Phil
Druker/ Department of English/ University of Idaho
CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL
WRITING
I.
CONTENT
1. USEFUL:
* serves the intended purpose
for the reader
for the writer
* directed towards a problem
* meets the reader's needs at the right level of
technicality (considers the reader's level of expertise)
2. CLEAR
* one meaning (not ambiguous)
* easily understood
* facts explained and analyzed
* terms defined
* graphics with explanations—appropriate
to audience and to text
3. ACCURATE
* truthful
* valid, reliable
* consistent
* objective and unbiased
* sources acknowledged
4. COMPLETE
* provides all the pertinent information
II. ORGANIZATION
1. ORDERLY
* logical order of ideas
* paragraphs work (topic sentences)
2. ACCESSIBLE
* useful sections with headings
III. SENTENCE STYLE
1. CONCISE
2. CLEAR
3. CORRECT
IV. FORMAT
Grades