Blog V: WWD Activity 1

Jack Selzer takes a very specific position in the field of research done on writing processes. He mentions past research done on twelfth graders, unskilled writers and of course professional writers. Selzer then points out that there is a lack of research on technical writing. The phrasing and language that he uses lets the reader know that Selzer thinks this is limiting what can be taught about writing in a workplace setting. Selzer relies on previously recorded research to build his argument that there is a hole that must be filled when it comes to looking at and analyzing technical writing processes and then goes on to explain how he will do so. He mentions Janet Emig's research on high school writers to point out what kind of research has been carried out so far. We can see the length of Selzer's article reaches Odell's Research on Composing. From this work, Selzer shapes his methods of investigating Nelson. It would not be an understatement to say that the different kinds of texts provided by Nelson are what makes Selzer's article itself possible. Selzer looks at written texts previously written by Nelson and also at newly written ones. He can see how they interact and influence each other, for example Nelson might recycle and compile old written texts to make a whole new document. Selzer also uses interviews and Nelson's own notes to figure out exactly what processes Nelson is using and to figure out which ones succeed and which ones fail. Selzer makes specific references to different works of text that Nelson wrote for a specific project. The different works of text that Nelson wrote are meticulously collected and analyzed by Selzer. It is through his reviewing and analyzing that he is able to find different patterns in the writings and outline the writing process that Nelson employs from beginning to end. The article written by Selzer adds to the mound of research done on writing and it's processes, yet is focuses on technical writing which until then had been all but ignored.