Skill of technical writing for academicians are very essential. This presentation will help you to understand to basic concept of Technical Writing.

1. Technical Writings for Academics of Higher
Education Institutes in India
Dr. Tapan Barui,
Assistant Professor
Department of Library & Information Science
University of North Bengal
Email: tapanbarui13@gmail.com

2. Introduction
Disseminating technical information gathered in
course of doing research work is as important as collecting
the information itself. One can disseminate the information
by writing documents on one’s work. Students, researchers,
faculties, engineers and scientist work very hard to achieve
meaningful results and usually make no compromise on
maintaining high work standards. However, when it comes
to documenting the results after finishing the work, most
of them feel hesitation or somewhat lethargic in doing so.
Thus, even a successful researcher; despite of knowing the
importance of preparing such document, hesitate to
present in seminars, conferences or workshops some
times to publish a paper in journals.

3. What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing introduces to some of the most
important aspects of writing in the world of science,
technology, and business – the kind of writing that
scientists, doctors, computer specialists, government
officials, engineers, academics and other people who are
attached with higher education system do as a part of
their regular work.
In the fields of science and technology, technical
writing may be defined as “any writing that is geared
towards technical and scientific audiences”.

4. What is Technical Writing?
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,
and whenever you try to write anything about your field,
you are engaged in technical writing.

5. What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing andTechnical communication
are often used synonymously.
 Technical communication can be written, oral,
or visual.
 Technical writing is composed in and for the
workplace.
 Technical writing is a significant factor in work
experience for a variety of reasons.
 Technical writing serves valuable purposes in
the workplace and often involves teamwork.

6. Technical writing, general academic writing, and creative
writing or fiction
Technical Writing Academic Writing Creative Writing
Purpose
To inform
To persuade, argue To entertain
To instruct
Content
Factual , straight forward
Factual , straight
forward
Imaginative,
metaphoric
Format
Proposal Introduction
Background
Purpose
Methodology
Results
Conclusions
No set
format
Thesis
Reasons
Evidence
No set format
Progress Report
Technical Report
Style
Writing is simple—declarative sentences
Writing may draw
attention to itself
Writing is the important
part
Concise sentences and paragraphs
Longer sentences and
paragraphs
May include long
sentences for effect
Avoid personal
Personal pronouns
Personal may be assumed,
even in academic
arguments
Narrators, etcPersonal judgments
Personal feelings
Formal Formal Formal, figurative
Clear topic sentences
Clear topic sentences,
may vary for
argumentative effect
No clear topic sentences
Specialized vocabulary
Some specialized
vocabulary, depending on
audience
No specialized vocabulary

7. Contents of Technical Writing
A technical paper expounds some new idea. Alternatively/ additionally, it may
present:
1. A new interpretation of known idea.
2. New data based on observation and analysis together with an
interpretation of the data to bring out their significance and value.
3. A view of the subject from a new perspective oriented to another
subject or establishing correlation among ideas in different subjects.
4. A historical or developmental, or evolutionary treatment of the subject.
5. An evaluation of an existing theory, proposition or practice.
6. A substitute for an existing theory proposition or practice.
7. An application of known idea or methodology from another subject for
the development of the subject in question.
8. Known idea in a new setting.

8. Purpose of technical writing
Technical writing is the delivery of
technical information to readers in a
manner that is adapted to their needs,
level of understanding, and background.
Technical writing is intended to
communicate to a specific audience, for
a specific purpose.

9. Characteristics of Effective Technical
Writing
 Clarity
 Conciseness/brevity
 Accuracy
 Organization/ Integrity
 Ethics/Honesty
 Objectivity

10. The Writing Process

11. Writing Is a Process
 Good writing doesn’t happen
overnight; it requires planning,
drafting, rereading, revising, and
editing.
 Learning and improvement
requires self-review, peer-review,
subject-matter expert feedback,
and practice.
 There are no shortcuts; practice
makes perfect!

12. Summary and conclusions
No matter how poor you think your writing skills are, you really can
learn how to improve them. Good technical writing is about using
plain English. This is much easier than the writing style taught to
many of you at school. You do not have to know and use long
words and complicated phrases. You do not have to make your
writing more ‘interesting’ by thinking of different ways to describe
the same thing. In fact, the simpler and shorter you make things, the
more likely you are to produce technical reports that get results. The
crucial points are:
 Plan your project before you begin drafting.
 Understand basic qualities of good technical writing; use the
examples presented to guide you in your writing and revising
process.
 Good writing is a habit that takes time to develop; practice makes
perfect.

13. Sources
 Society forTechnical Communication
 Technical Writing - A Dalton: Organizing
 Online Technical Writing: Information
Infrastructures – Comparison
 OnlineTechnicalWriting