Technical Writing and Communication is becoming more and more important in data presented by engineers. Through the topics of common language, passive voice, visual and written communication, and human-centered design (HCD), I explain how technical writing and communication aid engineers to effectively communicate their data. I cite several academic journals that reinforce my topics.
The first article emphasizes the usage of different writing ‘styles’ for effective communication. It also emphasizes how it is important to come together for that effective communication in a unified language, so it is understood and delivered adequately. The article’s background is about a writing workshop in Ghana called “From Technical Evidence to Public Action: Persuasive Writing in the Field of Nuclear Security” and the workshop's goal is to help the students, scientists, and engineers effectively communicate the information from the Field of Nuclear Security. In the article, Writing, in English, for Publication in Science and Technology, and Policy, Hirst, R. (2019) mentions how, “… with the larger issues of rhe- torical sensibility, tone, argumentative structure, proportion, cohesion, and engagement with international academic conversations in their field… ” (p. 253). This quote from the article offers more writing styles to incorporate when addressing academic information. The article not only offers writing styles but it emphasizes on the importance to have a common language that is understood between everyone before starting the description of information or data. The language used and talked about in the article is English. English is mentioned in the article because that was the common language that everyone understood and could use to communicate effectively. The article mentions this importance of, “It’s vital clearly to communicate with one another, so there’s a huge gain in having a common language.” (p. 254.) The incorporation and emphasis on writing styles and a set common language from this workshop helped the students, scientists, and engineers to collaboratively effectively communicate the information. This is a key link to the importance of Technical Communication in engineering because language and writing styles can help better communicate information.
Engineers' communication style is composed of using a passive voice rather than using an active voice. Passive voice refers to the author presenting information but not making themselves part of that information. Active voice refers to the author becoming part of the information they are presenting. The verb usage in each voice that is used is different. Using passive voice becomes an issue when presenting information because it lacks that sense of human interaction. In the article The Use of Passives and Impersonal Style in Civil Engineering Writing, Conrad, S. (2017) explains, “Most criticisms of the passive voice center on its omitting human agents, as in the example above. Writing with a high frequency of the passive voice has been described as sneaky, boring, and unnatural … and writers who use passives have been accused of trying to convey a false sense of objectivity by not stating the humans behind the work” (p. 41).The article explained the definition of passive voice and how it is seen in the writing engineers have delivered. By shifting the voice in which the information is communicated, engineers can become more involved in the information given to then communicate it better to its intended audience for better understanding.
Visual communication plays a big role in how engineers/engineering students communicate information. Visual communication is translated through graphs, charts, visuals, etc…, while written communication is not emphasized as much but also vital for communication. Written communication is important to incorporate when engineering students/engineers communicate their visual communication. The article Linear Narratives, Arbitrary Relationships, Jeyaraj, J. (2016) explains how, “ ...the section on visual communication offers various instructions for placing visual representations, numbering them, minimizing the use of arrows, creating clear labels, and so forth… the document does not offer a rationale for these rules or discuss the relationship the visual forms gov- erned by these rules have with the written text.” (p. 58). The curriculum for engineering students has this detailed explanation on the components for visual communication but lacks effective explanation of those components and also lacks the emphasis on written text while communicating the information. Engineers have great technical skills but it is vital for them to learn how to use both visual and written communication to not only communicate effective information but to also understand what they are communicating.
Human centered design means to include human values in the work of design and all its components. HCD not only plays an important role in technically skilled professions like engineering but also in Technical Communication. The article Human-Centered Design and the Field of Technical Communication, Zachry, M., & Spyridakis, J. H. (2016) says that, “We believe that HCD is fundamentally about accounting for and reflecting shared human values in the creation of the technologies, artifacts, and systems that humanity shares in the collective pursuit of life.” (p. 394) The quote explains in more detail what HCD means by focusing on human values when creating many different things. Engineers and Technical Communicators are problem solvers in different ways and by focusing on effective HCD their creations and designs will have a better collaboration with their audience at a human level. All of this is important because it helps information and design to be effectively communicated.