Technical Communicators as Purveyors of Common Sense
http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=5DVLPB4EPVGRNVC4
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  peer-reviewed

Praetorius, Pete
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
2002

Abstract:

In this article I argue that technical communicators are in the position to foster users' commonsense understanding of products. The notion that technical communicators can increase the common sense of users is absent in the field of technical communication literature. Reasons for not recognizing the legitimacy of common sense range from its unexamined nature to a belief that it cannot be taught. After discussing different definitions of common sense, I suggest that including scenarios, common metaphors, and language that promotes procedural knowledge in product information can strengthen users' commonsense understanding of the products they use. Moreover, in failing to make use of commonsense appeals, technical communicators are ignoring a sound persuasive strategy.