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Technical Writing : A Practical Approach

ISBN: 9780130938916 | 0130938912
Edition: 5th
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Pub. Date: 1/1/2003

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SummaryTable of Contents
This book offers an easy-to-use approach towards learning the fundamentals of technical writing. The author's writing style is user-friendly, and engages the reader by providing a comprehensive overview of current topics in technical writing. Chapter topics cover process in technical writing; ethics and globalism in the workplace; organizing information; page design; patterns of organization; process descriptions and instructions; letters, memos, and electronic communication; informal reports; formal reports; proposals and feasibility studies;... MORE
PART ONE1(130)
Process in Technical Writing
2(38)
Collaboration at Work
2(3)
... MORE
Getting from Here to There
5(5)
Features of Academic Writing
5(1)
Features of Technical Writing
6(4)
Discovering Your Purpose
10(1)
Analyzing Your Readers
11(7)
Obstacles for Readers
14(1)
Ways to Understand Readers
15(1)
Types of Readers
16(2)
Collecting Information
18(2)
Writing an Outline
20(4)
Writing Initial Drafts
24(1)
Revising Drafts
25(1)
Writing in Groups
26(6)
Benefits and Drawbacks of Group Writing
27(1)
Guidelines for Group Writing
28(4)
Communication Challenge--`` A Group Project Gone Bad''
32(2)
Chapter Summary
34(1)
Assignments
35(5)
McDuff, Inc.: Ethics and Globalism in the Workplace
40(34)
Collaboration at Work
40(2)
Corporate Culture in the New Century
42(3)
Elements of a Company's Culture
42(2)
The Search for Quality
44(1)
The Global Workplace
45(5)
Strategies for Understanding Cultures
46(2)
Strategies for Communicating Internationally
48(2)
Background and Types of Projects
50(3)
History of McDuff, Inc.
50(2)
Projects
52(1)
Corporate and Branch Offices
53(5)
Headquarters
53(3)
Branches
56(2)
Writing at McDuff
58(3)
Examples of Internal Writing
60(1)
Examples of External Writing
61(1)
Ethics on the Job
61(5)
Ethical Guidelines for Work
62(2)
Ethics in Writing
64(2)
Communication Challenge--``McDuff's Moscow Buyout: Global Dilemmas''
66(2)
Chapter Summary
68(1)
Assignments
69(5)
Organizing Information
74(26)
Collaboration at Work
74(2)
Importance of Organization
76(1)
Three Principles of Organization
77(4)
ABC Format for Documents
81(4)
Document Abstract: The ``Big Picture'' for Decision-Makers
82(1)
Document Body: Details for All Readers
83(1)
Document Conclusion: Wrap-Up Leading to Next Step
84(1)
Tips for Organizing Sections and Paragraphs
85(2)
Document Sections
85(1)
Paragraphs
86(1)
Communication Challenge--``Telecommuting: The Last Frontier?''
87(3)
Chapter Summary
90(1)
Assignments
91(5)
Models for Good Writing
96(4)
ABC format in whole document
96(2)
ABC format in document section
98(1)
ABC format in paragraphs
99(1)
Page Design
100(31)
Collaboration at Work
100(2)
Computers in the Writing Process
102(4)
Using Computers to Plan
102(1)
Using Computers to Draft
103(1)
Using Computers to Revise
103(2)
Problems to Avoid
105(1)
Guidelines for Page Design
106(13)
Paper
107(1)
White Space
107(4)
Headings
111(6)
Lists
117(1)
In-Text Emphasis
118(1)
Fonts and Color
119(2)
Size of Type
119(1)
Font Types
120(4)
Color
124
Communication Challenge--``The St. Paul Format Guide: Trouble in the River City''
121(3)
Chapter Summary
124(1)
Assignments
124(4)
Models for Good Writing
128(3)
Page design in memorandum
128(3)
PART TWO131(278)
Patterns of Organization
132(44)
Collaboration at Work
132(2)
Argument
134(5)
Short Cases from McDuff: Argument
135(1)
Guidelines for Writing Argument
136(3)
Example of Argument
139(1)
Definition
139(6)
Short Cases from McDuff: Definitions
139(1)
Guidelines for Writing Definitions
140(4)
Example of Expanded Definition
144(1)
Description
145(4)
Short Cases from McDuff: Descriptions
145(1)
Guidelines for Writing Descriptions
146(2)
Examples of Description
148(1)
Classification/Division
149(5)
Short Cases from McDuff: Classification/Division
149(1)
Guidelines for Classification
150(1)
Example of Classification
151(1)
Guidelines for Division
152(1)
Example of Division
153(1)
Comparison/Contrast
154(3)
Short Cases from McDuff: Comparison/Contrast
154(1)
Guidelines for Comparison/Contrast
154(2)
Example of Comparison/Contrast
156(1)
Communication Challenge--``A Dome Gone South: Argument in Action''
157(3)
Chapter Summary
160(1)
Assignments
161(6)
Models for Good Writing
167(9)
Memo report-example using argument
167(2)
Detailed description
169(2)
Technical description: Bunsen burner
171(3)
Part-by-part comparison/contrast: three bulldozers
174(2)
Process Descriptions and Instructions
176(34)
Collaboration at Work
176(2)
Process Descriptions Versus Instructions
178(3)
Process Descriptions at McDuff
178(2)
Instructions at McDuff
180(1)
Guidelines for Process Descriptions
181(3)
Guidelines for Instructions
184(6)
Communication Challenge--``McDuff's Home of Hope: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?''
190(3)
Chapter Summary
193(1)
Assignments
194(6)
Models for Good Writing
200(10)
McDuff process description: electronic mail
200(1)
McDuff instructions: electronic mail
201(2)
Process description
203(1)
A McDuff process description with a flowchart (both are included in an appendix to a report to a client)
204(1)
Instructions for making travel arrangements (McDuff's departed Baltimore travel coordinator left a narrative description of the procedure he followed [original version], which was then reformatted and edited [revised version]
205(2)
McDuff memo containing how-to instructions for a phone message recorder (rewritten from manufacturer's difficult-to-follow instructions)
207(3)
Letters, Memos, and Electronic Communication
210(48)
Collaboration at Work
210(3)
General Guidelines for Letters and Memos
213(5)
Specific Guidelines for Letters and Memos
218(9)
Positive Letters
219(1)
Negative Letters
220(1)
Neutral Letters
221(2)
Sales Letters
223(2)
Memoranda
225(2)
Email
227(6)
Appropriate Use and Style of Email
227(1)
ABC Format for Email
228(1)
Guidelines for Email
229(4)
Communication Challenge--``Ethics and Sales Letters''
233(1)
Chapter Summary
234(2)
Assignments
236(7)
Models for Good Writing
243(15)
McDuff sample letter
243(1)
McDuff sample letter
244(2)
Block style for letters
246(1)
Modified block style (with indented paragraphs) for letters
247(1)
Simplified style for letters
248(1)
Memo style
249(1)
Positive letter in block style
250(1)
Negative letter in modified block style (with indented paragraphs)
251(1)
Neutral letter (invitation) in block style
252(1)
Neutral letter (placing order) in simplified style
253(1)
Sales letter in simplified style
254(1)
Memorandum: changes in procedures
255(1)
Memorandum: changes in benefits
256(1)
Simple email message
257(1)
Informal Reports
258(38)
Collaboration at Work
258(2)
When to Use Informal Reports
260(2)
Letter Reports at McDuff
261(1)
Memo Reports at McDuff
261(1)
General Guidelines for Informal Reports
262(4)
Specific Guidelines for Five Informal Reports
266(8)
Problem Analyses
267(1)
Recommendation Reports
268(1)
Equipment Evaluations
269(2)
Progress/Periodic Reports
271(2)
Lab Reports
273(1)
Communication Challenge--``A Nonprofit Job: Good Deed or Questionable Ethics?''
274(2)
Chapter Summary
276(1)
Assignments
276(9)
Models for Good Writing
285(11)
Recommendation report (letter format)
285(2)
Equipment evaluation (memo format)
287(2)
Problem analysis (memo format)
289(2)
Progress report (memo format)
291(2)
Periodic report (memo format)
293(1)
Lab report (letter format)
294(2)
Formal Reports
296(46)
Collaboration at Work
296(3)
When to Use Formal Reports
299(1)
Strategy for Organizing Formal Reports
300(2)
Guidelines for the Eight Parts of Formal Reports
302(8)
Cover/Title Page
302(1)
Letter/Memo of Transmittal
303(1)
Table of Contents
304(1)
List of Illustrations
305(1)
Executive Summary
306(1)
Introduction
307(1)
Discussion Sections
308(2)
Conclusions and Recommendations
310(1)
Formal Report Example
310(1)
Communication Challenge--``The Ethics of Clients Reviewing Report Drafts''
311(1)
Chapter Summary
312(1)
Assignments
313(5)
Models for Good Writing
318(24)
Title page with illustration (see explanation on page 303)
318(1)
Letter of transmittal
319(1)
Memo of transmittal
320(1)
Table of contents (all subheadings included)
321(1)
Table of contents (third-level subheadings omitted)
322(1)
List of illustrations--formal report
323(1)
Executive summary-formal report
324(1)
Introduction-formal report
325(1)
Formal report
326(16)
Proposals and Feasibility Studies
342(67)
Collaboration at Work
342(3)
Proposals and Feasibility Studies at McDuff
345(3)
McDuff Proposals
345(2)
McDuff Feasibility Studies
347(1)
Guidelines for Informal Proposals
348(5)
Guidelines for Formal Proposals
353(5)
Cover/Title Page
353(1)
Letter/Memo of Transmittal
354(1)
Table of Contents
355(1)
List of Illustrations
356(1)
Executive Summary
356(1)
Introduction
356(1)
Discussion Sections
357(1)
Conclusion
358(1)
Appendices
358(1)
Guidelines for Feasibility Studies
358(4)
Communication Challenge--``The Black Forest Proposal: Good Marketing or Bad Business?''
362(2)
Chapter Summary
364(1)
Assignments
365(7)
Models for Good Writing
372(37)
Letter proposal
372(3)
Memo proposal
375(2)
Formal proposal
377(9)
Formal proposal
386(21)
Feasibility study (one alternative)
407(2)
PART III409(210)
Graphics
410(54)
Collaboration at Work
410(2)
Terms in Graphics
412(1)
Reasons for Using Special Fonts, Color, and Graphics
413(3)
Using Fonts
416(3)
Font Types
416(1)
General Guidelines
416(3)
Using Color
419(5)
The Cost and Time of Using Color
419(1)
Developing a Color Style Sheet
420(2)
Color Terms
422(1)
Guidelines for Using Color
422(2)
General Guidelines for Graphics
424(3)
Specific Guidelines for Eight Graphics
427(24)
Tables
427(3)
Pie Charts
430(4)
Bar Charts
434(3)
Line Charts
437(3)
Schedule Charts
440(1)
Flowcharts
441(3)
Organization Charts
444(3)
Technical Drawings
447(4)
Misuse of Graphics
451(5)
Description of the Problem
451(1)
Examples of Distorted Graphics
452(4)
Communication Challenge--``Massaging McDuff's Annual Report''
456(3)
Chapter Summary
459(1)
Assignments
459(5)
Oral Communication
464(30)
Collaboration at Work
464(2)
Presentations and Your Career
466(1)
Guidelines for Preparation and Delivery
467(7)
Guidelines for Presentation Graphics
474(3)
Overcoming Nervousness
477(3)
Why Do We Fear Presentations?
477(1)
A Strategy for Staying Calm
478(2)
Example of McDuff Oral Presentation
480(5)
Running Effective Meetings
485(3)
Common Problems with Meetings
486(1)
Guidelines for Good Meetings
486(2)
Communication Challenge--``Ethics and the Technical Presentation''
488(2)
Chapter Summary
490(2)
Assignments
492(2)
Technical Research
494(60)
Collaboration at Work
494(2)
Getting Started
496(3)
Searching Online Catalogs
499(7)
Searching in the Library
506(10)
Library Services
507(1)
Library Resources
508(8)
Searching the Web
516(6)
Fundamentals of Web Searching
516(3)
Web Search Options
519(3)
Using Questionnaires and Interviews
522(7)
Questionnaries
523(4)
Interviews
527(2)
Using Borrowed Information Correctly
529(5)
Avoiding Plagiarism
529(2)
Following the Research Process
531(3)
Selecting and Following a Documentation System
534(4)
Varieties of Documentation
534(1)
Author-Date System with Pages
535(1)
Online Documentation
536(2)
Writing Research Abstracts
538(4)
Types of Abstracts
538(2)
Guidelines for Writing Research Abstracts
540(2)
Communication Challenge--``To Cite or Not to Cite''
542(1)
Chapter Summary
542(2)
Assignments
544(3)
Models for Good Writing
547(7)
Memo report citing research
547(7)
The Job Search
554(38)
Collaboration at Work
554(2)
Researching Occupations and Companies
556(3)
Job Correspondence
559(7)
Job Letters
560(2)
Resumes
562(4)
Job Interviews
566(5)
Preparation
566(2)
Performance
568(2)
Follow-Up Letters
570(1)
Negotiating
571(4)
Communication Challenge--``20-Something--Have Degree, Won't Travel''
575(2)
Chapter Summary
577(1)
Assignments
578(3)
Models for Good Writing
581(11)
Job letter (modified block) and chronological resume
581(2)
Job letter (block style) and chronological resume
583(2)
Job letter (modified block) and functional resume
585(2)
Job letter (modified block) and functional resume
587(2)
Combined resume
589(1)
Combined resume
590(1)
Resume with graphics--not effective for computer scanning
591(1)
Style in Technical Writing
592(27)
Collaboration at Work
592(2)
Overview of Style
594(1)
Definition of Style
594(1)
Importance of Tone
595(1)
Writing Clear Sentences
595(3)
Sentence Terms
596(1)
Guidelines for Sentence Style
596(2)
Being Concise
598(5)
Being Accurate in Wording
603(1)
Using the Active Voice
604(1)
What Do Active and Passive Mean?
604(1)
When Should Actives and Passives Be Used?
604(1)
Using Nonsexist Language
605(3)
Sexism and Language
605(1)
Techniques for Nonsexist Language
606(2)
Communication Challenge--``An Editorial Adjustment''
608(3)
Chapter Summary
611(1)
Assignments
611(8)
Appendix A: Online Technical Documents619(8)
What Is Online Documentation?
620(3)
Types of Online Documents
621(1)
Authoring Tools and Delivery Programs
622(1)
How Does Reader Analysis Change?
623(1)
How Does Document Organization Change?
624(1)
How Does Page Layout Change?
625(1)
Summary
625(2)
Appendix B: Web Site Design627(20)
Introduction
627(2)
How Documents Work on the Web
629(4)
Client/Server Network
629(1)
HTML: The Basic Language of the Web
630(3)
Elements of Web Site Design
633(3)
Elements of Design
633(1)
Web Site Architecture
633(1)
Information Design Elements of a Web Page
634(1)
Visual Design
635(1)
Architectural, Informational, and Visual Design Guidelines
635(1)
Hypertext Links
636(2)
Hypertext Tags
637(1)
Keeping Readers Oriented
638(1)
Conversion of Documents to Web Pages
638(4)
Style Tags
639(1)
Inserting a Table of Contents
640(1)
Converting to a Web Page
640(2)
Usability and Accessibility
642(4)
Usability Testing
643(2)
Accessibility
645(1)
Summary
646(1)
Appendix C: Handbook647(50)
Index697

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