RE: "not technical enough"

["Ward, Curtis (DBS-CLT)" <curtis_ward -at- dbs-systems -dot- com>]

Which is why any tech writing program worth bothering with will provide
plenty of opportunities for internships and include some exposure to tech
oriented courses.

Having said that, however, the purpose of the degree and the program
probably shouldn't be to prepare the student for "real world", workplace or
whatever we may choose to call it. There are just too many variables and
variations. The degree program should provide the knowledge for writing and
the ability to think critically and creatively. Expertise in subject matter
fields can only really come with experience or training outside the degree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Curtis Ward
curtis_ward -at- dbs-systems -dot- com



> Bruce Byfield wrote:
> 
> > Also, while I'm sure that exceptions exist, tech-writing programs
> > don't seem to prepare their students very well. From all reports,
> > many seem poorly conceived and poorly staffed. However, the main
> > problem may be that the classroom simply doesn't prepare people
> > for working. Classes in journalism and editing seem to have the
> > same problem.
> 
> Frankly, this has been my experience also, but I don't think the problem
> is
> the classroom.  Schools started ramping up in the middle 60's adding
> staff,
> infrastructure, programs, etc.  When the decline in student populations
> started a few years back they had to scramble to replace the lost tuition
> revenue.  I suspect the weak tech writing programs are taught by academics
> who have never worked on a high-tech development project and are teaching
> from a tech writing text focusing exclusively on writing per se. 
> 
> Steve MacDonald
> Aspect Communications, Inc.