Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2026
Abstract
Welcome to Mindful Technical Writing: An Introduction to the Fundamentals, an open textbook designed for use in corequisite course pairings of developmental writing and introductory technical writing, or indeed in other lower-division college writing courses that focus on building study skills alongside effective workplace and academic writing skills. It offers a no-cost alternative to commercial products, combining practical guidance with interactive exercises and thoughtfully designed writing opportunities.
This textbook is organized into units, though its chapters are modular so that instructors can select and assign readings and exercises for their particular classes rather than be tied to a fixed route through the material. Its Creative Commons licensing allows instructors to customize chapters for specific learners and educational contexts, and the built-in activities can be modified and supplemented as desired to suit teaching preferences. The book’s ample coverage of topics and genres means that it can be used flexibly over semester-long or stretch courses.
By blending new material with reviews of key topics, such as academic integrity, the textbook provides fresh perspectives on matters vital to the development of strong writing skills. The book adapts, builds upon, and expands material covered in our other two open textbooks, Intermediate College Writing: Building and Practicing Mindful Writing Skills (Atkinson & Corbitt, 2022)1 and Advanced-Level Writing in the University Classroom and Beyond: Mindful Practices for Technical, Business, and Scientific Communication (Atkinson & Corbitt, 2024).2
The original publication of this book (in 2021) was made possible through support from Montana Technological University’s Faculty Seed Grant Program and the TRAILS (Treasure State Academic Information and Library Services) Open Educational Resources Program, funded by the Office of the Commission of Higher Education, Montana University System. We gratefully acknowledge this assistance, which helped grow an embryonic idea for a textbook into to a fully developed student success effort, presented here in its accessible second edition.
Recommended Citation
Atkinson, Dawn and Corbitt, Stacey, "Mindful Technical Writing: An Introduction to the Fundamentals" (2026). Writing. 31.
https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/writing/31
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.