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Subject:Testing: The Final Word From:Tim Giles <tgiles -at- GSVMS2 -dot- CC -dot- GASOU -dot- EDU> Date:Tue, 7 Mar 1995 14:23:33 -0500
As a professor of technical writing and hence someone who is qualified to
create and evaluate tests for technical writers, I can think of only one
type of technical writer for whom such a writing test would be relevant:
the novice technical writer. Such a test could determine awareness of
audience, the ability to organize material, grammatical competence, and the
ability to work under deadline pressure, all of which may be legitimate
areas of concern WHEN A TECHNICAL WRITER HAS NO EXPERIENCE. However, a
prospective technical writer with a degree should be competent in these
areas. And certainly an expereinced technical writer would be able to
produce a portfolio.
If anyone is interested, Educational Testing Services now has a test geared
specifically toward technical writing in their DANTES Assessment program.
