Interview a Professional
Due date: Thursday, September 4th
Arrange to interview a professional technical writer or a technical professional who writes frequently. During the interview, inquire about the person's approach to writing, including his or her approach to problem solving. Here are some suggestions for possible questions you might ask:
- Where/how do you get the information you use?
- Are there ever problems getting the information?
- How are these problems handled?
- Who are the readers of the documents you prepare?
- What kind of noise needs to be filtered out for these readers?
- What's your background? Technical communication? Science? Engineering?
- How does your background affect your writing?
However, don't limit your interview to just these questions. Try to find out how the person is situated within the organization and what types of writing he or she does on a weekly basis. Ask about uses of collaborative writing in the workplace and how technology might have changed the person's writing processes in recent years.
Organize the information you learn into a brief (2-3 page, double-spaced) written report. Try to avoid mere sequential reporting of information. Instead, weave together a story about how John or Jane Doe navigates the world of text in their workplace setting.
If you need help locating a person to interview, see me, and I will try to provide you with some leads.