Publications - WriteNow Communication

Peer-Reviewed Publications Trade Magazine Articles Conference Proceedings Textbook Chapters Newsletter Articles Fiction Poetry

Peer-Reviewed Publications

"Two Centuries of Progress in Technical Communication." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 37(2). 2007. pp. 129-149.

To demonstrate the advances in expository writing over the past two centuries, the article compares what the authors of the U.S. Constitution did with their limited resources to what modern professional communicators do with their abundance of resources. Many of the communication problems that were pervasive in the 18th century have since been remedied by insights emerging from the fields of linguistics, human factors, and cognitive psychology, among others.

"Reconsidering Some Prescriptive Rules of Grammar and Composition." Technical Communication 51(2). May 2004. pp. 264-275.

In this article, I discuss some rules and exceptions to the rules of grammar and mechanics. My recommen-dations for reconsidering these prescriptions are based on my experience as a technical editor and writer in a corporate, bureaucratic environment, as well as research in grammar and the reading process. The inertia of tradition is a powerful force in the workplace. Rules, whose origins have long been forgotten, take on lives of their own. A sharp argument can seemingly eviscerate the fee-blest rules, but somehow they persist. I propose here that writing and editing decisions should be based not only on prescriptive grammar but also on "organic" grammar (the grammar "hard wired" in our brains), research in cognitive psychology and human factors, research in other relevant disciplines, and reflection.

"Conducting Reading Research in Technical Communication." Reader: Essays in Reader-Oriented Theory, Criticism, and Pedagogy 42 (Fall). 1999. pp. 1-29.

This paper reviews the literature in schema theory and applies that literature to the reading process. The purpose of this application is to demonstrate that schemata, developed through many reading experiences, provide readers with certain expectations that vary according to types of reading experiences. For example, a reader may have a different schema for each distinctive genre of text, such as fiction or technical prose. Categorizing an imminent reading experience based upon perceived genre, the reader may activate expectations associated with a schema for that genre. In turn, these expectations may determine reading strategy, what some researcher have termed rhetorical role. Because typical readers of technical communication are unique, reading experiments in technical communication should 1) use texts that are typical of technical communication and 2) prime experimental subjects to induce the rhetorical role of "technical reader."

"Last Rites for Readability Formulas in Technical Communication." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 29(3). 1999. pp. 281-97.

Some reading researchers and technical communicators assume the efficacy of readability formulas. Reading researchers use such formulas to equalize the reading difficulty of texts used in experiments. Results of an informal Internet survey indicate that some professional writers and editors use readability formulas that are integrated into word-processing software. This article proposes that readability formulas fail to predict text difficulty. The results of an experiment demonstrate that "text difficulty" is a perception of the reader and therefore cannot be objectively calculated by counting syllables, word length, sentence length, and other text characteristics.

"A Phonological Reading Model for Technical Communicators." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 27(1). 1997. pp. 3-32.

When people read silently to themselves, they unconsciously translate what they read into a speech-like code that facilitates word identification and the creation of meaning. This article examines that phenomenon--known as silent speech--based upon the published research of cognitive psychologists and psycholinguists. The author develops a phonological model of reading based upon published results of experimental investigations to determine the relationship between cognition and silent speech. The author then applies the model to technical communication. The applications include the use of punctuation, pronouns, and abbreviations, as well as introducing new words, writing to satisfy the speech instinct, cultivating a human voice, and revising technical documents.

"Review of The Emergence of Standard English by John H. Fisher." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 27(3). 1997. pp. 342-45.

Imagine going to court to defend yourself against charges of a petty crime only to find that the judge, lawyers, and clerks of the court are speaking French. After a summary judgment against you, known to you only by the gavel crack and scolding countenance of the judge, the clerk hands you some papers to sign. As you attempt to read the papers, you realize that they are written in Latin. "Appelez-vous," the clerk says. "Appelez-vous." Is this an episode of the Twilight Zone? No. It's 14th-century reality in England, as described by John H. Fisher in his scholastic achievement titled The Emergence of Standard English. Why should technical communicators understand how standard English emerged from the commingling of the dominant European languages of that time? This review answers that question.

"The Evolution of the Speech Instinct in Silent Reading: Implications for Technical Communication." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 27(3). 1997. pp. 265-75.

How "silent speech" affects the reading process has been generally unexamined in the context of technical communication, as evidenced by the paucity of research in this area reported in technical communication journals. By exploring the history and evolution of silent speech and its relationship to silent reading, this article sets a context for educators to innovate techniques for composing technical documents according to the way people actually read them.

"Setting the Context for Understanding." Technical Communication 41(2). 1994. pp. 287-91.

As any technical writer knows, making things simple can be very difficult. Experience is so fluid, so complex. It's often wonderful how one inconceivable moment eddies into another. Yet it's often frustrating to channel those eddies of complexity into a logical stream, a sequence of moments spliced together with artificial connectives. Technical writers have set a tall order for themselves: to take associative experience and turn it into the sequential, coherent, and sometimes rigid narrative that the audience expects. One primary obligation of the technical writer, then, is to determine with precision the knowledge base and needs of the intended audience. Questions about the audience are the tuning forks of the profession. This article addresses some ways to craft better prose for technical readers.

Trade Magazine Articles

"Measuring and Managing Electromagnetic Interference: Selecting the Right Antenna for Your E3 Program." Interference Technology, EMC Directory and Design Guide. 2006.

This article discusses programs for managing electromagnetic environmental effects and the spectral environment of industrial and commercial buildings, especially those in the nuclear industry.

"Transforming Tribal Knowledge into Written Instructions." Intercom Magazine. April 2006. pp. 20-23.

In this article, I discuss using a new type of database-driven software to transform "tribal knowledge" into written instructions by observing production workers as they assemble parts, recording in words what they do, and taking photographs to illustrate those words. I discuss the reasons for conducting such a project to arm technical communicators in manufacturing facilities with language that will enable them to convince their employers to undertake the transformation.

"Understanding MOVs for Applying Robust Protection Against Surges." Interference Technology, EMC Directory and Design Guide. 2005.

This article discusses methods for conducting verification testing of surge-protective devices to determine their capabilities.

"Coping with Wordslaughter and the 'Good Enough' Syndrome." Intercom. January 2004. pp. 19-21.

In a corporate, bottom-line environment, a budget for processing a report may be too small to support the high ideals of eager technical communicators. Often, technical communicators are charged with making a report "good enough" for the client. This article discusses ways to cope with requests for mediocrity.

"Cruiser Kick-Out Pegs from BikerBrackets.com." StarCruiser. August 2004, Volume 6, Number 3.

In this article, I review an innovative set of cruising pegs for Yamaha V Star motorcycles.

"Review of the AIRHAWK Seat Cushion." StarCruiser. October 2004, Volume 6, Number 5.

In this article, I review a high-tech seat cushion for motorcycles.

"Maximize Accuracy During Carb Synchronizing." StarCruiser. December 2003, Volume 5, Number 2.

In this article, I describe a how to accurately synchronize the carburetor of a Yamaha V-twin engine.

"Following the Trail of Destruction." Power Quality, September 2002. pp. 62-66. (with Doni Nastasi and Kermit Phipps).

Equipment with blown fuses, charred resistors, fried semiconductors, and vaporized circuit traces are on the workbenches of repair shops everywhere. Such obvious damage can be easily--perhaps too quickly--attributed to power surges. This article discusses the results of destructive testing industrial equipment to determine how surges applied to the power port leave their signatures upon damaged components.

"Improving the Way We Measure Insertion Loss." ITEM, 2002. pp. 180-190. (with Kermit Phipps and Philip Keebler).

In this article, we explore the applications of transformers to reducing noise and mitigating surges. We compare the performance of the general-purpose dry-type transformer (GPT) to the more sophisticated (and more expensive) isolation transformer (IT), challenging the presumption of the IT’s superior performance in common applications.

"Surge Testing the Communication Port." Power Quality, October 2002. pp. 13-15. (with Doni Nastasi and Kermit Phipps).

Equipment with blown fuses, charred resistors, fried semiconductors, and vaporized circuit traces are on the workbenches of repair shops everywhere. Such obvious damage can be easily--perhaps too quickly--attributed to power surges. This article discusses the results of destructive testing industrial equipment to determine how surges applied to the communication port leave their signatures upon damaged components.

"Isolation Transformers: Are They Worth It?." ITEM Update, 2001. pp. 74-80. (with Kermit Phipps and Philip Keebler).

MIL-STD-220B describes itself as a quality-control standard. The standard itself emphasizes that its test methods are not intended to predict actual performance of filters that are used in mismatched-impedance situations. Yet, people continue to use this standard to predict the behavior of filters in the field. This article describes a better method for testing filters in the field.

"Chapter Service for the Socially Challenged." Intercom Magazine. November 1997. pp. 22-23.

I'm OK; you're OK. This article explains how socially challenged people can still contribute to professional organizations.

"Photography Basics for Technical Communicators: Part 1: Equipping a Communication Departments." Intercom Magazine. April 1996. pp. 26-28

In this article, I discuss the opportunity for a small technical communication department to appropriate photographic equipment and skills to save a company the cost of contracting photographic and pre-press services.

"Photography Basics for Technical Communicators: Part 2: Taking Technical Photographs." Intercom Magazine. May 1996. pp. 25-27.

In this article, I talk about putting photographic equipment to use. Any time you apply a general skill to a specific discipline, you're bound to encounter complications not covered in a reference book or classroom. Here, I include the most important considerations for getting the most out of your camera, starting with selecting the right film.

"The Things Our Readers Do." Intercom Magazine. December 1996. pp. 14-15.

This article applies the findings of cognitive psychology to the practice of technical communication.

Conference Proceedings

"Photography Basics for Technical Communicators." Proceedings of the 21st Annual Practical Conference on Communication, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 16th-17th, 1998.

In small companies, the technical communicator may wear many hats, including staff photographer. This article reviews the difficulties a fledgling photographer must surmount to take publication-quality photographs in a technical or scientific environment. Specific issues discussed in the article include selecting photography equipment, film, exposure, depth of field, close-ups, and special circumstances such as photographing cathode ray tubes, reflective objects, and objects in fluorescent lighting.

"Writing and Editing by Ear." Proceedings of the 21st Annual Practical Conference on Communication, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 16th-17th, 1998.

When people read silently, they unconsciously translate what they read into a speech-like code that facilitates word identification and the creation of meaning. This article examines that phenomenon--known as silent speech--based upon the published research of cognitive psychologists and psycholinguists. The author describes a phonological model of the reading process and then applies the model to technical communication. The applications include the use of punctuation, pronouns, and abbreviations, as well as introducing new words, writing to satisfy the speech instinct, cultivating a human voice, and revising technical documents.

Textbook Chapters

"The Great Pyramid War." Writing a Professional Life: Stories of Technical Communicators On and Off the Job. Allyn & Bacon/Longman. 2000. pp. 9-16.

This story reveals the difficulties with managing an internship in technical communication. Because the intern has one foot in the academy and the other in Corporate America, signals can get crossed, best intentions dashed, and authority undermined.

Newsletter Articles

"The Accidental Researcher: How the Habitual Observation of Language Instructs Our Craft." Transcript. May 2006.

This article discusses the process of “accidental” research, how to conduct formal research based upon the conclusions of accidental research, and how to develop the results of research into formal presentations for publication or inclusion in a corporate style guide.

"Bonding Agents for Unit Modifiers." IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter. February 2005. http://www.ieeepcs.org/newsletter/pcsnews_bonding.php

Leaving out the connecting words in a phrase or using long noun strings can confuse your readers and cause misunderstanding of the concept that you are trying to communicate. In this article, I use the analogy of a suitcase, or portmanteau, to illustrate the need for connecting words.

"A Tip for Technical People." Transcript. January 2004. p. 4.

The number 1 problem with technical prose is its density. Technical people like to stack technical words, one atop another, creating a string known as a "portmanteau," which means "A large leather suitcase that opens into two hinged compartments." When you pack things into this suitcase, you squeeze out the little words that help the reader understand the relationship between words--little words such as "of," "in," and "for." This article discusses the editorial method of unpacking portmanteaus.

"Back to the Garden: Loose Versus Periodic Sentence Structure." Transcript. November 2004. pp. 4-5.

This article compares two types of sentence structure and illustrates how to avoid placing too much information between the subject and its predicate.

"Vocabulary." Transcript. January 2004. pp. 1, 6-7.

This article discusses the vocabularies that careful writers must address: cognitive, executive, and cognitive/executive vocabularies.

"What's in a Phrase?." IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter. March/April 2004. pp. 5, 13.

In this brief article, I opine about the use of English idioms.

"Language Expertise?." IEEE Professional Communication Society Newsletter 41(4). 1997. pp. 4, 15.

This article examines the working relationship between subject-matter experts and technical writers. Can't we all just get along?

"Anatomy of an Internship: The Complicating Why." Transcript. July/August 1996. pp. 9-10.

Ever think about conducting an internship with the local college or university? This article discusses a technical-communication internship from three points of view: the intern, the academic advisor, and the corporate manager.

"Redesign: Gathering Your Resources." Tieline. October 1996. pp. 12-13.

This article discusses how to redesign a chapter newsletter.

"Redesigning Your Chapter Newsletter." Tieline. November/December 1996. pp. 6-7.

This article discusses how to redesign a chapter newsletter.

"The Status Woe." Transcript. July/August 1996. pp. 6-7.

What is the discipline of technical communication researching these days? This article discusses the whos, whats, and whys of research in technical communication. It's not a pretty picture.

"Consumers in the Age of Information." Technician Association News 14(4). 1992. p. 7.

This article focuses on how electronics technicians should deal with their customers.

"Image + Performance = Reputation." Technician Association News 13(6). 1991. p. 12.

This article focuses on how to project your electronics-service business to maximize your good reputation.

Fiction

"AM55." Phoenix Literary/Art Magazine 31(1). 1989. pp. 20-22.

A small-town eccentric stirs the imaginations of gossipmongers when he builds an AM radio station.

Poetry

"Our Habit." Cat Fancy Magazine. November 2003.

The sweetness and animation of my smallest cat compels me to wax poetic about her company.

"The Empire Builders." Eagle's Flight 9(2). 1997.

The enterprise of boys compels the narrator of this poem to speculate about now and thereafter.