"The Composing Processes of an Engineer"
Jack Selzer
Selzer offers a case study of Kenneth Nelson, an engineer doing a lot of technical writing.
He studies his composing process, his research and organization approaches, and his revision strategies.
In this course, we've talked a lot about theories
of writing and composing--even down to how elements like creativity and invention play into our thinking and writing.
How does Selzer's case study of Nelson compare?
Formal Proposal
Is Nelson's "linear approach" to writing a testament to his experience? (How experienced is he at technical writing?)
Assignment posted to MyGateway
His process seems to be successful in the environment he is writing within.
Is Nelson's Approach Flawless?
Prewrite Activities
"Once Nelson has invented and selected his ideas, he rarely adds more to them later. After he has invented and selected the materials relevant to a writing task, he arranges them--and doesn't look back" (p. 320).
due 4/24
"...once Nelson writes a sentence he seldom reconsiders it" (p. 321).
1. Understand Audience and their needs
2. Generate content that serves their needs
3. Do research early
3a. Reference existing materials, if possible
4. Arrange materials, creating outline of document
4a. Be as detailed as possible (for better control)
We'll talk about this on Wednesday in more detail.
Revision
Drafting
1. Have you secretary type up your writing (ha)
2. Revise only sentence level issues
3. Polish.
Nelson's Approach to Research
1. Write with no heavy revision.
2. Short and simple sentences.
3. Short paragraphs.
4. Simple punctuation.
Nelson understands audience
Relies on secondary sources for information (library visits).
Previously written documents--"Past letters, old proposals, and completed reports, especially on what might be included in present documents...Nelson often borrows sentences, paragraphs, sections--even graphics--from past documents and incorporates them into new proposals, reports, and correspondence" (p. 320).
"Nelson analyzes his audience's needs carefully not when he is making stylistic choices later in his writing but when he wants to generate content" (p. 319).
Imitation....Emulation
"By the end of a project, Nelson often knows readers so personally that meeting their needs is not difficult" (p. 320).
Take note:
For Wednesday
- Bb. Howard, "Who 'Owns' Electronic Texts?"
- Digital Rhetoric/What makes a good website?
"...Nelson has a clearly persuasive aim when he writes proposals and recommendations, and an informative goal for this technical memos and progress reports" (p. 319).
Goals are based on the needs of the audience and the documents
being written.
Nelson is aware of his multifaceted roles as a writer.
Composition scholars: "writing is not a linear, but recursive process."
Selzer on Nelson: "...the linear model of composing does seem to describe accurately the writing habits of Kenneth Nelson" (p. 323).
- We will not meet on 4/17
- We'll talk about proposals, sporadically, over the next few weeks
- Need feedback on a draft of your project? Email it to me.
writing
prewite
revision
How do you write?
4.7.13
Do you think you have a process?
Under what conditions do you get the best writing done?
Composing Processes
Proposal Writing
Agenda
- Things to note
- Selzer article
- Formal Proposal Assignment
- What's coming up?