A training program for technical writers, in which a specialized information focus is used to ask questions about a text in the process of writing and revising, is the subject of this paper. The unique aspects of technical writing are defined according to the process whereby readers extract information from text. Reader expectations are classified by levels of generality (real world knowledge, grammar, vocabulary, and immediate context) and by the type of intended audience. Actual samples of technical writing are analyzed to show how language options can be skillfully selected for the effective presentation of new, unpredictable information. (Author/JF)