Comments on: Examining the Writing Process in a Technical Environment: Does it Matter? http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/2012/09/23/examining-the-writing-process-in-a-technical-environment-does-it-matter/ ENGL 605, WVU, Fall 2012 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: ewardell http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/2012/09/23/examining-the-writing-process-in-a-technical-environment-does-it-matter/#comment-301 ewardell Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:50:25 +0000 http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/?p=566#comment-301 Christina, I'm not sure I'm establishing quite that stark of a dichotomy where we either acknowledge a process or we acknowledge a product. I mentioned Ian Bogost and Kenneth Goldsmith, both who point to different ways of laying the process bare, meaning there is importance both acknowledging that we act according to different processes and opening up those processes for critique. So in this regard, I'm not sure we can say that PWE and tech writing jobs that emphasize an end product (which is all of them, really, right?) are ignoring or devaluing some mode of critical thinking. These jobs, however, might not find it in their best interests to hire extra staff to examine a cognitive model and look at all the little idiosyncratic things people do or think when creating a piece of writing so long as the product meets the necessary level of audience awareness, is ethical, written correctly, and is on-time. Christina, I’m not sure I’m establishing quite that stark of a dichotomy where we either acknowledge a process or we acknowledge a product. I mentioned Ian Bogost and Kenneth Goldsmith, both who point to different ways of laying the process bare, meaning there is importance both acknowledging that we act according to different processes and opening up those processes for critique. So in this regard, I’m not sure we can say that PWE and tech writing jobs that emphasize an end product (which is all of them, really, right?) are ignoring or devaluing some mode of critical thinking. These jobs, however, might not find it in their best interests to hire extra staff to examine a cognitive model and look at all the little idiosyncratic things people do or think when creating a piece of writing so long as the product meets the necessary level of audience awareness, is ethical, written correctly, and is on-time.

]]> By: cseymour http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/2012/09/23/examining-the-writing-process-in-a-technical-environment-does-it-matter/#comment-298 cseymour Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:14:08 +0000 http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/?p=566#comment-298 Strike that comma in Johndan's name :) Strike that comma in Johndan’s name :)

]]> By: cseymour http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/2012/09/23/examining-the-writing-process-in-a-technical-environment-does-it-matter/#comment-297 cseymour Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:12:50 +0000 http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/?p=566#comment-297 Hi Eric and Ashleigh. I'm starting to consider this idea for my research paper. What is lost when employers privilege product over process? It also seems to me that the best PWE jobs do consider writing a process, when you think about Johnson, Eilola's call for "Symbolic-Analytic" work, which requires deeper critical thinking skills than translation and service jobs. I don't know if writing as a process means merely "self-reflection" or even English 101's take of "personal learning process." I think process means using a few modes of thinking and acting to produce a better product. Process means "not merely operation" to me, whatever that means for the given task. Of course, many jobs will require merely operation, and that's sad, but the best ones, I think, would require reflection upon the process, as “Visualizing Writing Activity as Knowledge Work: Challenges & Opportunities” evidences. Hi Eric and Ashleigh. I’m starting to consider this idea for my research paper. What is lost when employers privilege product over process? It also seems to me that the best PWE jobs do consider writing a process, when you think about Johnson, Eilola’s call for “Symbolic-Analytic” work, which requires deeper critical thinking skills than translation and service jobs.

I don’t know if writing as a process means merely “self-reflection” or even English 101′s take of “personal learning process.” I think process means using a few modes of thinking and acting to produce a better product. Process means “not merely operation” to me, whatever that means for the given task. Of course, many jobs will require merely operation, and that’s sad, but the best ones, I think, would require reflection upon the process, as “Visualizing Writing Activity as Knowledge Work: Challenges & Opportunities” evidences.

]]> By: AshleighP http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/2012/09/23/examining-the-writing-process-in-a-technical-environment-does-it-matter/#comment-292 AshleighP Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:48:48 +0000 http://courses.johnmjones.org/ENGL605/?p=566#comment-292 Eric, I am a big believer in self-reflection (whether in school or on the job), but I can certainly agree that employers probably won't care much about the writing process. Ultimately, they'll be looking at the final product. I like what you said here: "If understanding how one comes to any particular conclusion or how that same person stores or manages files could lead to greater work efficiency or better constructed technical documents, I’m sure employers who depend on technical writers would take notice." Eric, I am a big believer in self-reflection (whether in school or on the job), but I can certainly agree that employers probably won’t care much about the writing process. Ultimately, they’ll be looking at the final product. I like what you said here: “If understanding how one comes to any particular conclusion or how that same person stores or manages files could lead to greater work efficiency or better constructed technical documents, I’m sure employers who depend on technical writers would take notice.”

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