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ScottS

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Self intro to class and instructor
I am currently attending school seeking a major in technical communication with a minor in computer information systems. I have learned a lot about writing in my studies here and I look forward to learning more. I do not feel as if I have totally grasped all the concepts yet.

Major
Technical communication

What do you think you want to do
That is the million dollar question. I like the many avenues technical writing offers and the opportunities to freelance or do contract work. Technical writing is the overall highest paying of the writing jobs. Unfortunately, anyone can claim to be a technical writer and there is not criteria on becoming one. My minor is in computer information systems. I choose this minor because it compliments technical writing and technical writing complements computer information systems, yet both stand on their own as an occupation.

I cannot answering this question in one job title because there are many job titles I would enjoy doing. The best way for me to answer this question is to answer what I would like out of a job. I want a job that uses my brain, that allows me to think. I have a good ability to analyze and problem solve. Something that I feel good about doing and I get some sort of satisfaction from.

Hmmmm. After reading that I don't give any reason why I would like to be a technical writer. I like the process of creating documentation that others will find useful. I find technical writing to be a creative process that requires both creativity and logic. Kind of lets you use both sides of the brain.

I have a year to go and will be free in December. Currently, I am doing everything I know how to build a good portfolio and get some more experience. I want to hit the ground running and eventually end up in a nice goverment job. Private enterprise...I just don't trust them.

Several personal related particular experiences
I wrote a book which started this whole writing campaign. I realized through writing my book that I had a knack for writing in a manner that most people understood and could relate too. I also realized how much more I needed to learn. I also have a lot of knowledge about computers and enjoy working with them. I have written programs and written the manuals for the programs. My focus is to build upon the skills and interests I currently have to make myself more marketable for a job which will provide me with the challenges and satisfaction that I seek.

e reserves Readings Anson and Forborgh

Answers from questions relating to the article titled Moving beyond the academic community: transitional stages in professional writing, by Chris Anson and Lee Forsberg.

3. I would try to find other brochures from the company that addressed the same thing and work off of those. If that was not an option I would ask what for some clarification. Or, I would create a brochure based upon what I felt they wanted submit it and go from there.

4. Writing is more than putting words on paper. My best personal example comes from what I learned in Technical Writing. Writing is not the relationship between myself and the document but instead the relationship between the document and the reader. I have seen this demonstrated in the workplace where a memo is written, usually from a supervisor, and it is so bad that the supervisor looks like an idiot.

Interestingly the text talks about the trouble with the student adapting to the work environment from the academic environment. Yet, I am sure the students had just as hard a time adjusting to college life from high school life. Part of the process in writing is understanding your audience. Academically, we view the audience as the reader, who actually is usually the professor. In the business world our audience consists of two sets of people instead of one, the general readers and our superiors. The material must be suitable for the general audience to understand the message and for the supervisor to feel the document portrays the message they want portrayed. Unfortunately, these two targeted groups will not agree on what the right message is, which will cause frustration for the writer.

After downloading and reading the reading answer question three first and then question four. Do not read question four before answering three.