Midterm Report - Term Paper Example

Progress Report Taking into account the projects we have undertaken so far, I can say that I have acquired certain useful technical writing skills. The significance of the skills acquisition is that they were obtained through experiential learning as opposed to hearing about them as mere theories explained in texts. Aside from an understanding of roles behind skills such as those of a writers or a managers, there is a consequent acquisition of insights that could only go with an actual performance of respective tasks and duties.

For instance, learning materials that teach about technical writing outline steps and guidelines that equip us with knowledge on how to proceed and explore a subject on paper. However, the actual writing process enabled me to encounter, firsthand, the challenges entailed and how to address them. This is the case particularly in the context of my abilities and resources. To put it another way, the theories that the source texts and lectures provide are general concepts. Their actual application in my case - has given me interesting and valuable insights because it is contextualized to my own capabilities and resources.

Another important skill that I was able to develop was the ability to design and adhere to a method or a system to complete specific writing tasks. Personally, it is challenging for me to focus on a particular element in the process so it is easy to be lost or digress. For instance, I used to write according to the flow of my thoughts. Often, this leads to redundant or unnecessary contents that I am forced to edit out. In this respect, I came to recognize the importance of outline and structure, which according to Riordan (2013), is crucial in helping the reader grasp the information provided (p.14). The same can be said in the area of teamwork.

In group activities and research, there is an imperative for a roadmap that details roles, relationships and outcomes so that each member contributes meaningfully to the achievement of objectives.In the course of writing this progress report, I came to realize that there are still areas which I need to improve on. I noticed, for instance, that I still find it challenging to differentiate technical writing from other forms of writing that I am used to such as the essay format, which requires personal inputs and opinion.

Sometimes, it is inevitable for me to include a comment on cited information. I have identified a way to address this problem. Aside from the familiarization of the rules in technical writing, it is important for me to think about the reader of the written document. These are people who would want information and data, which are presented in a concise and clear form. These are specific readers who are not after writing flair or clever vocabulary. With this variable in mind, it becomes easier to understand and practice the necessity for plain language, logical structure, objective information and the role of additional elements such as visual aids.

It will also serve as a reference for me when editing my own work.ReferenceRiordan, D. (2013). Technical Report Writing Today. New York: Cengage Learning.