Markel, Michael H.
Practical strategies for technical communication / Mike Markel, Boise State University - Boston : Bedford/St. Martin's, c2013 - xxviii, 498 pages : Illustrations ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 469-476) and index
Machine generated contents note: pt. 1 Working in the Technical Communication Environment -- 1.Introduction to Technical Communication -- What Is Technical Communication? -- What Are Your Roles as a Communicator? -- Technical Communication and Your Career -- Characteristics of a Technical Document -- Addresses Particular Readers -- Helps Readers Solve Problems -- Reflects the Organization's Goals and Culture -- Is Produced Collaboratively -- Uses Design to Increase Readability -- Document Analysis Activity: Studying How Technical Communication Combines Words, Graphics, and Design -- Consists of Words or Images or Both -- Measures of Excellence in Technical Communication -- Honesty -- Clarity -- Accuracy -- Comprehensiveness -- Accessibility -- Conciseness -- Professional Appearance -- Correctness -- A Process for Writing Technical Documents -- Focus on Process -- Exercises -- 2.Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations -- A Brief Introduction to Ethics -- Your Ethical and Legal Obligations -- Obligations to Your Employer -- Obligations to the Public -- Obligations to the Environment -- Obligations to Copyright Holders -- Guidelines: Determining Fair Use -- Guidelines: Dealing with Copyright Questions -- Ethics Note: Distinguishing Plagiarism from Acceptable Reuse of Information -- The Role of Corporate Culture in Ethical and Legal Conduct -- Communicating Ethically Across Cultures -- Communicating with Cultures with Different Ethical Beliefs -- Communicating with Cultures with Different Laws -- Principles for Ethical Communication -- Abide by Copyright Law -- Abide by the Appropriate Professional Code of Conduct -- Abide by Your Organization's Policy on Social Media -- Take Advantage of Your Employer's Ethics Resources -- Tell the Truth -- Don't Mislead Your Readers -- Use Design to Highlight Important Ethical and Legal Information -- Be Clear -- Avoid Discriminatory Language -- Acknowledge Assistance from Others -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 3.Writing Collaboratively and Using Social Media -- Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaboration -- Advantages of Collaboration -- Disadvantages of Collaboration -- Managing Projects -- Guidelines: Managing Your Project -- Conducting Meetings -- Listening Effectively -- Guidelines: Listening Effectively -- Setting Your Team's Agenda -- Guidelines: Setting Your Team's Agenda -- Ethics Note: Pulling Your Weight on Collaborative Projects -- Communicating and Critiquing Diplomatically -- Guidelines: Communicating Diplomatically -- Guidelines: Critiquing a Colleague's Work -- Document Analysis Activity: Critiquing a Draft Clearly and Diplomatically -- Using Social Media and Other Electronic Tools in Collaboration -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Appropriate Tools for Collaboration -- Messaging Technologies -- Tech Tip: How to Use the Review Tab -- Videoconferencing -- Guidelines: Participating in a Videoconference -- Shared Document Workspaces and Wikis -- Guidelines: Using and Participating in Wikis Effectively -- Discussion Boards -- Guidelines: Participating in Discussion Boards -- Blogs -- Guidelines: Being a Responsible Blogger -- Ethics Note: Maintaining a Professional Presence Online -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 2 Planning and Drafting the Document -- 4.Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose -- Determining the Important Characteristics of Your Audience -- Who Are Your Readers? -- Why Is Your Audience Reading Your Document? -- What Are Your Readers' Attitudes and Expectations? -- Choices and Strategies: Responding to Readers' Attitudes -- How Will Your Readers Use Your Document? -- Techniques for Learning About Your Audience -- Determining What You Already Know About Your Audience -- Interviewing People -- Reading About Your Audience Online -- Searching Social Media for Documents Your Audience Has Written -- Communicating Across Cultures -- Understanding the Cultural Variables "on the Surface" -- Understanding the Cultural Variables "Beneath the Surface" -- Considering Cultural Variables as You Write -- Using Graphics and Design for Multicultural Readers -- Guidelines: Writing for Readers from Other Cultures -- Document Analysis Activity: Examining Cultural Variables in a Business Letter -- Applying What You Have Learned About Your Audience -- Writing for Multiple Audiences -- Determining Your Purpose -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 5.Researching Your Subject -- Understanding the Differences Between Academic and Workplace Research -- Understanding the Research Process -- Focus on Process -- Choosing Appropriate Research Methods -- Guidelines: Researching a Topic -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Appropriate Research Techniques -- Conducting Secondary Research -- Using Traditional Research Tools -- Using Social Media and Other Interactive Resources -- Evaluating the Information -- Guidelines: Evaluating Print and Online Sources -- Conducting Primary Research -- Observations and Demonstrations -- Document Analysis Activity: Evaluating Information from Internet Sources -- Inspections -- Experiments -- Field Research -- Interviews -- Guidelines: Conducting an Interview -- Inquiries -- Questionnaires -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Types of Questions for Questionnaires -- Ethics Note: Reporting and Analyzing Data Honestly -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 6.Writing for Your Readers -- Presenting Yourself Effectively -- Guidelines: Creating a Professional Persona -- Using Basic Organizational Patterns -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Effective Organizational Patterns -- Writing Coherent Titles and Headings -- Guidelines: Revising Headings -- Writing Coherent Paragraphs -- Structure Paragraphs Clearly -- Ethics Note: Avoiding Burying Bad News in Paragraphs -- Use Coherence Devices Within and Between Paragraphs -- Structuring Effective Sentences -- Use Lists -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Lists -- Emphasize New and Important Information -- Choose an Appropriate Sentence Length -- Focus on the "Real" Subject -- Focus on the "Real" Verb -- Use Parallel Structure -- Use Modifiers Effectively -- Choosing the Right Words and Phrases -- Select an Appropriate Level of Formality -- Be Clear and Specific -- Ethics Note: Euphemisms and Truth Telling -- Be Concise -- Document Analysis Activity: Revising for Conciseness and Simplicity -- Use Inoffensive Language -- Guidelines: Avoiding Sexist Language -- Guidelines: Using the People-First Approach -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 3 Designing User-Friendly Documents and Web Sites -- 7.Designing Documents and Web Sites -- Goals of Document and Web Design -- Planning the Design of Documents and Web Sites -- Guidelines: Planning Your Design -- Understanding Design Principles -- Proximity -- Alignment -- Repetition -- Contrast -- Understanding Learning Theory -- Designing Documents -- Accessing Aids -- Guidelines: Understanding Learning Theory and Page Design -- Choices and Strategies: Creating Accessing Aids -- Tech Tip: How to Set Up Pages -- Page Layout -- Columns -- Typography -- Ethics Note: Using Type Sizes Responsibly -- Titles and Headings -- Tech Tip: How to Modify and Create Styles -- Other Design Features -- Tech Tip: How to Create Borders and Screens -- Tech Tip: How to Create Text Boxes -- Analyzing Page Designs -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing a Page Design -- Designing Web Sites -- Create Informative Headers and Footers -- Help Readers Navigate the Site -- Guidelines: Making Your Site Easy to Navigate -- Include Extra Features Your Readers Might Need -- Help Readers Connect with Others -- Design for Readers with Disabilities -- Design for Multicultural Audiences -- Design Simple, Clear Web Pages -- Guidelines: Designing Simple, Clear Web Pages -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 8.Creating Graphics -- The Functions of Graphics -- The Characteristics of an Effective Graphic -- Ethics Note: Creating Honest Graphics -- Guidelines: Integrating Graphics and Text -- Understanding the Process of Creating Graphics -- Planning Graphics -- Producing Graphics -- Revising Graphics -- Tech Tip: How to Insert and Modify Graphics -- Citing Graphics -- Using Color Effectively -- Choosing the Appropriate Kind of Graphic -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing the Appropriate Kind of Graphic -- Illustrating Numerical Information -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Tables -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Bar Graphs -- e e-Pages: Interactive Graphic -- Tech Tip: How to Use Drawing Tools -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Line Graphs -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Pie Charts -- Illustrating Logical Relationships -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing a Graphic -- Illustrating Process Descriptions and Instructions -- Illustrating Visual and Spatial Characteristics -- Guidelines: Presenting Photographs Effectively -- Tech Tip: How to Create and Insert Screen Shots -- Creating Effective Graphics for Multicultural Readers -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 4 Learning Important Applications -- 9.Writing Correspondence -- Focus on Process -- Selecting a Type of Correspondence -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing a Type of Correspondence -- Presenting Yourself Effectively in Correspondence -- Use the Appropriate Level of Formality -- Communicate Correctly -- Project the "You Attitude" -- Avoid Correspondence Cliches -- Communicate Honestly -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Business Correspondence -- Writing Letters -- Elements of a Letter -- Common Types of Letters -- Writing Memos -- Guidelines: Organizing a Memo -- Writing E-mails -- Guidelines: Following Netiquette -- Writing Microblogs -- Document Analysis Activity: Following Netiquette in an E-mail -- Writing Correspondence to Intercultural Readers -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 10.Writing Job-Application Materials -- Focus on Process -- Writing Paper Resumes -- Appearance of the Resume -- Content of the Resume -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Job-Application Materials -- Elements of the Chronological Resume -- Note continued: Guidelines: Elaborating on Your Education -- Elements of the Skills Resume -- Writing Electronic Resumes -- Content of the Electronic Resume -- Format of the Electronic Resume -- Guidelines: Preparing a Plain-Text Resume -- Guidelines: Preparing a Scannable Resume -- Writing Job-Application Letters -- Selectivity and Development -- Elements of the Job-Application Letter -- Preparing a Portfolio -- e e-Pages: Online Portfolio -- Writing Follow-up Letters or E-mails After an Interview -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 11.Writing Proposals -- Focus on Process -- The Logistics of Proposals -- Internal and External Proposals -- Solicited and Unsolicited Proposals -- The "Deliverables" of Proposals -- Research Proposals -- Goods and Services Proposals -- Persuasion and Proposals -- Understanding Readers' Needs -- Describing What You Plan to Do -- Demonstrating Your Professionalism -- Guidelines: Demonstrating Your Professionalism in a Proposal -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Proposals -- The Structure of the Proposal -- Summary -- Introduction -- Guidelines: Introducing a Proposal -- Proposed Program -- Document Analysis Activity: Writing the Proposed Program -- Qualifications and Experience -- Budget -- Appendixes -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Gantt Chart -- Sample Internal Proposal -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 12.Writing Informational Reports -- Focus on Process -- Writing Directives -- Writing Field Reports -- Guidelines: Responding to Readers' Questions in a Field Report -- e e-Pages: Report Presented as a Web Site -- Writing Progress and Status Reports -- Ethics Note: Reporting Your Progress Honestly -- Organizing Progress and Status Reports -- Concluding Progress and Status Reports -- Guidelines: Projecting an Appropriate Tone in a Progress or Status Report -- Sample Progress Report -- Writing Incident Reports -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 13.Writing Recommendation Reports -- Focus on Process -- Understanding the Role of Recommendation Reports -- Using a Problem-Solving Model for Preparing Recommendation Reports -- Identify the Problem or Opportunity -- Establish Criteria for Responding to the Problem or Opportunity -- Determine the Options -- Study Each Option According to the Criteria -- Draw Conclusions About Each Option -- Formulate Recommendations Based on the Conclusions -- Writing Recommendation Reports -- Writing the Body of the Report -- Guidelines: Writing Recommendations -- Writing the Front Matter -- Tech Tip: How to Format Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Table of Contents -- Guidelines: Writing an Executive Summary -- Writing the Back Matter -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing an Executive Summary -- Sample Recommendation Report -- e e-Pages: Recommendations Presented in an Audio Podcast -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 14.Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions -- Focus on Process -- Writing Definitions -- Analyzing the Writing Situation for Definitions -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing the Appropriate Type of Definition -- Writing Sentence Definitions -- Guidelines: Writing Effective Sentence Definitions -- Writing Extended Definitions -- Writing Descriptions -- Analyzing the Writing Situation for Descriptions -- Drafting Effective Descriptions -- Guidelines: Providing Appropriate Detail in Descriptions -- A Look at Several Sample Descriptions -- e e-Pages: Mechanism Description Using Interactive Graphics -- e e-Pages: Process Description Using Video Animation -- Writing Instructions -- Designing a Set of Instructions -- Guidelines: Designing Clear, Attractive Pages -- Planning for Safety -- Ethics Note: Protecting Your Readers' Safety -- Drafting Effective Instructions -- Guidelines: Drafting Introductions for Instructions -- Guidelines: Drafting Steps in Instructions -- Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Instructions -- A Look at Several Sample Instructions -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using Video Demonstration -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using Video Screen Capture -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using a Combination of Video Demonstration and Screen Capture -- Writing Manuals -- Document Analysis Activity: Presenting Clear Instructions -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 15.Making Oral Presentations -- Focus on Process -- Preparing the Presentation -- Analyzing the Speaking Situation -- Organizing and Developing the Presentation -- Guidelines: Introducing and Concluding the Presentation -- Preparing Presentation Graphics -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Master Page Design in PowerPoint -- Tech Tip: How to Set List Items to Appear and Dim During a Presentation -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Media to Present Graphics -- Document Analysis Activity: Integrating Graphics and Text on a Presentation Slide -- Choosing Effective Language -- Guidelines: Using Memorable Language in Oral Presentations -- Rehearsing the Presentation -- Delivering the Presentation -- e e-Pages: A Proposal Delivered as an Oral Presentation -- Calming Your Nerves -- Guidelines: Releasing Nervous Energy -- Using Your Voice Effectively -- Using Your Body Effectively -- Guidelines: Facing an Audience -- Answering Questions After the Presentation -- Ethics Note: Answering Questions Honestly -- Speaker's Checklist -- Exercises -- APPENDIX Reference Handbook -- A.Documenting Your Sources -- Note Taking -- Paraphrasing -- Quoting -- Summarizing -- APA Style -- IEEE Style -- MLA Style -- B.Editing and Proofreading Your Documents -- Grammatical Sentences -- Punctuation -- Mechanics -- Proofreading Symbols and Their Meanings.
English
9781457609404 [paperback]
2012941482
Technical writing
Communication of technical information
English language--Rhetoric
Practical strategies for technical communication / Mike Markel, Boise State University - Boston : Bedford/St. Martin's, c2013 - xxviii, 498 pages : Illustrations ; 23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 469-476) and index
Machine generated contents note: pt. 1 Working in the Technical Communication Environment -- 1.Introduction to Technical Communication -- What Is Technical Communication? -- What Are Your Roles as a Communicator? -- Technical Communication and Your Career -- Characteristics of a Technical Document -- Addresses Particular Readers -- Helps Readers Solve Problems -- Reflects the Organization's Goals and Culture -- Is Produced Collaboratively -- Uses Design to Increase Readability -- Document Analysis Activity: Studying How Technical Communication Combines Words, Graphics, and Design -- Consists of Words or Images or Both -- Measures of Excellence in Technical Communication -- Honesty -- Clarity -- Accuracy -- Comprehensiveness -- Accessibility -- Conciseness -- Professional Appearance -- Correctness -- A Process for Writing Technical Documents -- Focus on Process -- Exercises -- 2.Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations -- A Brief Introduction to Ethics -- Your Ethical and Legal Obligations -- Obligations to Your Employer -- Obligations to the Public -- Obligations to the Environment -- Obligations to Copyright Holders -- Guidelines: Determining Fair Use -- Guidelines: Dealing with Copyright Questions -- Ethics Note: Distinguishing Plagiarism from Acceptable Reuse of Information -- The Role of Corporate Culture in Ethical and Legal Conduct -- Communicating Ethically Across Cultures -- Communicating with Cultures with Different Ethical Beliefs -- Communicating with Cultures with Different Laws -- Principles for Ethical Communication -- Abide by Copyright Law -- Abide by the Appropriate Professional Code of Conduct -- Abide by Your Organization's Policy on Social Media -- Take Advantage of Your Employer's Ethics Resources -- Tell the Truth -- Don't Mislead Your Readers -- Use Design to Highlight Important Ethical and Legal Information -- Be Clear -- Avoid Discriminatory Language -- Acknowledge Assistance from Others -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 3.Writing Collaboratively and Using Social Media -- Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaboration -- Advantages of Collaboration -- Disadvantages of Collaboration -- Managing Projects -- Guidelines: Managing Your Project -- Conducting Meetings -- Listening Effectively -- Guidelines: Listening Effectively -- Setting Your Team's Agenda -- Guidelines: Setting Your Team's Agenda -- Ethics Note: Pulling Your Weight on Collaborative Projects -- Communicating and Critiquing Diplomatically -- Guidelines: Communicating Diplomatically -- Guidelines: Critiquing a Colleague's Work -- Document Analysis Activity: Critiquing a Draft Clearly and Diplomatically -- Using Social Media and Other Electronic Tools in Collaboration -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Appropriate Tools for Collaboration -- Messaging Technologies -- Tech Tip: How to Use the Review Tab -- Videoconferencing -- Guidelines: Participating in a Videoconference -- Shared Document Workspaces and Wikis -- Guidelines: Using and Participating in Wikis Effectively -- Discussion Boards -- Guidelines: Participating in Discussion Boards -- Blogs -- Guidelines: Being a Responsible Blogger -- Ethics Note: Maintaining a Professional Presence Online -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 2 Planning and Drafting the Document -- 4.Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose -- Determining the Important Characteristics of Your Audience -- Who Are Your Readers? -- Why Is Your Audience Reading Your Document? -- What Are Your Readers' Attitudes and Expectations? -- Choices and Strategies: Responding to Readers' Attitudes -- How Will Your Readers Use Your Document? -- Techniques for Learning About Your Audience -- Determining What You Already Know About Your Audience -- Interviewing People -- Reading About Your Audience Online -- Searching Social Media for Documents Your Audience Has Written -- Communicating Across Cultures -- Understanding the Cultural Variables "on the Surface" -- Understanding the Cultural Variables "Beneath the Surface" -- Considering Cultural Variables as You Write -- Using Graphics and Design for Multicultural Readers -- Guidelines: Writing for Readers from Other Cultures -- Document Analysis Activity: Examining Cultural Variables in a Business Letter -- Applying What You Have Learned About Your Audience -- Writing for Multiple Audiences -- Determining Your Purpose -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 5.Researching Your Subject -- Understanding the Differences Between Academic and Workplace Research -- Understanding the Research Process -- Focus on Process -- Choosing Appropriate Research Methods -- Guidelines: Researching a Topic -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Appropriate Research Techniques -- Conducting Secondary Research -- Using Traditional Research Tools -- Using Social Media and Other Interactive Resources -- Evaluating the Information -- Guidelines: Evaluating Print and Online Sources -- Conducting Primary Research -- Observations and Demonstrations -- Document Analysis Activity: Evaluating Information from Internet Sources -- Inspections -- Experiments -- Field Research -- Interviews -- Guidelines: Conducting an Interview -- Inquiries -- Questionnaires -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Types of Questions for Questionnaires -- Ethics Note: Reporting and Analyzing Data Honestly -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 6.Writing for Your Readers -- Presenting Yourself Effectively -- Guidelines: Creating a Professional Persona -- Using Basic Organizational Patterns -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Effective Organizational Patterns -- Writing Coherent Titles and Headings -- Guidelines: Revising Headings -- Writing Coherent Paragraphs -- Structure Paragraphs Clearly -- Ethics Note: Avoiding Burying Bad News in Paragraphs -- Use Coherence Devices Within and Between Paragraphs -- Structuring Effective Sentences -- Use Lists -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Lists -- Emphasize New and Important Information -- Choose an Appropriate Sentence Length -- Focus on the "Real" Subject -- Focus on the "Real" Verb -- Use Parallel Structure -- Use Modifiers Effectively -- Choosing the Right Words and Phrases -- Select an Appropriate Level of Formality -- Be Clear and Specific -- Ethics Note: Euphemisms and Truth Telling -- Be Concise -- Document Analysis Activity: Revising for Conciseness and Simplicity -- Use Inoffensive Language -- Guidelines: Avoiding Sexist Language -- Guidelines: Using the People-First Approach -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 3 Designing User-Friendly Documents and Web Sites -- 7.Designing Documents and Web Sites -- Goals of Document and Web Design -- Planning the Design of Documents and Web Sites -- Guidelines: Planning Your Design -- Understanding Design Principles -- Proximity -- Alignment -- Repetition -- Contrast -- Understanding Learning Theory -- Designing Documents -- Accessing Aids -- Guidelines: Understanding Learning Theory and Page Design -- Choices and Strategies: Creating Accessing Aids -- Tech Tip: How to Set Up Pages -- Page Layout -- Columns -- Typography -- Ethics Note: Using Type Sizes Responsibly -- Titles and Headings -- Tech Tip: How to Modify and Create Styles -- Other Design Features -- Tech Tip: How to Create Borders and Screens -- Tech Tip: How to Create Text Boxes -- Analyzing Page Designs -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing a Page Design -- Designing Web Sites -- Create Informative Headers and Footers -- Help Readers Navigate the Site -- Guidelines: Making Your Site Easy to Navigate -- Include Extra Features Your Readers Might Need -- Help Readers Connect with Others -- Design for Readers with Disabilities -- Design for Multicultural Audiences -- Design Simple, Clear Web Pages -- Guidelines: Designing Simple, Clear Web Pages -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 8.Creating Graphics -- The Functions of Graphics -- The Characteristics of an Effective Graphic -- Ethics Note: Creating Honest Graphics -- Guidelines: Integrating Graphics and Text -- Understanding the Process of Creating Graphics -- Planning Graphics -- Producing Graphics -- Revising Graphics -- Tech Tip: How to Insert and Modify Graphics -- Citing Graphics -- Using Color Effectively -- Choosing the Appropriate Kind of Graphic -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing the Appropriate Kind of Graphic -- Illustrating Numerical Information -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Tables -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Bar Graphs -- e e-Pages: Interactive Graphic -- Tech Tip: How to Use Drawing Tools -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Line Graphs -- Guidelines: Creating Effective Pie Charts -- Illustrating Logical Relationships -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing a Graphic -- Illustrating Process Descriptions and Instructions -- Illustrating Visual and Spatial Characteristics -- Guidelines: Presenting Photographs Effectively -- Tech Tip: How to Create and Insert Screen Shots -- Creating Effective Graphics for Multicultural Readers -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- pt. 4 Learning Important Applications -- 9.Writing Correspondence -- Focus on Process -- Selecting a Type of Correspondence -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing a Type of Correspondence -- Presenting Yourself Effectively in Correspondence -- Use the Appropriate Level of Formality -- Communicate Correctly -- Project the "You Attitude" -- Avoid Correspondence Cliches -- Communicate Honestly -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Business Correspondence -- Writing Letters -- Elements of a Letter -- Common Types of Letters -- Writing Memos -- Guidelines: Organizing a Memo -- Writing E-mails -- Guidelines: Following Netiquette -- Writing Microblogs -- Document Analysis Activity: Following Netiquette in an E-mail -- Writing Correspondence to Intercultural Readers -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 10.Writing Job-Application Materials -- Focus on Process -- Writing Paper Resumes -- Appearance of the Resume -- Content of the Resume -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Job-Application Materials -- Elements of the Chronological Resume -- Note continued: Guidelines: Elaborating on Your Education -- Elements of the Skills Resume -- Writing Electronic Resumes -- Content of the Electronic Resume -- Format of the Electronic Resume -- Guidelines: Preparing a Plain-Text Resume -- Guidelines: Preparing a Scannable Resume -- Writing Job-Application Letters -- Selectivity and Development -- Elements of the Job-Application Letter -- Preparing a Portfolio -- e e-Pages: Online Portfolio -- Writing Follow-up Letters or E-mails After an Interview -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 11.Writing Proposals -- Focus on Process -- The Logistics of Proposals -- Internal and External Proposals -- Solicited and Unsolicited Proposals -- The "Deliverables" of Proposals -- Research Proposals -- Goods and Services Proposals -- Persuasion and Proposals -- Understanding Readers' Needs -- Describing What You Plan to Do -- Demonstrating Your Professionalism -- Guidelines: Demonstrating Your Professionalism in a Proposal -- Ethics Note: Writing Honest Proposals -- The Structure of the Proposal -- Summary -- Introduction -- Guidelines: Introducing a Proposal -- Proposed Program -- Document Analysis Activity: Writing the Proposed Program -- Qualifications and Experience -- Budget -- Appendixes -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Gantt Chart -- Sample Internal Proposal -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 12.Writing Informational Reports -- Focus on Process -- Writing Directives -- Writing Field Reports -- Guidelines: Responding to Readers' Questions in a Field Report -- e e-Pages: Report Presented as a Web Site -- Writing Progress and Status Reports -- Ethics Note: Reporting Your Progress Honestly -- Organizing Progress and Status Reports -- Concluding Progress and Status Reports -- Guidelines: Projecting an Appropriate Tone in a Progress or Status Report -- Sample Progress Report -- Writing Incident Reports -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 13.Writing Recommendation Reports -- Focus on Process -- Understanding the Role of Recommendation Reports -- Using a Problem-Solving Model for Preparing Recommendation Reports -- Identify the Problem or Opportunity -- Establish Criteria for Responding to the Problem or Opportunity -- Determine the Options -- Study Each Option According to the Criteria -- Draw Conclusions About Each Option -- Formulate Recommendations Based on the Conclusions -- Writing Recommendation Reports -- Writing the Body of the Report -- Guidelines: Writing Recommendations -- Writing the Front Matter -- Tech Tip: How to Format Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Table of Contents -- Guidelines: Writing an Executive Summary -- Writing the Back Matter -- Document Analysis Activity: Analyzing an Executive Summary -- Sample Recommendation Report -- e e-Pages: Recommendations Presented in an Audio Podcast -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 14.Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions -- Focus on Process -- Writing Definitions -- Analyzing the Writing Situation for Definitions -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing the Appropriate Type of Definition -- Writing Sentence Definitions -- Guidelines: Writing Effective Sentence Definitions -- Writing Extended Definitions -- Writing Descriptions -- Analyzing the Writing Situation for Descriptions -- Drafting Effective Descriptions -- Guidelines: Providing Appropriate Detail in Descriptions -- A Look at Several Sample Descriptions -- e e-Pages: Mechanism Description Using Interactive Graphics -- e e-Pages: Process Description Using Video Animation -- Writing Instructions -- Designing a Set of Instructions -- Guidelines: Designing Clear, Attractive Pages -- Planning for Safety -- Ethics Note: Protecting Your Readers' Safety -- Drafting Effective Instructions -- Guidelines: Drafting Introductions for Instructions -- Guidelines: Drafting Steps in Instructions -- Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Instructions -- A Look at Several Sample Instructions -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using Video Demonstration -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using Video Screen Capture -- e e-Pages: Instructions Using a Combination of Video Demonstration and Screen Capture -- Writing Manuals -- Document Analysis Activity: Presenting Clear Instructions -- Writer's Checklist -- Exercises -- 15.Making Oral Presentations -- Focus on Process -- Preparing the Presentation -- Analyzing the Speaking Situation -- Organizing and Developing the Presentation -- Guidelines: Introducing and Concluding the Presentation -- Preparing Presentation Graphics -- Tech Tip: How to Create a Master Page Design in PowerPoint -- Tech Tip: How to Set List Items to Appear and Dim During a Presentation -- Choices and Strategies: Choosing Media to Present Graphics -- Document Analysis Activity: Integrating Graphics and Text on a Presentation Slide -- Choosing Effective Language -- Guidelines: Using Memorable Language in Oral Presentations -- Rehearsing the Presentation -- Delivering the Presentation -- e e-Pages: A Proposal Delivered as an Oral Presentation -- Calming Your Nerves -- Guidelines: Releasing Nervous Energy -- Using Your Voice Effectively -- Using Your Body Effectively -- Guidelines: Facing an Audience -- Answering Questions After the Presentation -- Ethics Note: Answering Questions Honestly -- Speaker's Checklist -- Exercises -- APPENDIX Reference Handbook -- A.Documenting Your Sources -- Note Taking -- Paraphrasing -- Quoting -- Summarizing -- APA Style -- IEEE Style -- MLA Style -- B.Editing and Proofreading Your Documents -- Grammatical Sentences -- Punctuation -- Mechanics -- Proofreading Symbols and Their Meanings.
English
9781457609404 [paperback]
2012941482
Technical writing
Communication of technical information
English language--Rhetoric