hierarchical organizational structure, the categories are arranged in a tree-like hierarchy. This means that each category has one or more subcategories, and each subcategory has one or more sub-subcategories, and so on. This type of organizational structure is often used for topics that have a natural hierarchy, such as plants, animals, or governments.

Functional Structure

The functional structure is one of the most common types of organizational structures. It groups employees based on their specialized functions and skills. In this arrangement, departments are created for each specific function, such as marketing, finance, human resources, operations, and so on. Each department is headed by a functional manager who oversees the activities and employees within that department.

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What is ChatGPT? Here's everything you need to know about ChatGPT, the chatbot everyone's still talking about

ChatGPT is getting a futuristic human update.
ChatGPT has drawn users at a feverish pace and spurred Big Tech to release other AI chatbots.
Here's how ChatGPT works — and what's coming next.

OpenAI's blockbuster chatbot ChatGPT is getting a new update.

On Monday, OpenAI unveiled GPT-4o for ChatGPT, a new version of the bot that can hold conversations with users in a very human tone. The new version of the chatbot will also have vision abilities.

The futuristic reveal quickly prompted jokes about parallels to the movie "Her," with some calling the chatbot's new voice " cringe ."

The move is a big step for the future of AI-powered virtual assistants, which tech companies have been racing to develop.

Since its release in 2022, hundreds of millions of people have experimented with the tool, which is already changing how the internet looks and feels to users.

Users have flocked to ChatGPT to improve their personal lives and boost productivity . Some workers have used the AI chatbot to develop code , write real estate listings , and create lesson plans, while others have made teaching the best ways to use ChatGPT a career all to itself.

ChatGPT offers dozens of plug-ins to those who subscribe to ChatGPT Plus subscription. An Expedia one can help you book a trip, while an OpenTable one will get nab you a dinner reservation. And last month, OpenAI launched Code Interpreter, a version of ChatGPT that can code and analyze data .

While the personal tone of conversations with an AI bot like ChatGPT can evoke the experience of chatting with a human, the technology, which runs on " large language model tools, " doesn't speak with sentience and doesn't "think" the way people do.

That means that even though ChatGPT can explain quantum physics or write a poem on command, a full AI takeover isn't exactly imminent , according to experts.

"There's a saying that an infinite number of monkeys will eventually give you Shakespeare," said Matthew Sag, a law professor at Emory University who studies copyright implications for training and using large language models like ChatGPT.

"There's a large number of monkeys here, giving you things that are impressive — but there is intrinsically a difference between the way that humans produce language, and the way that large language models do it," he said.

Chatbots like ChatGPT are powered by large amounts of data and computing techniques to make predictions to string words together in a meaningful way. They not only tap into a vast amount of vocabulary and information, but also understand words in context. This helps them mimic speech patterns while dispatching an encyclopedic knowledge.

Other tech companies like Google and Meta have developed their own large language model tools, which use programs that take in human prompts and devise sophisticated responses.

Despite the AI's impressive capabilities, some have called out OpenAI's chatbot for spewing misinformation , stealing personal data for training purposes , and even encouraging students to cheat and plagiarize on their assignments.

Some recent efforts to use chatbots for real-world services have proved troubling. In 2023, the mental health company Koko came under fire after its founder wrote about how the company used GPT-3 in an experiment to reply to users.

Koko cofounder Rob Morris hastened to clarify on Twitter that users weren't speaking directly to a chatbot, but that AI was used to "help craft" responses.

Read Insider's coverage on ChatGPT and some of the strange new ways that both people and companies are using chat bots:

The tech world's reception to ChatGPT:

Microsoft is chill with employees using ChatGPT — just don't share 'sensitive data' with it.

Microsoft's investment into ChatGPT's creator may be the smartest $1 billion ever spent

ChatGPT and generative AI look like tech's next boom. They could be the next bubble.

The ChatGPT and generative-AI 'gold rush' has founders flocking to San Francisco's 'Cerebral Valley'

Insider's experiments:

I asked ChatGPT to do my work and write an Insider article for me. It quickly generated an alarmingly convincing article filled with misinformation.

I asked ChatGPT and a human matchmaker to redo my Hinge and Bumble profiles. They helped show me what works.

I asked ChatGPT to reply to my Hinge matches. No one responded.

I used ChatGPT to write a resignation letter. A lawyer said it made one crucial error that could have invalidated the whole thing .

Read ChatGPT's 'insulting' and 'garbage' 'Succession' finale script

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books contains sex scenes, and banned them if it said yes. We put the system to the test and found a bunch of problems.

Developments in detecting ChatGPT:

Teachers rejoice! ChatGPT creators have released a tool to help detect AI-generated writing

A Princeton student built an app which can detect if ChatGPT wrote an essay to combat AI-based plagiarism

Professors want to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments, and are returning to paper exams and requesting editing history to curb AI cheating

ChatGPT in society:

BuzzFeed writers react with a mix of disappointment and excitement at news that AI-generated content is coming to the website

ChatGPT is testing a paid version — here's what that means for free users

A top UK private school is changing its approach to homework amid the rise of ChatGPT, as educators around the world adapt to AI

Princeton computer science professor says don't panic over 'bullshit generator' ChatGPT

DoNotPay's CEO says threat of 'jail for 6 months' means plan to debut AI 'robot lawyer' in courtroom is on ice

It might be possible to fight a traffic ticket with an AI 'robot lawyer' secretly feeding you lines to your AirPods, but it could go off the rails

Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology

What public figures think about ChatGPT and other AI tools:

What Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and 12 other business leaders think about AI tools like ChatGPT

Elon Musk was reportedly 'furious' at ChatGPT's popularity after he left the company behind it, OpenAI, years ago

CEO of ChatGPT maker responds to schools' plagiarism concerns: 'We adapted to calculators and changed what we tested in math class'

A theoretical physicist says AI is just a 'glorified tape recorder' and people's fears about it are overblown

'The most stunning demo I've ever seen in my life': ChatGPT impressed Bill Gates

Ashton Kutcher says your company will probably be 'out of business' if you're 'sleeping' on AI

ChatGPT's impact on jobs:

AI systems like ChatGPT could impact 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, with administrative and legal roles some of the most at risk, Goldman Sachs report says

Jobs are now requiring experience with ChatGPT — and they'll pay as much as $800,000 a year for the skill

How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the workforce:

10 ways artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, from writing performance reviews to making the 4-day workweek possible

Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

How ChatGPT is shaping industries:

ChatGPT is coming for classrooms, hospitals, marketing departments, and everything else as the next great startup boom emerges

Marketing teams are using AI to generate content, boost SEO, and develop branding to help save time and money, study finds

AI is coming for Hollywood. 'It's amazing to see the sophistication of the images,' one of Christopher Nolan's VFX guy says.

AI is going to offer every student a personalized tutor, founder of Khan Academy says

A law firm was fined $5,000 after one of its lawyers used ChatGPT to write a court brief riddled with fake case references

How workers are using ChatGPT to boost productivity:

CheatGPT: The hidden wave of employees using AI on the sly

I used ChatGPT to talk to my boss for a week and she didn't notice. Here are the other ways I use it daily to get work done.

I'm a high school math and science teacher who uses ChatGPT, and it's made my job much easier

Amazon employees are already using ChatGPT for software coding. They also found the AI chatbot can answer tricky AWS customer questions and write cloud training materials.

How 6 workers are using ChatGPT to make their jobs easier

I'm a freelance editor who's embraced working with AI content. Here's how I do it and what I charge.

How people are using ChatGPT to make money:

How ChatGPT and other AI tools are helping workers make more money

Here are 5 ways ChatGPT helps me make money and complete time-consuming tasks for my business

ChatGPT course instruction is the newest side hustle on the market. Meet the teachers making thousands from the lucrative gig.

People are using ChatGPT and other AI bots to work side hustles and earn thousands of dollars — check out these 8 freelancing gigs

A guy tried using ChatGPT to turn $100 into a business making 'as much money as possible.' Here are the first 4 steps the AI chatbot gave him

We used ChatGPT to build a 7-figure newsletter. Here's how it makes our jobs easier.

I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24/7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me make more money.

A worker who uses AI for a $670 monthly side hustle says ChatGPT has 'cut her research time in half'

How companies are navigating ChatGPT:

From Salesforce to Air India, here are the companies that are using ChatGPT

Amazon, Apple, and 12 other major companies that have restricted employees from using ChatGPT

A consultant used ChatGPT to free up time so she could focus on pitching clients. She landed $128,000 worth of new contracts in just 3 months.

Luminary, an AI-generated pop-up restaurant, just opened in Australia. Here's what's on the menu, from bioluminescent calamari to chocolate mousse.

A CEO is spending more than $2,000 a month on ChatGPT Plus accounts for all of his employees, and he says it's saving 'hours' of time

How people are using ChatGPT in their personal lives:

ChatGPT planned a family vacation to Costa Rica. A travel adviser found 3 glaring reasons why AI won't replace experts anytime soon.

A man who hated cardio asked ChatGPT to get him into running. Now, he's hooked — and he's lost 26 pounds.

A computer engineering student is using ChatGPT to overcome learning challenges linked to her dyslexia

How a coder used ChatGPT to find an apartment in Berlin in 2 weeks after struggling for months

Food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT to create a curry recipe. She says it's clear the instructions lacked a human touch — here's how.

Men are using AI to land more dates with better profiles and personalized messages, study finds

Lawsuits against OpenAI:

OpenAI could face a plagiarism lawsuit from The New York Times as tense negotiations threaten to boil over, report says

This is why comedian Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT

2 authors say OpenAI 'ingested' their books to train ChatGPT. Now they're suing, and a 'wave' of similar court cases may follow.

A lawsuit claims OpenAI stole 'massive amounts of personal data,' including medical records and information about children, to train ChatGPT

A radio host is suing OpenAI for defamation, alleging that ChatGPT created a false legal document that accused him of 'defrauding and embezzling funds'

Tips on how to write better ChatGPT prompts:

7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity, make your job easier, and save a ton of time

I'm an AI prompt engineer. Here are 3 ways I use ChatGPT to get the best results.

12 ways to get better at using ChatGPT: Comprehensive prompt guide

Here's 9 ways to turn ChatGPT Plus into your personal data analyst with the new Code Interpreter plug-in

OpenAI's ChatGPT can write impressive code. Here are the prompts you should use for the best results, experts say.

Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, has a global deal to allow OpenAI to train its models on its media brands' reporting.

Watch: What is ChatGPT, and should we be afraid of AI chatbots?

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Our list of technology writing prompts gives writers a chance to understand the impact that technological advances have had on their daily lives. Take a look at our 31 terrific ideas and enjoy! Today's generation of children has grown up with a lot of technology. Often, their nurseries were filled with app-controlled baby monitors, their ...
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Stunning technology developed currently. The most shocking modern technology inventions the majority of people still aren't aware of. Enumerate some technologies that you consider completely destructive and harmful. Explain your choice. Technology and space studies. The impact of technology on people's health and values.
54 Most Interesting Technology Research Topics for 2023
Artificial intelligence technology research topics. We started 2023 with M3GAN's box office success, and now we're fascinated (or horrified) with ChatGPT, voice cloning, and deepfakes. While people have discussed artificial intelligence for ages, recent advances have really pushed this topic to the front of our minds.
8 Great Technical Writing Examples to Inspire You
8 Best Technical Writing Examples. 1. User Manuals. Writing a user manual is a daunting task for a technical writer , as it contains all the instructions a user needs to operate a product or feature. Writing a user manual requires a combination of organizational and technical writing skills, so it is an essential example of technical writing to ...
7 best technical writing examples to improve your skills
The Slack Help Center is an excellent example of technical writing that speaks to the layman. Slack is known for its brilliant UX copywriting. Amruta Ranade, Staff Technical Writer for Airbyte, admires the company's documentation writing style. She says, "Slack's Help Center shows incredible user-awareness.
33 Good Technical Writing Examples (Word & PDF)
Download 30 KB. #33. Even if technical writing skills take high-levels details, you should still explain these concisely and clearly to your audience. As a technical writer, you should come up with documents that are very clear, simple, and succinct. Sometimes, though, the results could just be the opposite.
Technical Writing
This open textbook offers students of technical writing an introduction to the processes and products involved in professional, workplace, and technical writing. The text is broken up into sections reflecting key components of researching, developing, and producing a technical report. Readers will also learn about other professional communication, designing documents, and creating and ...
100 Technology Topics for Research Papers
Relationships and Media. 7. War. 8. Information and Communication Tech. 9. Computer Science and Robotics. Researching technology can involve looking at how it solves problems, creates new problems, and how interaction with technology has changed humankind.
Technical Writing for Beginners
Technical writing is the art of providing detail-oriented instruction to help users understand a specific skill or product. And a technical writer is someone who writes these instructions, otherwise known as technical documentation or tutorials. This could include user manuals, online support articles, or internal docs for coders/API developers ...
16 Technical Writing Prompts for Students » JournalBuddies.com
3. Keep Your Writing "Evergreen". It's typically also important to make sure that technical writing is as timeless as possible. Many technical documents are not updated very frequently—and those that are updated tend to only have small edits made (rather than the entire thing being rewritten).
1: Introduction to Technical Writing
The academic writer's purpose may be to write an essay, a story, a research paper, etc. Such assignments are often designed so that students can "write to learn" and show mastery of information covered in class. ... Technical writing takes complicated ideas and organizes and explains those ideas in easy-to-understand language. The reader ...
Writing Essays
Writing Essays Dawn Atkinson. Overview. The current chapter focuses on essays, pieces of persuasive writing developed around defined topics.This genre's persuasiveness rests in large part on its logical structure, inclusion of quality evidentiary support, and consistent design, as explained herein; hence, essay writing calls for planning, researching, synthesizing, and revising.
How to Write a Technical Essay
A technical essay typically presents a question, details the methods explored to answer the question, and then presents a conclusion. Like with academic research papers, start off with a compelling title that describes the question you seek to answer or the methods you're going to describe, then begin with a section titled "Abstract" that ...
Technical Writing and Its Types
Technical writers use various types of electronic communication equipment for accomplishing their work. According to 2010 statistics, the Median salary of technical writers equals about $ 63,000 annually and about $ 30 per hour. There exist about 50,000 types of jobs for technical writers with experience from 1 to 5 years.
AI in Technical Writing
The Future of Technical Writing is AI. In a nutshell, the future of technical writing is AI-driven. Artificial Intelligence is set to revolutionize how technical information is created and delivered, automating tasks, improving content quality, and making technical communication more efficient and user-focused.
Technical Writing Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
Technical Writing: Answers to Questions Hypoxic (Swimming) -- ABC Format 'Hypoxic' is a technical term used to refer to the historical mode of training where the swimmer is taught how to restrict breathing whilst swimming. It was invented by swimming coach, James Counsilman, of Indiana University and it basically entails reducing the number of times a swimmer comes up to the surface for oxygen ...
English 305
For this assignment you will answer one of the prompts below by including the technical document (s) specified in 800-1200 words. Use concepts you learned from the course as well as three credible ...
348 Interesting Proposal Essay Topics and Ideas for 2024
Creative Proposal Writing Ideas . Essays, short stories, and novels all come with their challenges. In your paper, you can find the best way to overcome them. ... The quickest method to write a 5-paragraph reflective essay. Specifics of technical writing: how to differentiate between specialized and non-specialized text.
Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Mission. The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives.
Classification Writing: How to Group Ideas Effectively
It is commonly used in academic writing, textbooks, research papers, and explanatory essays to provide structure and organization to a wide range of topics. What Is A Classification Essay? A classification essay is a form of expository writing that categorizes subjects based on specific criteria, aiming to provide clarity and organization.
What Is ChatGPT? Everything You Need to Know About the AI Tool
10 ways artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, from writing performance reviews to making the 4-day workweek possible. Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

A Guide to Technical Writing (With Examples)

What Is Technical Writing?

Instructions for Carrying Out a Task

Operating Manuals for Machinery, Appliances, or Systems

Specialized Topics

So How Do I Produce a Great Piece of Technical Writing?

Who Is It For?

What Do They Need?

How Should Technical Writing Be Composed?

Find this useful?

Examples of Technical Writing

Is technical writing difficult?

Are there professional bodies for technical writers?

What can I do if I’m not sure that my technical writing style is appropriate to my subject?

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8 Technical Writing Examples to Inspire You

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Exactly is Technical Writing?

8 Technical Writing Examples to Get You Started

1. User Manuals

2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

3. Case Studies & White Papers

4. API Documentation

5. Press Releases

6. Company Documents

7. Annual Reports

8. Business Plans

Becoming an Expert Technical Writer

Join 5000+ Technical Writers

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20 Most Prominent Technology Essay Topics And Writing Hints

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54 Most Interesting Technology Research Topics for 2023

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Medical technology

What do you do next?

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Related Topics

8 Great Technical Writing Examples to Inspire You

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is Technical Writing?

8 Best Technical Writing Examples

2. API Documentation

3. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

4. Press Releases

5. Business Plans

6. Company Documents

7. Annual Reports

6 Steps to Craft the Best Technical Document in 2022

1. Know Your Audience

2. Do Your Research

3. Craft an Outline

4. Prioritize Readability

5. Add Visuals