Textbook Analysis: Technical Communication (11th ed.), John M. Lannon
Technical Communication, written by John M. Lannon, redefines technical communicators beyond simply the transfers of information; this textbook approaches technical writers as managers of information who engage in complex social interactions every single day. Lannon explains that interpersonal, ethical, legal, and cultural demands are imposed upon technical communicators, and his textbook aims to prepare students to understand and accommodate for those demands in the workplace. This textbook has a heavy focus on the rhetorical principles that shape technical writing, specifically audience awareness, and forces the specific genres of technical writing (which many textbooks view as central to the role of technical communication) to become secondary to the nuances of the rhetorical situation surrounding the communication.
Writing Process
The writing process is heavily emphasized very early on in this textbook. Part One of the book entitled “Communicating in the Workplace” most directly focuses on the writing process. This part of the textbook consists of four chapters that, according to Lannon, are each essential steps in the writing process of a technical communicator: delivering the essential information, exercising persuasive reasoning, weighing the ethical issues, and exercising good teamwork. In the second chapter on the textbook, Lannon also identifies and explains the main steps in the writing process of technical documents in actual workplace settings.
Aside from the direct references to the writing process in Part One of this textbook, aspects of the writing process like researching, summarizing, organizing, editing, designing visual information, etc are also heavily emphasized throughout the textbook. In fact, the majority of the textbook (aside from the section on specific documents and applications of them) is dedicated to examining the writing process of a technical communicator.
Rhetoric and Persuasion
Interestingly enough, the word “rhetoric” is never mentioned in this textbook (aside from in the author’s preface to the book) even though issues of emotional appeals, the context of the communication, strategies for shaping the argument, etc are addressed in the text. There is, however, plenty of information about the role of persuasion in technical communication and the strategies of technical communicators to be persuasive in their writing. One chapter, called “Being Persuasive,” is specifically dedicated to rhetorical/persuasion issues like identifying your specific communication goal, recognizing the constraints of the situation (legal, organizational, ethical, social, etc), trying to predict audience reaction, offering convincing support for your claims, etc.
Style and Tone
There is one specific chapter of this textbook, “Editing for Readable Style,” that is totally dedicated to explaining the ideal style of technical communicators’ writing and how to achieve that style in technical documents. This chapter covers topics like editing for clarity (use active voice whenever possible, avoid ambiguous modifiers, etc), editing for conciseness (avoid wordy phrases, avoid excessive prepositions, etc), editing for fluency (vary sentence length and construction, etc), finding the exact words, and adjusting your tone (avoid personal bias, avoid sexist usage, address readers directly, etc).
Document Design
This textbook contains one chapters related to document design: one entitled “Designing Visual Information” and the other called “Designing Pages and Documents.” The chapter on document design focuses on why design is important in technical communication, specific design skills needed in today’s workplace, using typography and space effectively, etc.
Document Genres and Types of Writing
One fifth of this textbook is focused on specific genres of technical writing. This part of the textbook addresses memos and electronic correspondence, formal business letters, résumés and cover letters, web pages, technical definition documents, technical description documents, instructions and procedures, proposals, etc. Within the section dedicated to a specific genre of technical writing, Lannon has identified the purpose and goals of the genre, the audience, the elements/conventions of the genre, and which situations require that genre.
Visuals and Oral Communication
There is one chapter in this book dedicated to visual information (“Designing Visual Information”) and one chapter dedicated to oral communication (“Oral Presentations”). The chapter on visual information addresses issues like when to use visuals, why visuals matter, the use of color, cultural considerations in visual information, etc. The chapter on oral presentations includes explanations of advantages and disadvantages of oral communication, planning a presentation, preparing a presentation, delivering a presentation, etc. Aside from the chapter specifically dedicated to oral presentations, this textbook does not focus on other areas of oral communication in the workplace.
Research and Writing Technologies
Lannon has dedicated one fifth of this textbook to the research process. He addresses issues like asking the right research questions, evaluating your sources, exploring electronic and print sources, conducting primary research, summarizing and abstracting information, etc. The research process is also referenced in other sections of the textbook in terms of researching for oral presentations, researching before a job interview, bias in research, writing a research proposal, etc.
There is not a section or chapter of this book dedicated to writing technologies, but Lannon consistently incorporates the role of technology in technical communication throughout this textbook. He explores ideas of electronic sources in research, the production of web-based documents, electronically mediated collaboration, plagiarism and technology, desktop and electronic publishing, etc.
Overall, I think this textbook could be extremely effective in an undergraduate technical communication course. I appreciate that the author sees technical communicators as more the transporters of information, I value his focus on audience awareness, and I find it refreshing that textbook first and foremost explains and illustrates the rhetorical principles surrounding technical communication before showing their application in various documents. I also love that Lannon focuses on application beyond the classroom, has included plenty of information about the place of technology in technical communication, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in technical communication, and makes a point to provide collaborative and service-learning project ideas at the end of each chapter.
Lannon, J. M. (2007). Technical Communication (11th ed.). Longman.