Week 2: Discussion - What Makes Our Writing Clear, Efficient, and Useful?

"Nobody wants to read anything you have written...They don't want to, but they have to."

Cassandra Race (2019, para. 22) makes this bold claim near the end of Chapter 1 - Introduction to Technical Writing.

https://alg.manifoldapp.org/read/open-technical-communication/section/0debb16b-f623-4033-a47b-973d65ab0961

Race's point is that readers of technical documents aren't looking to be wowed or entertained. They need clear, efficient writing that can solve their problems and provide useful information.

• Based on this week's reading and your own experience, what characteristics are most necessary to make technical writing clear, efficient, and useful to readers?
• What might prevent or get in the way of useful writing?
• And finally, what sorts of tools, tricks, and resources can learners in this class use to help make their writing as clear and useful as possible?