Persuasion in Technical Communication: Analyzing Proposals Using Textual Hermeneutics  

Textual hermeneutics -- more specifically, Ricoeurian textual interpretation -- can help us to develop more effective proposals. Its basic principles of explanation, understanding, and appropriation allow us to examine the underlying structure of the document, synthesize a holistic meaning, and find a personal meaning as a reader. By applying Ricoeurian textual interpretation to a historical technical proposal and then to a contemporary one, we can see how the structural patterns, the holistic meanings, and the personal meanings contribute to the persuasive success of proposals. This systematic analysis of a document can help us develop strategies for writing effective proposals.

Kim, H. Young, Eric J. Ray, Cathy A. Shuffield and Jing Xu. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Writing>Proposals

Persuasion In Technical Communication: Not Necessarily Just Another Academic Exercise  

Four graduate students' papers on communication theory can contribute to the field of technical communication, specifically in two ways: increase our understanding of message production and reception; provide a context in which to develop a theory of technical communication. Several human communication theories have practical and theoretical applications to technical communication. Applying these human communication theories can increase our understanding of how a message is produced and received. Understanding the message, its sender, and its receiver in technical communication can help us to become more effective technical communicators as well as researchers and teachers of technical communication.

Kim, H. Young, Eric J. Ray, Cathy A. Shuffield and Jing Xu. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Rhetoric