Linga McClair
(lmcclair@emich.edu)
Hello, I am a technical writing major and
journalism minor, going into my fourth year of undergraduate studies at
Eastern Michigan University. Technical writing focuses on
designing information, and in this class I have learned to design and
organize information for various purposes within particular
genres. For example, our writing went beyond learning to use a
template. We actually learned to analyze data and organize it
appropriately for particular audiences. In addition to memos, we
learned in depth proposal writing and genre analysis, in the form of a
technical report. As well as a completely creative assignment
(Creative Rhetoric Explanation Scenario) that helped me to recognize
how I use rhetoric everyday. With the proposals, we practiced
rhetorical skills to propose ideas. And in the genre analysis, we
were taught to use our analytical skills to show and document an
understanding of how writing can be situationally dependent.
The technical writing skills just
mentioned are important, not only because I am a technical writing
major, but also because the assignments brought to light so many things
document users take for granted. One issue brought out that seems
to have the most impact on writing, is how much the context or the
situation in which the writing takes place, shapes the use of the
document. Being able to recognize this, will allow me to be
effective in my writing career. Because of this, my experience in
English 424, has been extremely valuable.
My Resources and Projects
My Creative Rhetoric Explanation Scenario
My Revised Buddy McCormick Memo
My Outlines of Rhetoric
& Professional Writing Readings