Announcing the Final Examination of Ms. Ashley D. McClure for the degree
of Master of Arts in English/Technical Communication.
This thesis explores how metaphors can humanize a technical document
and more effectively facilitate user comprehension. The frequent use of
metaphor in technical communication reminds us that the discipline is
highly creative and rhetorical. Theory demonstrates that a technical
text involves interpretation and subjectivity during both its creation
by the technical communicator and its application by the user. If
employed carefully and skillfully, metaphor can be a powerful tool to
ensure users’ needs are met during this process.
The primary goal of technical communication is to convey information to
an audience as clearly and efficiently as possible. Because of the often
complex nature of technical content, users are likely to feel alienated,
overwhelmed, or simply uninterested if the information presented seems
exceedingly unfamiliar or complicated. If users experience any of these
reactions, they are inclined to abandon the document, automatically
rendering it unsuccessful. I identify metaphor as a means to curtail
such an occurrence. Using examples from a variety of technical
communication genres, I illustrate how metaphors can humanize a
technical document by establishing a strong link between the document
and its users.
Faculty and Staff 
Thesis Defense: Humanizing Technical Communication with Metaphor
