A Strong Partner for Sustainable Development
Module 2
English 119
TECHNICAL WRITING
College of Education
BSEd-English
1st Semester AY 2020-2021
TECHNICAL WRITING
Ricen V. Balinsay
Instructor 1
A module prepared by MARIA CONCEPCION J.
CAYAON, College of Education
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
I.Title Page i
II.Table of Contents ii
III.Instruction to the User iii
1v. Topic: Thesis and 1
Audience
Chapter Overview 1
Instruction to the User 1
IV.
Learning Outcomes 1
Time Allotment 1
Pre-test 1
Discussion 1
9
Evaluation
10
References
V.
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
INSTRUCTION TO THE USER
This module would provide you an educational experience while
independently accomplishing the task at your own pace or time. It aims as
well to ensure that learning is unhampered by health and other challenges. It
covers the topic about Communication Models, Communication Ethics, and
Communication and Globalization.
Reminders in using this module:
1. Keep this material neat and intact.
2. Answer the pretest first to measure what you know and what to be
learned about the topic discussed in this module.
3. Accomplish the activities and exercises as aids and reinforcement for
better understanding of the lessons.
4. Answer the post-test to evaluate your learning.
5. Do not take pictures in any parts of this module nor post it to social
media platforms.
6. Value this module for your own learning by heartily and honestly
answering and doing the exercises and activities. Time and effort were
spent in the preparation in order that learning will still continue amidst
this Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Observe health protocols: wear mask, sanitize and maintain physical
distancing.
Hi! I’m Blue Bee, your WPU Mascot.
Welcome to Western Philippines University!
Shape your dreams with quality learning experience.
STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
TOPIC 2: THESIS AND AUDIENCE
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter focuses on the formulation of the thesis, and the audience. It includes a brief
mention of technical communication, memorandum breakdown, the audience, and
separating the thesis statement from fact and thesis.
INSTRUCTION TO THE USER
The second chapter of this course aims to introduce you to the thesis and the target audience.
It opens with a routine drill exercise before the discussion as seen below. You will then have
the choice as a class to choose your same group or have a new one for the activity on
advertisements. Finally, a group chapter quiz will be given after the discussion. For
clarifications and questions as well as consultations regarding your research topics, do not
hesitate to pm your instructor. Happy learning!
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this chapter, the students must be able to:
• Clearly grasp the basics of technical communication
• Identify the parts of memorandum and how it is written
• Explain what a thesis is and what a thesis statement is not
• Understand the nature of the target audience
TIME ALLOTMENT
The chapter will be given a minimum of three (6) hours.
DISCUSSION
What is technical communication?
• Technical Communication
Technical communication is a means to convey clear, factual, and consistent
technical information. People of different professions engage in such
communication in various situations and contexts.
It is a field that includes any following form of communication that can
help users to accomplish a defined goal or task. Its main purpose is to
assist users who need specific information on completing tasks, using
products, operating equipment, and so on. Jul 12, 2019 (medium.com.>technical-
writing-is-easy>
Watch https://youtu.be/p8rHI_IG2pA and http://youtu.be/uVqxC2T_MKk.
What are some examples of technical communication?
• Memo Breakdown
What is memorandum? Who usually sends a memo?
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
A memo, or memorandum, is one of the most common forms of business
communication (Spors, K. 2019). Memorandum usually comes from the CEO,
head of the state or agency, principal or dean.
The format of a memo is simpler compared to other business letters.
You write “Memorandum” at the top, followed by a To line, a From line,
a Date line, a Subject line, and then the actual body of the message.
(sba.hehartford.com>businessmanagement.marketing Aug.20218)
Purpose of Writing a memorandum
Memos are written to; 1. bring attention to problems, and 2. solve
problems. The writers accomplish their goals by informing the reader
about new information like policy changes, price increases, or by
persuading the reader to take an action, such as attend a meeting, or
change a current production procedure.
(www.kean.edu>~cpdonova>MemoonMemosSample)
Below are some common types of memos:
1. Policies (changes and new)
2. Instructions.
3. Procedures.
4. Announcements.
5. Trip reports
• The Audience
1. The audience answers the question of “who gets to know about this?”
With technical communication, the aim is to make everyone gets to
know and understands the message or content.
2. Audience profile
The following are important things to consider when choosing an
audience:
1. Gender of the audience
2. Education level
3. Preferred characteristics
4. Likes and dislikes or preferences
5. Culture and way of living
6. Age group
• Fact, Thesis, and Thesis Statement
What a Thesis is Not
Not a Title- a title can say what the thesis is about, but it is not the thesis
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
TITLE: NOT A THESIS THESIS STATEMENT
Pambansang Minorya at Midya ng The various community news
Probinsya: A Comparative Analysis agencies in Palawan report on the
of Community Press Reportage on issues of local Indigenous Peoples’
the Issues of Local Indigenous communities differently from one
Communities in Palawan another, and have different slants
when it comes to reporting.
(Wo)Men's Sports: An Analysis of There is a gap in the print coverage
the Role of Gender in the Coverage and the popularity of the men's and
of the UAAP Season 77 Basketball women's divisions in basketball and
and Volleyball in the Three Leading volleyball during the UAAP Season
Metro Manila Newspapers 77.
4Ps Education 4Poor? Communication practices on the
value of education can be uncovered
using a critical approach to
beneficiaries’ and government’s
discourse in the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
7. Not an announcement of the subject- the thesis takes a stand,
it expresses an attitude towards the subject, but is not the
subject itself
ANNOUNCEMENT: NOT A THESIS STATEMENT
THESIS
My subject is the lack of efficiency The way the program is handled is
of this program. not efficient.
I want to share some thoughts This class is having trouble
regarding the progress of this class progressing.
The lack of coverage on the There is a lack of coverage on the
Indigenous Peoples is the topic of Indigenous Peoples.
this theme.
This paper will attempt to describe The educational system of the
how the educational system of the country was not prepared for K-12.
country was not prepared for K-12
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
The thesis of this paper is the Solving our environmental
difficulty of solving our problems is more difficult than
environmental problems. many environmentalists believe.
8. Not a statement of absolute fact.
2. The Good Thesis…
1. Is restricted or narrowed down to the scope and limitation
(narrower thesis= better chances of defending and arguing)
POOR BETTER
There are communication problems Cultural and language barriers
in the world contribute to international
tensions.
The Philippine economy has National debt is a major problem of
problems. the Philippine economy.
Crime must be stopped. Our justice system must be more
efficient when it comes to criminal
behavior and persecution.
2. Is unified
POOR BETTER
Detective stories are not a high Detective stories appeal to the basic
form of literature, but people have human desire for thrills.
always been fascinated by them,
and many fine writers have
experimented with them.
The new health program is The new health program should be
excellent, but it has several run only on experimental basis for
drawbacks, and it should be run two or three years.
only on experimental basis for two
or three years.
OR
Despite its general excellence, the
new health program should be run
only on an experimental basis for
two or three years.
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
3. Is specific
POOR BETTER
The Cauldron of the 2019 Southeast The 2019 Southeast Asian Games
Asian Games is impressive. Cauldron is a monument to human
folly.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musicals are Lin-Manuel Miranda revolutionized
very good. the theater through his musicals by
including elements of hip hop and
rap which helped create a new
prose style.
Drug addiction is a big problem. Drug addiction in recent years has
caused a dramatic increase in
crimes of violence, not just by the
addicts, but also by authorities
ACTIVITIES/ EXERCISES
A. Visual and Auditory Advertisement
Watch a popular advertisement and determine the audience it is targeted towards, and
what makes it a hit.
B. In the previous module, I asked you to submit five research titles. Write a thesis
statement for each title.
EVALUATION/POST TEST
A. Prepare thesis statement for the following. (3 points each)
3. Stress in the university life
4. Child abuse is something to think about.
5. Drug use is detrimental to university students.
6. School should replace soda machines in school cafeteria.
7. English proficiency of Agricultural Science High School students
8. Education students watching or participating in pornographic activities
B. Suppose that you are a school principal, prepare five memoranda about the following:
Intramural meet, uniform policy for students, safety measures for faculty and staff in
relation to COVID 19, announcement related to school activity, work from home. Be
sure to address your audience. (10 pts each)
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
REFERENCES
Markel, Mike. Technical Communication. Current ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's,
2010. ISBN 978-0-312-67948-4.
What Is the Format of a Memo?
What Is the Format of a Memo?. (2018). Retrieved 23 October 2020, from
https://sba.thehartford.com/business-management/marketing/memo-
format/#:~:text=The%20format%20of%20a
http://www.abg-jobs.com/a-comparison-between-academic-writing-and-technical-
writing/
www.kean.edu>~cpdonova>MemoonMemosSample
(sba.hehartford.com>businessmanagement.marketing Aug.20218
DISCLAIMER
This module is prepared for instructional purposes only based on our course syllabus. The
teacher who prepared this does not claim ownership on this module but patterned the ideas
from different authors and references.
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
Congratulations for completing this
module!
Student’s Information
Name: ________________________________ Program:______
Year and Section:______________________________________
Contact No.:_________________________________________
E-mail address:_______________________________________
Facebook Account:_____________________________________
Messenger Account:____________________________________
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
Vision 2020
WPU: the leading knowledge center for sustainable
development of West Philippines and beyond.
Mission
WPU commits to develop quality human resource and
green technologies for a dynamic economy and
sustainable
development through relevant instruction,
research and extension services.
Core Values (3CT)
Culture of Excellence
Commitment
Creativity
Teamwork
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