Approaches and Practices

Abstract

Most case studies used in business- and technical-writing courses are unrealis tic, or "cooked." They take for granted the exact things that business and technical writers spend so much of their time developing in their jobs: the rhe torical situation, the information, and the definitions of technical terms and concepts. By using cooked cases, writing teachers ignore or undervalue impor tant skills that writers need in the workplace: initiative, the ability to plan, and the ability to get along with other people. Business- and technical-writing teachers ought to use at least one "raw" case in class to help students develop the practical skills that will serve them best on the job.