Solving Problems in Technical Communication: Situating the Field

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The title of this chapter is very explanatory and communicates the information effectively. It is important for one to really understand the bases and basics of a field before progressing onto the more intricate areas of it.

The four main concepts that this chapter discusses are putting the rhetoric theory into practice to aide in effective communication, it provides an overview into the work tools that enable this field, and reflects on the history of technical communication and where it is headed. 

Putting to practice the skills of a rhetor are essential, as "Rhetoric theory can provide you with approaches to new communication situations and can help you figure out how to act and work strategically." (2013) Therefore, learning how to theorize and troubleshoot are major components that those in the field of technical communication must learn to do as a continous process to maximize their capablities.

As an English Teacher, what captured my attention was the section that reviewed the different types of views that there are on writing, and as I analyzed deeper it all fell into place. Writing is a whole process and cycle that can be a product, it provides someone's perspective, it takes the author doing the actual process of composing it, and is written to or for a targeted audience.

Every profession has its tricks and tools of the trade; Jason Swarts states that"Technical communication is a tool-oriented profession. Technical communicators not only write about tools but also use tools of their own." (2013) Technical communicators employ theirs to succesfully accomplish their goal, objective, and or task.Tools for this field have evolved from the tradtion pen and paper, to more modern tools and formats like technologies, apps, and sites. 

All in all, the history and future of technical communication is best defined in Bernadette Longo's and T. Kenny Fountain's chapter in which it states, "In sum, the history of technical communication is a history of ordering knowledge, of socializing communicators into certain cultures of writing, of creating techical documents that reveal the past and shape the present." (2013) 


Johnson-Eilola, Johndan, and Stuart A. Selber. Solving Problems in Technical Communication.

    The University of Chicago Press, 2013.


Comments

  1. Lindsey KinaneFebruary 9, 2021 at 11:45 AM

    Cristal,

    Not sure if there is a problem with your submission. Thought I would let you know before the week gets ahead of you.

    Best,
    Lindsey Kinane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cristal MontesFebruary 9, 2021 at 6:55 PM

      Hi Lindsey,

      Thank you for letting me know. Since I have multiple blogs and they are synced up with the same user information there seems to be a looping glitch. Hoping this time it is resolved.

      Delete
  2. Lindsey KinaneFebruary 9, 2021 at 7:14 PM

    Cristal,

    Your post is viewable now. Glad you were able to fix it without too much of a problem.

    You mention in your post that a person’s perspective is in play with what is being provided. This is something quite important for people to understand. It is like culture. Culture is something that needs to be taken seriously, so that people who are unaware of what goes on should become aware. Especially now when people cannot stop fighting and disagreeing with each other. It is up to people, like technical communicators and teachers like yourself, to create a safe environment where people do not have to become afraid to discuss their culture, their perspective.

    Great job on your post. I was well understood and enjoyable.

    Best,
    Lindsey Kinane

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brenda KarlFebruary 22, 2021 at 11:01 AM

    Hello,

    I was particulary drawn to the "tricks and tools of the trade" portion of your reflection. The evolution of the writing lends well to the history and the future of technical communication. Learning what tools are necessary and being able to access which ones are best for the message the writer wishes to convey is a large component to understand the breakdown and process of achieving the set goal/task/project.

    Great job. Very clear and to the point.

    Brenda Karl

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownFebruary 24, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    I love your connections you made about perspective. As a English teacher, I think that's exactly what I got out myself. Your final quote you said summarized it all. I kept coming back to that ideas that that is what technical communicators do. We order knowledge and have to assimilate ourselves into the culture of the writing. It seems like anyone that has to put on the hat as technical communicator in their job is in a constant circle of doing those things.

    I think you did really great at pulling out the main meat of the assigned readings! great job!
    -Valerie Saenz

    ReplyDelete

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