The Practice of Technical and Scientific Communication: Writing in Professional Contexts

A detailed description of the work done by technical scientific communicators in a variety of professional settings. It is designed mainly as an educational and career planning tool for students preparing for careers in technical communication. It may also be used by educators who teach and advise students, by researchers who need a picture of technical communication practice, and by employers who need a more thorough understanding of how technical communicators can contribute to their business. The book includes an introduction and 12 chapters. Each chapter describes the work that technical and scientific communicators do in a specific area of practice and answers some fundamental questions likely to be asked by readers, such as: what is it like to be a writer in a particular professional area?; where might I work?; what am I most likely to do or to write?; what special skills do I need?; how, exactly, should I prepare if this is really what I want to do?; what is the job outlook? Each chapter contains detailed profiles on at least two technical communicators in the chapter’s subject area.