Introduction: About Technical Communications, Technical-Writing Courses, and the Author: "You're probably wondering what this 'technical writing thing' is. Someone may even have told you, 'it's this course where they make you write about rocket science and brain surgery.' Well, not really . . . . Actually, the field of technical communications is a fully professional field with degree programs, certifications, and?yes!?even theory. It's a good field with a lot of growth and income potential; and an introductory technical-writing course for which this book has been developed is a good way to start if you are interested in a career in this field. "