Margaret Hsiao Publishes in Technical Communication Quarterly

Technical Communication and Rhetoric PhD student Margaret Hsiao recently published an article for Technical Communication Quarterly’s special issue on (re)defining “professional” in technical communication. In her article, “Professional Critical Consciousness: Bridging Classroom Theory with Workplace Practice,”  Margaret introduces the concept of professional critical consciousness which combines professional consciousness and critical consciousness to establish a workplace praxis centered on social justice. 

Margaret says: “I developed the concept of professional critical consciousness after reflecting on the overlap of my professional and academic experiences. I wanted to show how the workplace and the classroom weren't always separate spaces; they could complement and inform each other. Professional consciousness is applied, practical knowledge; critical consciousness is more theoretical and ideological. When these types of consciousness are combined into professional critical consciousness, technical communicators can be more thoughtful and reflective in their professions.”