Miller, C. (1989). What’s practical about technical writing? In T. Peeples (Ed.) Professional Writing and Rhetoric (2003) (pp. 61-70). New York, NY: Longman.

In Carolyn R. Miller’s (1989) article “What’s Practical About Technical Writing?” she explored why “technical writing is singled out for being practical, it is worth considering what makes it so” (p. 61).  Miller tackled the practicality of technical writing by defining it as goal oriented, providing research to support the need to alter courses to coincide with what graduates will encounter in their future professions, discussing Aristotle’s “techne,” the function of praxis, and the need to take responsibility for social actions. Miller’s purpose was to establish a need for nonacademic practice so that it could surface in academic instruction and equip students with the awareness of limitations and the possibility of breaking past them (p. 69). Miller’s intended audience was both instructors of technical writing and professionals inquiring about technical communication skills. Miller showcased well-thought-out points with an impressive line of reasoning and a sound conclusion, but the extent of outside support seemed far fetched and off-track.