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Technical Writing : A Practical Approach

ISBN: 9780130213723 | 0130213721
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Pub. Date: 8/1/1999

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SummaryTable of Contents
For undergraduate-level courses in Technical Writing, Business Communication, Professional Communication, and Freshman Composition with a company emphasis. Technical Writing: A Practical Approach offers an easy-to-use approach towards learning the fundamentals of technical writing. The author's writing style is reader-friendly, and engages the student by providing a comprehensive overview of current topics in technical writing.
PART I1(124)
1 PROCESS IN TECHNICAL WRITING
3(38)
Getting from Here to There
4(6)
... MORE
Features of Academic Writing
5(1)
Features of Technical Writing
6(4)
Discovering Your Purpose
10(1)
Analyzing Your Readers
11(8)
Obstacles for Readers
14(1)
Ways to Understand Readers
15(1)
Types of Readers
16(3)
Collecting Information
19(2)
Writing an Outline
21(4)
Writing Initial Drafts
25(1)
Revising Drafts
26(2)
Writing in Groups
28(5)
Benefits and Drawbacks of Group Writing
28(1)
Guidelines for Group Writing
29(4)
Communication Challenge--"A Group Project Gone Bad"
33(3)
Chapter Summary
36(1)
Assignments
36(5)
2 MCDUFF, INC.: ETHICS AND GLOBALISM IN THE WORKPLACE
41(32)
Corporate Culture in the 90s
42(3)
Elements of a Company's Culture
42(1)
The Search for Quality
43(2)
The Global Workplace
45(5)
Strategies for Understanding Cultures
45(3)
Strategies for Communicating Internationally
48(2)
Background and Types of Projects
50(4)
History of McDuff, Inc.
50(2)
Projects
52(2)
Corporate and Branch Offices
54(4)
Headquarters
54(2)
Branches
56(2)
Writing at McDuff
58(3)
Examples of Internal Writing
61(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(4)
3 ORGANIZING INFORMATION
73(24)
Importance of Organization
74(1)
Three Principles of Organization
75(4)
ABC Format for Documents
79(4)
Document Abstract: The "Big Picture" for Decision-Makers
80(1)
Document Body: Details for All Readers
81(1)
Document Conclusion: Wrap-Up Leading to Next Step
82(1)
Tips for Organizing Sections and Paragraphs
83(2)
Document Sections
83(1)
Paragraphs
84(1)
Communication Challenge--"Telecommuting: The Last Frontier?"
85(3)
Chapter Summary
88(1)
Assignments
88(9)
4 PAGE DESIGN
97(28)
Computers in the Writing Process
98(4)
Using Computers to Plan
98(1)
Using Computers to Draft
98
Using Computers to Revise
97
Problems to Avoid
101(1)
Guidelines for Page Design
102(12)
Paper
102(1)
White Space
103(4)
Headings
107(5)
Lists
112(2)
In-Text Emphasis
114(1)
Fonts and Color
114(3)
Size of Type
115(1)
Font Types
116(1)
Color
116(1)
Communication Challenge--"The St. Paul Format Guide: Trouble in River City"
117(2)
Chapter Summary
119(1)
Assignments
120(5)
PART II125(270)
5 PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION
127(42)
Argument
128(5)
Short Cases from McDuff: Argument
128(1)
Guidelines for Writing Argument
129(3)
Example of Argument
132(1)
Definition
133(5)
Short Cases from McDuff: Definitions
133(1)
Guidelines for Writing Definitions
134(4)
Example of Expanded Definition
138(1)
Description
138(4)
Short Cases from McDuff: Descriptions
139(1)
Guidelines for Writing Descriptions
139(3)
Examples of Description
142(1)
Classification/Division
142(6)
Short Cases from McDuff: Classification/Division
143(1)
Guidelines for Classification
144(1)
Example of Classification
145(1)
Guidelines for Division
146(1)
Example of Division
147(1)
Comparison/Contrast
148(3)
Short Cases from McDuff: Comparison/Contrast
148(1)
Guidelines for Comparison/Contrast
149(1)
Example of Comparison/Contrast
150(1)
Communication Challenge--"A Dome Gone South: Argument in Action"
151(2)
Chapter Summary
153(2)
Assignments
155(14)
6 PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS
169(34)
Process Descriptions Versus Instructions
170(2)
Process Descriptions at McDuff
171(1)
Instructions at McDuff
171(1)
Guidelines for Process Descriptions
172(4)
Guidelines for Instructions
176(7)
Communication Challenge--"McDuff's Home of Hope: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?"
183(2)
Chapter Summary
185(1)
Assignments
186(17)
7 LETTERS, MEMOS, AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
203(46)
General Guidelines
204(6)
Specific Guidelines
210(16)
Positive Letters
210(1)
Negative Letters
211(2)
Neutral Letters
213(1)
Sales Letters
214(2)
Memoranda
216(1)
Electronic Communication
217(9)
Communication Challenge--"Ethics and Sales Letters"
226(2)
Chapter Summary
228(1)
Assignments
228(21)
8 INFORMAL REPORTS
249(36)
When to Use Informal Reports
250(2)
Letter Reports at McDuff
250(1)
Memo Reports at McDuff
251(1)
General Guidelines for Informal Reports
252(4)
Specific Guidelines for Five Informal Reports
256(8)
Problem Analyses
257(1)
Recommendation Reports
258(2)
Equipment Evaluations
260(1)
Progress/Periodic Reports
261(2)
Lab Reports
263(1)
Communication Challenge--"A Nonprofit Job: Good Deed or Questionable Ethics?"
264(2)
Chapter Summary
266(1)
Assignments
266(19)
9 FORMAL REPORTS
285(44)
When to Use Formal Reports
286(2)
Strategy for Organizing Formal Reports
288(1)
Guidelines for the Eight Parts of Formal Reports
289(9)
Cover/Title Page
290(1)
Letter/Memo of Transmittal
290(1)
Table of Contents
291(2)
List of Illustrations
293(1)
Executive Summary
293(2)
Introduction
295(1)
Discussion Sections
296(1)
Conclusions and Recommendations
297(1)
Formal Report Example
298(1)
Communication Challenge--"The Ethics of Clients Reviewing Report Drafts"
298(2)
Chapter Summary
300(1)
Assignments
300(29)
10 PROPOSALS AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES
329(66)
Proposals and Feasibility Studies at McDuff
330(4)
McDuff Proposals
332(1)
McDuff Feasibility Studies
333(1)
Guidelines for Informal Proposals
334(5)
Guidelines for Formal Proposals
339(5)
Cover/Title Page
340(1)
Letter/Memo of Transmittal
340(1)
Table of Contents
341(1)
List of Illustrations
341(1)
Executive Summary
342(1)
Introduction
342(1)
Discussion Sections
343(1)
Conclusion
343(1)
Appendices
343(1)
Guidelines for Feasibility Studies
344(3)
Communication Challenge--"The Black Forest Proposal: Good Marketing or Bad Business?"
347(2)
Chapter Summary
349(1)
Assignments
350(45)
PART III395(200)
11 GRAPHICS
397(56)
Terms in Graphics
398(1)
Reasons for Using Special Fonts, Color, and Graphics
398(4)
Using Fonts
402(3)
Font Types
402(1)
General Guidelines
402(3)
Using Color
405(5)
The Cost and Time of Using Color
405(1)
Developing a Color Style Sheet
406(2)
Color Terms
408(1)
Guidelines for Using Color
408(2)
General Guidelines for Graphics
410(3)
Specific Guidelines for Eight Graphics
413(25)
Tables
413(3)
Pie Charts
416(4)
Bar Charts
420(3)
Line Charts
423(3)
Schedule Charts
426
Flowcharts
423
Organization Charts
431(3)
Technical Drawings
434(4)
Misuse of Graphics
438(3)
Description of the Problem
439(1)
Examples of Distorted Graphics
439(2)
Communication Challenge--"Massaging McDuff's Annual Report"
441(5)
Chapter Summary
446(1)
Assignments
447(6)
12 ORAL COMMUNICATION
453(30)
Presentations and Your Career
454(1)
Guidelines for Preparation and Delivery
455(7)
Guidelines for Presentation Graphics
462(3)
Overcoming Nervousness
465(3)
Why Do We Fear Presentations?
465(1)
A Strategy for Staying Calm
466(2)
Example of McDuff Oral Presentation
468(6)
Running Effective Meetings
474(3)
Common Problems with Meetings
474(1)
Guidelines for Good Meetings
475(2)
Communication Challenge--"Ethics and the Technical Presentation"
477(2)
Chapter Summary
479(1)
Assignments
480(3)
13 TECHNICAL RESEARCH
483(52)
Getting Started
484(2)
Searching Online Library Catalogs
486(8)
Searching in the Library
494(10)
Searching the Web
504(6)
Fundamentals of Web Searching
504(1)
Web Search Options
505(5)
Using Questionnaires and Interviews
510(7)
Questionnaires
510(5)
Interviews
515(2)
Using Borrowed Information Correctly
517(5)
Avoiding Plagiarism
517(1)
Following the Research Process
518(4)
Selecting and Following a Documentation System
522(4)
Varieties of Documentation
522(1)
Author-Date System with Pages
523(1)
Online Documentation
524(2)
Writing Research Abstracts
526(4)
Types of Abstracts
526(2)
Guidelines for Writing Research Abstracts
528(2)
Communication Challenge--"To Cite or Not to Cite"
530(1)
Chapter Summary
531(1)
Assignments
532(3)
14 THE JOB SEARCH
535(36)
Researching Occupations and Companies
535(4)
Job Correspondence
539(6)
Job Letters
539(3)
Resumes
542(3)
Job Interviews
545(5)
Preparation
545(2)
Performance
547(2)
Follow-Up Letters
549(1)
Negotiating
550(4)
Communication Challenge--"20-Something: Have Degree, Won't Travel"
554(3)
Chapter Summary
557(1)
Assignments
557(14)
15 STYLE IN TECHNICAL WRITING
571(24)
Style Overview
572(1)
Writing Clear Sentences
572(3)
Sentence Terms
573(1)
Guidelines for Sentence Style
573(2)
Being Concise
575(4)
Being Accurate in Wording
579(2)
Using the Active Voice
581(1)
What Do Active and Passive Mean?
581(1)
When Should Actives and Passives Be Used?
582(1)
Using Nonsexist Language
582(3)
Sexism and Language
582(1)
Techniques for Nonsexist Language
583(2)
Communication Challenge--"An Editorial Adjustment"
585(3)
Chapter Summary
588(1)
Assignments
588(7)
APPENDIX A: ONLINE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS595(8)
What Is Online Documentation?596(3)
Types of Online Documents597(1)
Authoring Tools and Delivery Programs598(1)
How Does Reader Analysis Change?599(1)
How Does Document Organization Change?599(2)
How Does Page Layout Change?601(1)
Summary601(2)
APPENDIX B: HANDBOOK603(40)
INDEX643

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