Technical writing teachers and their students generally have a good grasp of grammar, mechanics, organization, and specific approaches to report writing for different situations. What they may lack is a procedure for educating themselves on technical subject matter. The following procedures can help without a special on-the-job training program: (1) read company reports and materials from the public relations and sales offices to get an idea of the style and jargon; (2) understand the audience and the information that audience will need; (3) seek out experts in the subject area for advice or information; (4) ask for demonstrations of relevant equipment, machines, or processes; (5) try a first draft or outline; (6) research general information on the subject area at the local university or company inhouse library; and (7) have experts or supervisors review and comment on the first draft. A technical writing position might also involve editing publications for consistency, developing a glossary of company and subject matter jargon, or supervising production of publications in progress. Technical writing students and instructors who plan to become technical writers will be better placed and enjoy their jobs more if they understand what is involved in the job and the best way to educate themselves for the task. (HTH)