First Reading Assignment- 3 Talking Points

Problems with Language

1) After reading Humpty Dumpty's quote- Do words mean only what we want them to mean? or do they always have concrete or implied meanings?

2) Technical writing- We are writing to inform rather than impress. Is this different from other types of writing? Should we always use this philosophy?

3) Gobbledygook can supposedly be found in government, legal talk, and academic talk. Are we guilty of gobbledygook? -using up to 10 words in place of 1?

4) Although we have talked about several lengthy forms of technical writing in class, we haven't discussed the simpler documents that can be found in every job that stem from technical writing. ex: memo, business letter, administrative report, financial analysis, marketing proposal, note to the boss, fax, and post-it. Can the ability to write execute these forms of technical writing help you advance in your field?

5) The book suggests that if you work for an institution, whatever your job or level, be yourself when you write. This will help you stand out. How can we accomplish that in college when most of our writing is very structured?