Central Works in Technical Communication (Paperback)

~ Johndan Johnson-Eilola (Editor), Stuart A. Selber (Editor) "With Bob Connors's death in 2000, Rhetoric and Composition lost one of its most well-respected historians..." (more)
Key Phrases: ideologic critics, paralogic theory, ideologic approach, New York, College English, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Central Works in Technical Communication is exactly the right name for this collection. Johnson-Eilola and Selber have gathered a broad, even-handed sampling of some of the best works in our field: those dog-eared articles that are scattered throughout our journals and books and filing cabinets, the ones we pull out when we want to touch base with our field--and introduce it to others."--Clay Spinuzzi, University of Texas at Austin

"I could see actually restructuring my course to reflect the topics used to organize this book."--Jimmie Killingsworth, Texas AandM University

"Johnson-Eilola and Selber do a superb job at canvassing both historic and current foundational works in a wide variety of specialty areas that, over time and collectively, have defined and shaped our field. Their coherent, single-volume collection of the most influential articles in the field is destined to become an invaluable resource for advanced technical communication students, newcomers to the field, veterans in the field, and practitioners."--Rachel Spilka, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee


"Johnson-Eilola and Selber do a superb job at canvassing both historic and current foundational works in a wide variety of specialty areas that, over time and collectively, have defined and shaped our field. Their coherent, single-volume collection of the most influential articles in the field is destined to become an invaluable resource for advanced technical communication students, newcomers to the field, veterans in the field, and practitioners."--Rachel Spilka, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
"Central Works in Technical Communication is exactly the right name for this collection. Johnson-Eilola and Selber have gathered a broad, even-handed sampling of some of the best works in our field: those dog-eared articles that are scattered throughout our journals and books and filing cabinets, the ones we pull out when we want to touch base with our field--and introduce it to others."--Clay Spinuzzi, University of Texas at Austin
"I could see actually restructuring my course to reflect the topics used to organize this book."--Jimmie Killingsworth, Texas A&M University

Product Description

Bringing together thirty-two landmark essays, Central Works in Technical Communication provides a broad and representative overview of the field. It introduces students, new teachers, and new practitioners to the community of technical communication as an intellectual and communal endeavor that encompasses such complex theoretical topics as research methods, social issues, and ethics. Editors Johndan Johnson-Eilola and Stuart A. Selber engaged in a comprehensive selection process--including the consultation of a review board of leading teachers and scholars--and have included some of the most influential articles and book chapters published in technical communication over the last twenty-five years. Each essay is accompanied by a reflective piece written by its author specifically for this volume. These commentaries provide context for the essays and allow the authors to add to or challenge their original ideas and resituate them in a contemporary environment. The book also features section introductions written by the editors that offer historical and conceptual approaches to understanding the contributions each work makes to the field of technical communication.
Central Works in Technical Communication is organized around eight major conceptual categories: histories, rhetorical perspectives, philosophies and theories, ethical and power issues, research methods, workplace studies, online environments, and pedagogical directions. An alternative table of contents groups the essays into additional categories including collaboration, gender, genre, usability, and visual theory and practice. Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in technical communication, this collection is also a compact and convenient resource for practicing professionals and academics new to the field.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; illustrated edition edition (February 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195157052
• ISBN-13: 978-0195157055
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #606,321 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal work for grad students in rhetoric and technical communication, November 14, 2007

By	J. Veltsos (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I first read this book four years ago in a graduate-level course in rhetoric and professional communication, I admit that I was out of my depth. I didn't know who any of the writers were and I thought academic journal articles were really tough to read. Now I'm working on a dissertation in professional communication and I've realized that most of the articles in this book are in my reading list and will end up in my literature review. The articles have been reprinted in their entirety and each one is prefaced with a reflection by the author.

If you are teaching a grad-level class in professional communication theory or writing and analyzing professional documents, then this is the book you need.

4.0 out of 5 stars Dated but Foundational Works, December 19, 2009

By	Gregory B. Zobel (Left Coast) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Many of the articles in the collection are becoming dated, but that does not take away their foundational role in the creation and furthering of Tech Comm as a field. I am glad to own the book, and it's price is pretty reasonable considering just how many foundational articles are in here. It's like having 25 of the most important journals all packaged in one book. One of its equally important peer collections, Power and Legitimacy (Vol 1 & 2), is absurdly priced. For a PhD student like me, the high pricing means I'll go seek out PDF copies of those articles. The pricing on Central Works makes it accessible.

There are a few problems with CW, but those are with the actual printing of the book. Problem 1: mediocre binding; at least several of my pages started to fall out, and I treat my book with respect. I expect Oxford to produce solidly bound books, not books that remind me of cheapo Penguin reading copies. Problem 2: the paper should be on a better, heavier stock. The current stock is a bit flimsy, notes/marks easily show through the pages, and it didn't feel solid. For an anthology like this, something that could and SHOULD literally last and serve on a practitioner's as well as an academic's shelf for 10 years, more care needs to be put into the production and binding.

The reflective essays which introduce the articles are useful and interesting in most cases; however, a few authors left me asking, "Why'd you bother if you now disdain your own work?" The TOC and alternative thematic/topical sorting were very useful.

It would be nice if the editors would compile a second volume of more current articles.