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Rhetorical Technical Communication: Exploring the Gaps, Connections, and New Boundaries Between the Fields Through an Analysis of Instruction Manuals

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2016, Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing​, University of Findlay, English.
This thesis researches the lack of collaboration between rhetoricians and technical communicators. The aims of the study were to 1) identify areas in which collaboration could be strengthened and 2) present a means to use these areas to improve technical communication documents. The researcher designed an instruction manual evaluation rubric which incorporated theories and principles from rhetoric, technical communication, humanism, and audience theory. In a qualitative study, six instruction manuals were evaluated using this rubric. The results of the study revealed audience analysis is the most lacking category in the manuals. Technical communicators must increase their study of audience and use rhetorical principles to engage the reader and write more effective instruction manuals.
Elkie Burnside, Dr. (Advisor)
Ron Tulley, Dr. (Committee Member)
S. Chris Ward, Dr. (Committee Member)
Christine Tulley, Dr. (Advisor)
152 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McKinney, E. G. (2016). Rhetorical Technical Communication: Exploring the Gaps, Connections, and New Boundaries Between the Fields Through an Analysis of Instruction Manuals [Master's thesis, University of Findlay]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=findlay148188814788489

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McKinney, Elizabeth. Rhetorical Technical Communication: Exploring the Gaps, Connections, and New Boundaries Between the Fields Through an Analysis of Instruction Manuals. 2016. University of Findlay, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=findlay148188814788489.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McKinney, Elizabeth. "Rhetorical Technical Communication: Exploring the Gaps, Connections, and New Boundaries Between the Fields Through an Analysis of Instruction Manuals." Master's thesis, University of Findlay, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=findlay148188814788489

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)