Monday, September 5, 2011

Collaborative Writing

Annotated  Research

Question: Did training in academic English prepare writers for writing collaboratively with engineers and computer scientists?

Answer: “Writers’ academic English backgrounds and on-site training did not prepare them for collaborative writing with engineers and computer scientists.” BE Heneghan. 1987. P. 440.

Comment: Why? This annotation gives rise to many questions. Was it personality? Was it lack of knowledge of writing skill on the part of the engineers and computer scientists? Was it failure to know the kinds of technical material required?

I’m not surprised that training in academic writing in English does not help with technical writing. My purpose in reviewing this finding is to raise the questions. RayS.

Title: “Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Teaching of English.” RK Durst and JD Marshall, Eds. Research in the Teaching of English (December 1988), 434-452.

No comments: