Deconstruction, writing, and technical communication

The purpose of this thesis is to establish a link between deconstruction theory and technical communication. The first chapter contains both background material about deconstruction theory and demonstrations of how it is applied to philosophical texts. The second chapter contains a description of the development of a process-oriented pedagogy in the field of rhetoric and composition generally and specifically in technical communication. Theorists in the field of rhetoric and composition have pointed out the similarities between their practice and deconstruction theory. Two major concepts, the figurative quality of all writing and decentering, are discussed. The third chapter contains examples of how deconstruction has been interpreted as a practical method of teaching writing; it also contains an example which demonstrates how writing in the workplace fits the assumptions behind this new interpretation.