The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an international professional society for the advancement of the theory and practice of technical communication. It has hundreds of local chapters (also known as 'communities.'
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Terminologi er af vital betydning for en vellykket kommunikation, for virksomheder, for forskningen og for udviklingen af nye ideer. Terminologi er en forudsætning for, at fx lovtekster og regulativer, produktinformation, private og offentlige informationssystemer, standarder, marketingbrochurer og forskningsrapporter kan formidle et budskab korrekt. Som et resultat heraf har terminologiske ressourcer og aktiviteter en betragtelig strategisk og økonomisk betydning i samfundet.
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Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a contracting technical communicator? What is a typical day like? What background brings someone to technical communication, and how does that experience play out on a daily basis? Here are some glimpses.
Priore-Garlock, Carmel. TC-FORUM (2000). Careers>TC
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A Day in the Life of a Senior Technical Writer
Any technical experience helps, because once you have a little, it's easy to get more. For example, if you understand the basics of programming, it's easier to learn about additional languages. Once you know the basic terminology, it's easier to learn more and you have the words to ask the right questions. I've found that degrees are not required if you can perform, but a technical or writing degree is always welcomed.
Sereno, Lynda. Binary Girl (2000). Careers>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
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A Day in the Life of a Technical Writer 
This TECHWR-L Magazine section features a selection of quotations from active technical writers about what a day at work looks like.
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Over a period of 10 years, we have developed a sustainable process of online portfolio assessment that demonstrates both reliability and validity, using both qualitative and quantitative measures. The sustainable cycle is that, each semester, we assess a random sampling of the students' work that they have posted, as per our instructions, in an online portfolio. During the reading, the faculty score the documents for 11 variables, including writing, content, audience awareness, and document design. We achieved validity by a modified online Delphi that led to a redefinition of the construct of technical communication itself; we achieved reliability by adjudication resulting in adjacent scores. The results of our assessment meet the requirements of ABET and result in a continual cycle of improvement for our technical communication curriculum. Results from three semesters show an improving correlation between the course grade and the overall, holistic portfolio score.
Johnson, Carol Siri. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2006). Academic>Portfolios>TC>Online
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December 1, 1999, through February 29, 2000 
This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from December 1, 1999, through February 29, 2000.
Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2000). Articles>History>TC
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December 1, 2000, through February 28, 2001
This report covers specifications, standards, and amendments received from December 1, 2000, through February 28, 2001.
Bach, Claudia. Intercom (2001). Articles>History>TC
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Defining a TC Body of Knowledge
The Body of Knowledge effort is currently being led by a team of experienced industry and academic STC members. This spring, you will be invited to look at the initial outline of a hierarchy of domains, skills, and knowledge levels. This BoK is yours to develop; the start-up team is simply trying to put together a straw site to start the collaborative effort.
Hart, Hillary. STC Consulting SIG (2008). Articles>TC>Information Design
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Defining a TC Body of Knowledge
First of all, a profession cannot be recognized as a profession until it is defined as such. Engineers, for instance, have a body of knowledge they must master before they can practice as engineers, whether structural, electrical, or mechanical. Although technical communicators may not yet want such a highly codified and subdivided set of skills and practices, we do need an authoritative place to find answers to that eternal question: "What do technical communicators do, anyway?"
Hart, Hillary. Between the Lines (2008). Articles>TC>Knowledge Management>Body of Knowledge
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Defining Moment for the Eastern Iowa Chapter
The Define-a-Thon is a new word game from the editors of The American Heritage Dictionary. The idea is that you can spell a word without knowing its meaning. So why not develop a competition where the contestant has to pick the right word after its definition has been given?
Crawley, Charles R. Tieline (2008). Articles>TC>Community Building>STC
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Defining Technical Communication: Is It a Goal or a Sisyphean Task?
Defining the field of technical communication is a potentially impossible task. In some respects, the process of defining this profession is similar to Sisyphus' eternally futile task: Just as one theory is proposed within the technical communication discourse community, another article is published and the previous theory suddenly collapses. Unlike Sisyphus, however, the members of the discourse community should be able to successfully create a definition of the field based upon the best ideas from previous theories and writings.
Thayer, Alexander. Orange Journal, The (2002). Articles>TC>Theory
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Defining Technical Communication: Management
Management of technical communication is a very broad field, consisting of everything from self-management to managing an entire department or cross-functional team. Though the field of management is generally the same in all occupations, managers in technical communication deal with slightly more technical material than those in business. My research has led me to view management of technical communication in terms of small, medium, and large-scale managerial job functions.
McRae, Chris. Mercer University (2002). Careers>TC>Professionalism
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Defining Today’s Workplace: Employment Options for Technical Communicators
A document about employment options for technical communication students.
Bommarito, Julie. Mercer University. Careers>TC>Presentations
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Delivering Clear Messages in a Technical Environment
Argues that effective titles and slogans can help members of a documentation team keep their focus while working on a project.
Kocak, Paul J. Intercom (2001). Articles>Writing>TC
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Demanding of Our Students, Demanding of Ourselves
Students and faculty alike need to develop critical and practical technological literacies. Steps can be taken by programs and institutions to encourage faculty to develop critical technological literacies that are comparable to the literacies they demand of their students. Computing is everyone’s job. Com$uting will-in fact, already has-changed technical communication research, pedagogy, and practice. Likewise, technical communication can and will change the contexts andpractices of computing. Therefore, the responsibility for computing needs to be shared throughout our institutions.
Kitalong, Karla Saari and Wiliam J. Williamson, Jr. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>TC
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Demonstrating Effectiveness and Value: A Process for Evaluating TC Products and Services 
This article attempts to provide a framework that can be used to assess the effectiveness and value of technical communication products, and suggest how we can use it to help our clients perceive the value of those products. The framework is adapted from a similar framework initially developed by Kirkpatrick for trainers. First, the article presents the Kirkpatrick model and identifies the limitations in using it to assess the quality and value of technical communication products. Next, an adapted model for assessing the quality and value of technical communication products is presented. Last, the article addresses a series of issues related to collecting data about quality and value, such as when to collect the data, how to ensure its credibility, and how to report it to others. This framework may help us develop a widely used and accepted methodology for assessing the quality and effectiveness of technical communication products.
Carliner, Saul. Technical Communication Online (1997). Articles>TC>Assessment
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Designing and Implementing Technical Communication Research
Designing and implementing successful research in technical communication involves an ongoing, circular process consisting of four parts: (1) planning the project and identifying funding needs, (2) matching research needs with funding sources, (3) writing and submitting a focused proposal, and (4) responding to the reviews of the proposal. This same approach can be adapted to fit the unique needs of any research situation.
Zimmerman, Beverly B. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Research>TC
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Designing for People: Human Factors for Technical Communicators
What are human factors? Why do technical communicators care?
Ames, Andrea L. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2002). Presentations>Human Computer Interaction>TC>Asia
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Offers a large database of jobs for Software Developers and IT Professionals with the option to sign up for an email notification of the latest additions to the database.
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Developing a Chapter Mentoring Program
In an effort to promote and encourage an interest in the field of technical communication through academic/professional relationships, the New York Metro Chapter has developed a mentoring pilot program with Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in Madison, New Jersey. The chapter, along with Dr. Michael B. Goodman, Director of FDU’s M.A. program in Corporate and Organizational Communication, coordinated their efforts to select members who can serve as role models for students interested in this field.
Epp, Barbara E. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Mentoring>Community Building>STC
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Developing a Continuum to Describe Technical Communication
The more integrated a discipline is, the greater the likelihood that the researchers are sharing ideas and the greater the chances are for developing theories and models to support the knowledge base. A fragmented discipline offers few connections between discussions and research. This study of technical communication literature reports and reflects upon the dialogue established among practitioners, researchers, and scholars as theories are built. A continuum--fragmented to integrated--places areas of study in technical communication and offers an interpretation of the field.
Smith, Elizabeth Overman 'Betsy'. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>TC>Research>Professionalism
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Developing Customer-Driven Quality Measurements For Documents
This paper serves as a description of the demonstration on developing customer-driven quality measurements for documents. Originally presented as a workshop at the 1993 STC Conference in Dallas, the content was modified based on participant evaluations. In addition, the format was changed to a demonstration session to allow for a more flexible presentation method based on participation and time constraints. The session will use as many hands-on exercises as possible to reinforce its objectives.
Fisher, Charles D., Jr. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>TC>Assessment>User Centered Design
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Developing Products and Their Rhetoric from a Single Hierarchical Model
Goal hierarchies are models that represent a set of problems or goals. Goal hierarchies can also represent the goals of a product, and the information that should be provided to explain the product. A single goal hierarchy can direct the design of both the product and all rhetoric about the product. Goal hierarchies can direct the design and ordering of the tasks required to build the product. They can also define the structure and order of its accompanying text, online help, hypertext, training, and customer support heuristic. Goal hierarchies were used to enhance development of a specific Department of Veterans Affairs information product and its accompanying rhetoric.
White, Basil J. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>Rhetoric>TC
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Developing Successful Marketing Materials: An Evaluation Workshop
A marketing piece that holds a reader's interest and delivers its message is successful because it integrates a variety of writing techniques with the visuals and layout. This workshop will help you identify successful techniques for marketing materials such as brochures, data sheets, white papers, and press backgrounders.
King, Janice M. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Marketing
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Developing Technical Curiosity: A Marketable Skill
Every technical writer should have strong writing skills. Just as important, in my judgment, is a keen sense of technical curiosity. As a hiring manager, I look for it in every job applicant I interview. If you do not have this sense naturally, you can develop it.
Harvey, Michael. Carolina Communique (2003). Careers>TC>Collaboration
