Scientific and Technical Writing Program

Nano Science & Technology Consortium

http://www.nstc.in

Workplace Writing

and School Writing:

Differences

Purpose School Writing

Educational purpose Learn course material Assess knowledge and assign grades

Workplace Writing Practical purpose

Improve product Increase efficiency Inform coworkers, customers or other

individuals

Audience

School Writing Instructor is the audienceWorkplace Writing Complex Audience within

the organization: Supervisor, coworkers Other departments:

personnel, purchase, finance etc.

Audience

Workplace Writing (contd.) International and

Multicultural Audience: Clients Customers Suppliers Co-workers at international

offices

Types of Communication UsedSchool Writing Term paper Laboratory reports ExamsWorkplace Writing Memos Business letters Instructions Project Proposals Reports Training material

Methods of Communication Used

School Writing Written text Diagrams (in Science)Workplace WritingUses following for visual appeal and easy

navigation Tables Charts Drawings Photographs

CollaborationSchool Writing Writing assignments needs no or less collaboration Term Papers and Exams are individual

performances and require no collaborative writingWorkplace WritingAt workplace, groups of employees work together to

plan, draft and revise: Reports Proposals Printed Communication Oral Communication Online Communication

Advanced Technology

School Writing Mostly hand written assignments Some project work may be required

to use computer technology.Workplace Writing Advanced computer technology and

programs are used. E-mail

Legal and Ethical Issues

School Writing Assignments and tests are

reproduction of what you have learnt in a book or course.

Workplace Writing Workplace documents are

sensitive to legal and ethical issues

Workplace communication may have ethical dimensions

Reference

Anderson, Paul V. Technical Communication. Ohio: Thomson. 2007.

Contact Information

Program CoordinatorScientific and Technical WritingNano Science and Technology ConsortiumC-56 A/28, Sector-62, Noida, U.P -201301Mob. No. 09958161117E-mail : tech.writing@nstc.in Website : http://www.nstc.inHelpline No. 0120-4330376 , 09818206463