This presentation looks at how a technical writing course can emphasize a research approach and problem solving unlike the academic writing done for most classes. Students learn to do audience analysis, work in collaborative environments and gain familiarity with tools used for writing digital modes. While designing professional documents, such as proposals, they become familiar with the cultural and ethical concerns of a global workplace. The writing tasks are all based on the content of their majors.

1. Technical Writing Across Disciplines
Kenneth Ronkowitz
NJ Institute of Technology
and Montclair State University

2. NJIT.edu Montclair.edu

3. ENG 352
Required in many majors
including engineering,
computer science and
liberal arts, and is a
recommended elective in
management &
architecture.
Generally 12 sections
offered per semester
including hybrid and online
sections.
ENGW 207
Option in the new
Professional and Public
Writing Minor
Elective for many majors
One section offered each
spring

4. ENG 352 - Technical Writing (3 credits)
Prerequisites: English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II
and one from among (Humanities) The Pre-Modern World, The
Modern World and (History) The Twentieth-Century World or
their equivalents, all with a grade of C or better.
An advanced writing course. Combines current theory with
actual practice to prepare students as technical writers. Analyze
complex communication situations and design appropriate
responses through tasks that involve problem solving, rhetorical
theory, document design, oral presentations, writing teams,
audience awareness, ethical considerations, cultural and gender
equity issues.

5. Why a Professional and Public Writing Minor?
 Employer demand for better written communication skills
 ALL professional fields require some form of specialized non-academic
writing, so the minor offers MODES, METHODS and MEDIUMS you are likely
to encounter in the workplace
 how to analyze audience and adapt your writing for different audiences
and purposes
 designed documents
 proposals, reports, presentations, websites, client correspondence
 digital media and writing for the web
 working in collaborative environments online/offline in drafting, editing,
designing, and revising
 familiarity with tools used for writing in a digital environment
(templates, software)
 Considerations of professional, ethical, cultural, and political dynamics
of a global workplace

6. Course of study 18 credit hours
2 Required Courses
Introduction to Professional and
Public Writing and
Survey of Rhetorical Theory
Required Applied Course [Choose 1]
Writing for Clarity and Style
Workplace Writing
Technical Writing
Digital Writing
Elective Courses [Choose 3, or any
applied courses not already used]
Special Topics in Writing
Ethnographies of Writers
Coauthoring and Collaboration
Cooperative Education (English)
Writing Women Safe
Teaching Writing in the Public
Schools
Tutoring Writing
Community Writing
Seminar in Writing
Minor in Public and Professional Writing

8. Fear of
WRITING
Fear of
TECHNICAL

9. * NOTE: NJIT class in hybrid format with 30 students.
MSU in traditional F2F with web-enhancement and 15 students.

10. MODES, METHODS & MEDIUMS
MODES
Reports (feasibility, technical,
comparative analysis etc.)
Proposals
Correspondence
Hypertext (web)
Infographics, storyboard, script
METHODS
Audience analysis,
organization, information
architecture, PROCESS (pre,
research, topic formation)
style guides, revisioning
MEDIUMS : print, journal, magazine, newspaper, Web,
television, radio, film, video -- and the intersections: web video,
podcasts, e-zines, wikis

11. Students Spring 2014
Construction Management 3
Chemical Engineering 4
Civil Engineering 3
Computer Science 5
Industrial Engineering 1
Electrical & Computer Engineering 2
Information Technology 3
Architecture 6
Management 2
29

12. Students Spring 2014
English 9 (in minor 5 ; education 1)
Biology 2
Computer Science 2
Psychology 1
Information Technology 1
15
* + 1 PhD candidate in Environmental Science

13. Technical writing is not
only about technology.
Like educating young students about the 200+ types
of engineering fields (systems, human factors, ocean,
math, biological, genetic, biomedical, vehicle,
aeronautical…), students do not think of technical
writing being used in fields like art, finance, fashion,
architecture, agriculture, language, marketing,
hospitality, law, public relations, design (fashion,
product, web etc.), journalism…

14. Methods cross over
into all modes and
mediums.
For example, audience analysis for:
- a proposal aimed at constituents from finance,
technical and end-users
- a video for a global audience
- an alternate version of a website for teens

15. Technical writing is presented in a
designed format.

16. Aligning
to Standards

17. The Common Core State Standards and Their Implications
for Career and Technical Education
 The writing standards include a strong emphasis on argument
and informative/explanatory writing, along with an emphasis
on writing about or from sources or using evidence to inform
an argument.
 The CCSS include speaking and listening standards that also can
be applied in technical subjects and have particular relevance
for preparing students for the expectations of the workplace.
 The ELA standards also pay attention to the use of media and
technology and to language, with an emphasis on academic
and discipline-specific vocabulary acquisition.
 Unlike the ELA standards for reading and writing, the standards for
speaking and listening, media and technology, and language are not
broken out specifically for science and technical subjects.

18. CCSS
abstracts of articles
lab reports
field guides
revising for other audiences
user guides (visual + text)
poster sessions & infographics
proposals & presentations
interpreting data (data visualization)

19. The standards
http://www.state.nj.us/education/sca/ccss/
1. Are aligned with college
and work expectations
2. Include rigorous content
and application of
knowledge through
high-order skills
3. Are informed by other
top performing
countries, so that all
students are prepared to
succeed in our global
economy and society
4. Are evidence-based
1. Examining college syllabi
that are based on
workplace expectations
2. Students aware of the
skills & their use is clear
& intentional.
3. The global workplace,
world is flat; ethics and
cultural concerns.
4. Using “real world”
examples & models,
including ones collected
by students.

20. Technical writing probably belongs to some
degree in all subjects and classrooms.
It is not the sole responsibility of ELA or English
teachers, but they may be needed as trainers
and resource people for other disciplines.

21. WAC and WID
Writing Across the Curriculum
• writing in classes
outside of composition,
literature, and other
English courses.
– approximately half of
American institutes
of higher learning
have a program
identified as WAC
Writing in the Disciplines
• focus on the genres and
writing procedures that
occur within specific
fields of research
– writing in the
sciences,
engineering,
business, history,
heakth etc.

22. Technical Writing Across Disciplines
Kenneth Ronkowitz
ronkowitz@njit.edu
Presentation at: http://www.slideshare.net/ronko4
Twitter @ronkowitz
Web ronkowitz.com