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Subject:RE: Information Engineers From:Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- westnet -dot- com -dot- au> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Thu, 03 May 2007 11:22:55 +0800
I think Diane's point is that her techie strengths in maths aren't
suddenly going to diminish because she's about acquire a new
qualification in a different field.
John, I get the impression from your previous posts that you think
technical knowledge and writing are in some way incompatible--that if
you learn something about writing, it somehow leaves less room to learn
and hold on to technical knowledge. That might not be what you mean, but
that's the impression I get.
Whether someone's technical skills are stronger than their writing
skills or the other way around isn't as important as whether their
skills are sufficient. You need the technical skills to convey the
correct information and you need the writing skills to convey the
information correctly.
If I have to hire someone to do TW work I want to see *evidence* that
they have done or can do competent TW work. I wouldn't put much weight
on their qualification.
I'm such a suspicious type that I:
- wouldn't assume that someone with a comp sci degree has adequate
technical skills for a TW job
- wouldn't assume that someone with a comp sci degree has weak writing
skills or superb writing skills or adequate writing skills or that they
have better technical skills than writing skills
- wouldn't assume that someone with a literature degree has adequate
writing skills for a TW job
- wouldn't assume that someone with a literature degree has weak
technical skills or superb technical skills or adequate technical skills
or that they have better writing skills than technical skills
About those hooves--doesn't it depend where you are?
Stuart
Diane said:
> I have a BA in mathematics. In three days, I will have a master's
> degree in technical communication. My strengths really haven't
> changed.
And John P said:
> If your strengths haven't changed when compared before and after
> your degrees, you should ask for your money back.
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