Textbook Writing and Creativity: The Case of Mendeleev.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, Loren R.

1983-01-01

Historical reconstruction of Dmitrii Mendeleev's part in the creation of the Periodic Table of Elements illustrates how important the process of textbook writing was in this scientific development. A clear difference is seen between logical reconstruction of the discovery process and the insights provided by historical reconstruction of the same…

Reflections and recommendations on writing textbooks in the course of a career in academia.

PubMed

Ginsberg, Jerry H

2012-03-01

The genesis of this paper was notification to the author that he would receive the 2010 Rossing Prize in Acoustics Education, which carried the responsibility of giving a lecture at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America. He decided to draw on his remembrances of writing several textbooks during a 40 year career as a professor to discuss the facets of writing that a faculty member might encounter. This paper is an expanded version of that lecture [J. H. Ginsberg, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 128, 2389 (2010)]. An opening section elucidating the author's experiences as an author is followed by a discussion intended to motivate and encourage those who are undecided about taking on this activity. Suggestions are offered as to how to organize and proceed through a writing project as well as what elements should be included. An explanation of the author's role in the process of producing a printed textbook is provided. Guidance is offered as to how one can focus on writing a book in the face of teaching, research, and personal responsibilities. The closure discusses current trends that endanger the ongoing flow of high quality textbooks. © 2012 Acoustical Society of America

United States History Textbooks: Cloned Mediocrity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siler, Carl R.

1990-01-01

Using content analysis, presents a study of 14 U.S. history textbooks. Analyzes textbook treatment of the Declaration of Independence, the atomic bomb, and the Holocaust. Examines nontextual materials. Finds errors of omission, boring writing styles, and a basic similarity between the textbooks. (RW)

Some Perceptions of English Geography Textbook Authors on Writing Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Jongwon; Catling, Simon

2016-01-01

There has been much research into the nature and uses of school geography textbooks as teaching resources, yet the perceptions of their authors have been neglected. This study investigated the perspectives of a sample of authors of English primary and secondary school geography textbooks on their experiences as textbook authors. It enquired into…

The Study of the Development of Writing Skill in the Textbooks of the Action-Oriented Approach, a Case of Iranian Learners of FFL

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moradian, Motahareh; Rahmatian, Rouholah

2016-01-01

This paper analyses the written competence and corpus of Iranian learners of French at two levels (A1 and A2). The data were collected in a quantified and qualified manner with auto evaluation grids and narrative text writing to analyze the action-oriented approach textbooks' efficiency in writing. Basically the approach of the three manuals,…

Analysis of Readability and Interest of Marketing Education Textbooks: Implications for Special Needs Learners.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Karen H.; And Others

1993-01-01

The readability, reading ease, interest level, and writing style of 20 current textbooks in secondary marketing education were evaluated. Readability formulas consistently identified lower reading levels for special needs education, human interest scores were not very reliable information sources, and writing style was also a weak variable. (JOW)

The Educational Design of Textbooks: A Text for Being Interdisciplinary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Golding, Clinton

2014-01-01

This paper provides insights into both the educational design of textbooks and interdisciplinary education. The author introduces two educational principles for textbook design--instructional alignment and balancing diversity and meaningful guidance for readers--and applies them to writing his own textbook chapter for being interdisciplinary. The…

The Struggle for American Identity: Treatment of Ethnic Groups in United States History Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Foster, Stuart J.

1999-01-01

Provides a historical overview of two centuries of change in history textbook writing. Focuses on the social attitudes toward ethnic groups as portrayed in U.S. history textbooks from 1800s-1960s and discusses the conservative themes that are present in U.S. history textbooks. Questions why textbooks adhered to conservative themes. (CMK)

Reading and Writing from Textbooks in Higher Education: A Case Study from Economics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richardson, Paul W.

2004-01-01

Reading and writing at university is infused by the cultural context of a particular discipline or field so that academic literacies are located, described, interpreted and studied in disciplinary contexts. This study explores the roles and functions textbooks have in the disciplinary culture of Economics in the academy, where there are many…

History of science content analysis of Chinese science textbooks from the perspective of acculturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yongjun; Wan, Yanlan

2017-08-01

Based on previous international studies, a content analysis scheme has been designed and used from the perspective of culture to study the history of science (HOS) in science textbooks. Nineteen sets of Chinese science textbooks have been analyzed. It has been found that there are noticeable changes in the quantity, content, layout, presentation, and writing intention of the HOS sections in textbooks from different time periods. What's more, the textbooks aim at presenting the scientific culture and aim to help students understand it better. However, the cultural associations of the HOS in textbooks is insufficient and significant differences exist among textbooks of different subjects. In order to explore the reasons why the presentation of HOS in various subjects is different, we made a specific comparison of curriculum standards of two subjects with great differences and interviewed the editors-in-chief of two textbooks. Results show that one of the most important reasons for the different writings of the HOS in textbooks is that different subject curriculum standards attach greater importance to the HOS. In addition, the attention to the HOS by editors-in-chief, the tradition of studying the HOS within the history of the discipline, and the reference textbooks in compiling textbooks are all important influence factors. Some suggestions for future textbooks compilation are given at the end.

The Write Stuff: Teaching the Introductory Public Relations Writing Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Cynthia M.

2001-01-01

Outlines an introductory public relations writing course. Presents course topics and objectives, and assignments designed to meet them. Provides a sample grading rubric and evaluates major public relations writing textbooks. Discusses learning and assessment strategies. (SR)

Management Textbooks as Propaganda.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cameron, Kim S.; Ireland, R. Duane; Lussier, Robert N.; New, J. Randolph; Robbins, Stephen P.

2003-01-01

Four management textbook authors react to the metaphor of textbooks as propaganda. All write to support managerial ideology and are aware of the market, but believe their role in shaping the field is limited. Includes two responses: "Propaganda, Trusteeship, and Artifact" (Daniel R. Gilbert) and "The Hegemonic Discourse of…

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of student textbook summary writing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demaree, Dedra; Allie, Saalih; Low, Michael; Taylor, Julian

2008-10-01

The majority of "special access" students at the University of Cape Town are second language English speakers for whom reading the physics textbook is daunting. As a strategy to encourage meaningful engagement with the text, students wrote textbook summaries due the day material was covered in class. The summaries were returned, and they could bring them or re-write them for use during their examinations. A framework was developed to analyze the summaries based on Waywood, defining three cognitive levels seen in mathematics journaling: recounting, summarizing, and dialoging. This framework was refined, expanded, and tested. Interviews with students were conducted for their views on summary writing and survey questions were included on their final exams. The study was carried out in the 2007 spring semester of the "Foundation Physics Course," a component of the special access program.

Online Textbooks Deliver Timely, Real-World Content

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seidel, Kim

2009-01-01

Faced with the challenge of keeping up with the rapidly changing field of information systems, author and teacher John Gallaugher opted to write an open source textbook with a new online company, Flat World Knowledge (FWK). Gallaugher's open source textbook, "Information Systems: A Manager's Guide to Harnessing Technology", has an expected…

The Academy's Contribution to the Impoverishment of America's Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyson-Bernstein, Harriet

1988-01-01

Builds on the author's book, "A Conspiracy of Good Intentions: America's Textbook Fiasco." Concludes that tenure rules, scholarly hyperspecialization, widespread contempt for "commercial" writing, and lack of ethical standards are obstacles to textbook reform at all education levels. Advocates sequence of learning tasks in each subject discipline.…

Textbook Utilization in a Broadcast Journalism Emphasis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reppert, James E.

Do textbooks matter in an ever-changing field of broadcast journalism? Are some teaching materials irrelevant or out of touch with equipment needs, or lack thereof, at small institutions? Noting that these questions need to be considered when evaluating broadcast or mass communication writing and production textbooks by national companies, this…

Basic Skills, Basic Writing, Basic Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trimmer, Joseph F.

1987-01-01

Overviews basic writing instruction and research by briefly discussing the history of remediation, results of a survey of basic writing programs in U.S. colleges and universities, and interviews with developmental textbook editors at major publishing houses. Finds that basic writing instruction continues to focus on sentence grammar. (MM)

Introductory Textbooks and Plagiarism in Higher Education: A Case Study from Economics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richardson, Paul

2002-01-01

Textbooks are powerful technologies that are foundational to introductory level courses. In the research site of an introductory economic classroom, the textbook is positioned as having status similar to that of a canonical religious text. This study investigated how student reading and writing can be problematic when introductory level courses…

Writing on the Threshold: Investigating New Media Concerns in Composition Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Etlinger, Sarah A.

2012-01-01

This dissertation examines three recent first-year composition textbooks' treatments of new media. These textbooks treat new media as equivalent to print media; I offer "media equivalency" to describe the problem. This concept suggests that one medium is understood by the same methods as another. I argue that the media equivalency…

Lost Voices of the Harlem Renaissance: Writing Assigned at Howard University, 1919-31.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zaluda, Scott

1998-01-01

Examines writing assignments, articles, textbooks, and other expressions of faculty thinking from courses about relationships among education, writing, and society in philosophy, English, history, and sociology at Howard University, a historically black university. Finds writing assignments at once conservative, subversive, and creative, in a…

Investigation Report on the Teaching of Practical English Writing of English Majors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Xiaojuan

2010-01-01

The practical writing course aims at helping students have a comprehensive understanding of writing subjects and improve their abilities of analyzing and understanding texts. This paper has explored how writing textbooks are used in the writing course and pointed out that the aim should be to help students improve their ability of analysis and…

Doing a Good Deed or Confounding the Problem? Peer Review and Sociology Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kendall, Diana

1999-01-01

Examines how the peer review process influences the writing and publication of sociology textbooks and the teaching of sociology. States that the peer review process may influence the final textbook in five ways: (1) degree of innovation; (2) length; (3) reading level; (4) cloning ancillaries and accessories; and (5) using reviewers as marketing…

Emotional Indoctrination through Sentimental Narrative in Spanish Primary Education Textbooks during the Franco Dictatorship (1939-1959)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahamud, Kira

2016-01-01

This paper aims to highlight the prominence and relevance attached by the Franco dictatorial regime to emotions and sentiments in primary education textbooks. The authors of school textbooks employed a singular writing style, which enabled them to permeate the regime's ideology within the primary education community and classroom. Overcoming the…

What Do Geography Textbook Authors in England Consider When They Design Content and Select Case Studies?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Jongwon; Catling, Simon

2017-01-01

This study investigated the perspectives of seven English authors, on aspects of their geography textbook writing for schools in England, through a questionnaire-based enquiry. This investigation asked about the features that geography textbook authors consider to be the most important when designing student activities, and which criteria they…

Sustaining Composition: Studying Content-Based, Ecological, and Economical Sustainability of Open-Source Textbooks through "Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Munson, Margaret

2013-01-01

Writing programs in institutions of higher education work to prepare students for real-world writing within any field of study. The composition of "Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing" offers an open-source text for students, teachers, and policy-makers at all levels. Exposure to an open space for learning encourages access to information,…

The Meanings of "Purpose."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walzer, Arthur E.

"Purpose" is an important term in rhetorical theory and writing pedagogy. An analysis of the presentation of "purpose" in three well-regarded, theory-based textbooks ("Writing in the Liberal Arts Tradition: A Rhetoric with Readings,""Writing with a Purpose," and "Form and Surprise in Composition")…

My Tryst of Writing and Publishing a Comprehensive Medical Textbook in Vernacular Hindi and New Hindi Medical Terminology.

PubMed

Goel, Trilok Chandra; Goel, Apul; Kumar, Sandeep

2018-04-01

In India, although the native language is not English but the medical education is imparted in English. The authors have written a textbook of surgery in Hindi with the intention of promoting the understanding of surgery and encouraging reflective and deep learning for students whose native language is Hindi. In this article, the authors share experiences of writing such a book, the reasons for the same and also discuss the creation of new medical nomenclature in Hindi.

Communication and Academic Vocabulary in Mathematics: A Content Analysis of Prompts Eliciting Written Responses in Two Elementary Mathematics Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joseph, Christine M.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate how writing in mathematics is treated in one 4th grade National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded mathematics textbook titled "Everyday Mathematics" and one publisher-generated textbook titled "enVision MATH." The developed framework provided categories to support each of the research…

Louis's Lightbulb Lesson (and Other Advice for Textbook Writers)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sheinkin, Steve

2009-01-01

In this article, the author reflects on his work as a textbook writer. Given that knowledge is memorable when it is related to engaging stories, the author wonders if it is possible to turn the history of our great nation into such tales to motivate children's learning. Attempts to make his textbook writing more vivid, however, are met with a…

Summary Writing in Academic Contexts: Implicating Meaning in Processes of Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hood, Susan

2008-01-01

The practice of summary writing from source texts has long been a core activity in academic writing programs. When described as precis writing, textbooks focusing on teaching this skill date back to the second half of the nineteenth century. In current guidelines, students are typically asked to demonstrate an understanding of the key meanings…

BOOK REVIEW: Mathematica for Theoretical Physics: Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, General Relativity and Fractals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heusler, Stefan

2006-12-01

The main focus of the second, enlarged edition of the book Mathematica for Theoretical Physics is on computational examples using the computer program Mathematica in various areas in physics. It is a notebook rather than a textbook. Indeed, the book is just a printout of the Mathematica notebooks included on the CD. The second edition is divided into two volumes, the first covering classical mechanics and nonlinear dynamics, the second dealing with examples in electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, general relativity and fractal geometry. The second volume is not suited for newcomers because basic and simple physical ideas which lead to complex formulas are not explained in detail. Instead, the computer technology makes it possible to write down and manipulate formulas of practically any length. For researchers with experience in computing, the book contains a lot of interesting and non-trivial examples. Most of the examples discussed are standard textbook problems, but the power of Mathematica opens the path to more sophisticated solutions. For example, the exact solution for the perihelion shift of Mercury within general relativity is worked out in detail using elliptic functions. The virial equation of state for molecules' interaction with Lennard-Jones-like potentials is discussed, including both classical and quantum corrections to the second virial coefficient. Interestingly, closed solutions become available using sophisticated computing methods within Mathematica. In my opinion, the textbook should not show formulas in detail which cover three or more pages—these technical data should just be contained on the CD. Instead, the textbook should focus on more detailed explanation of the physical concepts behind the technicalities. The discussion of the virial equation would benefit much from replacing 15 pages of Mathematica output with 15 pages of further explanation and motivation. In this combination, the power of computing merged with physical intuition would be of benefit even for newcomers. In summary, this book shows in a convincing manner how classical problems in physics can be attacked with modern computing technology. The second volume is interesting for experienced users of Mathematica. For students, the textbook can be very useful in combination with a seminar.

Ninth Edition: Adventures with a Textbook

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bragdon, Henry Wilkinson

1978-01-01

Nearly three decades ago, the author started writing an American history textbook. He recently finished the revisions on the ninth edition and here he describes the struggles he had with his publisher, The Macmillan Publishing Company, in developing his history text. (Author/RK)

Movie-Generated EFL Writing: Discovering the Act of Writing through Visual Literacy Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hekmati, Nargess; Ghahremani Ghajar, Sue-san; Navidinia, Hossein

2018-01-01

The present article explores the idea of using movies in EFL classrooms to develop students' writing skill. In this qualitative study, 15 EFL learners were engaged in different writing activities in a contextualized form of movies, meaning that the films acted as text-books, and activities were designed based on the contexts of the films. Taking…

Evaluating Environmental Chemistry Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hites, Ronald A.

2001-01-01

A director of the Indiana University Center for Environmental Science Research reviews textbooks on environmental chemistry. Highlights clear writing, intellectual depth, presence of problem sets covering both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the material, and full coverage of the topics of concern. Discusses the director's own approach…

INSTRUCTIONAL MANUALS OF BOUNDARY‐WORK: PSYCHOLOGY TEXTBOOKS, STUDENT SUBJECTIVITIES, AND DISCIPLINARY HISTORIOGRAPHIES

PubMed Central

FLIS, IVAN

2016-01-01

This article aims to provide an overview of the historiography of psychology textbooks. In the overview, I identify and describe in detail two strands of writing histories of introductory textbooks of psychology and juxtapose them to provide an integrated historiography of textbooks in psychology. One strand is developed by teachers of psychology—first as a general approach for investigating textbooks in a pedagogical setting, and then later upgraded into a full history of psychology textbooks in America. The other strand follows a more familiar perspective of historians of science and historians of psychology who build on various post‐Kuhnian and post‐Foucauldian perspectives on textbooks. I make an argument for integrating these two views for a more comprehensive historiography of textbooks in psychology, recasting textbooks as objects of research and sources that are interesting sui generis for historians of psychology in their investigations. PMID:27152736

Expressive/Exploratory Technical Writing (XTW) in Engineering: Shifting the Technical Writing Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warnock, Scott; Kahn, Michael

2007-01-01

While the importance of "expressive writing," or informal, self-directed writing, has been well established, teachers underutilize it, particularly in technical writing courses. We introduce the term expressive/exploratory technical writing (XTW), which is the use of informal, self-directed writing to problem-solve in technical fields. We describe…

Writing Better Software for Economics Principles Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walbert, Mark S.

1989-01-01

Examines computer software currently available with most introductory economics textbooks. Compares what is available with what should be available in order to meet the goal of effectively using the microcomputer to teach economic principles. Recommends 14 specific pedagogical changes that should be made in order to improve current designs. (LS)

Effects of Student-Written Wiki-Based Textbooks on Pre-Service Teachers' Epistemological Beliefs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ren, Zhongtang; Baker, Peter; Zhang, Shaoan

2009-01-01

Use of web technology in student construction of knowledge through writing their own textbooks via the Wikibooks platform may affect their epistemological beliefs. By using Epistemological Beliefs Inventory, this article investigates whether two groups (n = 229) of pre-service teachers' epistemological beliefs change in different learning…

The Place of Grammar in the Language Arts Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Einarsson, Robert

The history of grammar instruction includes two approaches: the handbook approach, which is practiced today, and the textbook approach. The handbook approach focuses on rules for correct writing and is an error-based view, while the textbook approach would treat grammar holistically and interpretively and would systematically explain new concepts…

An Approach for Embedding Critical Thinking in Second Language Paragraph Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chason, Lisa; Loyet, Dianne; Sorenson, Luann; Stoops, Anastasia

2017-01-01

Writing textbooks for English language learners frequently teach a paragraph pattern that is limited to topic sentence, support, and concluding sentence. Although beginning second language (L2) writers benefit from having a structured way to organize their ideas, as they advance, this type of writing can sound trite and uncritical. To provide a…

Writing in Multimodal Texts: A Social Semiotic Account of Designs for Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bezemer, Jeff; Kress, Gunther

2008-01-01

Frequently writing is now no longer the central mode of representation in learning materials--textbooks, Web-based resources, teacher-produced materials. Still (as well as moving) images are increasingly prominent as carriers of meaning. Uses and forms of writing have undergone profound changes over the last decades, which calls for a social,…

Assessing Coverage of Maslow's Theory in Educational Psychology Textbooks: A Content Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wininger, Steven R.; Norman, Antony D.

2010-01-01

Although Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory (HNT) is one of the most prevalent theories in psychology, the authors argued that it is also one of the most misinterpreted or misrepresented, particularly in educational psychology textbooks. Therefore, after carefully reading Maslow's writings on HNT they conducted a content analysis of 18 educational…

Textbooks in German 1942-1973: A Descriptive Bibliography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buck, Kathryn, Comp.; Haase, Arthur, Comp.

This annotated bibliography lists German textbooks published in the United States for use in junior high, high school, and college by students whose first language is English. Intended for those interested in researching old and writing new texts, as well as for those searching for an extant volume for classroom use, the bibliography consists of…

"The Rise of American Civilization" and the Contemporary Crisis in American Historiography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blaser, Kent

1992-01-01

Contends that perceived weaknesses in the history profession and historical writing also are manifested by dissatisfaction with history textbooks. Describes the immediate and long-range impact of "The Rise of American Civilization," a college level textbook by Charles and Mary Beard. Contends that the book was comprehensive, well…

INSTRUCTIONAL MANUALS OF BOUNDARY-WORK: PSYCHOLOGY TEXTBOOKS, STUDENT SUBJECTIVITIES, AND DISCIPLINARY HISTORIOGRAPHIES.

PubMed

Flis, Ivan

2016-07-01

This article aims to provide an overview of the historiography of psychology textbooks. In the overview, I identify and describe in detail two strands of writing histories of introductory textbooks of psychology and juxtapose them to provide an integrated historiography of textbooks in psychology. One strand is developed by teachers of psychology-first as a general approach for investigating textbooks in a pedagogical setting, and then later upgraded into a full history of psychology textbooks in America. The other strand follows a more familiar perspective of historians of science and historians of psychology who build on various post-Kuhnian and post-Foucauldian perspectives on textbooks. I make an argument for integrating these two views for a more comprehensive historiography of textbooks in psychology, recasting textbooks as objects of research and sources that are interesting sui generis for historians of psychology in their investigations. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rethinking the Argumentative Essay

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneer, David

2014-01-01

This article investigates the construction of the argumentative essay as it is commonly presented in academic writing textbooks and classrooms for English language learners. The author first examines the traditional three-stage structure (thesis-argument-conclusion) and then problematizes it within a genre-based approach to academic writing. He…

Technical writing versus technical writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dillingham, J. W.

1981-01-01

Two terms, two job categories, 'technical writer' and 'technical author' are discussed in terms of industrial and business requirements and standards. A distinction between 'technical writing' and technical 'writing' is made. The term 'technical editor' is also considered. Problems inherent in the design of programs to prepare and train students for these jobs are discussed. A closer alliance between industry and academia is suggested as a means of preparing students with competent technical communication skills (especially writing and editing skills) and good technical skills.

Manual de Salud Familiar y Primeros Auxilios (Family Health and First Aid Manual).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torres De Leon, Juana Maria

This textbook is part of a Mexican series of instructional materials designed for Spanish speaking adults who are in the process of becoming literate or have recently become literate in their native language. This textbook is designed to strengthen reading and writing skills while teaching basic principles and techniques to improve family health.…

Communicating Chemistry from "Molecules" to International Efforts: An Interview with Peter Atkins

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardellini, Liberato

2008-01-01

In this interview, Peter Atkins explains the deep motivations that compel him to sit at his desk at 6 AM writing books and textbooks. He discusses the four principal elements that help to make a chemistry textbook successful, including the secret ingredient. He also discusses the importance of problem solving, the interaction of multimedia, and…

Linking Contextual Factors with Rhetorical Pattern Shift: Direct and Indirect Strategies Recommended in English Business Communication Textbooks in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Junhua; Zhu, Pinfan

2011-01-01

Scholars have consistently claimed that rhetorical patterns are culturally bound, and indirectness is a defining characteristic of Chinese writing. Through examining how the rhetorical mechanism of directness and indirectness is presented in 29 English business communication textbooks published in China, we explore how English business…

Profiling the Collocation Use in ELT Textbooks and Learner Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsai, Kuei-Ju

2015-01-01

The present study investigates the collocational profiles of (1) three series of graded textbooks for English as a foreign language (EFL) commonly used in Taiwan, (2) the written productions of EFL learners, and (3) the written productions of native speakers (NS) of English. These texts were examined against a purpose-built collocation list. Based…

1981 Bibliography of Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Book, Virginia Alm; And Others

1982-01-01

Offers resources on technical writing published in 1981. Arranges the citations under the following categories: bibliographies, books, reviews, and articles on the profession; theory and philosophy; pedagogy; technical speech; research; designing degree programs; technical writing and the computer; writing technical articles and reports;…

1980 Bibliography of Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Book, Virginia Alm; And Others

1981-01-01

Offers resources on technical writing that were published in 1980. Arranges the citations under 12 categories: bibliographies, books, reviews, and articles on theory and philosophy; pedagogy; writing technical articles and reports; research; technical writing and the computer; graphic/visual aids; correspondence; technical speech; and designing…

Technical communication. Perspectives for the Eighties, part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mathes, J. C. (Compiler); Pinelli, T. E. (Compiler)

1981-01-01

The importance of technical writing as a separate discipline is suggested. Some specific areas addressed were: technical writing skills industry needs, definitions of technical writing, the hows and whys of inhouse writing, and the nature of the composing process in technical comunication.

Ideology in Writing Instruction: Reconsidering Invention Heuristics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byard, Vicki

Modern writing textbooks tend to offer no heuristics, treat heuristics as if they do not have different impacts on inquiry, or take the view that heuristics are ideologically neutral pedagogies. Yet theory about language demonstrates that ideological neutrality is impossible. Any use of language in attempting to represent reality will inevitably…

Writing Commons: A Model for the Creation, Usability, and Evaluation of OERs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herron, Josh

2016-01-01

As Open Educational Resources (OER) increasingly receive attention from academics, educational foundations, and government agencies, exemplars will emerge that lower student textbook costs by moving away from commercial publishers through self-publishing or curating web-based resources. Joe Moxley's "Writing Commons" serves as a scaled…

Learning about Fictionalized Biographies: A Reading and Writing Approach.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zarnowski, Myra

1988-01-01

Describes in detail a three-month class project focusing on fictionalized biographies and the life of Benjamin Franklin. Notes that in-depth integration of reading, writing, and content area instruction improves reading skills, as well as learning from content area textbooks, especially for low ability readers. (MM)

Technical Writing Teachers and the Challenges of Desktop Publishing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalmbach, James

1988-01-01

Argues that technical writing teachers must understand desktop publishing. Discusses the strengths that technical writing teachers bring to desktop publishing, and the impact desktop publishing will have on technical writing courses and programs. (ARH)

Special Women in My Life: Strategies for Writing Women into the Social Studies Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hickey, M. Gail; Kolterman, Don L.

2006-01-01

Women have always been a part of history, but society has not always recognized their contributions. History textbooks, for example, largely portray women as passive bystanders in the world's events, with fewer than 11 percent of textbook images and references devoted to specific women. A U.S. Congressional Resolution designated March as Women's…

Scientists, Teachers and the "Scientific" Textbook: Interprofessional Relations and the Modernisation of Elementary Science Textbooks in Nineteenth-Century Sweden

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hultén, Magnus

2016-01-01

In research on the development of a nineteenth-century "science for the people", initiatives by scientists or people well-trained in science has been emphasised, while the writings, roles and initiatives of elementary teachers are normally just mentioned in passing. In this study the development of nineteenth-century elementary science…

Textbooks on Argumentative Writing Display Much Agreement, though Each Has Own Slant.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beason, Larry

1995-01-01

A study of 10 freshman composition argumentative textbooks shows that there is a common core, grounded in but not dependent on classical rhetoric (Aristotelian rhetoric in particular). A cursory glance--which is all that many teachers can afford to give such books--might suggest they are all clones. But such is not the case. The authors forefront…

The First American Textbook of Surgery

PubMed Central

Smythe, W. Roy

2003-01-01

The first systematic textbook of surgery written in the United States, The Elements of Surgery, was completed in 1813 by John Syng Dorsey, a University of Pennsylvania surgeon. The work thoroughly covered all major clinical areas of surgery of that time in a two-volume, 797-page text. Subsequent editions were published in 1818, 1823, and 1831. It became the standard surgical textbook in this country during that era and was the first American medical text exported abroad for use at the more established European centers of medical education. The reasons for writing the text included a desire to put into print the teachings of Philip Syng Physick (first Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dorsey’s uncle), the new American nationalism, and socioeconomic pressures forced on the American publishing industry by the War of 1812 and preceding trade embargoes. In addition to extensive exposure to Physick, Dorsey was also uniquely qualified to write and illustrate this text, as he exhibited an unusually succinct style and was a remarkable medical artist. The book was the forerunner to William Gibson’s The Institutes and Practice of Surgery and all American surgical textbooks to follow. PMID:12677156

The STEMWiki Hyperlibrary: A Collaborative Multidisciplinary Textbook Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halpern, J. B.

2015-12-01

The STEMWiki Hyperlibrary Project is a collaborative effort directed by Prof. Delmar Larsen of UC Davis to replace printed textbooks with a no-fee, high quality, on line textbook environment for STEM courses and informal education. Instructors can build textbooks for their students by linking modules in the Hyperlibrary, write their own texts or use those built by others. The flexibility of the Hyperlibrary allows instructors to address the needs of diverse students in all types of institutions. At present over 4 million people per month visit the site, which makes it a primary global source of STEM educational material. The seed was the ChemWiki, which is the most developed, but there is also a GeoWiki that is being used for courses on Structural Geology, Sediments and Strata and Oceanography at UC Davis as well as including core components on geochemistry, geophysics, mineralogy, oceanography, paleobiology, paleoenvironments, petrology and plate tectonics. In addition to using and contributing to the GeoWiki, AGU members can participate in the other STEMWikis by writing (or editing) core components that involve geophysical topics and make use of the core components in the other areas for their teaching. The GeoWiki can be accessed at http://geowiki.ucdavis.edu/

[Précis de chimie organique (1844-1846) and the Traité de chimie organique (1853-1856) from Charles Gerhardt].

PubMed

Delort, Marie

2007-07-01

In 1844 and in 1853 Charles Gerhardt writes two textbooks about organic chemistry: Précis de chimie organique and Traité de chimie organique. In these textbooks Gerhard presents a way to arrange organic compounds in series. The Traité is more accomplished. The classification has improved. His idea is that all organic compounds are based on four main types (i.e., hydrogen, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, and water). Why did Gerhardt chose to develop his theories in a textbook and not in scientific papers? We can think of a few reasons: in a textbook he could articulate ideas and could give constitency to his theories. It is longer than a paper. Textbook authors are less rescricted. The readers are students.

[Discussion on several contents of textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion (New Century 4th Edition)].

PubMed

Tian, Kaiyu

2018-02-12

The textbook Acupuncture and Moxibustion (New Century 4th Edition) was published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine in August of 2016. The author proposed several discussions in the textbook. The information, including the issue date of China national standard Standardized Manipulations of Acupuncture and Moxibustion , the number of foreign countries where China medical teams were assigned, and the number of acupuncture indications recommended by WHO, was not accurate. The content, including several methods of acupoint location, specification of filiform needles, rotating angle of needle, disinfection of needles and skin, locations and indications of scalp acupuncture, etc. should be corrected. Besides, the writing of textbooks should follow national or industry standards.

Textbooks and technical references for remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rudd, R. D.; Bowden, L. W.; Colwell, R. N.; Estes, J. E.

1980-01-01

A selective bibliography is presented which cites 89 textbooks, monographs, and articles covering introductory and advanced remote sensing techniques, photointerpretation, photogrammetry, and image processing.

Lungfish and Life.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flannery, Maura C.

1997-01-01

Discusses the writings of Homer W. Smith, a physiologist who wrote novels, histories of religion, textbooks, and a book on the kidney for the general reader. Smith's writing skills remind students that biologists are as multidimensional as the rest of the population. Smith shows that all parts of life are interrelated as they enrich and shed light…

Reading and Writing for Civic Literacy: The Critical Citizen's Guide to Argumentative Rhetoric

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lazere, Donald

2005-01-01

This innovative textbook, for first-year English and more advanced composition and critical thinking courses, addresses the need for college students to develop critical reading, writing, and thinking skills for self-defense in the contentious arena of American civic rhetoric. In a groundbreaking reconception of composition theory, it presents a…

History Textbook Writing in a Post-Totalitarian and Authoritarian Context: The Case of Belarus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zadora, Anna

2013-01-01

This paper analyses school history writing in a specific context: Belarus--a post-totalitarian and authoritarian state. School history teaching has always been a powerful instrument for transmitting national identity and legitimising political structures, and political authorities tend to control it. Perestroika marked the beginning of a new…

The Effects of Web-Based Learning on Struggling EFL College Writers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Jarf, Reima S.

2004-01-01

This study aimed at finding out whether there were significant differences in achievement between English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) freshman students exposed to traditional in class writing instruction depending on the textbook only, and those exposed to a combination of traditional in-class instruction and Web-based instruction in writing. All…

The Secondary School Mathematics Curriculum Improvement Study Goals-The Subject Matter-Accomplishments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fehr, Howard F.

1970-01-01

Describes an experimental study attempting to construct a unified school mathematics curriculum for grades seven through twelve. Study was initiated in 1965 and is to be a six-year study. The total program includes, in the following order, syllabus writing, conferences, writing of experimental textbook, education of classroom teachers, pilot class…

Recent Practices in Teaching Writing: A Critical Examination of Junior and Senior High School Composition Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koops, John Bernard

A review of research and literature in the teaching of writing suggests two divergent forces operating simultaneously. First, the conservative tradition perpetuates the national mania for correctness and reverence for standard English. Second, a wide range of theoretical approaches proliferates through professional journal articles and books. To…

5 CFR 2635.807 - Teaching, speaking and writing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... announced policy, program or operation of the agency; or (3) In the case of a noncareer employee as defined... writing or editing a textbook on the treatment of all cancers, provided that the book does not focus on... contain any significant discussion of labor relations cases handled at the Department of Commerce, or the...

The Student's Only Survival Guide to Essay Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Good, Steve; Jensen, Bill

Designed primarily with the student in mind, this guide focuses on what the student needs to know about essay writing to survive in college. It details a proven, consistent, and effective method for the preparation of undergraduate essays across the disciplines. Not intended as a textbook, the guide speaks directly to the student, providing…

The Other Side of the Story: Israeli and Palestinian Teachers Write a History Textbook Together

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steinberg, Shoshana; Bar-On, Dan

2009-01-01

In this essay, Shoshana Steinberg and Dan Bar-On present the work of a team of Israeli and Palestinian teachers who developed a history textbook that includes both groups' narratives of the same events side by side. These teachers then tested the effects of its use in both Israeli and Palestinian classrooms; for the first time, students on each…

Some technical writing skills industry needs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, F. R.

1981-01-01

It is suggested that engineers and other technical students be taught three classes of skills in technical writing. First, "Big Picture Things", which includes: the importance of clear writing, the wide scope of writing, the wide scope of writing tasks that will be faced in industry, and the principles of organization of technical materials such as; how to analyze, classify, partition, and interpret. Second, "Writing Procedures", which encompasses: how to get words on paper efficiently and team-write. Third, "Writing Details", in which two considerations are important: how to achieve precision in the use of language and the aspects of style. Three problems in style are cited: the problem of sentence transition, overuse of attributive adjectives, and verbosity in paragraph structure. The most important thing in technical writing is considered to be functionality, economy and clarity.

Essence or Practice? Conflicting Cultural Values in Chinese EFL Textbooks: A Discourse Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xiong, Tao

2012-01-01

While increasing attention is being paid to the ideological debate on Confucian-influenced cultural values communicated in Chinese language textbooks, EFL textbooks remain under-examined since the TEFL/TESOL is typically assumed to be "technical" and "neutral". Drawing on critical theoretical perspectives on curriculum,…

Bridges or Barriers: Analysis of Logodiversity in College Biology Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burton, Rebecca S.

2011-01-01

When selecting a textbook, college instructors must weigh a variety of factors. One is whether the text is written at a level that is accessible to one's students. An important factor in this is how many technical words are used. I developed an index to calculate logodiversity, a term I coined that reflects the number of technical words and the…

Teaching Writing in Japanese. Instructional Materials for the Less Commonly Taught Languages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Yonkers, NY.

This volume offers a set of writing activities designed to correspond with two levels of proficiency on the American Council of Foreign Languages scale: Novice and Intermediate. The activities have been designed to accompany any type of textbook in any type of instruction. The intention is to provide learners with the opportunity to use Japanese…

Creating a Science E-Book with Fifth Grade Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Encheff, Dana

2013-01-01

This article explains how one teacher used iBooks Author, a free digital textbook creation tool that makes iBooks for iPads, in an upper elementary classroom to improve students' expository writing skills and understanding of science content. The classroom teacher taught students pre-requisite writing and technology skills for two weeks, and…

SCMLA: Technical Writing. Proceedings (Houston, Texas, October 1987).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater.

In order to make information about technical writing more available, the South Central Modern Language Association (SCMLA) has collected the papers not subject to copyright restrictions that were presented at the technical writing section of its 1987 meeting. The essays cover a wide range of topics in technical writing pedagogy and research. The…

Conversations with Technical Writing Teachers: Defining a Problem.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Selting, Bonita R.

2002-01-01

Considers if teaching technology is problematic for technical writing instructors. Presents ideas of 64 Association of Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW) members who were queried on their roles as teachers of technical writing in relation to the demands made upon them to also be teachers of technology skills. Concludes with a call for more…

How Place and Audience Matter: Perspectives on Mathematics Plural Identities from Late 1950s French and English Middle School Textbooks.

PubMed

Radtka, Catherine

2016-12-01

Argument In this paper, I argue that studying school textbooks is a fruitful way to investigate mathematical conceptions in different national contexts. These sources give access to the written production of an extended mathematical milieu whose members write for various audiences. By studying the case of late 1950s French and English textbooks issued for a growing audience of 11- to 15-year-old pupils, I show that a plurality of conceptions was projected at the time onto pupils and their teachers in both national contexts. I link this diversity to contemporaneous debates regarding mathematics teaching and argue that textbooks themselves have to be considered as active agents of such debates.

Drawing on Technical Writing Scholarship for the Teaching of Writing to Advanced ESL Students--A Writing Tutorial.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zielinska, Dorota

2003-01-01

Outlines the technical writing tutorial (TWT) that precedes an advanced English as a second language (ESL) writing course for students of English Philology at the Jagiellonian University, Poland. Finds a statistically significant increase in the performance of the students who had taken the TWT. Indicates that technical writing books and journals…

Experiences of a high-school physics textbook author

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zitzewitz, Paul W.

2004-05-01

For the past twenty years I have been involved writing a widely used high school physics textbook. I will discuss my experiences with the many forces that shape such a book, including state requirements, the publisher, editors, free-lance writers, reviewers, high school teachers, and students. Attempts to incorporate the results of physics education research and the changing role of technology in the production process will also be discussed.

The Design and Evaluation of African Language Learning Materials. Proceedings of the Spring 1984 Conference on Developing Guidelines for the Evaluation of African Language Learning Materials (East Lansing, Michigan, April 13-14, 1984).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dwyer, David J., Ed.

Representatives from major institutions teaching African languages convened to discuss the design of African language textbooks and to propose guidelines for the writing of new textbooks and evaluation of existing ones. Conference papers include: "Language Acquisition Theory and Materials Construction" (Stephen Krashen); "The Structures of Verbal…

The Importance and Interest of Introductory Psychology Textbook Topics: Student Opinions at Technical College, 2-, and 4-Year Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCann, Lee I.; Immel, Kathy R.; Kadah-Ammeter, Tammy L.; Adelson, Sarah K.

2016-01-01

Introductory psychology students at a technical college, 2-year community college, and a regional university rated how important textbook chapters or topics were to them now and in the future and how interesting they were. Importance and interest ratings were highly correlated, and the whole course was rated of greater importance and interest than…

What Is "Good" Technical Communication? A Comparison of the Standards of Writing and Engineering Instructors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Summer

2003-01-01

Presents the results of an empirical study comparing writing and engineering instructors' responses to students' technical writing. Indicates that the gap between engineering and writing teachers' standards for evaluating technical writing is not as wide as is generally assumed. Concludes that the differences that do emerge suggest ways that the…

"Do Not Turn a Deaf Ear or a Blind Eye on Me, as I Am Your Son": New Conceptions of Childhood and Parenthood in 18th- and 19th-Century Jewish Letter-Writing Manuals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kogman, Tal

2016-01-01

This article focuses on the cultural functions of Hebrew letter-writing manuals published in German-speaking countries in the 18th and 19th centuries, aimed at young people. I argue that these books, which were used frequently as textbooks for studying Hebrew writing, conveyed modern ideological values and at the same time corresponded to the…

Oral Communication and Technical Writing: A Reconsideration of Writing in a Multicultural Era

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cibangu, Sylvain K.

2009-01-01

This article investigates the status of orality in the history of technical communication. The article calls for orality as an integral part and driving force of technical writing. The article brings to light the misconceptions that have led to a diminished role of oral communication in technical writing. The article shows the implications of oral…

An analysis of science content and representations in introductory college physics textbooks and multimodal learning resources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnelly, Suzanne M.

This study features a comparative descriptive analysis of the physics content and representations surrounding the first law of thermodynamics as presented in four widely used introductory college physics textbooks representing each of four physics textbook categories (calculus-based, algebra/trigonometry-based, conceptual, and technical/applied). Introducing and employing a newly developed theoretical framework, multimodal generative learning theory (MGLT), an analysis of the multimodal characteristics of textbook and multimedia representations of physics principles was conducted. The modal affordances of textbook representations were identified, characterized, and compared across the four physics textbook categories in the context of their support of problem-solving. Keywords: college science, science textbooks, multimodal learning theory, thermodynamics, representations

Technical Writing Practically Unified through Industry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houston, Linda S.

Two technical writing courses at a two-year agricultural college were designed to meet the individualized needs of students in various agricultural studies in the animal industries, horticulture, agricultural business, and agricultural mechanics. Offering a technical writing program based upon the writing tasks of the students' intended…

Tensions between Textbook Pedagogy and the Literacy Practices of the Disciplinary Community: A Study of Writing in First Year Economics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paxton, Moragh

2007-01-01

This paper describes aspects of a research project which used linguistic and intertextual analysis of student writing to investigate the relationship between the academic curriculum and student voice in a first year economics course at a South African university. I argue that the discourses and practices of first year university economics…

Technical report writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vidoli, Carol A.

1992-01-01

This manual covers the fundamentals of organizing, writing, and reviewing NASA technical reports. It was written to improve the writing skills of LeRC technical authors and the overall quality of their reports.

The Mole as an Explanatory Device: How Do You Know a Mole if You See One? A Manual for Chemistry Students. Sample Teaching Materials: The Explanatory Modes Project.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Douglas A.

This booklet is designed to supplement the study of introductory chemistry. It deals particularly with the mole concept but also includes ideas for analyzing the kinds of statements that appear in all science textbooks and scientific writing. The material in the booklet should be studied after the completion of an introductory textbook study of…

Scaffolding Collaborative Technical Writing with Procedural Facilitation and Synchronous Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yeh, Shiou-Wen; Lo, Jia-Jiunn; Huang, Jeng-Jia

2011-01-01

With the advent of computer technology, researchers and instructors are attempting to devise computer support for effective collaborative technical writing. In this study, a computer-supported environment for collaborative technical writing was developed. This system (Process-Writing Wizard) provides process-oriented scaffolds and a synchronous…

Conceptual Variation or Incoherence? Textbook Discourse on Genes in Six Countries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gericke, Niklas M.; Hagberg, Mariana; dos Santos, Vanessa Carvalho; Joaquim, Leyla Mariane; El-Hani, Charbel N.

2014-02-01

The aim of this paper is to investigate in a systematic and comparative way previous results of independent studies on the treatment of genes and gene function in high school textbooks from six different countries. We analyze how the conceptual variation within the scientific domain of Genetics regarding gene function models and gene concepts is transformed via the didactic transposition into school science textbooks. The results indicate that a common textbook discourse on genes and their function exist in textbooks from the different countries. The structure of science as represented by conceptual variation and the use of multiple models was present in all the textbooks. However, the existence of conceptual variation and multiple models is implicit in these textbooks, i.e., the phenomenon of conceptual variation and multiple models are not addressed explicitly, nor its consequences and, thus, it ends up introducing conceptual incoherence about the gene concept and its function within the textbooks. We conclude that within the found textbook-discourse ontological aspects of the academic disciplines of genetics and molecular biology were retained, but without their epistemological underpinnings; these are lost in the didactic transposition. These results are of interest since students might have problems reconstructing the correct scientific understanding from the transformed school science knowledge as depicted within the high school textbooks. Implications for textbook writing as well as teaching are discussed in the paper.

Teaching Technical Writing: Focusing on Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santelmann, Patricia Kelly

In preparing students for business writing, a technical writing class should foster (1) a sensitivity to audience and an understanding of the business or technical organizational audience, (2) analytical problem solving that precedes any but the simplest writing task, (3) understanding of the patterns of organization that make information clear to…

Improving the Textbook Selection Process: Case Studies of the Textbook Adoption Guidelines Project. Technical Report No. 478.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dole, Janice; And Others

A study followed three textbook adoption committees as they evaluated basal reading programs. The committees used "A Guide to Selecting Basal Reading Programs" (developed at the Center for the Study of Reading) to help them evaluate the quality of instruction in existing programs. Case studies of the three committees sought to address the…

Teachers Beware: Elementary Social Studies Textbooks Are Getting Harder to Read.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Roger E.

An evaluation of elementary social studies textbooks indicates that eight factors are making textbooks harder to read. These factors are: (1) the reading level of the book and/or the range of reading levels within it; (2) long sentences and/or too many concepts within a sentence or paragraph; (3) the use of vague terms, technical vocabulary, and…

Role-Playing as Critical Thinking in the Technical Writing Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilner, Arlene

Given the affective dimension of writing in the workplace, assignments based on casebook scenarios have definite advantages in a technical or professional writing course. An English professor surveyed faculty in the Schools of Business and Education at Rider College prior to revising a course in technical writing. A majority of faculty, when asked…

Expanding and Redirecting Historical Research in Technical Writing: In Search of Our Past.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tebeaux, Elizabeth; Killingsworth, M. Jimmie

1992-01-01

Suggests an approach for expanding and integrating research to produce a history of technical writing. Defines problems that reside in writing such a history, suggests research premises and questions, and then applies these questions to technical writing as it existed in the English Renaissance, 1475-1640. (SR)

Invention and Writing in Technical Work: Representing the Object.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winsor, Dorothy A.

1994-01-01

Describes the way invention is relevant to the practice of technical writing. Studies three engineering students engaged in a real-world project. Shows how the students' technical work and invention for the final report were simultaneous activities. Claims that invention for and through writing overlaps with technical invention. (HB)

Bismarck in the Bush: Year 12 Write Zambia's History for Zambian Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Peter

2011-01-01

Peter Gray explains how his Year 12 students came to research and write a resource on the history of Zambia, for history teachers "in" Zambia. The construction of the resource stretched the Year 12 students in new ways: the Internet was useless and there were no easy digests in A-Level textbooks to get them started. They would have to…

Technical Writing: Library Resources for Engineers. A Self-Paced Workbook for the University of Arkansas Libraries. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dew, Stephen H.

This self-paced library workbook is a course requirement of all "technical writing" freshman English classes at the University of Arkansas. The technical writing course is required of all engineering students, and its major focus is on writing a term paper containing a bibliography produced through library research. The workbook…

Technical writing in the radiologic technology curriculum.

PubMed

Bell, R

1979-01-01

Although courses in technical writing are no longer suggested in the Curriculum Guide for Programs in Radiologic Technology, the writer believes that writing is essential to the growth of the profession and development of the professional. Emphasis is placed on some of the benefits that accrue to students who are exposed to technical writing as part of their technology curriculum.

Potential benefits of student- and junior doctor-led textbooks.

PubMed

Qureshi, Zeshan U; Lattey, Katherine; Bryne, Patrick; Rodrigues, Mark; Ross, Michael; Maxwell, Simon

2015-06-01

Medical textbooks are an important teaching supplement. Few have junior doctors or medical students ('juniors') as primary contributors. However, the strengths of junior-led face-to-face teaching are now well-established, and we hypothesized that similar advantages would be transferrable to a textbook setting. Juniors were approached to contribute to an independently published medical textbook, with senior clinicians recruited in parallel to ensure factual accuracy. Juniors directed every aspect of textbook writing and the production process. The published book stressed that it was an open collaboration with readers, inviting them to get in touch to evaluate the text and suggest ideas for new titles. Of 75 respondents, 93 % awarded the first textbook in the series 4 or 5 out of 5 for overall quality. Five other titles have been released, with seven more in development. Over 100 juniors are currently involved, with two students progressing from reviewers to editors after less than a year of mentorship. Juniors can be a motivated, dynamic, innovative group, capable of significant contributions to the medical textbook literature. This initiative has generated a sustainable infrastructure to facilitate junior-led publishing, and has the capacity for expansion to accommodate new initiatives and ideas.

A Theory of the Function of Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ross, Donald, Jr.

1981-01-01

Advances the theory that technical writing functions as a replacement for memory--an information storage receptacle. Lists the formal and stylistic features implied by such a theory. Considers the future development of technical writing within the context of this theory. (RL)

Word Processors and Invention in Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barker, Thomas T.

1989-01-01

Explores how word processing affects thinking and writing. Examines two myths surrounding word processors and invention in technical writing. Describes how word processing can enhance invention through collaborative writing, templates, and on-screen outlining. (MM)

Designing Writing Assignments for Vocational-Technical Courses. A Guide for Teachers in the Two-Year College and Technical Institute.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Killingsworth, Jimmie, Ed.; And Others

The 27 articles in this 6-part guide provide information on developing and implementing writing instruction as part of content-area courses in two-year vocational-technical colleges. Part One, General Concerns, includes "Making Writing Work for You in the Interactive Classroom" (Killingsworth, Rude); "Evaluating and Responding to Student Writing"…

Writing Clinic for Business and Technical Writers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mercer County Community Coll., Trenton, NJ.

This document offers brief lesson plans for four courses: (1) an 8-hour refresher course for employees who write memos, short reports, and letters; (2) an 8-hour refresher course on creating a short document; (3) a 16-hour course on technical manual writing; and (4) an 8-hour course on technical manual writing. The courses were part of a workplace…

Five Hundred Pages and a Topic of Her Own: Successfully Designing an Advanced Writing Course on 19th Century British Women Novelists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Amy Criniti

2009-01-01

During the fourth year of Amy Phillips' teaching assistantship in the spring semester of 2008, she was asked to teach a 300-level advanced writing course in which she was given the creative freedom to design the syllabus, choose the textbooks, craft all assignments, and organize the course content. However, there was one stipulation: the course,…

Enhancing the Interpretive Reading and Analytical Writing of Mainstreamed English Learners in Secondary School: Results from a Randomized Field Trial Using a Cognitive Strategies Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Carol Booth; Kim, James S.; Scarcella, Robin; Kramer, Jason; Pearson, Matthew; van Dyk, David A.; Collins, Penny; Land, Robert E.

2012-01-01

In this study, 72 secondary English teachers from the Santa Ana Unified School District were randomly assigned to participate in the Pathway Project, a cognitive strategies approach to teaching interpretive reading and analytical writing, or to a control condition involving typical district training focusing on teaching content from the textbook.…

What Consultation and Freelance Writing Can Do for You and Your Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muller, John A.

1978-01-01

Urges teachers of technical writing and graduate students in English to get off campus and engage in giving businesses advice intended to solve problems in technical communication, editing technical communication publications, and researching and writing such publications. (GW)

Contemporary Aspects of Atomic Physics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knott, R. G. A.

1972-01-01

The approach generally used in writing undergraduate textbooks on Atomic and Nuclear Physics presents this branch as historical in nature. Describes the concepts of astrophysics, plasma physics and spectroscopy as contemporary and intriguing for modern scientists. (PS)

Implementing Recommendations for Introductory Biology by Writing a New Textbook

PubMed Central

Barsoum, Mark J.; Sellers, Patrick J.; Campbell, A. Malcolm; Heyer, Laurie J.; Paradise, Christopher J.

2013-01-01

We redesigned the undergraduate introductory biology course by writing a new textbook (Integrating Concepts in Biology [ICB]) that follows first principles of learning. Our approach emphasizes primary data interpretation and the utility of mathematics in biology, while de-emphasizing memorization. This redesign divides biology into five big ideas (information, evolution, cells, emergent properties, homeostasis), addressing each at five levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms, populations, ecological systems). We compared our course outcomes with two sections that used a traditional textbook and were taught by different instructors. On data interpretation assessments administered periodically during the semester, our students performed better than students in the traditional sections (p = 0.046) and exhibited greater improvement over the course of the semester (p = 0.015). On factual content assessments, our students performed similarly to students in the other sections (p = 0.737). Pre- and postsemester assessment of disciplinary perceptions and self-appraisal indicate that our students acquired a more accurate perception of biology as a discipline and may have developed a more realistic evaluation of their scientific abilities than did the control students (p < 0.05). We conclude that ICB improves critical thinking, metacognition, and disciplinary perceptions without compromising content knowledge in introductory biology. PMID:23463233

Implementing recommendations for introductory biology by writing a new textbook.

PubMed

Barsoum, Mark J; Sellers, Patrick J; Campbell, A Malcolm; Heyer, Laurie J; Paradise, Christopher J

2013-01-01

We redesigned the undergraduate introductory biology course by writing a new textbook (Integrating Concepts in Biology [ICB]) that follows first principles of learning. Our approach emphasizes primary data interpretation and the utility of mathematics in biology, while de-emphasizing memorization. This redesign divides biology into five big ideas (information, evolution, cells, emergent properties, homeostasis), addressing each at five levels of organization (molecules, cells, organisms, populations, ecological systems). We compared our course outcomes with two sections that used a traditional textbook and were taught by different instructors. On data interpretation assessments administered periodically during the semester, our students performed better than students in the traditional sections (p = 0.046) and exhibited greater improvement over the course of the semester (p = 0.015). On factual content assessments, our students performed similarly to students in the other sections (p = 0.737). Pre- and postsemester assessment of disciplinary perceptions and self-appraisal indicate that our students acquired a more accurate perception of biology as a discipline and may have developed a more realistic evaluation of their scientific abilities than did the control students (p < 0.05). We conclude that ICB improves critical thinking, metacognition, and disciplinary perceptions without compromising content knowledge in introductory biology.

Exotic objects of atomic physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eletskii, A. V.

2017-11-01

There has been presented a short survey of physical properties, methods of production and exploration as well as directions of practical usage of the objects of atomic physics which are not yet described in detail in modern textbooks and manuals intended for students of technical universities. The family of these objects includes negative and multicharged ions, Rydberg atoms, excimer molecules, clusters. Besides of that, in recent decades this family was supplemented with new nanocarbon structures such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene. The textbook “Exotic objects of atomic physics” [1] edited recently contains some information on the above-listed objects of the atomic physics. This textbook can be considered as a supplement to classic courses of atomic physics teaching in technical universities.

Autobiographical Writing in the Technical Writing Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gellis, Mark

2011-01-01

Professionals in the workplace are rarely asked to write autobiographical essays. Such essays, however, are an excellent tool for helping students explore their growth as professionals. This article explores the use of such essays in a technical writing class.

Whys and hows of in-house writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lane, J. C.

1981-01-01

The combining of requisite technical knowledge with requisite writing ability is addressed. Considerations in the development of in-house writing courses, in-plant training, are presented and evaluated. Specific problems in past methodology are also detailed. It is suggested that teachers of technical writing should be technical people themselves, preferably with working experience in industry or business; the training provided should be user-oriented, not theory oriented.

Fundamentals of Modeling, Data Assimilation, and High-performance Computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rood, Richard B.

2005-01-01

This lecture will introduce the concepts of modeling, data assimilation and high- performance computing as it relates to the study of atmospheric composition. The lecture will work from basic definitions and will strive to provide a framework for thinking about development and application of models and data assimilation systems. It will not provide technical or algorithmic information, leaving that to textbooks, technical reports, and ultimately scientific journals. References to a number of textbooks and papers will be provided as a gateway to the literature.

American Nursing's First Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flaumenhaft, Eugene; Flaumenhaft, Carol

1989-01-01

Discusses the four textbooks, written in the last quarter of the 19th century, that shaped nursing in the United States. They provided technical information in a systematic fashion, established an autonomous literature that guided nurses in school and beyond, and defined the training school curriculum. (JOW)

Basic Writing Concepts for Scientists and Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, John H.

1980-01-01

Notes the differences between poetry and technical communication. Charges English teacher/humanists with confusing students about emotional writing, style, and effective technical communication. Offers five concepts that technical writing teachers can use to place "style" on a rational basis and to make students understand the true purposes of…

Middlesex Community College Software Technical Writing Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Middlesex Community Coll., Bedford, MA.

This document describes the Software Technical Writing Program at Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts). The program is a "hands-on" course designed to develop job-related skills in three major areas: technical writing, software, and professional skills. The program was originally designed in cooperation with the Massachusetts High…

Reading in the Writing Class: Conventions, Socialization, and Revision.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Werner, Warren W.

On the premise that the kind of writing done in business and technical writing classes is a social act, the business and technical writing courses at Auburn University (Alabama) use peer interaction, revision, and audience awareness to help students become aware of and internalize the conventions of writing. Students are required to read each…

A "Virtual Fieldtrip": Service Learning in Distance Education Technical Writing Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soria, Krista M.; Weiner, Brad

2013-01-01

This mixed-methods experimental study examined the effect of service learning in a distance education technical writing course. Quantitative analysis of data found evidence for a positive relationship between participation in service learning and technical writing learning outcomes. Additionally, qualitative analysis suggests that service learning…

Technical Writing Tips

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Patrick M.

2004-01-01

The main reason engineers, technicians, and programmers write poor technical documents is because they have had little training or experience in that area. This article addresses some of the basics that students can use to master technical writing tasks. The article covers the most common problems writers make and offers suggestions for improving…

Clustering: An Interactive Technique to Enhance Learning in Biology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ambron, Joanna

1988-01-01

Explains an interdisciplinary approach to biology and writing which increases students' mastery of vocabulary, scientific concepts, creativity, and expression. Describes modifications of the clustering technique used to summarize lectures, integrate reading and understand textbook material. (RT)

Improving Physics Texts: Students Speak Out.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guzzetti, Barbara J.; And Others

1995-01-01

Finds that high school physical science students prefer textbooks with expository text that not only gives a correct concept but refutes common incorrect ideas. Finds that writing a comprehensible text is more difficult than the researchers had imagined. (SR)

Calculus Student Descending a Staircase.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mueller, William

1999-01-01

Common student attitudes toward reform methods are conveyed through the thoughts of a student leaving a multivariable calculus exam and musings range over textbooks, homework, workload, group work, writing, noncomputational problems, instructional problems, instructional styles, and classroom activities. (Author/ASK)

Legitimizing Technical Communication in English Departments: Carolyn Miller's "Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Patrick

2006-01-01

Carolyn Miller's oft-cited "Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing," published in 1979, tries to give technical communication faculty more cultural capital in English departments controlled by literature professors. Miller replaces a positivistic emphasis in technical communication pedagogy with rhetoric. She shows how technical knowledge is…

Contextualize Technical Writing Assessment to Better Prepare Students for Workplace Writing: Student-Centered Assessment Instruments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Han

2008-01-01

To teach students how to write for the workplace and other professional contexts, technical writing teachers often assign writing tasks that reflect real-life communication contexts, a teaching approach that is grounded in the field's contextualized understanding of genre. This article argues to fully embrace contextualized literacy and better…

Technical Writing, Revision, and Language Communities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petersen, Bruce T.

To examine the writing process of personnel who write as part of their jobs and the relation of that process to the context in which they worked, a study was undertaken in a major corporation. Its aim was to research a model for teaching technical writing students that would bridge the gap between the classroom and the probable writing situations…

What Consultation and Freelance Writing Can Do for You and for Your Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muller, John A.

This paper advises teachers of technical writing to "practice what they preach" by occasionally doing field work in technical communication. The possibilities for off-campus work include consultation, perhaps for an in-house manual of technical writing procedures and skills, editing assignments for businesses and public agencies, and freelance…

The Writer's Mind: Ethics in the Teaching of Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubens, Philip M.

As opposed to being a "closed" text (tightly constrained by physical formats, corporate style, and specialized vocabulary), technical writing is actually "open" in the sense that such a text can be interpreted subjectively by an informed audience. Three ethical issues that should be explored in teaching technical writing include personality--the…

Technical Writing 1987: Galloping Off in at Least Two Directions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stohrer, Freda F.

Technical writing instructors generally agree about the absolute need for communication skills throughout the technological work place, but a survey of technical writing journal articles shows a lack of focus on ways to address business's needs for on-the-job literacy. One major advance within the profession in recent years has been the…

Radiological Defense. Textbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DOD), Washington, DC.

This textbook has been prepared under the direction of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DCPA) Staff College for use as a student reference manual in radiological defense (RADEF) courses. It provides much of the basic technical information necessary for a proper understanding of radiological defense and summarizes RADEF planning and expected…

Drawing on Technical Writing Scholarship for the Teaching of Writing to Advanced ESL Students--A Writing Tutorial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zielinska, Dorota

2003-01-01

The article outlines the technical writing tutorial (TWT) that preceded an advanced ESL writing course for students of English Philology at the Jagiellonian University. Having assessed the English skills of those students at the end of the semester, we found a statistically significant increase in the performance of the students who had taken the…

A Combined Corpus and Systemic-Functional Analysis of the Problem-Solution Pattern in a Student and Professional Corpus of Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flowerdew, Lynne

2003-01-01

Reports on research describing similarities and differences between expert and novice writing in the problem-solution pattern, a frequent rhetorical pattern of technical academic writing. A corpus of undergraduate student writing and one containing professional writing consisted of 80 and 60 recommendation reports, respectively, with each corpus…

Technical Writing in Hydrogeology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tinker, John R., Jr.

1986-01-01

A project for Writing Across the Curriculum at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is described as a method to relate the process of writing to the process of learning hydrology. The project focuses on an actual groundwater contamination case and is designed to improve the technical writing skills of students. (JN)

Teaching Intercultural Communication in a Basic Technical Writing Course: A Survey of Our Current Practices and Methods

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matveeva, Natalia

2008-01-01

This research article reports the results of an online survey distributed among technical writing instructors in 2006. The survey aimed to examine how we teach intercultural communication in basic technical writing courses: our current practices and methods. The article discusses three major challenges that instructors may face when teaching about…

Automatic Classification of Medical Text: The Influence of Publication Form1

PubMed Central

Cole, William G.; Michael, Patricia A.; Stewart, James G.; Blois, Marsden S.

1988-01-01

Previous research has shown that within the domain of medical journal abstracts the statistical distribution of words is neither random nor uniform, but is highly characteristic. Many words are used mainly or solely by one medical specialty or when writing about one particular level of description. Due to this regularity of usage, automatic classification within journal abstracts has proved quite successful. The present research asks two further questions. It investigates whether this statistical regularity and automatic classification success can also be achieved in medical textbook chapters. It then goes on to see whether the statistical distribution found in textbooks is sufficiently similar to that found in abstracts to permit accurate classification of abstracts based solely on previous knowledge of textbooks. 14 textbook chapters and 45 MEDLINE abstracts were submitted to an automatic classification program that had been trained only on chapters drawn from a standard textbook series. Statistical analysis of the properties of abstracts vs. chapters revealed important differences in word use. Automatic classification performance was good for chapters, but poor for abstracts.

Nuclear War in High School History Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fleming, Daniel B.

1983-01-01

A review of 19 recently published, secondary-level United States and world history textbooks found only brief coverage of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) bombings, slight attention to the arms race and disarmament, and concentration on scientific and technical developments behind the atomic bomb rather than on its effects. (Author/RW)

Technical writing practically unified through industry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houston, L. S.

1981-01-01

General background details in the development of a university level technical writing program, based upon the writing tasks of the student's occupations, are summarized. Objectives and methods for unifying the courses of study with the needs of industry are discussed. Four academic course divisions, Industries Technologies, in which preparation and training are offered are: Animal, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Agricultural Business. Occupational competence is cited as the main goal for these programs in which technical writing is to be practically unified through industry. Course descriptions are also provided.

Teaching Freshman Composition at a Science College: The Trouble with "Pharma-English"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirszner, Laurie G.

1978-01-01

The author's experiences teaching writing to students in a technical college point to the need for such students to have a general writing course rather than one restricted to technical writing. (MKM)

English Skills for Engineers Required by the English Technical Writing Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kyouno, Noboru

Japanese English education has focused mainly on teaching passive skills such as reading and listening, whereas actual business activities in society require active skills such as writing and speaking in addition to the passive skills. This educational situation is estimated to be a reason Japanese engineers are less confident in writing and speaking than in reading and listening. This paper focuses on details of the English Technical Writing Test provided by the Japan Society of Technical Communication and emphasizes the importance of the active skills, mainly focusing on what skills should be taught in the future and how to develop these skills. This paper also stresses the necessity of learning rhetoric-related skills, concept of information words, as well as paragraph reading and writing skills based on the concept of the 3Cs (Correct, Clear, and Concise) as a means to develop technical writing skills for engineers.

Technical Mathematics: Restructure of Technical Mathematics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flannery, Carol A.

Designed to accompany a series of videotapes, this textbook provides information, examples, problems, and solutions relating to mathematics and its applications in technical fields. Chapter I deals with basic arithmetic, providing information on fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, percentages, and order of operations. Chapter II focuses on…

Using Television Technology to Teach Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallisch, Bill

Technical writing teachers at the U.S. Air Force Academy enhance student motivation by bringing real Air Force writing situations into the classroom through short videotapes which allow students to see how scientists and engineers cope with report writing in their daily work. Also, a special English honors course, which is part of the "Blue…

Teaching Technical Writing in a Lab Course in Chemical Engineering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lombardo, Stephen J.

2010-01-01

Techniques are presented for improving the technical writing of chemical engineering students enrolled in an undergraduate laboratory course. The principles of writing covered are adopted from the book, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, by Joseph M. Williams: General examples of writing are taken from this book and then are recast into examples…

Technical Writing Redesign and Assessment: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winter, Gaye Bush

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare scores on writing assignments from traditional, fully online courses in technical writing to pilot, hybrid courses at a southern university. A total of 232 students' assignments were compared in this study. All writing assignments were scored by six trained instructors of English using the same five point…

Cultivating Advanced Technical Writing Skills through a Graduate-Level Course on Writing Research Proposals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCarthy, Brian D.; Dempsey, Jillian L.

2017-01-01

A graduate-level course focused on original research proposals is introduced to address the uneven preparation in technical writing of new chemistry graduate students. This course focuses on writing original research proposals. The general course structure features extensive group discussions, small-group activities, and regular in-class…

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute QEP: Writing across the Curriculum Professional Development Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hampson, Margaret P.

2009-01-01

As part of its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation process, Caldwell Community College (CCC) and Technical Institute's (TI) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), entitled "Enhancing Writing--Write On!" demonstrates the need to improve student writing through multifaceted interventions. The goals of CCC's and TI's…

Teaching audience analysis to the technical student

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Debs, M. B.; Brillhart, L. V.

1981-01-01

Teaching audience analysis, as practiced in a technical writing course for engineering students, is discussed. Audience analysis is described as the task of defining the audience for a particular piece of writing and determining those characteristics of the audience which constrain the writer and effect reception of the message. A mature technical writing style that shows the tension produced when a text is written to be read and understood is considered in terms of audience analysis. Techniques include: (1) conveying to students the concept that a reader with certain expectations exist, (2) team teaching to preserve the context of a given technical discipline, and (3) assigning a technical report that addresses a variety of readers, thus establishing the complexity of audience oriented writing.

Introducing Past and Present Technical Writing into the Freshman Composition Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weaver, Laura H.

Using technical writing in the regular freshman composition course stimulates student interest by having the appeal of novelty and expands the horizons of students in the humanities and the pure and applied sciences. To begin the unit, one might stimulate interest in the content and style of technical writing of the past by using Robert M.…

The Development of a Project-Based Collaborative Technical Writing Model Founded on Learner Feedback in a Tertiary Aeronautical Engineering Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tatzl, Dietmar; Hassler, Wolfgang; Messnarz, Bernd; Fluhr, Holger

2012-01-01

The present article describes and evaluates collaborative interdisciplinary group projects initiated by content lecturers and an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) instructor for the purpose of teaching technical writing skills in an aeronautical engineering degree program. The proposed technical writing model is assessed against the results of a…

Are We "There" Yet? the Treatment of Gender and Feminism in Technical, Business, and Workplace Writing Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Kate; Rumsey, Suzanne Kesler; Amidon, Stevens

2016-01-01

This article reexamines the treatment of gender and feminism in technical, business, and workplace writing studies--areas in which the three of us teach. Surprisingly, the published discourse of our field seems to implicitly minimize the gendered nature of business and technical writing workplaces and classrooms. To understand this apparent lack…

Collaborating with human factors when designing an electronic textbook

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ratner, J.A.; Zadoks, R.I.; Attaway, S.W.

The development of on-line engineering textbooks presents new challenges to authors to effectively integrate text and tools in an electronic environment. By incorporating human factors principles of interface design and cognitive psychology early in the design process, a team at Sandia National Laboratories was able to make the end product more usable and shorten the prototyping and editing phases. A critical issue was simultaneous development of paper and on-line versions of the textbook. In addition, interface consistency presented difficulties with distinct goals and limitations for each media. Many of these problems were resolved swiftly with human factors input using templates,more » style guides and iterative usability testing of both paper and on-line versions. Writing style continuity was also problematic with numerous authors contributing to the text.« less

Quality Multiple-Choice Test Questions: Item-Writing Guidelines and an Analysis of Auditing Testbanks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansen, James D.; Dexter, Lee

1997-01-01

Analysis of test item banks in 10 auditing textbooks found that 75% of questions violated one or more guidelines for multiple-choice items. In comparison, 70% of a certified public accounting exam bank had no violations. (SK)

Assessing Assessment Texts: Where Is Planning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fives, Helenrose; Barnes, Nicole; Dacey, Charity; Gillis, Anna

2016-01-01

We conducted a content analysis of 27 assessment textbooks to determine how assessment planning was framed in texts for preservice teachers. We identified eight assessment planning themes: alignment, assessment purpose and types, reliability and validity, writing goals and objectives, planning specific assessments, unpacking, overall assessment…

Sentence-Combining Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akin, Judy O'Neal

1978-01-01

Sample sentence-combining lessons developed to accompany the first-year A-LM German textbook are presented. The exercises are designed for language manipulation practice; they involve breaking down more complex sentences into simpler sentences and the subsequent recombination into complex sentences. All language skills, and particularly writing,…

Astronomical Book Trek: Astronomy Books of 1983.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraknoi, Andrew

1984-01-01

Presents an annotated list of technical and non-technical astronomy books. Topic areas of non-technical books include general astronomy, amateur astronomy, computers and astronomy, history of astronomy, pseudoscience, space exploration, physics and astronomy, and textbooks. Each entry includes author, title, description, source, and current cost.…

Mentoring disadvantaged nursing students through technical writing workshops.

PubMed

Johnson, Molly K; Symes, Lene; Bernard, Lillian; Landson, Margie J; Carroll, Theresa L

2007-01-01

Recent studies have identified a problematic gap for nursing students between terse clinical writing and formal academic writing. This gap can create a potential barrier to academic and workplace success, especially for disadvantaged nursing students who have not acquired the disciplinary conventions and sophisticated writing required in upper-level nursing courses. The authors demonstrate the need for writing-in-the-discipline activities to enhance the writing skills of nursing students, describe the technical writing workshops they developed to mentor minority and disadvantaged nursing students, and provide recommendations to stimulate educator dialogue across disciplines and institutions.

What Really Happens to Complimentary Textbook Software? A Case Study in Software Utilization.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vernon, Robert F.

1993-01-01

Discussion of complimentary computer software for college-level textbooks focuses on a study that investigated how a complimentary program was used and identified factors that influenced its use or nonuse. Barriers to use are described, including personal, technical, process, political, and economic factors. (Contains four references.) (LRW)

Proficiency Verification Systems (PVS): Skills Indices for Language Arts. Technical Note.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Humes, Ann

The procedures undertaken in developing and organizing skills indexes for use in coding elementary school language arts textbooks to determine what is actually taught are presented in this paper. The outlined procedures included performing a preliminary analysis on four language arts textbooks to compile an extensive list of skills and performance…

Developing Technical Writing Skills in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory: A Progressive Approach Employing Peer Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gragson, Derek E.; Hagen, John P.

2010-01-01

Writing formal "journal-style" lab reports is often one of the requirements chemistry and biochemistry students encounter in the physical chemistry laboratory. Helping students improve their technical writing skills is the primary reason this type of writing is a requirement in the physical chemistry laboratory. Developing these skills is an…

The Great Instauration: Restoring Professional and Technical Writing to the Humanities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Di Renzo, Anthony

If you wish to start an undergraduate professional and technical writing (PTW) program at a small liberal arts college, you will find good arguments for your project in the educational writings of Sir Francis Bacon. This paper gathers some of Bacon's educational ideas from various writings and applies them to the five stages of undergraduate…

The Great Instauration: Restoring Professional and Technical Writing to the Humanities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Di Renzo, Anthony

2002-01-01

Gathers some of Sir Francis Bacon's educational ideas from his various writings and applies them to the five stages of undergraduate professional and technical writing program development: planning, implementation, mission, design and development, staffing, and administration. (SG)

48 CFR 1852.242-70 - Technical direction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Direction (SEP 1993) (a) Performance of the work under this contract is subject to the written technical... the Contracting Officer in writing in accordance with NASA FAR Supplement 1842.270. “Technical... in writing by the COTR. (d) The Contractor shall proceed promptly with the performance of technical...

Reader-Centered Technical Writing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayanan, M.

2012-12-01

Technical writing is an essential part of professional communication and in recent years it has shifted from a genre-based approach. Formerly, technical writing primarily focused on generating templates of documents and sometimes it was creating or reproducing traditional forms with minor modifications and updates. Now, technical writing looks at the situations surrounding the need to write. This involves deep thinking about the goals and objectives of the project on hand. Furthermore, one observes that it is very important for any participatory process to have the full support of management. This support needs to be well understood and believed by employees. Professional writing may be very persuasive in some cases. When presented in the appropriate context, technical writing can persuade a company to improve work conditions ensuring employee safety and timely production. However, one must recognize that lot of professional writing still continues to make use of reports and instruction manuals. Normally, technical and professional writing addresses four aspects. Objective: The need for generating a given professionally written technical document and the goals the document is expected to achieve and accomplish. Clientele: The clientele who will utilize the technical document. This may include the people in the organization. This may also include "unintended readers." Customers: The population that may be affected by the content of the technical document generated. This includes the stakeholders who will be influenced. Environment: The background in which the document is created. Also, the nature of the situation that warranted the generation of the document. Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget's view of Learning focuses on three aspects. The author likes to extend Jean Piaget's ideas to students, who are asked to prepare and submit Reader-Centered Technical Writing reports and exercises. Assimilation: Writers may benefit specifically, by assimilating a new object into an old schema. This reinforces basic engineering and mathematical design concepts. Accommodation: Here, it may work in a different manner. Writers may have to accommodate an old schema to a new object. This helps engineers to focus more on applications. Adaptation: Assimilation and accommodation are the two sides of adaptation, Jean Piaget's term for what most of us would call learning. Mathematical design concepts generated by students should be suitable for creative engineering applications. References : Phillips, D. C. and Soltis, Jonas F. (2003) "Piagetian Structures and Psychological Constructivism," in Perspectives on Learning (4th edition). New York: Teachers College Press. Salvo, Michael J. (2001). Ethics of Engagement: User-Centered Design and Rhetorical Methodology. Technical Communication Quarterly Volume 10, Issue 3, 2001. pages 273-290. http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/piaget.html http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/624/01/

The science writing tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schuhart, Arthur L.

This is a two-part dissertation. The primary part is the text of a science-based composition rhetoric and reader called The Science Writing Tool. This textbook has seven chapters dealing with topics in Science Rhetoric. Each chapter includes a variety of examples of science writing, discussion questions, writing assignments, and instructional resources. The purpose of this text is to introduce lower-division college science majors to the role that rhetoric and communication plays in the conduct of Science, and how these skills contribute to a successful career in Science. The text is designed as a "tool kit," for use by an instructor constructing a science-based composition course or a writing-intensive Science course. The second part of this part of this dissertation reports on student reactions to draft portions of The Science Writing Tool text. In this report, students of English Composition II at Northern Virginia Community College-Annandale were surveyed about their attitudes toward course materials and topics included. The findings were used to revise and expand The Science Writing Tool.

7 CFR 1728.50 - Removal of an item from listing or technical acceptance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... equipment will be notified in writing of a proposal to remove such item from the listing or technical... unanimous, the item will be referred to Technical Standards Committee “B.” Written notice of Technical...” decision, a sponsor may appeal in writing to Technical Standards Committee “B” to review Committee “A's...

The effectiveness of multi modal representation text books to improve student's scientific literacy of senior high school students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakiya, Hanifah; Sinaga, Parlindungan; Hamidah, Ida

2017-05-01

The results of field studies showed the ability of science literacy of students was still low. One root of the problem lies in the books used in learning is not oriented toward science literacy component. This study focused on the effectiveness of the use of textbook-oriented provisioning capability science literacy by using multi modal representation. The text books development method used Design Representational Approach Learning to Write (DRALW). Textbook design which was applied to the topic of "Kinetic Theory of Gases" is implemented in XI grade students of high school learning. Effectiveness is determined by consideration of the effect and the normalized percentage gain value, while the hypothesis was tested using Independent T-test. The results showed that the textbooks which were developed using multi-mode representation science can improve the literacy skills of students. Based on the size of the effect size textbooks developed with representation multi modal was found effective in improving students' science literacy skills. The improvement was occurred in all the competence and knowledge of scientific literacy. The hypothesis testing showed that there was a significant difference on the ability of science literacy between class that uses textbooks with multi modal representation and the class that uses the regular textbook used in schools.

How to develop and write a case for technical writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Couture, B.; Goldstein, J.

1981-01-01

Case of different sizes and shapes for teaching technical writing to engineers at Wayne State University have been developed. The case approach was adopted for some assignments because sophomores and juniors lacked technical expertise and professional knowledge of the engineering world. Cases were found to be good exercises, providing realistic practice in specific writing tasks or isolating particular skills in the composing process. A special kind of case which narrates the experiences of one technical person engaged in the problem-solving process in a professional rhetorical situation was developed. This type of long, realistic fiction is called a an "holistic" case. Rather than asking students to role-play a character, an holistic case realistically encompasses the whole of the technical writing process. It allows students to experience the total communication act in which the technical task and data are fully integrated into the rhetorical situation and gives an opportunity to perform in a realistic context, using skills and knowledge required in communication on the job. It is believed that the holistic case most fully exploits the advantages of the case method for students of professional communication.

Technical Writing: Past, Present, and Future.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathes, J. C., Comp.; Pinelli, Thomas E., Comp.

This compilation of papers addresses the history, present status, and trends of technical and related writing. The first of the eight papers surveys the present environment of the technical report and assesses the effectiveness of the technical report format of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in transmitting information.…

25 CFR 41.10 - Technical assistance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Community College's request in writing. In any case, where the type and source of technical assistance is... for technical assistance under this section shall be made in writing and sent to the applicant within... 25 Indians 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Technical assistance. 41.10 Section 41.10 Indians BUREAU...

48 CFR 2052.215-71 - Project officer authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... directive whatever. (d) All technical directions must be issued in writing by the project officer or must be... advise the contractor in writing that, in the contracting officer's opinion, the technical direction is... subject to the technical direction of the NRC project officer. The term technical direction is defined to...

48 CFR 1052.201-70 - Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) Designation and Authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... in writing. The term “technical direction” includes, without limitation, direction to the contractor... the actions of the contractor's employees. (d) Technical direction may be oral or in writing. The COTR... Technical Representative (COTR) Designation and Authority. 1052.201-70 Section 1052.201-70 Federal...

48 CFR 1552.237-71 - Technical direction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

.... (d) Technical direction will be issued in writing or confirmed in writing within five (5) days after... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 true Technical direction. 1552... Technical direction. As prescribed in 1537.110, insert a clause substantially the same as the following...

Documentation as Problem Solving for Literacy Outreach Programs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Girill, T R

2004-07-06

Age-appropriate technical writing lessons for underperforming high-school students can offer them an innovative, ''authentic'' way to improve how they read and write. Thus the techniques and principles of effective technical communication routinely applied at work also provide a positive response to one of today's great educational challenges. This workshop shows participants how to (1) introduce English and science teachers to the value of technical writing as a response to school literacy problems, (2) prepare plausible practice exercises to help students improve their basic literacy, and (3) recognize and respond to known literacy outreach pitfalls. Every effective literacy outreach project basedmore » on technical writing needs to address four key problems.« less

Historical Writing and Canadian Education from the 1970s to the 1990s.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Axelrod, Paul

1996-01-01

Summarizes the various interpretations and representations of Canadian educational history in textbooks and other scholarly publications from the last 20 years. Charts the appearance in educational history of intellectual and social history, as well as minority and feminist considerations. (MJP)

Teaching Technical Writing and Editing -- In-House Programs That Work. Anthology Series No. 5.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaw, James G., Ed.

The 12 articles in this publication provide indepth treatment of important aspects of in-house training programs for technical writing and editing. The articles deal with the following topics: the value of an in-house writing course, teaching in industry, developing an in-house writing course for engineers and scientists, a new approach to…

Integrate oral communication with technical writing: Towards a rationale

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skelton, T.

1981-01-01

Integrating oral communication and technical writing instruction, to give students the opportunity to learn and practice interpersonal skills, is proposed. By linking speech and writing the importance of small-group interaction in developing transferrable ideas is acknowledged. Three reasons for integration are examined: workday activities, application of role-taking to writing, and conflict resolution. Four advantages of integration are stated.

Writing the Trenches: What Students of Technical Writing and Literature Can Learn Together

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baake, Ken; Shelton, Jen

2017-01-01

We argue for a course in which students analyze writing about a common topic--in this case World War I--from multiple genres (e.g., poetry and technical manuals). We address the divide between instruction in pragmatic and literary writing and calls to bridge that gap. Students working in disparate areas of English learn the strengths and the…

A Preliminary Rhetoric of Technical Copywriting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henson, Leigh

1994-01-01

Discusses the rhetorical elements of technical copywriting, including its shared communicative aims with technical writing; authorship considerations such as ethics, education, and professionalism; and the concerns of promotional strategy, audience analysis, choice of media and materials, writing strategy, and style. (SR)

Technical Communication: Perspectives for the Eighties, Part 1. Proceedings of the Technical Communications Sessions at the 32Nd Annual Meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mathes, J. C. (Compiler); Pinelli, T. E. (Compiler)

1981-01-01

Proceeding of the technical communication sessions at the 32nd annual meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication held in Dallas, Texas, March 26-28, 1981 are summarized. The proceeding suggest that technical communication has become an important subfield and is becoming an intrinsic part of many undergraduate curricula. Technical communication as a separate discipline, however, is relatively new. For that reason, proceedings that can make current research available as quickly as possible are suggested for preparation. The following topics were addressed: (1) a history and definition of technical writing, (2) the case method is technical communication (3) teaching technical writing (4) oral communication and rhetorical theory, and (5) new approaches in and practical applications of technical writing.

The problems inherent in teaching technical writing and report writing to native Americans

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zukowski/faust, J.

1981-01-01

Teaching technical writing to Native Americans contending with a second language and culture is addressed. Learning difficulties arising from differences between native and acquired language and cultural systems are examined. Compartmentalized teaching, which presents the ideals of technical writing in minimal units, and skills development are considered. Rhetorical problems treated include logic of arrangement, selection of support and scope of detail, and time and space. Specific problems selected include the concept of promptness, the contextualization of purpose, interpersonal relationships, wordiness, mixture of registers, and the problem of abstracting. Four inductive procedures for students having writing and perception problems are included. Four sample exercises and a bibliography of 13 references are also included.

Possible Reasons for Students' Ineffective Reading of Their First-Year University Mathematics Textbooks. Technical Report. No. 2011-2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shepherd, Mary D.; Selden, Annie; Selden, John

2011-01-01

This paper reports the observed behaviors and difficulties that eleven precalculus and calculus students exhibited in reading new passages from their mathematics textbooks. To gauge the effectiveness of these students' reading, we asked them to attempt straightforward mathematical tasks, based directly on what they had just read. These …

Difficulties First-Year University Mathematics Students Have in Reading Their Mathematics Textbook. Technical Report. No. 2009-1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shepherd, Mary D.; Selden, Annie; Selden, John

2009-01-01

This exploratory study examined the experiences and difficulties certain first-year university students displayed in reading new passages from their mathematics textbooks. We interviewed eleven precalculus and calculus students who were considered to be good at mathematics, as indicated by high ACT mathematics scores. These students were also …

The Past and Likely Future of an Educational Form: A Textbook Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friesen, Norm

2013-01-01

At a time when it is seen as increasingly "obsolete," this article analyzes the textbook as an evolving pedagogical form, as a changing medium comprised of smaller media components. These components include images, diagrams and also oral prompts, which have changed not so much through technical innovation as in synchrony with larger…

Technical Writing in the Computer Industry: Job Opportunities for PH.D.'s.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turnbull, Andrew D.

1981-01-01

Answers questions about the field of technical writing, especially in the computer industry. Explains what "software" and "software documentation" are, what the "software documentation specialist" (technical writer) does, and how to prepare for such a job. (FL)

Analysis of the Technical Writing Profession through the DACUM Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nolan, Timothy; Green, Marc

To help develop a curriculum program for technical writers, Cincinnati Technical College used the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) method to produce a technical writing skills profile. DACUM develops an occupation analysis through a modified brainstorming process by a panel of expert workers under the direction of a qualified coordinator. This…

A technical writing programme implemented in a first-year engineering course at KU Leuven

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heylen, Christel; Vander Sloten, Jos

2013-12-01

Technical communication and technical writing are important skills for the daily work-life of every engineer. In the first-year engineering programme at KU Leuven, a technical writing programme is implemented within the project-based course 'Problem Solving and Engineering Design'. This paper describes a case study for implementing a writing programme based on active learning methods and situated learning in large classes. The programme consists of subsequent cycles of instructions, learning by doing and reflection on received feedback. In addition, a peer-review assignment, together with an interactive lecture using clicking devices, is incorporated within the assignments of the second semester. A checklist of desired writing abilities makes it easier to grade the large number of papers. Furthermore, this ensures that all staff involved in the evaluation process uses the same criteria to grade and for providing feedback.

The Evolution of a Graduate Writing Program: The Master of Arts in Professional Writing at Carnegie Mellon University. CDC Technical Report No. 33.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, G. H.; Steinberg, E. R.

The Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW) offered by Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) is designed for students who want careers as document designers in industry and government, where they will plan, write, and evaluate computer manuals and on-line documentation, training and instructional materials, technical reports, and a wide…

Ties that Bind: Ancient Epistolography and Modern Business Communication.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagge, John

1989-01-01

Examines the history of business communication principles. Concludes that principles developed for business communication found in early twentieth-century business communication textbooks can be traced to a 2000-year-old tradition of epistolographic writings. Notes that business communication in the twentieth century and the ancient…

What's in a Symbol?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leadstone, Stuart

2013-01-01

This "Science Note" explores the new adaptation of Newton's Second Law of Motion, "F = ma." In older physics and applied mathematics textbooks this expression appears as "P = mf." The author examines why "f" is now favored over "a" and why practitioners write "P = mf" rather than…

An Interdisciplinary Bibliography for Computers and the Humanities Courses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ehrlich, Heyward

1991-01-01

Presents an annotated bibliography of works related to the subject of computers and the humanities. Groups items into textbooks and overviews; introductions; human and computer languages; literary and linguistic analysis; artificial intelligence and robotics; social issue debates; computers' image in fiction; anthologies; writing and the…

Digital Video: Scaffolding Fieldworking Skills for Research Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Remler, Nancy

2011-01-01

While many freshman composition textbooks offer cursory instruction on how to conduct field research, very little information exists on teaching undergraduates field research methods. Such instruction often occurs during graduate school. However, in order to become polished writers and researchers, and to see firsthand how research enhances…

Teaching Ethics across the Public Relations Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutchison, Liese L.

2002-01-01

Suggests ways of incorporating ethics across the undergraduate public relations curriculum. Reviews current coverage of ethics in public relations principles, writing, cases, and textbooks. Suggests other methods that teachers can use to incorporate ethical pedagogical tools in all public relations courses in an effort to develop students' ethical…

An Interpersonal Approach to Writing Negative Messages.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salerno, Douglas

1988-01-01

Asserts that textbook advice regarding buffers and negative messages is simplistic and frequently wrong, and analyses 22 job-refusal letters and their effectiveness. Claims that recent research on cognitive complexity and social perspective-taking suggests the need for more sophisticated audience analysis protocols for dealing with the negative…

The Importance of Accuracy, Stimulating writing, and Relevance in Middle School Science Textbook Writing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubisz, John

2004-05-01

While accuracy in Middle School science texts is most important, the texts should also read well, stimulating the student to want to go on, and the material must be relevant to the subject at hand as the typical student is not yet prepared to ignore that which is irrelevant. We know that children will read if the material is of interest (witness The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter book sales) and so we must write in a way that stimulates the student to want to examine the subject further and eliminate that which adds nothing to the discipline. Examples of the good and the bad will be presented.

Teaching Technical Report Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Pasquale, Joseph A.

1977-01-01

A high school electronics teacher describes the integration of technical report writing in the electronics program for trade and industrial students. He notes that the report writing rather than just recording data seemed to improve student laboratory experience but further improvements in the program are needed. A sample lab report is included.…

Using a Business Framework to Teach Technical Writing to Nonscientists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Devet, Bonnie

2005-01-01

Today, students other than biology, computer science, or physics majors are enrolling in technical writing. English and communication students, seeking lucrative careers as professional writers or editors, are increasingly signing up for the course. Lacking extensive scientific backgrounds, these students may have a difficult time writing about…

CuboCube: Student creation of a cancer genetics e-textbook using open-access software for social learning.

PubMed

Seid-Karbasi, Puya; Ye, Xin C; Zhang, Allen W; Gladish, Nicole; Cheng, Suzanne Y S; Rothe, Katharina; Pilsworth, Jessica A; Kang, Min A; Doolittle, Natalie; Jiang, Xiaoyan; Stirling, Peter C; Wasserman, Wyeth W

2017-03-01

Student creation of educational materials has the capacity both to enhance learning and to decrease costs. Three successive honors-style classes of undergraduate students in a cancer genetics class worked with a new software system, CuboCube, to create an e-textbook. CuboCube is an open-source learning materials creation system designed to facilitate e-textbook development, with an ultimate goal of improving the social learning experience for students. Equipped with crowdsourcing capabilities, CuboCube provides intuitive tools for nontechnical and technical authors alike to create content together in a structured manner. The process of e-textbook development revealed both strengths and challenges of the approach, which can inform future efforts. Both the CuboCube platform and the Cancer Genetics E-textbook are freely available to the community.

CuboCube: Student creation of a cancer genetics e-textbook using open-access software for social learning

PubMed Central

Seid-Karbasi, Puya; Ye, Xin C.; Zhang, Allen W.; Gladish, Nicole; Cheng, Suzanne Y. S.; Rothe, Katharina; Pilsworth, Jessica A.; Kang, Min A.; Doolittle, Natalie; Jiang, Xiaoyan; Stirling, Peter C.; Wasserman, Wyeth W.

2017-01-01

Student creation of educational materials has the capacity both to enhance learning and to decrease costs. Three successive honors-style classes of undergraduate students in a cancer genetics class worked with a new software system, CuboCube, to create an e-textbook. CuboCube is an open-source learning materials creation system designed to facilitate e-textbook development, with an ultimate goal of improving the social learning experience for students. Equipped with crowdsourcing capabilities, CuboCube provides intuitive tools for nontechnical and technical authors alike to create content together in a structured manner. The process of e-textbook development revealed both strengths and challenges of the approach, which can inform future efforts. Both the CuboCube platform and the Cancer Genetics E-textbook are freely available to the community. PMID:28267757

Technical Writing across the Curriculum: Epics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olds, Barbara M.

Noting that technically competent graduates of professional schools need additional skills to function effectively in an increasingly complex and global society, this paper describes an innovative program in technical writing developed for undergraduate engineering students at the Colorado School of Mines. The paper first provides background…

Communication. Listen, Speak, Write, Use.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. School of Business.

This instructional unit is intended for use in helping secondary and postsecondary business students develop their communications skills. The course is designed to be taught in six weeks in conjunction with the sixth edition of "Business English and Communication," a textbook published by McGraw-Hill. Chapters addressing listening, speaking,…

Media Studies: Texts and Supplements.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curriculum Review, 1979

1979-01-01

The 24 reviews in this article include textbooks on journalism and media studies; multimedia kits on advertising, TV news, reporting, and the "grammar" of media; resources on making ad interpreting films in the classroom; supplements on writing for both print and nonprint media; and professional references on improving visual literacy. (Editor)

Constructing Histories on Television: Reading the Country.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Craik, Jennifer

The current tension in the writing of histories has been between the defense of "textbook" histories--i.e., the conventional approach which focuses on great events, great individuals, and great collectivities--and progressive--i.e., populist or alternative histories which focus on ordinary people. A new form has been engineered by…

Opening Mathematics Texts: Resisting the Seduction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, David

2012-01-01

This analysis of the writing in a grade 7 mathematics textbook distinguishes between closed texts and open texts, which acknowledge multiple possibilities. I use tools that have recently been applied in mathematics contexts, focussing on grammatical features that include personal pronouns, modality, and types of imperatives, as well as on…

Anthropology's "Spoiler Role" and "New" Multicultural Textbooks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolcott, Harry F.

1981-01-01

Publishers' requests to review educators' manuscripts on the pedagogy of pluralism have prompted the author to write this paper in which he takes on the anthropological "spoiler role," contradicting generalizations in the texts by providing exceptions from ethnographic research. Admitting to some personal biases about education texts in general…

Writing for the Robot: How Employer Search Tools Have Influenced Resume Rhetoric and Ethics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amare, Nicole; Manning, Alan

2009-01-01

To date, business communication scholars and textbook writers have encouraged resume rhetoric that accommodates technology, for example, recommending keyword-enhancing techniques to attract the attention of searchbots: customized search engines that allow companies to automatically scan resumes for relevant keywords. However, few scholars have…

Cheating the Business Template: Filling in the Blanks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mechenbier, Mahli Xuan

2011-01-01

Business professionals often use standard templates when composing documents, and teachers of business writing direct students to textbook examples to use as sample formats. Good instructors do want to provide their students with informative examples of what is expected, especially in an online course environment where students cannot raise their…

How Do Academic Disciplines Use PowerPoint?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrett, Nathan

2016-01-01

How do academic disciplines use PowerPoint? This project analyzed PowerPoint files created by an academic publisher to supplement textbooks. An automated analysis of 30,263 files revealed clear differences by disciplines. Single-paradigm "hard" disciplines used less complex writing but had more words than multi-paradigm "soft"…

A Canon for Argumentation?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beason, Larry

1997-01-01

Composition teachers are faced with so many writing textbooks on the market that it indeed seems useful to examine them in detail, looking for any distinguishing characteristics as well as commonalities. A content analysis focused on one aspect of the 24 argument texts available: the sample arguments they include. The texts contained a grand total…

The Many Faces of Censorship.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peck, Richard

1999-01-01

An author of 26 books for young adults writes about different forms of censorship including rewriting history textbooks and parents who censor themselves by not staying in touch with their children. Citing Cormier's "The Chocolate War" and Golding's "Lord of the Flies" and making reference to the Colulmbine school murders, he illustrates the…

Cultural Studies and Curricular Change.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carr, Jean Ferguson

1990-01-01

The renaming of literature appreciation as cultural studies marks a rethinking of what is experienced as cultural materials, going beyond reading and writing to media, popular culture, newspapers, advertising, textbooks, and advice manuals. It also marks the movement away from the study of an object to the study of criticism. (MSE)

Teaching about the Middle East in Elementary Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marek, Rosanne J.

1983-01-01

Most elementary teachers are inadequately prepared to teach about the Middle East. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that elementary texts dehumanize Middle Eastern peoples by reducing them to mere caricatures. Needed are the involvement of Middle Eastern studies experts in writing textbooks and the improvement of teacher's manuals. (RM)

Michigan School Privatization Survey 2016. A Mackinac Center Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hohman, James M.; Cammenga, Janelle

2016-01-01

Public school districts are government entities, but they rely on the private sector to support their function of delivering educational services to students. Private contractors, for example, construct district buildings, write textbooks and manufacture the supplies necessary to keep the district operational, among other things. And over the past…

An Integrated Textbook, Video, and Software Environment for Novice and Expert Prolog Programmers. Technical Report No. 23.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eisenstadt, Marc; Brayshaw, Mike

This paper describes a Prolog execution model which serves as the uniform basis of textbook material, video-based teaching material, and an advanced graphical user interface for Prolog programmers. The model, based upon an augmented AND/OR tree representation of Prolog programs, uses an enriched "status box" in place of the traditional…

9 CFR 351.14 - Processes to be supervised; extent of examinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

....3 for the preparation of certified technical animal fat and the plant operator, in writing... and technical animal fats, and the plant operator, in writing, certifies that he is maintaining this... AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATION OF TECHNICAL ANIMAL FATS FOR EXPORT...

Some Characteristics and Writing Problems of Technically Oriented Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruehr, Ruthann

An understanding of the writing problems and personalities of some of the technically oriented students at Michigan Technological University may help others who teach similar students. Although their scores on aptitude tests are high, these students have had very little experience in writing. In addition, the majority of the students have had very…

Assessing Technical Writing in Institutional Contexts: Using Outcomes-Based Assessment for Programmatic Thinking.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Michael; Anson, Chris M.; Miller, Carolyn R.

2003-01-01

Notes that technical writing instruction often operates in isolation from other components of students' communication education. Argues for altering this isolation by moving writing instruction to a place of increased programmatic perspective, which may be attained through a means of assessment based on educational outcomes. Discusses two models…

Technical Writing Resources. A Handbook for Engineering and Technology Faculty at Purdue.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheek, Madelon

Ideas for technical writing assistance and resources that are available to Purdue University faculty who incorporate a writing component into their courses are presented in this guide. Following an introduction containing the purpose, background, and scope of the guide, three main topics and their subtopics form the guide's structure: (1)…

Examining the literacy component of science literacy: 25 years of language arts and science research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yore, Larry D.; Bisanz, Gay L.; Hand, Brian M.

2003-06-01

This review, written to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Journal of Science Education, revealed a period of changes in the theoretical views of the language arts, the perceived roles of language in science education, and the research approaches used to investigate oral and written language in science, science teaching, and learning. The early years were dominated by behavioralist and logico-mathematical interpretations of human learning and by reductionist research approaches, while the later years reflected an applied cognitive science and constructivist interpretations of learning and a wider array of research approaches that recognizes the holistic nature of teaching and learning. The early years focus on coding oral language into categories reflecting source of speech, functional purpose, level of question and response, reading research focused on the readability of textbooks using formulae and the reader's decoding skills, and writing research was not well documented since the advocates for writing in service of learning were grass roots practitioners and many science teachers were using writing as an evaluation technique. The advent of applied cognitive science and the constructivist perspectives ushered in interactive-constructive models of discourse, reading and writing that more clearly revealed the role of language in science and in science teaching and learning. A review of recent research revealed that the quantity and quality of oral interactions were low and unfocused in science classrooms; reading has expanded to consider comprehension strategies, metacognition, sources other than textbooks, and the design of inquiry environments for classrooms; and writing-to-learn science has focused on sequential writing tasks requiring transformation of ideas to enhance science learning. Several promising trends and future research directions flow from the synthesis of this 25-year period of examining the literacy component of science literacy - among them are critical listening and reading of various sources, multi-media presentations and representations, effective debate and argument, quality explanation and the role of information and communication technologies/environments.

Writing an Electronic Astronomy Book with Interactive Curricular Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, Kristen L.; Belloni, Mario; Christian, Wolfgang

2015-01-01

With the rise of tablets, the past few years have seen an increase in the demand for quality electronic textbooks. Unfortunately, most of the current offerings do not exploit the accessibility and interactivity that electronic books can deliver. In this poster, we discuss how we are merging our curriculum development projects (Physlets, Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations, and Open Source Physics) with the EPUB electronic book format to develop an interactive textbook for use in a one-semester introductory astronomy course. The book, Astronomy: An Interactive Introduction, combines the narrative, equations, and images of a traditional astronomy text with new JavaScript simulations.

My Career and the "Rhetoric of" Technical Writing and Communication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schuster, Mary Lay

2015-01-01

This article traces the history of Mary Schuster's career in technical writing and communication from 1968 when she took a position in the Publications Department at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to her work at "Technical Communication Quarterly" ("TCQ") in 2003 and forward. She discusses the…

New Perspectives on the Technical Communication Internship: Professionalism in the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bourelle, Tiffany

2014-01-01

This article argues for developing linked courses in technical communication where the instructor facilitates a service-learning curriculum and then serves as faculty advisor within subsequent internships. In these linked courses, students write technical documents before moving into internships where they write similar documents. Specifically,…

The composing process in technical communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hertz, V. L.

1981-01-01

The theoretical construct under which technical writing exercises operate and results from a survey distributed to a random sample of teachers of technical writing are described. The survey, part of a study to develop materials that did not stress prescriptive formats, drew on diverse elements in report writing to enhance writing as a process. Areas of agreement and disagreement related to problem solving, paper evaluation, and individualizing instruction were surveyed. Areas of concern in contemplating the composition process include: (1) the need to create an environment that helps students want to succeed, (2) the role of peer group activity in helping some students who might not respond through lecture or individual study, and (3) encouraging growth in abilities and helping motivate students' interest in writing projects through relevant assignments or simulations students perceive as relevant.

Increasing Student Interaction in Technical Writing Courses in Online Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Virtue, Drew

2017-01-01

This article examines how the levels of student interaction change through the use of small groups and moderators in online writing courses. The study examines three technical and professional online writing courses: one course that employs small groups and group moderators and two courses that have no small groups or moderators. The results of…

A Pox on Pithy Prescriptions. CDC Technical Report No. 9.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steinberg, Erwin R.

Intended for writing teachers, this paper shows how "pithy prescriptions" for writing, such as "use definite, specific, concrete language," can be misleading or wrong. To support this thesis, the paper examines a technical writing book advocating short sentences and finds that it has sentences averaging 27.8 words in one section and 30.18 in…

Relevance in Basic Composition: Writing Assignments for Technical Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tichenor, Stuart

Generally, students in vocational and technical colleges are in writing classes because they must be, not because they want to be. As a rule, students in basic composition classes have been more or less continually exposed to writing classes since middle school where they been asked to keep journals, read articles and short stories, and write…

Learning terms and definitions: Drawing and the role of elaborative encoding.

PubMed

Wammes, Jeffrey D; Meade, Melissa E; Fernandes, Myra A

2017-09-01

Traditionally, students adopt the strategy of taking written notes when attending a class or learning from a textbook in educational settings. Informed by previous work showing that learning by doing improves memory performance, we examined whether drawing to-be-remembered definitions from university textbooks would improve later memory, relative to a more typical strategy of rote transcription. Participants were asked to either write out the definition, or to draw a picture representative of the definition. Results indicated that drawing, relative to verbatim writing, conferred a reliable memorial benefit that was robust, even when participants' preexisting familiarity with the terms was included as a covariate (in Experiment 1) or when the to-be-remembered terms and definitions were fictitious, thus removing the influence of familiarity (in Experiment 2). We reasoned that drawing likely facilitates retention at least in part because at encoding, participants must retain and elaborate upon information regarding the meaning of the definition, to translate it into a new form (a picture). This is not the case when participants write out the definitions verbatim. In Experiment 3 we showed that paraphrasing during encoding, which, like drawing and in contrast with verbatim writing, requires self-generated elaboration, led to memory performance that was comparable to drawing. Taken together, results suggest that drawing is a powerful tool which improves memory, and that drawing produces a similar level of retention as does paraphrasing. This suggests that elaborative encoding plays a critical role in the memorial benefit that drawing confers to memory for definitions of academic terms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scientific and Technical Chinese, Volume I. A Textbook of Twenty-One Lessons and Supplementary Readings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kao, Kung-yi; And Others

An intermediate-level textbook intended for those who have had at least 2 1/2 years of Chinese language study is presented. The objective of the text is to assist in developing the reading and conversational skills required for dealing with general topics in the pure and applied sciences. Common terms and concepts from three general fields (Life…

Tracing the Roots of Textbook Study Systems: An Extended Historical Perspective. College Reading and Learning Assistance Technical Report 86-02.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stahl, Norman A.; Henk, William A.

Francis P. Robinson's 1946 text, "Effective Study," first presented his Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review (SQ3R) study system, which is held to be the most widely advocated textbook study system. This paper traces the development of the ideas behind the SQ3R. SQ3R's theoretical foundation began with work in…

Teaching Intracultural and Intercultural Communication: A Critique and Suggested Method.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeVoss, Danielle; Jasken, Julia; Hayden, Dawn

2002-01-01

Summarizes recent literature about the importance of paying attention to intercultural communication. Analyzes the productive approaches in popular business and technical communication textbooks. Presents five challenges for business and technical communication teachers to consider. Includes teaching modules that address these challenges. Notes…

76 FR 44958 - Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement-Quarterly Publication of a “Corrections Mental Health...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-27

... Agreements,'' which will be included in the award package); (2) Adhere to best practices in technical writing... there evidence of experience in corrections, mental health, or technical writing that would demonstrate... at http://www.nicic.gov . All technical or programmatic questions concerning this announcement should...

The Voice of the Technical Writer.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Euler, James S.

The author's voice is implicit in all writing, even technical writing. It is the expression of the writer's attitude toward audience, subject matter, and self. Effective use of voice is made possible by recognizing the three roles of the technical writer: transmitter, translator, and author. As a transmitter, the writer must consciously apply an…

Using Niche-Market Magazines to Teach Audience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tichenor, Stuart

2006-01-01

In technical writing classes, audience is one of the most important concepts. Technical writing is typically written to a specific audience for a specific purpose. In addition, as audiences change, so must the way a document is written. An audience's lack of knowledge in a technical area, for example, would require more background information or…

Some Research Centers for Plasma Physics and Solid State Physics in the Netherlands and Belgium. Part II. Belgium,

DTIC Science & Technology

plasma column and observed the interesting phenomenon of plasma ejection. At FUB, Balescu and Prigogine direct a group of sixty theoreticians doing...outstanding work in statistical physics. Balescu is writing another graduate textbook on non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. He is tackling the

Teaching Journalism Students about Confidential Whistleblower Sources: An Analysis of Introductory News Writing Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huxford, John; Moore, Maria A.

2011-01-01

Whistleblowers are a key journalistic source for many current news stories. However, reporters pursuing these major stories must navigate the dilemma between transparent full disclosure and protecting their confidential source. Professional journalists begin their journey as students, and students begin their journey in the classroom with a…

Leon Cooper's Perspective on Teaching Science: An Interview Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Niaz, Mansoor; Klassen, Stephen; McMillan, Barbara; Metz, Don

2010-01-01

The authors of this paper portray the perspective of Professor Leon Cooper, a theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate, active researcher, and physics textbook author, on teaching science and on the nature of science (NOS). The views presented emerged from an interview prepared by the authors and responded to in writing by Professor Cooper. Based on…

Using Teacher-Developed Corpora in the CBI Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salsbury, Tom; Crummer, Crista

2008-01-01

This article argues for the use of teacher-generated corpora in content-based courses. Using a content course for engineering and architecture students as an example, the article explains how a corpus consisting of texts from textbooks and journal articles helped students learn grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The article explains how the corpus…

When Freshmen Write History: Text and Subtext.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramsay, John G.

1989-01-01

Reviews a college freshmen history seminar project in which students wrote, illustrated, and prepared a U.S. history textbook on the 1950s and 1960s. Reflecting on the resulting text, Ramsay questions whether students succumbed to the didactic fallacy; and cites a lack of cohesiveness, but praises the project's value as a teaching exercise. (LS)

Are We Educating Educators about Academic Integrity? A Study of UK Higher Education Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ransome, Josie; Newton, Philip M.

2018-01-01

A substantial proportion of university students report committing plagiarism and related forms of misconduct. An academic integrity-focused approach to addressing plagiarism emphasises the promotion of positive values alongside education of staff and students about good, and bad, practice in writing, studying and assessment design. The concept was…

Report of the Eighth Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, August 5-10, 1984.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of Chemical Education, 1985

1985-01-01

Provides highlights of lectures, workshops, papers, and symposia presented at a conference which addressed such areas of chemical education as college/high school chemistry teaching; curriculum/curriculum development; safety; two-year programs; computers; toxicology and health hazards; problem-solving; writing skills development; textbooks;…

Competencia Comunicativa em Portuges (Communicative Competence in Portuguese).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paiva, Ricardo

A textbook designed to give speech and writing practice to intermediate and advanced students of Portuguese as a second language includes 14 units intended to cover two semesters' work with approximately five hours per week of instruction. The units typically include: a text forming the basis for free conversation and practice of language…

The Promise of AP World History

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saldaña, Cristóbal T.

2013-01-01

AP World History is the ideal history course. It introduces students to 10,000 years of world history, and demands critical reading, critical writing, and critical thinking skills on the part of both the teacher and the students. It requires students to build their expertise in reading their textbook, and places demands on the teacher to assign…

The Use of Popular Science Articles in Teaching Scientific Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parkinson, Jean; Adendorff, Ralph

2004-01-01

This article considers the use of popular science articles in teaching scientific literacy. Comparing the discourse features of popular science with research article and textbook science--the last two being target forms for students--it argues that popular science articles cannot serve as models for scientific writing. It does, however, suggest…

Teaching Geometry through Problem-Based Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schettino, Carmel

2011-01-01

About seven years ago, the mathematics teachers at the author's secondary school came to the conclusion that they were not satisfied with their rather traditional geometry textbook. The author had already begun using a problem-based approach to teaching geometry in her classes, a transition for her and her students that inspired her to write about…

Once More to the Essay: Prose Models, Textbooks, and Teaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Root, Robert L., Jr.

A study of 24 composition anthologies that reprinted E. B. White's "Once More to the Lake" reveals a number of disturbing assumptions among the editors of these anthologies. Four areas of examinations were concentrated on: (1) classifications of White's essay; (2) thematic categories; (3) suggestions for writing; (4) study apparatuses;…

Syntactic Enhancement and Second Language Literacy: An Experimental Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Park, Youngmin; Warschauer, Mark

2016-01-01

This experimental study examined how the reading and writing development of sixth-grade L2 students was affected by syntactic enhancement. Visual-syntactic text formatting (VSTF) technology, which visualizes syntactic structures, was used to convert a textbook to the one with syntactic enhancement. The sample (n = 282), which was drawn from a…

Constructing a Writer's Voice: Ethos, Tim Cahill, and the Jonestown Massacre

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Rich

2007-01-01

For over twenty years, Tim Cahill's writing has appeared in popular publications such as "Outside" and "Rolling Stone," and in many academic contexts, ranging from remedial and freshman composition textbooks to the use of his novels and short story collections in a variety of upper division literary courses. Cahill, then, is a…

Intertextuality and Business Communication Textbooks: Why Students Need More Textual Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bremner, Stephen

2008-01-01

The intertextual nature of workplace writing is well attested, and the efficacy of intertextuality as a tool for investigating the ways in which genres are linked in workplace settings is also recognized (Berkenkotter, 2001; Bhatia, 2004). Intertextuality not only accounts for the links between texts, but is also an important factor influencing…

Integrating writing research with curricular development in large-enrollment introductory physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demaree, Dedra

2008-05-01

Multiple research projects have been undertaken as part of an ongoing study to develop methods to do quantitative assessment of writing to learn within physics. The ability to make use of writing to learn at first glance appears limited in large-enrollment courses due to the time-intensive nature of essay writing and grading. However, effective ways to implement writing are quite possible. One study that will be discussed required students to do textbook summary writing in introductory physics in the 2007 spring semester of the ``Foundation Physics Course'' at the University of Cape Town. This course is a component of the special access program which contains mostly second language English speakers. Another use of writing will be reported that is currently being used in the introductory physics course at Oregon State University as a way to enhance problem solving. This project is also aimed at scaffolding students toward goals in our upper division courses. This talk will report on some of what we know about writing to learn, how we are working to improve ways to study it quantitatively, and how we are incorporating some aspects of it in accessible ways in large-enrollment introductory courses.

In der fachsprachlichen Didaktik ist der "fachneutrale" Vorkurs ein Umweg (In Teaching Technical Language, a "Neutral Area" Course is an Evasion)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Becker, Norbert

1974-01-01

In learning to read technical language, texts in specialized technical fields are preferable to "neutral area" or popular science texts. Assorted textbooks are suggested, along with suitable types of exercises and their use. Model preparatory exercises and model drills are included. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A Real-Life Basis for Reports in Business and Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephenson, William

1987-01-01

For students who have difficulty finding material for writing formal business and technical reports, suggests keeping a file folder of clippings about new products and services taken from a leading newspaper.(NH)

Electronic textbooks as a professional resource after dental school.

PubMed

Bates, Michael L; Strother, Elizabeth A; Brunet, Darlene P; Gallo, John R

2012-05-01

In two previous studies of dental students' attitudes about the VitalSource Bookshelf, a digital library of dental textbooks, students expressed negative opinions about owning and reading electronic textbooks. With the assumption that dentists would find the digital textbooks useful for patient care, the authors surveyed recent graduates to determine if their attitude toward the VitalSource Bookshelf had changed. A brief survey was sent to 119 alumni from the classes of 2009 and 2010 of one U.S. dental school. Forty-seven (39.5 percent) completed the questionnaire. Eighteen respondents (48.3 percent) reported using the e-textbooks often or sometimes. The twenty-nine dentists who said they have not used the collection since graduation reported preferring print books or other online sources or having technical problems when downloading the books to a new computer. Only five respondents selected the VitalSource Bookshelf as a preferred source of professional information. Most of the respondents reported preferring to consult colleagues (37.8 percent), the Internet (20 percent), or hardcopy books (17.8 percent) for information. When asked in an open-ended question to state their opinion of the Bookshelf, nineteen (42.2 percent) responded positively, but almost one-third of these only liked the search feature. Six respondents reported that they never use the program. Twenty-two said they have had technical problems with the Bookshelf, including fifteen who have not been able to install it on a new computer. Many of them said they have not followed up with either the dental school or VitalSource support services to overcome this problem. Our study suggests that dentists, similar to dental students, dislike reading electronic textbooks, even with the advantage of searching a topic across more than sixty dental titles.

Report Writing for Technical Staff. P.R.I.D.E. People Retraining for Industry Excellence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burt, Lorna

This guide, part of a series of workplace-developed materials for retraining factory workers, provides teaching materials for a workplace course in report writing skills for technical staff. The course has been designed to help new engineers with all aspects of report writing. It covers the outline and structure of reports, brainstorming,…

Using sentence combining in technical writing classes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosner, M.; Paul, T.

1981-01-01

Sentence combining exercises are advanced as a way to teach technical writing style without reliance upon abstractions, from which students do not learn. Such exercises: (1) give students regular writing practice; (2) teach the logic of sentence structure, sentence editing, and punctuation; (3) paragraph development and organization; and (4) rhetorical stance. Typical sentence, paragraph, and discourse level sentence combining exercises are described.

Science and thinking: The write connection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, Gene

1991-09-01

The effective use of writing in science instruction may open the way for students to grow in their ability to exercise higher order thinking skills (Bland & Koppel, 1988). Scinto (1986) makes a compelling case for writing as a means of stimulating thinking when he states: The production of written text demands more elaborate strategies of preplanning. Written language demands the conscious organization of ensembles of propositions to achieve its end. The need to manipulate linguistic means in such a conscious and deliberate fashion entails a level of linguistic self-reflection not called forth in oral discourse (p. 101). Science educators may find that the writing process is one technique to help them move away from the teacher-centered, textbook-driven science classroom of today, and move toward the realization of science education which will ensure that students are able to function as scientifically literate citizens in our contemporary society.

Aligning Theme and Information Structure to Improve the Readability of Technical Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, N. A. J.

2006-01-01

The readability of technical writing, and technical manuals in particular, especially for second language readers, can be noticeably improved by pairing Theme with Given and Rheme with New. This allows for faster processing of text and easier access to the "method of development" of the text. Typical Theme-Rheme patterns are described, and the…

Writing in the Field of Education: The "Inquiry" on Portuguese Schools (1875)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magalhães, Justino

2016-01-01

Writing is basically representation. Ways of writing have evolved and become adapted to circumstances and needs at material, symbolic, formal, technical, social and cultural levels. Moreover, there are forms of writing within educational writing. In the history of educational writing, it is possible to identify and distinguish educational writing,…

Unified Technical Concepts. Application Modules Volume II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

Unified Technical Concepts (UTC) is a modular system for teaching applied physics in two-year postsecondary technician programs. This UTC laboratory textbook, the second of two volumes, consists of 45 learning modules dealing with basic concepts of physics. Addressed in the individual chapters of the guide are the following topics: force…

Unified Technical Concepts. Physics for Technicians.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

Unified Technical Concepts (UTC) is a modular system for teaching applied physics in two-year postsecondary programs. This UTC classroom textbook, consisting of 14 chapters, deals with physics for technicians. Addressed in the individual chapters of the guide are the following topics: force, work, rate, momentum, resistance, power, potential and…

Unified Technical Concepts. Math for Technicians.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

Unified Technical Concepts (UTC) is a modular system for teaching applied physics in two-year postsecondary technician programs. This UTC classroom textbook, consisting of 10 chapters, deals with mathematical concepts as they apply to the study of physics. Addressed in the individual chapters of the text are the following topics: angles and…

Supplementing Tribal Culture Using Technical Writing Basics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tichenor, Stuart

2008-01-01

Using technical writing basics, a cohort of Lighthorse Police Officers from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation added to their tribe's cultural history by recording part of their family and clan history as well as documenting their law enforcement careers and education.

America Inc.: John Dos Passos'"USA" as Professional Writing Textbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Di Renzo, Anthony

While working as a special consultant for General Mills in 1948, John Dos Passos wrote a report explaining the latest scientific research and technological advancements and how the postwar economy was affecting General Mills and the cereal market. General Mills, using a real writer for a corporate freelance, profited from Dos Passos' expertise and…

Rereading Multicultural Readers: What Definition of Multicultural Are We Buying?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shapiro, Nancy

A flood of new multicultural readers and textbooks are hitting the market for writing and literature courses at the college level. Yet there has been no systematic examination of how these readers are being used, the purposes and audiences for which they are written, or the critical reception they have received. Multicultural readers distinguish…

What I Learned at the NCSS Annual Meeting--2008 Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Risinger, C. Frederick

2009-01-01

This is the author's third time writing a column on Internet-focused sessions and exhibit resources at the NCSS annual meeting, which, this past November, met in Houston. One of the features that most impresses teachers who participate at the NCSS annual meeting is the exhibit hall, with hundreds of booths representing textbook and trade book…

Understanding the Conceptual and Language Challenges Encountered by Grade 4 Students When Writing Scientific Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seah, Lay Hoon

2016-01-01

This study is an attempt to examine the use of linguistic resources by primary science students so as to understand the conceptual and language demands encountered by them when constructing written explanations. The students' written explanations and the instructional language (whole-class discussion and textbook) employed over the topic, the life…

Leaders for Literacy: Papers from the Conference (1st, Oxford, Ohio, June 20-23, 1988).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berger, Allen, Ed.

The 10 papers collected in this book deal with reading and writing instruction, the relationship between teachers and researchers, the role of the school administration in promoting literacy, the dangers of inappropriate standards, using poetry to improve literacy, and textbook adoptions. Papers include: (1) "Knowing What to Do--And Doing…

Programmed Course in Modern Literary Arabic Phonology and Script.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCarus, Ernest; Rammuny, Raji

Three sets of instructional materials for the teaching of Arabic phonology and script have been prepared on the basis of studies of (1) the phonologies of American English and Modern Literary Arabic (MLA), (2) the MLA writing system, and (3) the vocabularies of 11 Arabic textbooks used in the United States. The effectiveness of these materials was…

Writers Handbook for the Development of Educational Materials. Bulletin, 1959, No. 19

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nolen, Barbara; Goetz, Delia

1959-01-01

This "Writers' Handbook" was prepared in response to the many requests for "a book that tells how to write textbooks and other educational materials for schools." These requests have come from educators of other countries as well as from the United States. The authors believe that the handbook holds valuable information and suggestions for heads…

Complexities in the Examination of Opportunity Cost

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Donnell, Rod

2016-01-01

Rod O'Donnell writes here that there is a wide and deep confusion in contemporary economics about the concept and role of opportunity cost (OC). O'Donnell states that his main grounds for making this claim are the muddled, variable, and sometimes conflicting treatments of OC in modern textbooks; the disturbing empirical results in surveys of both…

The Roots of a Dynasty: The Rise of Warriner's "Grammar and Composition."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johannessen, Larry R.

Noting the popularity and wide use of John Warriner's series of English grammar and composition textbooks and workbooks for high school students (first published in 1948), this paper argues that rhetorical theory informs the series, despite Warriner's claims that his approach was based on axioms of writing instruction. The paper also speculates on…

Prentice Hall/Pearson Literature© (2007-15). What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2017

2017-01-01

"Prentice Hall/Pearson Literature©" (2007-15) is an English language arts curriculum designed for students in grades 6-12 that focuses on building reading, vocabulary, literary analysis, and writing skills. It uses passages from fiction and nonfiction texts, poetry, and contemporary digital media. The curriculum is based on a textbook.…

Beyond Cultureblindness: A Model of Culture with Implications for Gifted Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Donna Y.; Moore, James L., III; Milner, H. Richard

2005-01-01

We are fond of stating that "what is valued and viewed as gifted in one culture may not be considered gifted in another culture." This assertion appears in gifted education textbooks and in the writings of several scholars. However, beyond stating this assertion and providing a few examples to support it, scholars in gifted education, ourselves…

The Joy of Teaching and Writing Conceptual Physics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hewitt, Paul G.

2011-01-01

When I began teaching at City College of San Francisco in 1964, I fell in love with a 1960 text-book that addressed non-science students, "Physics for the Inquiring Mind," written by British-born physicist Eric M. Rogers, who taught physics at Princeton University and who later won the 1969 Oersted Medal of the American Association of…

Textbook and Course Materials for 21-127 "Concepts of Mathematics"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sullivan, Brendan W.

2013-01-01

Concepts of Mathematics (21-127 at CMU) is a course designed to introduce students to the world of abstract mathematics, guiding them from more calculation-based math (that one learns in high school) to higher mathematics, which focuses more on abstract thinking, problem solving, and writing "proofs." This transition tends to be a shock:…

Reflecting on 25 Years of Teaching, Researching, and Textbook Writing for Introduction to Management: An Essay with Some Lessons Learned

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dyck, Bruno

2017-01-01

This essay describes innovations made and lessons learned while teaching introduction to management courses during a 25-year career. The essay describes how teaching two approaches to management increases students' critical and ethical thinking, and reverses the tendency for business students to become increasingly materialistic and…

Collaborative Writing: Bridging the Gap between the Textbook and the Workplace

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bremner, Stephen

2010-01-01

A key challenge facing professional communication teachers is the need to bridge the gap between the culture of the classroom and the reality of the workplace. One area of difference between the two contexts is the way in which collaborative activities surrounding the construction of written text are enacted. Differences in collaborative practices…

Proof and Reasoning in Secondary School Algebra Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dituri, Philip

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the modeling of deductive reasoning and proof-type thinking occurs in a mathematics course in which students are not explicitly preparing to write formal mathematical proofs. Algebra was chosen because it is the course that typically directly precedes a student's first formal…

Curriculum Reform and the Writing of High School History Textbooks in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Qi

2010-01-01

The world has changed rapidly since the end of the Cold War. Globalization demands a much higher intellectual standard of people in a country. At the same time, the trend toward pluralistic cultures in many countries has lessened confrontations among peoples of different ideologies. Compared with the twentieth century, in this new era, the peoples…

Incorporating Women and Crime Topics into Criminology Classes: Assignments, Exercises, and Projects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wright, Richard A.

1987-01-01

Recommends a variety of books, assignments, exercises, and projects which can be incorporated into introductory criminology classes to compensate for the omission of topics on women and crime in textbooks and curricula. Includes a list of potential topics for writing assignments and a selection of films covering such topics as sexual harassment,…

Investigation of four problems on the units of Force and Motion with Pressure and Buoyancy in the secondary school physics textbooks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavcar, Nevzat; Kaya, Uǧur

2017-02-01

In the study the four problems defined on three units in the textbooks in accordance with the 2013 Secondary School Physics Curriculum have been investigated. The study carried out in the Spring semester of education year 2015 - 2016, within the scope of an undergraduate course. Method of the study is the descriptive model based on qualitative research technics. The data collection instruments were textbook evaluation reports prepared by the participants and pre -service teachers, and presentations reflecting teachers' and pre-service teachers' ideas on the textbooks. A document analysis was conducted by means of these data collection tools. It has been concluded that in the related units a significant shortcoming is not found regarding being student-centered, activity-based and contex-based approximations. However, some shortcomings were found in activity-gain concordance with assessment and evaluation applications. On the basis of the collected data, some recommendations for improving the textbooks have been presented.

Investigation of four problems on the units of material and its properties, energy with heat and temperature in the secondary school physics textbooks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kavcar, Nevzat; Özen, Ali Ihsan

2017-02-01

In the present study, three units in textbooks in accordance with the 2013 Secondary School Physics Curriculum were analyzed in defined four problems, and some recommendations were made. The study carried out in the Spring semester of education year 2015-2016, within the scope of an undergraduate course. Method of the study is the descriptive model based on qualitative research technics. The data collection instruments were textbook evaluation reports prepared by the participants and pre-service teachers, and presentations reflecting teachers' and pre-service teachers' ideas on the textbooks. A document analysis was conducted by means of these data collection tools. It has been concluded that in the related units a significant shortcoming is not found regarding being student-centered, activity and contex-based approximations. However, some shortcomings were found in activity-gain concordance with measurement and evaluation applications. On the basis of the collected data, some recommendations for improving the textbooks have been presented.

Sir William Osler's perceptions of urolithiasis and the case of the indigo calculus.

PubMed

Moran, Michael E; Das, Sakti; Rosenberg, Stuart A

2005-12-01

Sir William Osler published his textbook, The Principles and Practice of Medicine, in 1892. It became the definitive treatise on a wide variety of diseases. The section on nephrolithiasis clearly presents the etiology, pathology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. What remains a mystery is the mention, under rare forms of human stones, of a type called "indigo." A search of Index Medicus starting from 1909 backward to its inception in 1879 was performed for key words "indigo," "calculus," "renal" or "bladder stones" and "indicanuria." Twelve textbooks of urology published before 1940 were scrutinized for references to indigo calculi. Only two references to indigo were found, both related to its use for treating constipation (1887 and 1891). Of the 12 textbooks, only 4 make passing reference to "indigo stones." They all mention that such calculi are very rare, but direct references to cases are lacking. One textbook references a study of blue stones from Egyptian mummies. It is unlikely that Osler's reference to an indigo calculus was taken lightly during his writing of The Principles and Practice of Medicine. The case of the indigo calculus is fascinating and perhaps enlightening if only for the source of Osler's intrigue.

Applied tagmemics: A heuristic approach to the use of graphic aids in technical writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brownlee, P. P.; Kirtz, M. K.

1981-01-01

In technical report writing, two needs which must be met if reports are to be useable by an audience are the language needs and the technical needs of that particular audience. A heuristic analysis helps to decide the most suitable format for information; that is, whether the information should be presented verbally or visually. The report writing process should be seen as an organic whole which can be divided and subdivided according to the writer's purpose, but which always functions as a totality. The tagmemic heuristic, because it itself follows a process of deconstructing and reconstructing information, lends itself to being a useful approach to the teaching of technical writing. By applying the abstract questions this heuristic asks to specific parts of the report. The language and technical needs of the audience are analyzed by examining the viability of the solution within the givens of the corporate structure, and by deciding which graphic or verbal format will best suit the writer's purpose. By following such a method, answers which are both specific and thorough in their range of application are found.

Government Projects and Teaching the Technical Proposal.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butler, Douglas R.

1987-01-01

Describes a technical proposal writing assignment modeled after the conditions in industry. Provides a paradigm of government project proposals and then outlines the stages of the assignment that allow student to rework and revise, thereby discouraging students from writing formulaic and superficial proposals. (SRT)

Writing Skills for Technical Students. Fourth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlisle, Vicky; Smith, Harriet; Baker, Fred; Ellegood, George; Kopay, Carol; Tanzer, Ward; Young, Diana; Dujordan, Jerome; Webster, Ron; Lewis, Sara Drew

This self-paced text/workbook is designed for the adult learner who needs a review of grammar and writing skills in order to write clearly and concisely on the job. It offers career-minded students 14 individualized instructional modules on grammar, paragraph writing, report writing, letter writing, and spelling. It is designed for both self-paced…

The endless spiral

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nielsen, Henry

1993-06-01

A Danish textbook on the history of technology, Skruen uden ende — Den vestlige teknologis historie (The Endless Spiral: A History of Western Technology), was published in 1990. In the present article, one of the authors presents some of the background to this event and puts the work into historical perspective by describing a number of different traditions for writing textbooks on the history of technology. Next follows a discussion of why history of technology ought to be an important ingredient in upper secondary education and why only the “contextualist” tradition — inspired by the rapidly developing school of research centered around the journal Technology & Culture — offers any real hope for providing meaningful teaching materials on history of technology. The paper ends with a brief outline of the textbook's contents, with special emphasis on one of its several case studies describing the development of certain mainstream technologies in the context of the scientific, economic, social and cultural developments existing when the particular technology came into being.

Unified Technical Concepts. Application Modules Volume I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Occupational Research and Development, Inc., Waco, TX.

Unified Technical Concepts (UTC) is a modular system for teaching applied physics in two-year postsecondary technician programs. This UTC laboratory textbook, the first of two volumes, consists of 56 learning modules dealing with basic concepts of physics. Addressed in the individual chapters of the guide are the following topics: force, work,…

Technical communication: Notes toward defining discipline

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rubens, P. M.

1981-01-01

In the field of technical communication, definitions posited in virtually any major text violate every major rule of definitions. The most popular method for defining the field is to state that technical writing is any writing that supports technology or technological activities. There is a need for a nice yardstick for measuring what "technology" is. Some ways in which the field can be defined in a tightly structured empirical way and some implications of technical communication for a humanistic education in a technological age are suggested.

Ideas for clear technical writing

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robinson, B.P.

1984-01-01

The three greatest obstacles to clear technical-report writing are probably (1) imprecise words, (2) wordiness, and (3) poorly constructed sentences. Examples of category 1 include abstract words, jargon, and vogue words; of category 2, sentences containing impersonal construction superfluous words; and of category 3, sentences lacking parallel construction and proper order of related words and phrases. These examples and other writing-related subjects are discussed in the report, which contains a cross-referenced index and 24 references.

An Annotated Bibliography of Materials for Teaching Advanced Written Skills in English as a Second Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macha, Dyne; Angelis, Paul

This bibliography includes textbooks useful for the teaching of written skills in English as a second language to college and university students. The major emphasis of the texts listed is the teaching of writing but some contain material on reading as well. The first section contains only texts designed specifically for second language use. The…

An Advanced Reader in Chinese International Relations. International Studies, East Asian Language Text, No. 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Wallace, Ed.

This modern Chinese textbook offers three main features. It contains a graded selection of Chinese writings on international relations by some of the most important modern Chinese writers, representing a wide range of viewpoints. Secondly, all new words and phrases encountered in the lessons are defined in Chinese, so that the reader becomes…

An Advanced Reader in Chinese Literature. International Studies, East Asian Language Texts, No. 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Wallace, Ed.

This modern Chinese textbook offers three main features. It contains a graded selection of writings in Chinese by some of the most important modern Chinese writers, representing a wide range of viewpoints. Secondly, all new words and phrases encountered in the lessons are defined in Chinese, so that the reader becomes accustomed to the use of…

"They Are the Priests": The Role of the Moldovan Historian and Its Implications for Civic Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Elizabeth A.

2007-01-01

In present-day Moldova there is a perpetuation and continuity of Soviet academic culture, in which history is viewed as "a science" and not subject to a multiplicity of interpretations. A relatively small and interconnected group of historians dominate the academy and subsequently the textbook writing. They wield a great deal of power in…

Vertical or Horizontal? Impact of Text Orientations on Performance and Preference for Young Readers of Chinese in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Yu-Lin

2010-01-01

The Chinese writing system has traditionally organized the typographic text vertically, with one square-shaped character placed on top of another. With the influence of globalization, an increasing number of reading materials have been presented in the Western horizontal format, including school textbooks for children in Taiwan. This study looked…

Teachers' Interests in Geography Topics and Regions--How They Differ from Students' Interests? Empirical Findings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hemmer, Ingrid; Hemmer, Michael

2017-01-01

Teachers' interest is a key influencing factor in geography class, development of curricula and writing textbooks and only little is known about it. A cross-sectional study along the lines of interest theory originating from educational psychology was carried out in Germany in the summer of 2015, in which 141 teachers at secondary schools…

Tales of the Expected: The Influence of Students' Expectations on Question Validity and Implications for Writing Exam Questions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crisp, Victoria; Sweiry, Ezekiel; Ahmed, Ayesha; Pollitt, Alastair

2008-01-01

Background: Through classroom preparation and exposure to past papers, textbooks and practice tests students develop expectations about examinations: what will be asked, how it will be asked and how they will be judged. Expectations are also involved in the automatic process of understanding questions. Where a question and a student's expectations…

The Slow Learner in Homemaking Classes in Junior and Senior High Schools.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKay, Shirley E.

This thesis is the result of efforts made to gain an understanding of the slow learner in order to obtain background material for the future writing of a homemaking textbook, which will be geared to the needs and objectives of below average individuals. Included are discussions of such topics as: (1) What Is the Slow Learner Like, (2) Identifying…

Updating Best Practices: Applying On-Screen Reading Strategies to Résumé Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diaz, Charlsye Smith

2013-01-01

The best practices presented in textbooks and professional publications provide separate guidelines for paper-based and electronic or "scannable" résumés. This article recommends changing these practices so that writers can prepare one résumé for both paper and electronic delivery. These recommendations focus on three areas. Résumés…

"Victor the Wild Boy" as a Teaching Tool for the History of Psychology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nawrot, Elizabeth

2014-01-01

The article describes an innovative technique for teaching the History of Psychology (HoP) using the story of Victor the "Wild Boy" of Aveyron. Students were given both a traditional history textbook and assignments, along with a novel on the life of Victor and a themed writing assignment. The goal was to elicit connections between…

Writing Trojan Horses and War Machines: The Creative Political in Music Education Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gould, Elizabeth

2011-01-01

North American music education is a commodity sold to pre-service and in-service music teachers. Like all mass-produced consumables, it is valuable to the extent that it is not creative, that is, to the extent that it is reproducible. This is demonstrated in curricular materials, notably general music series textbook and music scores available…

Tentative Outlines of a Secondary School Mathematics Curriculum, Volume II. SMSG Working Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stanford Univ., CA. School Mathematics Study Group.

This document is the report of a curriculum writing session, and covers three activities: (1) a textbook for grade seven, written using the outlines produced the previous year (SE 012 735), was reviewed and criticized; (2) the outlines for grades eight and nine, also produced the previous year, were completed in greater detail; and (3)…

When Lions Write History: Black History Textbooks, African-American Educators, & the Alternative Black Curriculum in Social Studies Education, 1890-1940

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, LaGarrett J.

2014-01-01

The African proverb, "Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter," is used to metaphorically describe how dominant groups inscribe power through historical narrative. In this article the author discusses how African-American educators between the years of 1890-1940 conceptualized citizenship…

Frederick Douglass and I: Writing to Read and Relate History with Life among African American Adolescents at a High-Poverty Urban School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morphy, Paul

2013-01-01

Purpose: Black history as represented in social studies textbooks often lacks depth demanded by historians and authenticity required for cultural relevance to African American students. However, important Black historical narratives sometimes contain difficult prose and refer to times or circumstances that are far removed from students' life…

The Influence of Organizations on Writers' Texts and Training.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lutz, Jean

1986-01-01

Argues that, to succeed in the workplace, technical writers must supplement their knowledge of writing and rhetoric with an appreciation of "organizational culture." Explains how to do this and shows how technical writing classes can prepare students for this adjustment to the corporate environment. (FL)

Technical Writing Needs Assessment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oakland Community Coll., Farmington, MI. Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis.

In fall 1991, a study was conducted by Oakland Community College (OCC) to evaluate the need for a proposed Technical Writing program. General information was gathered from a literature review, Michigan Occupational Information System data, interviews with professionals in the field, and a 1987 needs assessment conducted by Washtenaw Community…

Writing Technical Documents for the Global Pharmaceutical Industry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bonk, Robert J.

1998-01-01

States that technical writers in the global pharmaceutical industry write for two audiences: regulatory agencies and healthcare practitioners. Contends that information products that address these audiences must balance the competing forces of business interests, market penetration, and the cultural variables of products so tied to people's…

The Social Perspective and Pedagogy in Technical Communication.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thralls, Charlotte; Blyler, Nancy Roundy

1993-01-01

Notes that as teachers integrate social theory into the technical communication classroom, they interpret the connection between writing and culture in different ways. Describes four social pedagogies of writing--the social constructionist, the ideologic, the social cognitive, and the paralogic hermeneutic--distinguishing them by their pedagogic…

Astronomy, Visual Literacy, and Liberal Arts Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crider, Anthony

2016-01-01

With the exponentially growing amount of visual content that twenty-first century students will face throughout their lives, teaching them to respond to it with visual and information literacy skills should be a clear priority for liberal arts education. While visual literacy is more commonly covered within humanities curricula, I will argue that because astronomy is inherently a visual science, it is a fertile academic discipline for the teaching and learning of visual literacy. Astronomers, like many scientists, rely on three basic types of visuals to convey information: images, qualitative diagrams, and quantitative plots. In this talk, I will highlight classroom methods that can be used to teach students to "read" and "write" these three separate visuals. Examples of "reading" exercises include questioning the authorship and veracity of images, confronting the distorted scales of many diagrams published in astronomy textbooks, and extracting quantitative information from published plots. Examples of "writing" exercises include capturing astronomical images with smartphones, re-sketching textbook diagrams on whiteboards, and plotting data with Google Motion Charts or iPython notebooks. Students can be further pushed to synthesize these skills with end-of-semester slide presentations that incorporate relevant images, diagrams, and plots rather than relying solely on bulleted lists.

Learner-Centered Teaching and Improving Learning by Writing Down the Statement of Problems in an Introductory Physics Course

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aurora, Tarlok

2005-04-01

In a calculus-based introductory physics course, students were assigned to write the statements of word problems (along with the accompanying diagrams if any), analyze these, identify important concepts/equations and try to solve these end-of- chapter homework problems. They were required to bring to class their written assignment until the chapter was completed in lecture. These were quickly checked at the beginning of the class. In addition, re-doing selected solved examples in the textbook were assigned as homework. Where possible, students were asked to look for similarities between the solved-examples and the end-of-the-chapter problems, or occasionally these were brought to the students' attention. It was observed that many students were able to solve several of the solved-examples on the test even though the instructor had not solved these in class. This was seen as an improvement over the previous years. It made the students more responsible for their learning. Another benefit was that it alleviated the problems previously created by many students not bringing the textbooks to class. It allowed more time for problem solving/discussions in class.

An Introduction to Applied Biogeography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spellerberg, Ian F.; Sawyer, John W. D.

1999-03-01

Biogeography is about the geographical distribution, both past and present, of plants, animals and other organisms. In this undergraduate textbook, Spellerberg and Sawyer bring a modern approach to a developing subject, writing in a lively and sometimes provocative manner. Throughout the text, the authors emphasize the applications of biogeography to conservation management, economic production, environmental assessment, sustainable use of resources, landscape planning, and public health. They discuss applications of island biogeography in conservation, the concept of wildlife corridors, the analysis of biogeographical data, and the role of humans and their cultures in biogeography. The applied approach of this textbook, along with its numerous illustrative examples and figures, make it a unique introduction to the field for many geography, biology and environmental science students.

Using a Collaborative Critiquing Technique to Develop Chemistry Students' Technical Writing Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carr, Jeremy M.

2013-01-01

The technique, termed "collaborative critiquing", was developed to teach fundamental technical writing skills to analytical chemistry students for the preparation of laboratory reports. This exercise, which can be completed prior to peer-review activities, is novel, highly interactive, and allows students to take responsibility for their…

Sophistic Ethics in the Technical Writing Classroom: Teaching "Nomos," Deliberation, and Action.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, J. Blake

1995-01-01

Claims that teaching ethics is particularly important to technical writing. Outlines a classical, sophistic approach to ethics based on the theories and pedagogies of Protagoras, Gorgias, and Isocrates, which emphasizes the Greek concept of "nomos," internal and external deliberation, and responsible action. Discusses problems and…

"In-Determinacy" in Science and Discourse: A Rhetoric of Disciplinary Levels.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valletta, Clement L.; Paoletti, Robert A.

1995-01-01

States that research and writing begin with a play of determinacy and indeterminacy, including presuppositions, formal findings, and technical and media products. Finds that this rhetorical approach leads to identifying levels and relationships. Suggests a typology for furthering dialog in science, literary criticism, and technical writing. (PA)

Technical Writing: Process and Product. Third Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gerson, Sharon J.; Gerson, Steven M.

This book guides students through the entire writing process--prewriting, writing, and rewriting--developing an easy-to-use, step-by-step technique for writing the types of documents they will encounter on the job. It engages students in the writing process and encourages hands-on application as well as discussions about ethics, audience…

Assessing the Writing of Deaf College Students: Reevaluating a Direct Assessment of Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schley, Sara; Albertini, John

2005-01-01

The NTID Writing Test was developed to assess the writing ability of postsecondary deaf students entering the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and to determine their appropriate placement into developmental writing courses. While previous research (Albertini et al., 1986; Albertini et al., 1996; Bochner, Albertini, Samar, & Metz, 1992)…

Introduction to the Use of Computers in Libraries: A Textbook for the Non-Technical Student.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ogg, Harold C.

This book outlines computing and information science from the perspective of what librarians and educators need to do with computer technology and how it can help them perform their jobs more efficiently. It provides practical explanations and library applications for non-technical users of desktop computers and other library automation tools.…

Enlightened Use of Passive Voice in Technical Writing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trammell, M. K.

1981-01-01

The passive voice as a normal, acceptable, and established syntactic form in technical writing is defended. Passive/active verb ratios, taken from sources including 'antipassivist' text books, are considered. The suitability of the passive voice in technical writing which involves unknown or irrelevant agents is explored. Three 'myths' that the passive (1) utilizes an abnormal and artificial word order, (2) is lifeless, and (3) is indirect are considered. Awkward and abnormal sounding examples encountered in text books are addressed in terms of original context. Unattractive or incoherent passive sentences are explained in terms of inappropriate conversion from active sentences having (1) short nominal or pronominal subjects or (2) verbs with restrictions on their passive use.

Assessment of Evidence in University Students' Scientific Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Takao, Allison Y.; Kelly, Gregory J.

2003-01-01

Examines uses of evidence in university students' writing of scientific argument in an introductory-level oceanography course. Provides students with an interactive CD-ROM entitled 'Our Dynamic Planet' to write a scientific technical paper. Discusses ways of teaching students the construction of argument in scientific writing. (KHR)

Bridging the Gap: Contextualizing Professional Ethics in Collaborative Writing Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rice, J. A.

2007-01-01

Many business and technical writing students find classroom discussions of professional ethics interesting and enjoyable. However, when trying to incorporate the content of discussions directly into their writing practices, they often experience difficulties linking ethical concepts to writing process. This article discusses how instructors can…

The Impact of Identifying a Specific Purpose and External Audience for Writing on Second Graders' Writing Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Block, Meghan K.

2013-01-01

The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (CCSS) emphasize the importance of writing and specify that students should write for external, and, at times, unfamiliar audiences. Given the relationship between audience specification and quality writing in older…

A Cognitive Science Approach to Writing. Technical Report No. 89.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Bertram; And Others

This paper explores the process of writing from several perspectives, as a first step toward a more comprehensive theory. The first perspective sees writing as a communicative act. The observation that to write is to communicate, though commonplace, has major and sometimes surprising implications for a theory of writing. It forces a focus on the…

Task-Based EFL Language Teaching with Procedural Information Design in a Technical Writing Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roy, Debopriyo

2017-01-01

Task-based language learning (TBLL) has heavily influenced syllabus design, classroom teaching, and learner assessment in a foreign or second language teaching context. In this English as foreign language (EFL) learning environment, the paper discussed an innovative language learning pedagogy based on design education and technical writing. In…

Exploring Atypical Verb+Noun Combinations in Learner Technical Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luzon Marco, Maria Jose

2011-01-01

Professional and academic discourse is characterised by a specific phraseology, which usually poses problems for students. This paper investigates atypical verb+noun collocations in a corpus of English technical writing of Spanish students. I focus on the type of verbs that most frequently occurred in these awkward or questionable combinations and…

Technical Writing in English Renaissance Shipwrightery: Breaching the Shoals of Orality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tebeaux, Elizabeth

2008-01-01

Describing the emergence of the first shipbuilding texts, particularly those in English provides another chapter in the story of the emergence of English technical writing. Shipwrightery texts did not appear in English until the middle decades of the seventeenth century because shipwrightery was a closed discourse community which shared knowledge…

10 CFR 1304.103 - Privacy Act inquiries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... writing may be sent to: Privacy Act Officer, U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, 2300 Clarendon... NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 § 1304.103 Privacy Act inquiries. (a) Requests... contains a record pertaining to him or her may file a request in person or in writing, via the internet, or...

Challenges and Rewards of Teaching Intercultural Communication in a Technical Writing Course: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardenas, Diana L.

2012-01-01

Community-based projects immerse technical writing students in intercultural communication, addressing local needs and shaping documents in human terms. Students at a South Texas university work to establish communication with clients in a city-county health department to create effective documents and disseminate family health legislation. To…

International Students in the Scientific and Technical Writing Class.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Constantinides, Janet C.

A course sequence for teaching the forms and formats of scientific and technical writing to English as a second language (ESL) learners is described. The first assignment, a letter of application, serves as a diagnostic indication of the student's ability. The second assignment, a narrative, is designed to define the importance of audience and…

Nonsexist Use of Language in Scientific and Technical Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Billingsley, Patricia A.; Johnson, Neil A.

The need to introduce nonsexist language into scientific and technical writing is addressed. By taking advantage of the versatility of the English language, it can easily and clearly be indicated that either one or both of the sexes is being discussed, without resorting to biased, euphemistic, or newly-invented wording. There are two conceptually…

The Bible as a Resource for Teaching Cataloguing and Classification

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Unegbu, Vincent E.; Onuoha, Uloma D.

2013-01-01

The Bible is an important book that represents all courses that human beings engage in. Many professions use it as a textbook for their course, as are listed in this write up. In spite of the rich source of information embedded in it, library and information professions are yet to tap into it. The first two chapters of the Bible are a very good…

An Evaluation of the Vocabulary in Turkish Textbooks before and after the Constructivist Approach in the Context of Frequency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diliduzgun, Sukran

2018-01-01

Purpose: Research shows that students in Turkey are taught to write with much smaller vocabularies than students in other countries. Along with the constructivist approach, the frequency of words used in texts should be high, and unknown words should be at certain levels in order to allow for production, cognizance and creation of information…

English and Federal Government. Federal Textbook on Citizenship--Home Study Course. Revised.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Immigration and Naturalization Service (Dept. of Justice), Washington, DC.

This home study material, developed for use by candidates for naturalization who speak English but who have little or no skill in reading, is designed so that the individual unable to attend classes may learn to read and write by having a limited amount of help provided by some member of his family or neighbor. (A companion pamphlet, ED 054 913,…

Technical Writing: Past, Present and Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mathes, J. C. (Compiler); Pinelli, T. E. (Compiler)

1981-01-01

The training of technical writers and the objectives of such education are discussed. Special emphasis was placed on the communication between technical personnel and non-technical personnel. The liabilities that affect technical writers were also discussed.

The Write Brain: How to Educate and Entertain with Learner-Centered Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iverson, Kathleen M.

2009-01-01

This article presents a conceptual framework for the writing process to facilitate motivation, learning, retention, and knowledge transfer in readers of expository material. Drawing from four well-developed bodies of knowledge--cognitive science, learning theory, technical communication, and creative writing--the author creates a model that allows…

Writing and Science Literacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiss-Magasic, Coleen

2012-01-01

Writing activities are a sure way to assess and enhance students' science literacy. Sometimes the author's students use technical writing to communicate their lab experiences, just as practicing scientists do. Other times, they use creative writing to make connections to the topics they're learning. This article describes both types of writing…

Teaching Technical and Business Writing: Strategies and Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Clara

1985-01-01

Describes a course that gives students the kinds of writing and oral communication experiences they will need on the job. The course gives students information about effective speaking and teaches them how to write business letters, prepare simple visuals for written and oral reports, and write formal proposals. (EL)

The everyday meets the academic: How bilingual Latino/a third graders use sociocultural resources to learn in science and social studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McIntosh Ciechanowski, Kathryn E.

Driven by questions surrounding the documented "fourth-grade slump" in student test scores and about the content learning of English language learners, this dissertation examines the science and social studies literacy practices of third grade bilingual Latino/as in an urban school. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, I examined three questions: (a) What content area demands are evident in instruction and in the assigned texts that children read? (b) What sociocultural knowledge do students draw on in the reading and writing of content area texts? How does it shape their reading and writing? and (c) What linguistic knowledge do students draw on in the reading and writing of content area texts? How does it shape their reading and writing? These questions are premised on three key tenets from the extant research literature. First, research has documented that middle grade students struggle to make sense of content texts, which could be caused by not only a scarcity of expository texts in early grades but also by discipline-specific demands in the content texts. Second, although all students may struggle to read specialized texts, students from non-mainstream backgrounds may struggle more because they do not possess the social and linguistic capital valued in mainstream schools. Third, sociocultural research has documented the importance of social and cultural funds of knowledge in classroom learning and knowledge construction. Guided by these tenets, I observed for six months in 2 classes and recorded field notes, interviewed participants, collected artifacts, and conducted pre- and post-unit assessments. Analytic methods included quantitative evaluation of assessments and constant comparative and discourse analyses. Findings indicate that the textbooks posed linguistic and conceptual demands and represented multiple discourses including the discourses of the natural and social sciences. To make sense of texts, students drew from various sociocultural resources such as popular culture, family, and children's literature. The teacher was more likely to take up these resources (although briefly) when they tightly aligned with instructional goals. Bilingual students faced great complexity as they drew upon linguistic resources to learn technical language and content in two languages and within multiple academic and everyday discourses.

Refining scientific writing skills with feedback that works for students and instructors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiani, Leily S.; Menke, Carrie

2015-10-01

Evaluation of student learning through assessment of communication skills is a generally important component of undergraduate education and particularly so for promotion of interdisciplinary research conducted by future scientists. To better build these skills we aim to quantify the effectiveness of feedback on student writing of technical reports in an upper-division physics lab course. In one implementation, feedback utilization - in the form of observing commented technical reports, attending office hours or emailing rough drafts of their reports was monitored then correlated with improvement in student writing. The improvement in student writing is quantified as the single-student normalized gain. A slight positive relationship was found between the number of times a student utilized feedback and the improvement in student writing. A subsequent study involved correlation of two complimentary assessments of student work. In the first assessment students received consistent feedback throughout the semester on all sections of a technical report in the form of highlighted bullet points in a detailed rubric. In the second assessment method students received varying amounts of feedback for each section of the technical paper throughout the semester with a focus on one section each week and follow-up feedback on previously covered sections. This approach provides focused feedback that can be scalable to larger classes. The number of highlighted bullet points in the rubric clearly decreases as a function of the focused feedback implementation. From this we conclude that student writing improves with the focused feedback method.

Bridging the Vocabulary Gap for EFL Medical Undergraduates: The Establishment of a Medical Word List

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsu, Wenhua

2013-01-01

This study created a medical word list (MWL) to bridge the gap between non-technical and technical vocabulary. The researcher compiled a corpus containing 155 textbooks across 31 medical subject areas from e-book databases (totaling 15 million running words) and examined the range and frequency of words outside the most frequent 3,000-word…

Moving from technical to critical reflection in journalling: an investigation of students' ability to incorporate three levels of reflective writing.

PubMed

Usher, K; Tollefson, J; Francis, D

2001-01-01

This paper outlines a research project aimed at changing the levels of reflection of preregistration nursing students in a tertiary institution. Whilst reflection is widely espoused now in nursing, few studies have been found that identify whether the level of reflective writing can be identified or developed by students. Anecdotal and research evidence (Powell 1989; van Manen 1977) however indicates that most student reflective writing occurs at the technical level. A descriptive exploratory study using both qualitative and quantitative techniques was undertaken to apply van Manen's (1977) levels in a structured way in an attempt to facilitate the student's understanding and use of the levels in their reflective writing. The findings of the study indicate that student self evaluation and identification of the levels in their own writing can lead to change in the levels of critical reflective writing achieved by undergraduate students.

[Acquiring Science English: A Plan and System Are Needed].

PubMed

Foong, Foo Wah

2018-01-01

　Literary English is different from science English (SE) and pharmaceutical science English (PSE). Therefore, a totally new approach was adopted for students to learn PSE at Kyoto Pharmaceutical University (KPU). In 2012, a 4-year program for teaching PSE was proposed, and a stepwise-stepup tertiary science English education (SSTSEE) system was introduced at KPU. The system provides a novel form of PSE teaching that stretches from year 1 to 4, where the PSE level progresses to higher levels of learning with each passing academic year. With the launch of the SSTSEE system, relevant science-educated staff were provided with training and were also requested to study the syllabi of the respective academic years to write textbooks with the appropriate PSE content for their respective levels. From 2012 to 2015, textbooks and curricula for 4 year academic levels were developed and published to meet the needs for PSE learning at each academic level. Based on results of the SSTSEE system, year 1 students acquired the SE basics, and year 2 students applied the SE basics acquired. In years 3 and 4, students further pursued and developed their PSE ability. Additionally, students participated actively in developing skills in the reading, listening, writing, and speaking of SE/PSE. Active-plus-deep learning prompted students in developing those skills using illustrations, posters, and power-point slideshow presentations. By year 4, average achievers had established an independent level of competency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing PSE. Moreover, the SSTSEE system accommodated students timely in developing communication skills for practical fieldwork (clerkships) at pharmacies/hospitals in year 5 and for their future endeavors.

Notes from Underground: Technical Writing and the Hermetic Tradition in Agricola's "De Re Metallica."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longo, Bernadette

The roots of technical writing are deeply planted in the field of mining engineering, with its emphasis on economics, value, and social stability. In the mid-16th century, Georgius Agricola published "De Re Metallica," a compilation of knowledge about mining and metallurgy. Agricola sought to explain the reasoning behind some of the…

Web Based Technical Problem Solving for Enhancing Writing Skills of Secondary Vocational Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papantoniou, Eleni; Hadzilacos, Thanasis

2017-01-01

We discuss some aspects of a pilot e-learning technical writing course addressed to 11th grade vocational high school students in Greece. The application of this alternative teaching intervention stemmed from the researcher-instructor's reflections relating to the integration of a problem based e-pedagogy that aims not just to familiarize students…

An Exploration of Alternative Scoring Methods Using Curriculum-Based Measurement in Early Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Abigail A.; Poch, Apryl L.; Lembke, Erica S.

2018-01-01

This manuscript describes two empirical studies of alternative scoring procedures used with curriculum-based measurement in writing (CBM-W). Study 1 explored the technical adequacy of a trait-based rubric in first grade. Study 2 explored the technical adequacy of a trait-based rubric, production-dependent, and production-independent scores in…

Switching gears and changing lanes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hammock, Earlene C.

2002-01-01

From musing over Shakespeare's fine lines and metaphors to teaching technical writing and editing, and finally, to cranking out scientific and technical documents, writing articles, and editing publications-how'd a nice girl like me end up in a place like this? Twice, after having prepared for an academic career of teaching and research, I found myself in a technical communications position-first, at the University of Texas at El Paso College of Engineering and later, at Los Alamos National Laboratory. What happened?

Integrating Effective Writing Skills in the Accounting Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

May, Gordon S.; Arevalo, Claire

1983-01-01

The J. M. Tull School of Accounting at the University of Georgia has developed a program that integrates the teaching of writing skills with the regular accounting courses. Students in a three-course sequence write a total of eight papers--technical, memos, or reports--in assignments that resemble writing tasks encountered by professional…

The Predictive Validity of CBM Writing Indices for Eighth-Grade Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amato, Janelle M.; Watkins, Marley W.

2011-01-01

Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) is an alternative to traditional assessment techniques. Technical work has begun to identify CBM writing indices that are psychometrically sound for monitoring older students' writing proficiency. This study examined the predictive validity of CBM writing indices in a sample of 447 eighth-grade students.…

Programmatic Knowledge Management: Technology, Literacy, and Access in 21st-Century Writing Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

York, Eric James

2015-01-01

Growing out of research in Technical Communication, Composition Studies, and Writing Program Administration, the articles in this dissertation explicitly seek to address changes in the practices and products of writing and writing studies wrought by the so-called "digital revolution" in communication technology, which has been ongoing in…

Using Popular Magazine Articles to Teach the Art of Writing for Nontechnical Audiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sivey, John D.; Lee, Cindy M.

2008-01-01

Many undergraduate chemistry curricula are devoting increasing amounts of time to teaching technical writing skills. Significantly less attention, however, is given toward training students in nontechnical writing strategies. The ability of chemistry students to communicate effectively in writing to a wide variety of audiences is an essential (and…

Writing and Reading: The Transactional Theory. Technical Report No. 416.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenblatt, Louise M.

Because any reading or writing research project or teaching method rests on some kind of epistemological assumptions and some models of reading and writing processes, a coherent theoretical approach to the interrelationships of the reading and writing processes is needed. In light of the post-Einsteinian scientific paradigm and Peircean semiotics,…

Applications of the Functional Writing Model in Technical and Professional Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brostoff, Anita

The functional writing model is a method by which students learn to devise and organize a written argument. Salient features of functional writing include the organizing idea (a component that logically unifies a paragraph or sequence of paragraphs), the reader's frame of reference, forecasting (prediction of the sequence by which the organizing…

English 308J: Organizational Report and Letter Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pytlik, Betty P.

The organizational report and letter writing course at Ohio University (Athens) is an advanced composition course designed to help students who expect to do such writing in their future jobs, but for whom technical writing and business communication courses are either inappropriate or insufficient. Students work in groups of four, investigating a…

Writing After College: A Stratified Survey of the Writing of College-Trained People. Technical Report Number 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faigley, Lester; And Others

This report contains the results of a study of the writing of college-trained personnel that examined: (1) the importance of their writing abilities in the world of work and in situations other than work, (2) the types of writing done on and off the job and the composing processes used, (3) the media college-trained people use for writing, and (4)…

THE ROLE OF THE NEGRO IN AMERICA'S STORY, BOOK II. FROM THE BEGINNINGS TO FREEDOM.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ANDERSON, MARY; AND OTHERS

AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE PRESENT FIFTH GRADE COURSES IN U.S. HISTORY, THE GUIDE SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE TOTAL COURSE, IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE USED AS THE BASIS FOR A COURSE IN NEGRO HISTORY. THE REASONS FOR WRITING THE GUIDE INCLUDED--(1) THE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTION OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO ARE NOT COVERED ADEQUATELY IN TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER…

Teacher Leadership: The "New" Foundations of Teacher Education--A Reader. Counterpoints: Studies in the Postmodern Theory of Education, Volume 408

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hilty, Eleanor Blair, Ed.

2011-01-01

Over the past two decades, numerous textbooks have been published on teacher leadership; however, this is the only volume that provides a definitive overview of the scholarship and writing being done in the field of teacher leadership. This book introduces the reader to the scholarship of over 35 authors, and thus, becomes an essential tool needed…

To Slideware or Not to Slideware: Students' Experiences with PowerPoint vs. Lecture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amare, Nicole

2006-01-01

This study analyzes the performance and attitudes of technical writing students in PowerPoint-enhanced and in non-PowerPoint lectures. Four classes of upper-level undergraduates (n = 84) at a mid-sized, Southern university taking a one-semester technical writing course were surveyed at the beginning and end of the course about their perceptions of…

Making Basic Composition Relevant.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tichenor, Stuart

The technical writing teacher discovers two things about his/her students: they do not like to write and they do not like to read. They are not in the class because they are motivated, but because they must be there as part of a technical or vocational degree. One of the most common complaints about the class is, "I don't need to know how to…

Should You Know How to Do Marketing, Advertising, & Public Relations Writing?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sides, Charles H.

1992-01-01

Argues that technical writers who develop broader writing skills prove to be more valuable to their employers during periods of economic downturn. Offers an overview of the basic skills needed to write marketing, advertising, and public relations documents. (PRA)

Re-Placing Lit in Comp II: Pragmatic/Humanistic Benefits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raymond, Richard C.

2010-01-01

As a teacher of technical writing, the author applauds the emphasis on the strategies of research and on documented, problem-solving writing across the curriculum and on bringing writing-for-the-workplace into the first-year writing classroom. However, as a teacher of literature, he rejects the notion that responding to literature has no practical…

Making Communication Matter: Integrating Instruction, Projects and Assignments to Teach Writing and Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, William T.; Courtney, Jennifer; Constans, Eric; Dahm, Kevin; Harvey, Roberta; von Lockette, Paris

2010-01-01

An integrated technical writing and design course has been developed at Rowan University. This course was developed using aspects of project-based learning and recent discussions about design education, as well as pedagogical approaches from the write-to-learn and the writing in the disciplines (WID) movements. The result is a course where the…

What Do Writers in Industry Write?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Locker, Kitty O.

Noting that one of the biggest factors in motivating students in technical writing classes is to convince them that they will need to write in their future jobs, this paper offers evidence for use by teachers in persuading students of the importance of developing their writing skills. The first part of the paper presents refutations of some of the…

["Basics of delivery" by Dr Miladin Velickovic, the first text-book on obstetrics in our country].

PubMed

Krstić, Miomir; Mirković, Ljiljana; Pantović, Dragoljub; Pantović, Sveto; Janjić, Tijana

2011-01-01

In order to establish the School of Medicine in Belgrade it was necessary, among other things, to prepare textbooks for undergraduate studies in Serbian language. Considering the gynaecology and obstetrics in general, it is interesting to mention that the manuscript "Basics of delivery", which may be considered the first textbook of obstetrics in our country, was prepared to be published in 1925 by Dr. Miladin Velickovic, a Head of Gynaecology Department of the State Hospital in Novi Sad. that is, the author who had never been engaged in teaching activities. This text of 502 pages and 220 pictures encompassed the teaching material in obstetrics and basics of neonatology in such a way that it fulfilled the void in this kind of literature in our milieu. Three years later, Dr. Velickovic had his book "Gynaecological haemorrhages and menstrual disorders" published, which was meant to assist medical students to study gynaecology more comprehensively. Dr. Velickovic was inspired to write this text by emotional reasons as well. Namely since he had been granted the scholarship by baroness 'Eufemija Jovic' Fund, he was sent to study medicine in Budapest. Without sufficient knowledge of Hungarian, he realized the importance of having the textbooks for medical students in their native language, and therefore, he did his best to achieve this vision. This paper includes the review of book, "Basics of delivery", which may be considered the first textbook of obstetrics in our country, as well as biographical data of Dr. Velickovic, whose personality has been gradually falling into oblivion.

Writing Effectively as Counseling Center Directors and Administrators: Lessons Learned from a 2-Minute Speech

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sevig, Todd; Bogan, Yolanda; Dunkle, John; Gong-Guy, Elizabeth

2015-01-01

Administrative writing is a crucial skill needed for the counseling center professional to be able to transmit knowledge and values for the rest of the campus community. This article highlights both conceptual and technical aspects of effective writing.

Science communication: a career where PhDs can make a difference

PubMed Central

Irion, Robert

2015-01-01

Among careers for biologists with PhDs, science communication is one of the most diverse and rewarding pathways. Myriad options exist, from traditional journalism to new media, from writing for specialists to working in public outreach. Textbooks, mass-market books, and freelance writing that combines many of these pursuits are all viable choices. Communicating about science allows researchers to step away from the minutiae of a subdiscipline and to once again explore the breadth of science more fully through an ever-evolving array of stories. A doctoral degree can confer distinct advantages in the eyes of prospective editors and employers. Here I describe those advantages, possible career directions, and steps toward making such a transition. PMID:25678584

[General principles for scientific reading and writing].

PubMed

Seda Diestro, José; Garrido Díaz, Isabel; López Rodríguez, Luis; Aparcero Bernet, Luis; Chacartegui Martínez, E Ildefonso

2002-10-01

To present an introduction to scientific writing and reading. To analyse the most frequently used different formats of scientific-technical documents as reported by UNESCO (1983) including Scientific journals, books, monographs, presentations to congresses, technical reports, yearbooks and bulletins. We describe the main characteristics of each one. To emphasize the importance of written communication, in its different formats, in health sciences, for health care professionals formation and information.

The anatomy of the gyroscope, part 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cousins, Frank W.; Hollington, John L.

1990-03-01

The gyroscope and its applications are collated with the technical information to be found in the patent literature, augmented by that found in textbooks and technical journels. A detailed consideration is given to early mechanical gyroscopes. Included is a discussion of gyroscopic gears, vibratory gyroscopes, interferometric gyroscopes, and the use of the gyroscope in optical and related devices and deals finally with the difficult problem of gyroscopic inertial drives.

The Curriculum in Debates and in Educational Reforms to 2030: For a Curriculum Agenda of the Twenty-First Century. IBE Working Papers on Curriculum Issues No. 15

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Amadio, Massimo; Opertti, Renato; Tedesco, Juan Carlos

2015-01-01

Curriculum has traditionally been regarded as a rather technical matter best left to disciplinary specialists, educationalists, textbook writers and designers of assessment tests and examinations. More recently, however, the debate on curriculum has gradually moved beyond the technical realm to become also a subject of policy discussion on what…

"I Feel if I Say This in My Essay It's Not Going to Be as Strong": Multi-Voicedness, "Oral Rehearsal" and Year 13 Students' Written Arguments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carroll, James Edward

2017-01-01

Jim Carroll was concerned that A-level textbooks failed to provide his students with a model of the multi-voicedness that characterises written history. In order to show his students that historians constantly engage in argument as they write, Carroll turned to academic scholarship for models of multi-voiced history. Carroll explains here how he…

A Community of Writers: Peer Tutor Training for Writing Center Techniques Which Foster Dialogue in the Writing Process.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houston, Linda; Johnson, Candice

After much trial and error, the Agricultural Technical Institute of the Ohio State University (ATI/OSO) discovered that training of writing lab tutors can best be done through collaboration of the Writing Lab Coordinator with the "Development of Tutor Effectiveness" course offered at the institute. The ATI/OSO main computer lab and…

How the Writing Context Shapes College Students' Strategies for Writing from Sources. Technical Report No. 16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nelson, Jennie; Hayes, John R.

Observing the composing processes of students working over real time in naturalistic settings, two exploratory studies asked: (1) What skills and assumptions do freshman and advanced writers invoke when they are searching for information to be used in writing? (2) What strategies and goals do students bring to a typical writing-from-sources task…

The Teaching of Writing: Illinois Teachers Report on Research & Practices. Sentence Combining as a Composition Technique.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matthews, Dorothy, Ed.

1978-01-01

The ten articles in this journal report on research and practice in the teaching of writing. Topics covered include sentence combining as a composition technique, peer evaluation in a technical writing class, a plan for teaching paragraph construction, the use of literary humor in a writing class, methods for setting the scene, how students view…

Addressing An Audience: A Study of Expert-Novice Differences in Writing. Technical Report No. 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atlas, Marshall A.

To investigate differences in the writing processes of novice and expert writers, a test of writing skills was developed that required subjects to write a business letter in defense of a particular system of public transportation in response to a letter objecting to that system. In the first of three experiments, significant differences were found…

Physics in the Real World...Teaching outside the Textbook. A Teacher's Perspective on the Principles of Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosengrant, David

2003-01-01

A physics teacher in a technical high school describes how he teaches outside the book through lab involvement, student projects, and thematic lessons. Describes a roller coaster construction project. (JOW)

Astronomical Book Trek: Astronomy Books of 1982.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraknoi, Andrew

1983-01-01

Provided in two separate annotated lists are technical and nontechnical astronomy books. Categories in the latter group include: general astronomy; astronomy textbooks; amateur astronomy; astronomy history; life on other worlds; astrophysics; the solar system; space exploration; and the sun. (JN)

Mini-Thesis Writing Course for International Graduate Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyatt-Brown, Anne M.

An approach to teaching academic writing to foreign graduate students at the University of Florida is described. The course combines general and technical writing assignments to sharpen students' critical thinking skills while improving their organizational techniques and editing strategies. Assignments are designed to help students discover the…

Writing Together: Gender's Effect on Collaboration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rehling, Louise

1996-01-01

Analyzes the behaviors of over 60 student groups in professional writing classes. Finds gender-related effects on collaboration: tendencies to stereotype men as technical experts and to self-segregate into gendered working teams. Suggests new perspectives on the role of gender for collaborative groups in professional writing classrooms. (PA)

Generalization and transfer of advanced Ukrainian expertise in dynamic aerospace design to students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konyukhov, Stanislav; Igdalov, Iosif; Polyakov, Nikolai; Sheptun, Yuory

2009-01-01

The presentation of the textbooks, A launch Vehicle as a Control Object (2004) and Launch Vehicles and Space Stages as Control Objects (2007, an updated and structured edition of the first book in Ukrainian), is discussed here. The textbooks are edited by Academician S.N. Konyukhov and the authors are I.M. Igdalov, L.D. Kuchma, N.V. Polyakov, and Yu.D. Sheptun. The textbooks are devoted to the problems of the theory and practice of dynamic design of long-range ballistic missiles (LRBM) and launch vehicles designed using "unconventional" approaches or original engineering solutions by a team of specialized companies lead by the Dniepropetrovsk Aerospace Center at Yuzhnoye SDO and Yuzhmash, with the participation of scientists of the Dniepropetrovsk National University (DNU) and the Institute of Technical Mechanics (ITM) at the National Academy of Science of Ukraine.

Looking for "Resistance" in All the Wrong Places.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herndl, Carl G.

Recent rhetorical research in professional writing raises the issue of the absence of discussion of "resistance" in professional and nonacademic writing research. A study of a biologist working at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico suggests that ideological "resistance" occurs even in the realm of technical writing.…

Purpose and Process in Exemplary Teen Writings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olthouse, Jill M.; Sauder, Adrienne E.

2016-01-01

Exemplary adolescent creative writers' stories and poems demonstrate a connection between personal purposes for writing and the development of advanced technical skills. This hermeneutic analysis of 33 student texts (which were chosen because of their relation to the topic of literacy) reveals three main reasons for writing (remembrance,…

Student Editing Internships in Low-Industry Geographical Areas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Gene

Morehead State University's technical writing internship program provides students who are not suited to larger, industry-based writing internship programs with professional writing experience. Most interns are English majors, and only the best and most interested students are selected. The program confers 3-6 semester hours' credit and aims to…

Acquisition of Expository Writing Skills. Technical Report No. 421.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raphael, Taffy E.; And Others

Four studies by the Cognitive Strategy Instruction in Writing project at the Institute for Research on Teaching, Michigan State University, examined the acquisition of expository writing skills in fifth and sixth grade students. The first study examined the effects of teaching sixth grade students about comparison/contrast text structure. Results…

Evaluating the effectiveness of case method instruction in technical communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feinberg, S. G.

1981-01-01

The effectiveness of the case method as an instructional technique in improving technical writing was evaluated. The development of a self-report instrument that attempts to measure changes in attitude toward technical communication and the presentation results change are the purpose of this paper. Standards for developing a case set forth by Goldstein and Couture, were used to design an evaluation instrument to measure the effect instruction on student attitude toward technical communication. This self-report instrument is based on model developed and tested by Daly and Miller who studied writer attitude and apprehension toward writing. It was the most important objective of any evaluation is to provide information for improving the program.

On and Off Computer Writing of Eighth Grade Students Experienced in Word Processing. Technical Report 90-1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owston, Ronald D.; And Others

A study assessed the impact of word processing on the writing of junior high school students, experienced in working with computers, for a number of tasks, including writing. Subjects, 111 eighth grade students in four communications arts classes at a Canadian middle-class suburban school, who had been using computers for writing for a year and a…

Using Genre Analysis To Teach Writing in Engineering. Report on a Pilot Video-Teleconference for Engineering Teaching Assistants and Writing Center Consultants.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alford, Elisabeth; And Others

A pilot project tested and evaluated teleconferencing as a medium for training engineering teaching assistants in technical writing. The teleconference, which linked 15 participants in the engineering departments and writing centers of the University of South Carolina and Ohio State University, also included a training session on the use of genre…

Orthopaedic techniques of Sabuncuoğlu in the 15th century Ottoman period.

PubMed

Sarban, Sezgin; Aksoy, Sahin; Uzel, Ilter; Işikan, Uğur E; Atik, Sahap

2005-10-01

Serefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385-1468) was the author of the surgical textbook Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye (Imperial Surgery). It was the first illustrated surgical textbook in the Turkish-Islamic medical literature. Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye is significant because it includes Sabuncuoğlu's color illustrations of surgical procedures, incisions, fracture dislocation reduction techniques, and instruments. There are only three handwritten copies. Two originally were written by Sabuncuoğlu and are exhibited in Paris and Istanbul. The book was rediscovered in 1936, but some parts are suspected to be missing. The book currently consists of three chapters divided into 193 sections. The third chapter includes orthopaedics and traumatology, reduction techniques of lower and upper extremities, fractures and dislocations, and relevant Greek, Arabic, and Persian textbooks are cited. Sabuncuoğlu also wrote about surgical treatment of congenital hand anomalies. He was the first to advise placing a wooden splint under the palmar side after hand surgery. We reviewed the sections of Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye related to orthopaedics and traumatology. Compared with previous writings by Hippocrates, Ibn-i Sina, and Al-Zahrawi, there are no major differences in the treatment of fracture dislocations.

Building Science-Relevant Literacy with Technical Writing in High School

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Girill, T R

2006-06-02

By drawing on the in-class work of an on-going literacy outreach project, this paper explains how well-chosen technical writing activities can earn time in high-school science courses by enabling underperforming students (including ESL students) to learn science more effectively. We adapted basic research-based text-design and usability techniques into age-appropriate exercises and cases using the cognitive apprenticeship approach. This enabled high-school students, aided by explicit guidelines, to build their cognitive maturity, learn how to craft good instructions and descriptions, and apply those skills to better note taking and technical talks in their science classes.

7 CFR 1580.302 - Technical assistance and services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... producers written confirmation of all technical assistance meetings. Producers shall also have access to technical information provided in writing and electronically. (d) Producers shall also be provided... 7 Agriculture 10 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Technical assistance and services. 1580.302 Section...

32 CFR 203.12 - Technical assistance for public participation provider qualifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... waste problems. (2) Experience in making technical presentations. (3) Demonstrated writing skills. (4... 32 National Defense 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Technical assistance for public participation... THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (TAPP...

Anatomy of the cranial nerves in medieval Persian literature: Esmail Jorjani (AD 1042-1137) and The treasure of the Khwarazm shah.

PubMed

Shoja, Mohammadali M; Tubbs, R Shane; Ardalan, Mohammad R; Loukas, Marios; Eknoyan, Garabed; Salter, E George; Oakes, W Jerry

2007-12-01

Esmail Jorjani was an influential Persian physician and anatomist of the 12th century who did most of his writing after his seventh decade of life. Jorjani's comprehensive textbook of medicine, Zakhirey-e Khwarazmshahi (The Treasure of the Khwarazm Shah) was written in approximately AD 1112 and is considered to be the oldest medical encyclopedia written in Persian. This was an essential textbook for those studying medicine during this time. We describe the life and times of Jorjani and provide a translation and interpretations of his detailed descriptions of the cranial nerves, which were written almost a millennium ago. Medieval Persian and Muslim scholars have contributed to our current knowledge of the cranial nerves. Some of these descriptions, such as the eloquent ones provided by Jorjani, were original and have gone mostly unknown to post-Vesalian European scholars.

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 69: Writing for the Aerospace Industry. Chapter 3; The Practice of Technical and Scientific Communication: Writing in Professional Contexts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barclay, Rebecca O.; Pinelli, Thomas E.

1997-01-01

The large and complex aerospace industry, which employed approximately 850,000 people in 1994 (Aerospace Facts, 1994-95, p. 11), plays a vital role in the nation's economy. Although only a small percentage of those employed in aerospace are technical communicators, they perform a wide variety of communication duties in government and the private sector.

Combining Emerging Technology and Writing across the Curriculum: Professional Development that Works!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hampson, Margaret P.; Hearron, Tom; Noggle, Mary

2009-01-01

Though Writing Across the Curriculum is not a new concept, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute offers a two-semester professional development program that combines this instructional approach with emerging technology. Though this program focuses on the use of writing to enhance student learning, this training format can be…

Curriculum-Based Measures of Writing for High School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Diercks-Gransee, Barbara; Weissenburger, Jacalyn Wright; Johnson, Cindy L.; Christensen, Paul

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine whether technically adequate curriculum-based measures of writing could be identified for use with high school students. The participants included 10th-grade general and special education students from two public school districts in Wisconsin. Students (n = 82) completed two narrative writing samples in…

Introducing the Process into Tertiary Level ESP Writing Classes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rea, Simon; Brewster, Eric

1993-01-01

Insights from first- and second-language learning research have been used to help prepare a process-based writing course for large nonnative speaker classes at a commercial and technical university in Austria. Methods used during the 21-hour course are described, including think-aloud writing tapes. (Contains 32 references.) (Author/LB)

A Model for Professional Education in the 21st Century: Integrating Humanities and Engineering through Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olds, Barbara M.; Miller, Ronald L.

The "HumEn" (Humanities/Engineering Integration) program developed at the Colorado School of Mines integrates humanities and engineering through reading and writing. Through integrative reading and writing engineering students are led to make appropriate connections between the humanities and their technical work, connections that will…

Digital Performance Learning: Utilizing a Course Weblog for Mediating Communication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Novakovich, Jeanette; Long, Erin Cramer

2013-01-01

Two sections of university-level technical writing courses were given an authentic task to write an article for publication for an outside stakeholder. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the differences in learning outcomes between students using traditional writing methods and those using social media to generate articles. One…

Angst about Academic Writing: Graduate Students at the Brink

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holmes, Barbara; Waterbury, Theresa; Baltrinic, Eric; Davis, Arielle

2018-01-01

This paper offers some insights into the anxieties graduate students bring into the classroom about academic or technical writing. In this qualitative study, a focus group of graduate students was utilized to describe the specific negative feelings, attitudes and experiences held about writing. Findings suggest that students were able to identify…

Stepwise Approach to Writing Journal-Style Lab Reports in the Organic Chemistry Course Sequence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wackerly, Jay Wm.

2018-01-01

An approach is described that gradually transitions second-year organic chemistry students to writing full "The Journal of Organic Chemistry" ("JOC") style lab reports. The primary goal was to introduce students to and build rhetorical skills in scientific and technical writing. This was accomplished by focusing on four main…

Hey, Teacher, You Bloodied Up My Paper!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shuman, R. Baird

2000-01-01

Describes how the author developed an approach to teaching writing and to grading student writing that gets students themselves to understand their technical mistakes in using language, but also lets them know the strengths in their writing upon which they can build. Notes that this approach unexpectedly cut down on the time she spent reading and…

Critical Competitors. Evaluation of the Bay Area Writing Project. Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Susan; Watson, Patti

Prepared as part of the evaluation of the Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP), this report compares BAWP to its "critical competitors" (other inservice teacher programs and programs for improving student writing). The BAWP model and ten other program descriptions are presented in identical descriptive formats. Three types of competitors are…

The Social Scientist as Author: Clifford Geertz on Ethnography and Social Construction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olson, Gary A.

1991-01-01

Outlines and comments on the views of Clifford Geertz with regard to ethnography and social construction. Provides a transcript of an interview with Geertz, in which Geertz comments on his technical anthropological writings. Discusses his recent book "Works and Lives," his writing process, persuasive writing, and literary criticism,…

Artificial Intelligence: A Selected Bibliography.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Linda C., Comp.

1984-01-01

This 19-item annotated bibliography introducing the literature of artificial intelligence (AI) is arranged by type of material--handbook, books (general interest, textbooks, collected readings), journals and newsletters, and conferences and workshops. The availability of technical reports from AI laboratories at universities and private companies…

Images of the Universe, Part II: The Decade in Astronomical Photographs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mercury, 1982

1982-01-01

Provides an annotated list of technical and nontechnical astronomy books (reviewer's remarks, cost, publisher's name/address). Topics include general astronomy, general astronomy textbooks, solar system, amateur astronomy, astronomy history, archeoastronomy, space exploration, related physics books, pseudoscience, and others. (JN)

9 CFR 392.4 - Supporting documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., (2) research reports, (3) official government statistics, (4) official government reports, (5) industry data, and (6) scientific textbooks. (c) If an original research report is used to support a... reviewed scientific or technical journal. (d) If quantitative data are used to support a petition, the...

9 CFR 392.4 - Supporting documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

..., (2) research reports, (3) official government statistics, (4) official government reports, (5) industry data, and (6) scientific textbooks. (c) If an original research report is used to support a... reviewed scientific or technical journal. (d) If quantitative data are used to support a petition, the...

9 CFR 392.4 - Supporting documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

..., (2) research reports, (3) official government statistics, (4) official government reports, (5) industry data, and (6) scientific textbooks. (c) If an original research report is used to support a... reviewed scientific or technical journal. (d) If quantitative data are used to support a petition, the...

9 CFR 392.4 - Supporting documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

..., (2) research reports, (3) official government statistics, (4) official government reports, (5) industry data, and (6) scientific textbooks. (c) If an original research report is used to support a... reviewed scientific or technical journal. (d) If quantitative data are used to support a petition, the...

9 CFR 392.4 - Supporting documentation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

..., (2) research reports, (3) official government statistics, (4) official government reports, (5) industry data, and (6) scientific textbooks. (c) If an original research report is used to support a... reviewed scientific or technical journal. (d) If quantitative data are used to support a petition, the...

[Comparison of the compilation features of Science of Meridians and Acupoints among different editions].

PubMed

Chen, Xiaojun

The compilation features of Jingluo Shuxue Xue ( Science of Meridians and Acupoints ) among different editions were summarized and analyzed. Jingluo Xue ( Science of Meridians ) and Shuxue Xue ( Science of Acupoints ) published by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers in 1984 are the pioneer as the textbook for the education of acupuncture discipline for the bachelor degree, but there is the big controversy for the editions in 1996. These two books were combined as one, titled Science of Meridians and Acupoints , 2013 edition, published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is concise and coherent in content and is regarded as the milestone in the history of textbook compilation. This book was re-edited in 2007 without major changes in content. The one in 2009 was revised a lot on the basis of the original several editions, published by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers. But unfortunately, it did not bring the big impacts in China. The edition in 2012, published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine had made the innovations besides integrating the achievements of the previous editions, characterized as preciseness and conciseness. By contrast, the edition in 2012, published by People's Medical Publishing House was accomplished by simple modification on the basis of the editions in 2003 and in 2007, without great innovation. Regarding the on-going publication of the textbooks in "the 13th five-year plan", it is viewed that the new edition of textbook should maintain the general framework of "the 12th five-year plan", based on which, a few questions should be revised appropriately. Additionally, "less words, more illustration" should be the basic principle for the revision of the new edition.

Why and How to Advance Technical Copywriting.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henson, Leigh

1996-01-01

States that promotional writing for industrial/high-tech products, or technical copywriting, is gaining more attention in technical communication, although it is neglected in higher education. Testifies to the significance of technical copywriting. Suggests that dialogical audience analysis and an emphasis on rational appeal will contribute to…

48 CFR 952.242-70 - Technical direction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... contract. (d) All technical direction shall be issued in writing by the COR. (e) The Contractor must... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Technical direction. 952... FORMS SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Text of Provisions and Clauses 952.242-70 Technical...

7 CFR 652.4 - Technical service standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... technologies and practices. (c) A technical service provider must assume responsibility in writing for the... 7 Agriculture 6 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Technical service standards. 652.4 Section 652.4..., DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER ASSISTANCE General Provisions § 652.4...

Avoidable Technical and Clinical Denial Write-Off Management in Hospitals, Physician Offices, and Clinics.

PubMed

Terra, Sandra Marlene; Byrne, Amanda

2016-01-01

This article reviews the various types of technical and clinical denials that are usually "written off" and proposes strategies to prevent this loss. For purposes of this writing, avoidable technical and clinical denial write-offs are defined as revenue lost from "first-pass" denials rejections. For example, a procedure that requires an authorization is performed without having had an authorization obtained. After appeals and attempts to recoup the revenue, often unsuccessful, the organization ultimately "writes off" the revenue as not collectable. The question to ask is: Are these claims really not collectable or can actionable steps be taken to conserve these dollars and improve the bottom line? Acute care hospitals, physician offices, and clinics. In today's environment, the need to manage costs is ubiquitous. Cost management is on the priority list of all savvy health care executives, even if margins are healthy, revenue is under pressure, and the magnitude of cost reduction needed is greater than what past efforts have achieved. As hospitals and physician clinics prioritize areas for improvement, reduction in lost revenue-especially avoidable lost revenue-should be at the top of the list. Attentively managing claim denial write-offs will significantly reduce lost revenue. There is significant interface between case management and the revenue cycle. Developing core competencies for reducing clinical and technical denials should be a critical imperative in overall cost management strategy. Case managers are well placed to prevent these unnecessary losses through accurate status determination and clinical documentation review. These clinical professionals can also provide insight into work flow and other processes inherent in the preauthorization process.

Proceedings-1979 third annual practical conference on communication

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1981-04-01

Topics covered at the meeting include: nonacademic writing, writer and editor training in technical publications, readability of technical documents, guide for beginning technical editors, a visual aids data base, newsletter publishing, style guide for a project management organization, word processing, computer graphics, text management for technical documentation, and typographical terminology.

Technical Features of Curriculum-Based Measurement in Writing: A Literature Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMaster, Kristen; Espin, Christine

2007-01-01

This article reviews research examining technical features of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in written expression. Twenty-eight technical reports and published articles are included in this review. Studies examining the development and technical adequacy of measures of written expression are summarized, beginning with research conducted at…

Enhancing science literacy through implementation of writing-to-learn strategies: Exploratory studies in high school biology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hohenshell, Liesl Marie

Some evidence of benefits from writing-to-learn techniques exists; however, more research is needed describing the instructional context used to support learning through writing and the quality of learning that results from particular tasks. This dissertation includes three papers, building on past research linking inquiry, social negotiation, and writing strategies to enhance scientific literacy skills of high school biology students. The interactive constructivist position informed the pedagogical approach for two empirical, classroom-based studies utilizing mixed methods to identify quantitative differences in learning outcomes and students' perceptions of writing tasks. The first paper reports students with planned writing activities communicated biotechnology content better in textbook explanations to a younger audience, but did not score better on tests than students who had delayed planning experiences. Students with two writing experiences as opposed to one, completing a newspaper article, scored better on conceptual questions both after writing and on a test 8 weeks later. The difference in treatments initially impacted males compared to females, but this effect disappeared with subsequent writing. The second paper reports two parallel studies of students completing two different writing types, laboratory and summary reports. Three comparison groups were used, Control students wrote in a traditional format, while SWH group students used the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) during guided inquiry laboratories. Control students wrote summary reports to the teacher, while SWH students wrote either to the teacher or to peers (Peer Review group). On conceptual questions, findings indicated that after laboratory writing SWH females performed better compared to SWH males and Control females; and as a group SWH students performed better than Control students on a test following summary reports (Study 1). These results were not replicated in Study 2. An open-ended survey revealed findings that persisted in both studies; compared to Control students, SWH students were more likely to describe learning as they were writing and to report distinct thinking was required in completing the two writing types. Students' comments across studies provide support for using non-traditional writing tasks as a means to assist learning. Various implications for writing to serve learning are reported, including identification of key support conditions.

Radiological Defense Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DOD), Washington, DC.

Originally prepared for use as a student textbook in Radiological Defense (RADEF) courses, this manual provides the basic technical information necessary for an understanding of RADEF. It also briefly discusses the need for RADEF planning and expected postattack emergency operations. There are 14 chapters covering these major topics: introduction…

English for Specific Purposes. Information Guide 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

British Council, London (England). English-Teaching Information Centre.

This bibliography of materials for teachers of English for specific purposes lists textbooks, technical readers, articles, resource books, reports, dictionaries, reference books, bibliographies, word frequency lists, catalogues of teaching aids, games and activities, current research in Britain, documents available in the archives of the English…

Consulting in an Insurance Company: What We as Academics Can Learn.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Timmons, Theresa Cullen

1988-01-01

Describes a technical writing teacher's experience consulting at a large insurance company. Suggests that consulting provides teachers valuable insight into the real-life writing concerns of writers in service occupations. (ARH)

Technical Writing and Communication in a Senior-Level Seminar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallner, A. S.; Latosi-Sawin, Elizabeth

1999-10-01

To prepare chemistry majors for entry into graduate school and professional life, a senior-level seminar has been designed at Missouri Western State College that introduces students to scientific journals and aspects of professional communication. Students select topics, conduct research, report progress, write summaries for technical and nontechnical audiences, prepare abstracts, organize outlines, and present a formal research paper. At semester's end, each student delivers a 45-minute seminar to peers and departmental faculty, using easily learned presentation software. Faculty who would adopt this approach need to guide student research, emphasize purpose and audience, illustrate a synthesis of sources, support writing as a process, and help students overcome their fear of public speaking.

Expanding the Repertoire: An Anthology of Practical Approaches for the Teaching of Writing (Reading-to-Write Report No. 11). Technical Report No. 30.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCormick, Kathleen; And Others

This study is the 11th and last report from the Reading-to-Write Project, a collaborative study of students' cognitive processes at one critical point of entry into academic performance. The report consists of an Introduction and seven essays, each of which discusses ways to teach a variety of aspects of reading and writing which have been tried…

Alternate Realizations of Purpose in Computer-Supported Writing. Technical Report No. 492.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rubin, Andee; Bruce, Bertram

This report examines a variety of ways that the QUILL program for teaching writing was realized in elementary classrooms. In particular, the report looks at the different ways purposeful writing was achieved using MAILBAG, the electronic mail component of QUILL. The analysis shows that innovations in education should be viewed as objects created…

Research to Practice: Integrating Reading and Writing in a Kindergarten Curriculum. Technical Report No. 415.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kawakami-Arakaki, Alice J.; And Others

Based on emergent literacy research, two components of reading and writing--the morning message and the writing process--were developed in a laboratory school kindergarten by teacher-researcher collaboration and later disseminated to both public and private schools through a project conducted for the Kamehameha Schools, a private school in…

Task Analysis: Applying Composition Theory in an Industrial Forum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soderston, Candace

Technical writers involved in an institutional writing project need some way of viewing the raw material globally before writing. In this way they can build a framework which can be used for different types of information. This is accomplished through a task analysis meeting that highlights the following preparatory steps prior to writing: (1)…

For the Article Writer...How to Win Acceptances by Psychology Journals: 21 Tips for Better Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sternberg, Robert J.

1993-01-01

Twenty-one suggestions are offered for successful writing for psychology journals. Suggestions include tell readers why they should be interested, consider alternative interpretations of the data, give concrete examples, write for a somewhat broader and technically less skilled audience than you expect to read the article, and don't take…

The Effect of Using Cooperative and Individual Weblog to Enhance Writing Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Karsak, H. Gulhan Orhan; Fer, Seval; Orhan, Feza

2014-01-01

Academic writing, whether individual or cooperative, is an essential skill for today's graduates. However, motivating and helping students to learn to write effectively, either in cooperative or individual scenarios, poses many challenges, many of which can be overcome by technical means. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of using…

The Journal of Kitchen Chemistry: A Tool for Instructing the Preparation of a Chemistry Journal Article

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meyers, Jonathan K.; LeBaron, Tyler W.; Collins, David C.

2014-01-01

Writing assignments are typically incorporated into chemistry courses in an attempt to enhance the learning of chemistry or to teach technical writing to chemistry majors. This work addresses the development of chemistry-major writing skills by focusing on the rigorous guidelines and conventions associated with the preparation of a journal…

Computational Linguistic Assessment of Genre Differences Focusing on Text Cohesive Devices of Student Writing: Implications for Library Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Xin; Cho, Kwangsu

2010-01-01

This study examined two major academic genres of writing: argumentative and technical writing. Three hundred eighty-four undergraduate student-produced texts were parsed and analyzed through a computational tool called Coh-Metrix. The results inform the instructional librarians that students used genre-dependent cohesive devices in a limited way…

It's Not "Just the Facts, Ma'am": Writing for Success in Career Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Converse, Caren Wakerman

2012-01-01

Writing across the secondary curriculum has been viewed primarily through the lens of traditional academic courses taught in comprehensive high schools. In this paper the author draws on her past experience as a criminal justice teacher at a career and technical high school to describe writing that facilitates and demonstrates learning of subject…

Writing on Riding: The Value of Experiential Learning and Multidisciplinary Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Mollison

2017-01-01

Mollison Ryan served as the undergraduate intern for "About Campus" during the 2016-2017 academic year. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2017 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Creative Writing and Professional and Technical Writing. She also holds a 2016 United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year title…

Developing a Pedagogical-Technical Framework to Improve Creative Writing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chong, Stefanie Xinyi; Lee, Chien-Sing

2012-01-01

There are many evidences of motivational and educational benefits from the use of learning software. However, there is a lack of study with regards to the teaching of creative writing. This paper aims to bridge the following gaps: first, the need for a proper framework for scaffolding creative writing through learning software; second, the lack of…

EDI and the Technical Communicator.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eiler, Mary Ann

1994-01-01

Assesses the role of technical communicators in electronic data interchange (EDI). Argues that, as experts in information design, human factors, instructional theory, and professional writing, technical communicators should be advocates of standard documentation protocols and should rethink the traditional concepts of "document" to…

7 CFR 3203.4 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GUIDELINES FOR THE TRANSFER OF EXCESS COMPUTERS OR OTHER TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT..., in writing, an authorized official to approve transfers of excess computers or other technical...) Excess computers or other technical equipment must first be internally screened to ensure it is not...

7 CFR 3203.4 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GUIDELINES FOR THE TRANSFER OF EXCESS COMPUTERS OR OTHER TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT..., in writing, an authorized official to approve transfers of excess computers or other technical...) Excess computers or other technical equipment must first be internally screened to ensure it is not...

[Brief research on the life of LUO Zhao-ju, a modern acupuncturist, and his works].

PubMed

Lin, Yi; Dai, Ming; Peng, Jun-mei

2010-03-01

LUO Zhao-ju's life stories are confirmed and described clearly by widely collecting and systematically analyzing the source materials referring to LUO Zhao-ju. This paper also summarizes his extant sixteen medical books and textbooks and his nineteen papers. LUO Zhao-ju has dedicated his life to combined approach of the theory and clinic of acupuncture and moxibustion, laying equal stress on education and writing, and he has made great contributions to acupuncture and moxibustion in our country.

Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization: a Handbook for Technical Writers and Editors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccaskill, Mary K.

1990-01-01

Writing problems are addressed which are often encountered in technical documents and preferences are indicated (Langley's) when authorities do not agree. It is directed toward professional writers, editors, and proofreaders. Those whose profession lies in other areas (for example, research or management), but who have occasion to write or review others' writing will also find this information useful. A functional attitude toward grammar and punctuation is presented. Chapter 1 on grammar presents grammatical problems related to each part of speech. Chapter 2 on sentence structure concerns syntax, that is, effective arrangement of words, with emphasis on methods of revision to improve writing effectiveness. Chapter 3 addresses punctuation marks, presenting their function, situations when they are required or incorrect, and situations when they are appropriate but optional. Chapter 4 presents capitalization, which is mostly a matter of editorial style and preference rather than a matter of generally accepted rules. An index and glossary are included.

14 CFR 1274.942 - Export licenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... writing, that the Agreement Officer authorize it to export ITAR-controlled technical data (including... appropriate licenses or other approvals, if required, for exports of hardware, technical data, and software, or for the provision of technical assistance. (b) The Recipient shall be responsible for obtaining...

Learning To Read Office Technology Publications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faulkner, Ann B.; And Others

This guide is designed to offer interesting, authentic practice in reading college-level technical textbooks and periodical articles. The book contains actual reading assignments and strategies to help students improve comprehension and to develop metacognitive insight into their own reading processes. The guide is presented in three levels, each…

From Business to Technological German.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rockwood, H. M.

Because many of the Georgia Institute of Technology students taking business German come from the sciences and engineering, the business language textbook used has been supplemented with more technologically oriented instructional materials. Highly technical texts are too advanced at the second year language learning stage, so one teacher selected…

25 CFR 1200.44 - What action will the Department take on requests for technical assistance?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... technical assistance? 1200.44 Section 1200.44 Indians OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AMERICAN INDIAN TRUST FUND MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT Technical Assistance § 1200.44 What action will the Department take on requests for technical assistance? We will respond in writing...

48 CFR 2452.237-73 - Conduct of Work and Technical Guidance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... conditions of the contract. (c) The GTR will issue technical guidance in writing or, if issued orally, he/she... Technical Guidance. 2452.237-73 Section 2452.237-73 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF... Provisions and Clauses 2452.237-73 Conduct of Work and Technical Guidance. As prescribed in 2437.110(d...

Writing social psychology: fictional things and unpopulated texts.

PubMed

Billig, Michael

2011-03-01

This paper presents the author's position on the question how to write social psychology. It reflects the author's long-term interest in rhetoric and his more recent concerns about the writing of social scientists. The author argues that social psychologists tend to produce unpopulated texts, writing about 'fictional things' rather than people. Social psychologists assume that their technical terms are more precise than ordinary language terms. The author contests this assumption. He suggests that when it comes to describing human actions, ordinary language on the whole tends to be more precise. The paper analyses why this should be the case, drawing on ideas from linguistics and Vaihinger's notion of fictions. The author presents examples to show how psychological writers, by using passives and nominals, can omit information about the agents of action and the nature of the actions that they are performing. Although their texts may appear impressively technical, they can, in fact, be highly imprecise. Moreover, social psychologists, by using this nominal style of writing, tend to write about processes as if they were things and then attribute actions to these things. In so doing, they create 'fictional things', which they treat as if they were real things. The author offers six recommendations for writing in simpler, clearer ways. ©2011 The British Psychological Society.

Assessing Children's Writing Products: The Role of Curriculum Based Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dockrell, Julie E.; Connelly, Vincent; Walter, Kirsty; Critten, Sarah

2015-01-01

The assessment of children's writing raises technical and practical challenges. In this paper we examine the potential use of a curriculum based measure for writing (CBM-W) to assess the written texts of pupils in Key Stage 2 (M age 107 months, range 88 to 125). Two hundred and thirty six Year three, five and six pupils completed a standardized…

Success of Children at Risk in a Program That Combines Writing and Reading. Technical Report No. 417.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinnell, Gay Su

A study examined the processes and results of children's involvement in interrelated reading/writing activities. First, descriptions of 23 children's reading and writing behavior were drawn from a group of case studies of children who were participating in Reading Recovery, an early intervention program that targets first grade children at risk of…

Network Collaboration with UNIX.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horn, Wm. Dennis

1993-01-01

Discusses networking as a collaboration tool in the teaching of technical writing. Argues that some degree of collaboration is innate to all writing, that word processing already facilitates that collaboration, and that networking is the next enhancement to the collaborative process. (RS)

James Taylor (1859-1946): favourite disciple of Hughlings Jackson and William Gowers.

PubMed

Eadie, M J

2013-01-01

In neurological circles today the name James Taylor (1859-1946) is probably remembered mainly for his role in editing the Selected Writings of John Hughlings Jackson, the most readily available source of Jackson's contributions to neurological knowledge. Taylors' own neurological achievements are largely or entirely forgotten, but in his day he was an influential figure whose career linked the great figures of the golden era of late nineteenth century British neurology to the neurology of the first half of the twentieth century. Not only was he a junior professional colleague and close friend of both John Hughlings Jackson and William Gowers, he also produced a substantial corpus of neurological writings in his own right, including a textbook of child neurology and the first English language account of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.

48 CFR 1852.225-70 - Export Licenses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... writing, that the Contracting Officer authorizes it to export ITAR-controlled technical data (including... licenses or other approvals, if required, for exports of hardware, technical data, and software, or for the provision of technical assistance. (b) The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining export licenses, if...

The composing process in technical communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Masse, R. E.

1981-01-01

The theory and application of the composing process in technical communications is addressed. The composing process of engineers, some implications for composing research for the teaching and research of technical communication, and an interpretation of the processes as creative experience are also discussed. Two areas of technical communications summarized concern: the rhetorical features of technical communications, and the theoretical background for a process-based view, a problem-solving approach to technical writing.

Nursery Production, A Student Handbook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buckey, Sylvia; And Others

Developed by a group of university facilty members and graduate students, this textbook is designed for high school, technical school, and associate degree agricultural programs in the northeast section of the United States who study the nursery industry. Chapter topics, which include 84 subtopics, are: (1) Kinds of Nurseries, (2) Occupation in…

Getting Limits off the Ground via Sequences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gass, Frederick

2006-01-01

Most beginning calculus courses spend little or no time on a technical definition of the limit concept. In most of the remaining courses, the definition presented is the traditional epsilon-delta definition. An alternative approach that bases the definition on infinite sequences has occasionally appeared in commercial textbooks but has not yet…

Geometry Sleuthing in Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Faith H.; Evans, Mary Anna; Stein, Megan

2011-01-01

Storytelling can provide unique teachable moments. Mathematics content found in a good story can be seamlessly woven throughout a lesson. The technical vocabulary used in some stories occurs in a natural way, outside a textbook setting. A great story can also motivate students to actively engage in meaningful mathematics. With a wide range of…

Dialects and Levels of Language.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Littell, Joseph Fletcher, Ed.

This textbook, part of "The Language of Man" series, has two sections. The first section on dialects of English tells what dialects are and details the speech patterns of Kentucky, the Pennsylvania Dutch, Yiddish, and pidgin English. The second section discusses levels of language such as informal, formal, and technical language, slang, jargon,…

Implementing a writing course in an online RN-BSN program.

PubMed

Stevens, Carol J; D'Angelo, Barbara; Rennell, Nathalie; Muzyka, Diann; Pannabecker, Virginia; Maid, Barry

2014-01-01

Scholarly writing is an essential skill for nurses to communicate new research and evidence. Written communication directly relates to patient safety and quality of care. However, few online RN-BSN programs integrate writing instruction into their curricula. Nurses traditionally learn how to write from instructor feedback and often not until midway into their baccalaureate education. Innovative strategies are needed to help nurses apply critical thinking skills to writing. The authors discuss a collaborative project between nursing faculty and technical communication faculty to develop and implement a writing course that is 1 of the 1st courses the students take in the online RN-BSN program.

An Innovative Course in Technical Communication and More

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cranor, Maria B.; Price, Richard H.

2004-05-01

Several studies have shown that otherwise well-prepared physics undergraduates do not develop writing and speaking skills sufficient to the demands of graduate school or the technical workplace. To rectify this, we have developed and taught, for five semesters, a very successful course for junior and senior physics majors. Students improve their writing and speaking skills through technical projects and through a reading list which includes modules on scientific practice and ethics, pseudo science, management, and workplace collaboration. We present here an overview of this course, and discuss the pros and cons of introducing a useful, yet unusual and highly labor-intensive (for teachers and for students) class into the traditional physics curriculum.

Spanish nursing under Franco: reinvention, modernization and repression (1956-1976).

PubMed

Miró, Margalida; Gastaldo, Denise; Nelson, Sioban; Gallego, Gloria

2012-09-01

This article examines Spanish nursing during a critical 20-year period (1956-76) when, under the dictatorial government of General Franco, nursing became the target of a modernization strategy. In the national standardized system of state-run schools, the previously distinct nursing and midwifery programmes were merged into a new training programme which created the single professional denomination of ATS-Ayudante Técnico Sanitario (Technical Sanitary Assistant). Under the leadership of medicine, and with the blessing of the Catholic Church and the Sección Femenina (Women's Section of the Falangist Party), nursing was positioned as feminized and subordinate to medicine, a predominantly male profession in mid-twentieth century Spain. This article discusses this crucial phase of Spanish nursing history by focusing on one influential historical document (published in 1956), Professional Moral Orientation for the Sanitary Technical Assistants, a nursing textbook on professional morals for first-year nursing students written by Rosamaria Miranda, a Catholic nun and a trained nurse. Our analysis reveals that gender-related and technical discourses concerning disciplinary and pastoral power relations presented in this textbook legitimate the core beliefs of Franquism put forward by the politically powerful women's branch of the ruling Falangist Party in mid-twentieth century Spain. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

24 CFR 902.68 - Technical review of results of PHAS Indicators #1 or #4.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... both reviews, a request for technical review must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Real... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Technical review of results of PHAS... HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.68 Technical review of...

22 CFR 124.3 - Exports of technical data in furtherance of an agreement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... approved in writing by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and the technical data does not... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Exports of technical data in furtherance of an... REGULATIONS AGREEMENTS, OFF-SHORE PROCUREMENT AND OTHER DEFENSE SERVICES § 124.3 Exports of technical data in...

34 CFR 86.302 - What are the procedures used by the Secretary for providing information or technical assistance?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... providing information or technical assistance? 86.302 Section 86.302 Education Office of the Secretary... information or technical assistance? (a) The Secretary provides information or technical assistance to an IHE in writing, through site visits, or by other means. (b) The IHE shall inform the Secretary of any...

The Scoop on Good Humor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pieper, Gail W.

1987-01-01

Recommends teaching about the uses of humor in technical writing classes by using computer user manuals. Suggests that humor has a place in technical communication, particularly in computer manuals, where new users' apprehension must be reduced, heavy technical points need clarification, and warnings and cautions should be reinforced. (SKC)

Going Online: Helping Technical Communicators Help Translators.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flint, Patricia; Lord van Slyke, Melanie; Starke-Meyerring, Doreen; Thompson, Aimee

1999-01-01

Explains why technical communicators should help translators. Offers tips for creating "translation-friendly" documentation. Describes the research and design process used by the authors to create an online tutorial that provides technical communicators at a medical technology company the information they need to help them write and…

Improving Student Writing: Methods You Can Use in Science and Engineering Classrooms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hitt, S. J.; Bright, K.

2013-12-01

Many educators in the fields of science and engineering assure their students that writing is an important and necessary part of their work. According to David Lindsay, in Scientific Writing=Thinking in Words, 99% of scientists agree that writing is an integral part of their jobs. However, only 5% of those same scientists have ever had formal instruction in scientific writing, and those who are also educators may then feel unconfident in teaching this skill to their students (2). Additionally, making time for writing instruction in courses that are already full of technical content can cause it to be hastily and/or peremptorily included. These situations may be some of the contributing factors to the prevailing attitude of frustration that pervades the conversation about writing in science and engineering classrooms. This presentation provides a summary of past, present, and ongoing Writing Center research on effective writing tutoring in order to give science and engineering educators integrated approaches for working with student writers in their disciplines. From creating assignments, providing instruction, guiding revisions, facilitating peer review, and using assessments, we offer a comprehensive approach to getting your students motivated to improve their writing. Our new research study focuses on developing student writing resources and support in science and engineering institutions, with the goal of utilizing cross-disciplinary knowledge that can be used by the various constituencies responsible for improving the effectiveness of writing among student engineers and scientists. We will will draw upon recent findings in the study of the rhetoric and compositional pedagogy and apply them to the specific needs of the science and engineering classroom. The fields of communication, journalism, social sciences, rhetoric, technical writing, and philosophy of science have begun to integrate these findings into classroom practice, and we will show how these can also benefit educators in science and engineering, with the goal of producing more effective student writing.

Examining the Technical Adequacy of Progress Monitoring Using Early Writing Curriculum-Based Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hampton, David D.; Lembke, Erica S.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine 4 early writing measures used to monitor the early writing progress of 1st-grade students. We administered the measures to 23 1st-grade students biweekly for a total of 16 weeks. We obtained 3-min samples and conducted analyses for each 1-min increment. We scored samples using 2 different methods: correct…

A History of Professional Writing Instruction in American Colleges: Years of Acceptance, Growth, and Doubt. SMU Studies in Composition and Rhetoric Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Katherine H.

In addition to providing a chronicle of the history of college writing programs in America, this book recognizes their common beginnings, their respective strengths, and the collaboration necessary to train students to be effective writers. The book examines the common roots of courses in creative writing, journalism, technical and business…

Annotated bibliography of structural equation modelling: technical work.

PubMed

Austin, J T; Wolfle, L M

1991-05-01

Researchers must be familiar with a variety of source literature to facilitate the informed use of structural equation modelling. Knowledge can be acquired through the study of an expanding literature found in a diverse set of publishing forums. We propose that structural equation modelling publications can be roughly classified into two groups: (a) technical and (b) substantive applications. Technical materials focus on the procedures rather than substantive conclusions derived from applications. The focus of this article is the former category; included are foundational/major contributions, minor contributions, critical and evaluative reviews, integrations, simulations and computer applications, precursor and historical material, and pedagogical textbooks. After a brief introduction, we annotate 294 articles in the technical category dating back to Sewall Wright (1921).

Sbexpert users guide (version 1.0): A knowledge-based decision-support system for spruce beetle management. Forest Service general technical report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reynolds, K.M.; Holsten, E.H.; Werner, R.A.

1995-03-01

SBexpert version 1.0 is a knowledge-based decision-support system for management of spruce beetle developed for use in Microsoft Windows. The users guide provides detailed instructions on the use of all SBexpert features. SBexpert has four main subprograms; introduction, analysis, textbook, and literature. The introduction is the first of the five subtopics in the SBexpert help system. The analysis topic is an advisory system for spruce beetle management that provides recommendation for reducing spruce beetle hazard and risk to spruce stands and is the main analytical topic in SBexpert. The textbook and literature topics provide complementary decision support for analysis.

Pedagogy Journal, 1995.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marashio Paul, Ed.; And Others

1995-01-01

This annual serial volume contains 22 articles offering practical pedagogical ideas from faculty at New Hampshire technical colleges. Section I, "Learners Conversing," includes "'Cheering': A Prelude to a Street Dweller," by Thomas Gorka; "Illusions of Fear: Unleashing My Writing," by Bruce Maville; and "Claremont's Writing Workshop," a transcript…

A Profile of In-House Teachers of Technical Communication.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mazzatenta, Ernest

To develop a profile of inhouse, company teachers of technical communication, a six-page questionnaire was administered to technical writing teachers. Of the 52 respondents, 24 offered both formal inhouse courses and informal training while 22 conducted only formal courses. Titles, course outlines, and other survey comments revealed that many…

48 CFR 315.306 - Exchanges with offerors after receipt of proposals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... establishment of the competitive range. The Project Officer or technical evaluation panel shall develop technical questions as part of the technical evaluation report. The questions shall disclose the ambiguities... practicable, all questions and answers shall be in writing. The Contracting Officer shall give each offeror in...

In Pursuit of a Rewarding Career

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Avon J.

2015-01-01

Avon Murphy has been a college professor, a technical communications program director, a government technical writer, a freelancer, a contract editor at Microsoft and other firms, and owner of Murphy Editing and Writing Services. An STC (Society for Technical Communication) Fellow, he was for 17 years book review editor for "Technical…

48 CFR 742.1170-4 - Progress reporting requirements and contract clause.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... progress. (b) Because the cognizant technical officer is the individual most familiar with the contractor's performance, the contractor must submit the progress reports directly to the cognizant technical officer. The cognizant technical officer must review the reports and advise the contracting officer, in writing, of any...

An Overview of Clarkson's Technical Communications Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barkman, Patricia R.

The technical communications program at Clarkson College (New York) offers students 23 courses in subjects ranging from interpersonal behavior to engineering and scientific report writing to computer documentation and the development of technical manuals. With the help of an advisor, each student works out a course of study appropriate to his or…

Preparing for an influx of foreign students in technical writing courses: Understanding their background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lipson, C. S.

1981-01-01

The cultural and historical influences that students from foreign countries bring with them to technical and report writing classes, in particular those influences that would affect their receipt of instruction in American principles for written prose are examined. The grouping of sentences into idea units and into paragraphs, and the grouping of the paragraphs into whole structures are considered. The different cultures, different habits and norms for handling prose, and the dictates for style and structure and sufficiency and approach are also considered.

The potential for advanced computerized aids for comprehensible writing of technical documents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kieras, D. E.

1985-01-01

It is widely agreed that technical documents for equipment are poorly written and hard to comprehend. This has been a long-standing problem because the information-processing demands of editing and revision are so high that many comprehensibility problems go undetected. However, many of these problems can be detected by computerized systems that scan a document and point out where the writing can be improved. Existing systems of this type are based on conventional writing customs, rather than on the research literature on comprehension, and give poor advice or miss important problems. They also do not process the input document to any depth. An approach to advanced writing aids is described; such a system would base its criticisms on what is known about the cognition psychology of comprehension, and would make use of techniques from artificial intelligence for processing the language. Some examples of the relevant research results are presented, and a demonstration system of this type is briefly described.

Report planning, preparation and review guide

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moore, J.E.; Aronson, D.A.; Green, J.H.; Puente, Celso

1990-01-01

The guide describes critical steps in the planning, preparation, and review of hydrologic projects and reports. Project and report planning and organization are discussed first. Report writing and guidelines for writing selected parts of the report are covered next. The last topics covered are editorial and technical review. The guide contains examples of good and poor writing, report checklists, and source references to assist authors in the various stages of report preparation.

Problems with the Use of Terminology in Genetics Education: 1, A Literature Review and Classification Scheme.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pearson, J. T.; Hughes, W. J.

1988-01-01

Examines the technical vocabulary of genetics as a source of error and confusion. Suggests that it is necessary to identify different types of problems associated with terminology and to organize them into logical classes to deal effectively with the difficulties. Highlights terms misused in textbooks. (RT)

A Survey of Private Ohio Academic Libraries' Physical Processing Practices for Circulating Books.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Factor, Olivia Spaid

Little guidance is given in today's general technical services or cataloging textbooks to assist librarians in making decisions on procedures for the physical preparation of materials prior to placement on the shelves for public access. As small, private academic libraries face automation of circulation, addition of security systems, and debates…

Deckwatch Officer Navigation Rules, 15-5. Military Curriculum Materials for Vocational and Technical Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio State Univ., Columbus. National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

This coursebook and textbook for a secondary/postsecondary level course in navigation rules comprise one of a number of military-developed curriculum packages selected for adaptation to vocational instruction and curriculum development in a civilian setting. The individualized, self-paced course discusses the international regulations for…