Abstract

This thesis seeks to investigate the influence and applicability of three technical writing principles across electronic maintenance manuals in the aerospace defense industry: military standard (MIL-STD) guidelines, plain language, and audience scope. Aerospace defense technical writers are liaisons tasked with coherent communication on advanced technological developments for technicians maintaining equipment. Their primary responsibility involves synthesizing specialized content from subject matter experts to draft comprehensive instructions for personnel safety and product sustainment during critical military operations. Current literature insufficiently examines the significance between aerospace defense technical documents and product performance following routine maintenance. Poorly composed manuals contribute to technician misinterpretation or disregard due to convoluted procedures and disorganized appearances increasing malfunction probabilities. Writing-based MIL-STDs and Simplified English emerged as efforts to mitigate understanding obstructs amongst domestic and international novice technicians. Maintenance manuals must conform to governmental guidelines including product liability laws, cultural variables, and audience expectations. Interview findings with two practitioners each from a different aerospace defense company supports the prediction that technical writing theories considerably impacts maintenance manual quality and recipience throughout the aerospace defense industry.

Thesis Completion

2022

Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Raffel, Sara

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

College

College of Arts and Humanities

Department

English

Degree Program

Technical Communication

Language

English

Access Status

Campus Access

Length of Campus-only Access

5 years

Release Date

12-15-2027

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