TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: FW: RE:writing tests From:sburnf -at- au1 -dot- ibm -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Sun, 13 Feb 2005 22:29:18 -0700
> When I was hiring university students for a student technical writing
> position, I would have them spend 30 minutes after the interview
> writing instructions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
>
> We then evaluated the "tests" based on writing ability, clarity,
> audience interpretation, layout, etc.
Who would be the audience for a set of written instructions on how to
make a sandwich?
> ...I thought it was a good measure of their ability to think quickly,
> evaluate audience (how much detail to go into), and to write to a
> deadline.
Presumably everyone involved--applicants, interviewers, and 98% of
Americans over the age of four--already knows how to make a peanut
butter and jelly sandwich. So how useful a test of TW ability is it
to write down a procedure you already know for an audience of people
who also already know it?
I can see how it might be useful as purely a test of writing, but I
can think of better tests that involve making the candidates stretch
just a little so that the ones with real TW aptitude have a chance to
shine.
WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT - EDIT AND REVIEW, REDEFINED
Accelerate the document lifecycle with full online discussions and unique feedback-management capabilities. Unlimited, efficient reviews for Word
and FrameMaker authors. Live, online demo: http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
Doc-To-Help 7.5 Professional: New version with new features, improved performance and reliability, plus much more! Download your free trial today at www.componentone.com/techwrlfeb.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.