Technical Communication A Reader-Centered Approach (with MLA Updates)

ISBN 13:
9781413002836
ISBN 10:
1413002838
Edition: 5th
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 09/17/2003
Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
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Summary

Known for its treatment of the rhetorical situation and its reader-centered approach, the new edition is now full color and thoroughly updated to include the latest developments in technical communication.

PART I Introduction

(52)

CHAPTER 1 Communication, Your Career, and This Book

(19)

Communication Expertise Will Be Critical to Your Success

(1)

Writing at Work Differs from Writing at School

(4)

At Work, Writing Is an Action

(1)

The Main Advice of this Book: Think Constantly about Your Readers

(1)

Qualities of Effective On-the-Job Communication: Usability and Persuasiveness

(3)

The Dynamic Interaction between Your Communication and Your Readers

(2)

Some Reader-Centered Strategies You Can Begin Using Now

(2)

Communicating Ethically

(2)

What Lies Ahead in This Book

(1)

Exercises

(1)

CASE: Selecting the Right Forklift Truck

(1)

CHAPTER 2 Overview of the Reader-Centered Communication Process: Obtaining a Job

(31)

Central Principles of the Reader-Centered Approach

(1)

Writing Your Résumé

(14)

Electronic Résumés: Special Considerations

(2)

Writing Your Job Application Letter

(7)

Ethical Issues in the Job Search

(1)

Writing for Employment in Other Countries

(1)

Conclusion

(1)

Exercises

(1)

CASE: Advising Patricia

(5)

PART II Defining Your Communication's Objectives

(26)

CHAPTER 3 Defining Your Communication's Objectives

(24)

The Importance of Defining Objectives

(15)

GUIDELINE 1: Focus on what you want to happen while your readers are reading

(2)

GUIDELINE 2: Define your usability goal: Analyze your readers' reading tasks

(2)

GUIDELINE 3: Define your persuasive goal: Analyze your readers' attitudes

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Identify your readers' important characteristics

(4)

GUIDELINE 5: Study the context in which your readers will read

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Ask others to help you understand your readers and their context

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Learn who all your readers will be

(4)

GUIDELINE 8: Identify any constraints on the way you write

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Ethics Guideline: Identify your communication's stakeholders

(1)

Expertise in Action: An Example

(4)

Conclusion

(1)

Exercises

(1)

CASE: Announcing the Smoking Ban

(3)

PART III Planning

(80)

CHAPTER 4 Planning for Usability

(16)

Your Goal When Planning for Usability

(12)

GUIDELINE 1: Identify the information your readers need

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Organize around your readers' tasks

(4)

GUIDELINE 3: Identify ways to help readers quickly find what they want

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: For a complex audience, plan a modular communication

(2)

GUIDELINE 5: Look for a technical writing superstructure you can adapt

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Plan your graphics

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Outline, if this would be helpful

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Check your plans with your readers

(2)

GUIDELINE 9: Ethics Guideline: Investigate stakeholder impacts

(1)

Conclusion

(1)

Exercises

(2)

CASE: Filling the Distance Learning Classroom

(1)

CHAPTER 5 Planning Your Persuasive Strategies

(27)

How Persuasion Works

(20)

GUIDELINE 1: Learn-and focus on-your readers' goals and values

(3)

GUIDELINE 2: Address your readers' concerns and counter arguments

102

(2)

GUIDELINE 3: Show that your reasoning is sound

104

(4)

GUIDELINE 4: Organize to create a favorable response

108

(3)

GUIDELINE 5: Build an effective relationship with your readers

111

(4)

GUIDELINE 6: Adapt your persuasive strategies to your readers' cultural background

115

(3)

GUIDELINE 7: Ethics Guideline: Employ ethical persuasive techniques

118

(1)

Conclusion

118

(2)

Exercises

120

(3)

CASE: Debating a Company Drug-Testing Program

123

(1)

CHAPTER 6 Conducting Research

124

(35)

Special Characteristics of On-the-Job Writing

125

(1)

GUIDELINE 1: Define your research objectives

125

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Create an efficient and productive research plan

126

(2)

GUIDELINE 3: Check each source for leads to other sources

128

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Carefully evaluate what you find

128

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Begin interpreting your research results even as you obtain them

128

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Take careful notes

129

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Ethics Guide1in Observe copyright law and intellectual property rights

130

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Ethics Guideline: Document your sources

131

(1)

Conclusion

132

(2)

Exercises

134

(1)

REFERENCE GUIDE Five Research Methods

135

(26)

Exploring Your Own Memory and Creativity

136

(5)

Searching the Internet

141

(6)

Using the Library

147

(5)

Interviewing

152

(1)

Conducting a Survey

153

(6)

PART IV Drafting Prose Elements

159

(79)

CHAPTER 7 Drafting Paragraphs, Sections, and Chapters

161

(52)

Drafting Paragraphs, Sections, and Chapters

162

(21)

GUIDELINE 1: Begin by announcing your topic

163

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Present your generalizations before your details

164

(3)

GUIDELINE 3: glove from most important to least important

167

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Reveal your communication's organization

167

(12)

GUIDELINE 5: Consult conventional strategies when having difficulties organizing

179

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Consider your readers' cultural background when organizing

181

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Ethics Guideline: Remember the human consequences of what you're drafting

181

(2)

Conclusion

183

(1)

Exercises

183

(3)

CASE: Increasing Organ Donations

186

(3)

REFERENCE GUIDE Six Patterns for Organizing

189

(76)

Classification (Grouping Facts)

190

(4)

Description of an Object (Partitioning)

194

(2)

Description of a Process (Segmentation)

196

(5)

Comparison

201

(3)

Cause and Effect

204

(4)

Problem and Solution

208

(1)

Combinations of Patterns

208

(3)

Exercises

211

(2)

CHAPTER 8 Beginning a Communication

213

(18)

GUIDELINE 1: Give your readers a reason to pay attention

214

(4)

GUIDELINE 2: State your main point

218

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Tell your readers what to expect

219

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Encourage openness to your message

220

(2)

GUIDELINE 5: Provide necessary background information

222

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Adjust the length of your beginning to your readers' needs

223

(3)

GUIDELINE 7: For longer communications, begin with a summary

226

(2)

GUIDELINE 8: Adapt your beginning to your readers' cultural background

228

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Ethics Guideline: Begin to address unethical practices promptly* and strategically

228

(2)

Conclusion

230

(1)

Exercises

230

(1)

CHAPTER 9 Ending a Communication

231

(5)

GUIDELINE 1: After you've made your last point, stop

232

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Repeat your main point

233

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Summarize your key points

233

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Refer to a goal stated earlier in your communication

234

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Focus on a key feeling

234

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Tell your readers how to get assistance or more information

235

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Tell your readers what to do next

235

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Identify any further study that is needed

236

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Follow applicable social conventions

236

(1)

Conclusion

236

(1)

Exercises

236

(2)

CHAPTER 10 Developing an Effective Style

238

(25)

Creating Your Voice

240

(4)

GUIDELINE 1: Find out what's expected

240

(2)

GUIDELINE 2: Consider the roles your voice creates for your readers and you

242

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Consider how your attitude toward your subject will affect your readers

242

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Say things in your own words

243

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Ethics Guideline: Avoid stereotypes

243

(1)

Constructing Sentences

244

(8)

GUIDELINE 1: Simplify your sentences

244

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Put the action in your verbs

245

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Use the active voice unless you have a good reason to use the passive voice

246

(2)

GUIDELINE 4: Emphasize what's most important

248

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Smooth the flow of thought from sentence to sentence

249

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Vary your sentence length and structure

251

(1)

Selecting Words

252

(7)

GUIDELINE 1: Use concrete, specific words

252

(2)

GUIDELINE 2: Use specialized terms when-and only when-your readers will understand them

254

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Use Words accurately

255

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Choose words with appropriate associations

256

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Choose plain words over fancy ones

257

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Ethics Guideline: Use inclusive language

258

(1)

Conclusion

259

(1)

Exercises

259

(4)

PART V Drafting Visual Elements

263

(82)

CHAPTER 11 Creating Reader-Centered Graphics

265

(55)

GUIDELINE 1: Look for places where graphics will increase your communication's usability

267

(3)

GUIDELINE 2: Look for places where graphics will increase your communication's persuasiveness

270

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Choose the types of graphics that are best at achieving your usability and persuasive objectives

271

(2)

GUIDELINE 4: Make each graphic easy to understand and use

273

(5)

GUIDELINE 5: Use color to support your message

278

(3)

GUIDELINE 6: Adapt existing graphics to your readers and purpose

281

(2)

GUIDELINE 7: Integrate your graphics with your text

283

(3)

GUIDELINE 8: Before addressing an international audience, check your graphics with people from other nations

286

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Ethics Guideline: Avoid graphics that mislead

286

(2)

Conclusion

288

(2)

Exercises

290

(1)

REFERENCE GUIDE Thirteen Types of Graphics

291

(166)

Graphics for Displaying Data

292

(12)

Graphics for Showing How Something Looks or is Constructed

304

(7)

Graphics for Showing How to Do Something

311

(1)

Graphics for Explaining a Process

311

(3)

Graphics for Providing Management Information

314

(3)

Exercises

317

(3)

CHAPTER 12 Designing Pages and Screens

320

(25)

A Reader-Centered Approach to Design

321

(1)

Design Elements of a Communication

322

(1)

Four Basic Design Principles

322

(12)

GUIDELINE 1: Begin by considering your readers and purpose

323

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Use proximity to group related elements

324

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Align related visual elements with one another

325

(3)

GUIDELINE 4: Use contrast to establish hierarchy and focus

328

(2)

GUIDELINE 5: Use repetition to unify your communication visually

330

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Select type that is easy to read

332

(2)

Practical Procedures for Designing Pages

334

(3)

GUIDELINE 7: Design your overall document for ease of use and attractiveness

335

(2)

Graphic Design of Web Pages

337

(1)

Conclusion

338

(1)

Exercises

339

(6)

PART VI Evaluating and Revising

345

(34)

CHAPTER 13 Checking and Reviewing Drafts

347

(13)

Performing Your Own Quality Check

348

(4)

GUIDELINE 1: Check from your readers' point of view

348

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Check from your employer's point of view

349

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Distance yourself from your draft

349

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Read your draft more than once, changing your focus each time

350

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Use computer aids to find (but not to cure) possible problems

350

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Ethics Guideline: Consider the stakeholders' perspective

350

(2)

Reviewing

352

(5)

GUIDELINE 1: Discuss the objectives of the communication and the review

353

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Build a positive interpersonal relationship with your reviewers or writer

353

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Rank suggested revisions-and distinguish matters of substance from matters of taste

354

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Explore fully the reasons for all suggestions

355

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Use computer aids for reviewing iii a reader-centered way

355

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Ethics Guideline: Review from the stakeholders' perspective

357

(1)

Conclusion

357

(1)

Exercises

358

(2)

CHAPTER 14 Testing Drafts for Usability and Persuasiveness

360

(13)

GUIDELINE 1: Establish your test objectives

362

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Pick test readers who truly represent your target readers

363

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Focus on usability: Ask your test readers to use your draft the same way your target readers will

363

(4)

GUIDELINE 4: Focus on persuasiveness: Learn how your draft affects your readers' attitudes

367

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Interview your test readers after they've read and used your draft

367

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Avoid biasing your test results

368

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Test early and often

369

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Ethics Guideline: Obtain informed consent from your test readers

369

(1)

Conclusion

369

(3)

Exercises

372

(1)

CHAPTER 15 Revising

373

(6)

GUIDELINE 1: Adjust your effort to the situation

374

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Make the most significant revisions first

375

(2)

GUIDELINE 3: Be diplomatic

377

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: To revise well, follow the guidelines for writing well

378

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Revise to learn

378

(1)

Conclusion

378

(1)

PART VII Applications of the Reader-Centered Approach

379

(58)

CHAPTER 16 Communicating Electronically: Email and Web Sites

381

(22)

Using Email

382

(4)

GUIDELINE 1: Observe the email conventions where you work

383

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Keep your messages brief

383

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Make your messages easy to read on screen

384

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Provide an informative, specific subject line

384

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Take time to revise

385

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Remember that email isn't private

385

(1)

Creating Web Sites

386

(15)

GUIDELINE 1: Begin by defining your site's objectives

388

(2)

GUIDELINE 2: Provide quick and easy access to the information your readers want

390

(5)

GUIDELINE 3: Design pages that are easy to read and attractive

395

(2)

GUIDELINE 4: .Design your site for international and multicultural readers

397

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Enable readers with disabilities to use your site

398

(1)

GUIDELINE 6: Help readers find your site on the Internet

399

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Test your site on multiple platforms and browsers before launching it

399

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Keep your site up to date

400

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Ethics Guideline: Respect intellectual property and provide valid information

400

(1)

Exercises

401

(2)

CHAPTER 17 Creating and Delivering Oral Presentations

403

(19)

GUIDELINE 1: Define your presentation's objectives

404

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Select the form of oral delivery best suited to your purpose and audience

404

(2)

GUIDELINE 3: Focus on a few main points

406

(1)

GUIDELINE 4: Use a simple structure-and help your listeners follow it

406

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Use a conversational style

407

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Look at your audience

409

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Prepare for interruptions and questions----and respond courteously

410

(1)

GUIDELINE 8: Fully integrate graphics into your presentation

410

(7)

GUIDELINE 9: Rehearse

417

(1)

GUIDELINE 10: Accept your nervousness-and work with it

417

(1)

Making Team Presentations

418

(1)

Conclusion

419

(1)

Exercises

419

(3)

CHAPTER 18 Creating Communications with a Team

422

(15)

GUIDELINE 1: Select the most effective structure for your team's collaboration

423

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Create a consensus on the communication's objectives

424

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Involve the whole team in planning

425

(2)

GUIDELINE 4: Make a project schedule

427

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Share leadership responsibilities

427

(2)

GUIDELINE 6: Make meetings efficient

429

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Encourage discussion, debate, and diversity of ideas

429

(3)

GUIDELINE 8: Be sensitive to possible cultural and gender differences in team interactions

432

(1)

GUIDELINE 9: Use computer support for collaboration when it's available

433

(1)

Conclusion

434

(1)

Exercises

434

(3)

PART VIII Client and Service-Learning Projects

437

(18)

CHAPTER 19 Managing Client and Service-Learning Projects

439

(16)

Overall Project Management Strategy

441

(10)

GUIDELINE 1: Determine exactly what your client wants and why

441

(1)

GUIDELINE 2: Develop your own assessment of the situation

442

(1)

GUIDELINE 3: Create a project management plan

442

(2)

GUIDELINE 4: Submit a written proposal to your client-and ask for written agreement

444

(1)

GUIDELINE 5: Communicate with your client often-especially at all major decisions

445

(5)

GUIDELINE 6: Advocate and educate, but defer to your client

450

(1)

GUIDELINE 7: Hand off the project in a helpful way

451

(1)

Conclusion

451

(1)

Exercises

451

(4)

PART IX Superstructures

455

(124)

CHAPTER 20 Reports

457

(76)

Your Readers Want to Use the Information You Provide

458

(1)

Readers' Six Basic Questions

458

(1)

General Superstructure for Reports

459

(4)

Sample Outlines and Report

463

(2)

Conclusion

465

(9)

REFERENCE GUIDE Three Types of Special Reports

474

(59)

Empirical Research Reports

475

(28)

Feasibility Reports

503

(11)

Progress Reports

514

(19)

CHAPTER 21 Proposals

533

(21)

The Variety of Proposal-Writing Situations

534

(2)

Proposal Readers Are Investors

536

(1)

The Questions Readers Ask Most Often

536

(1)

Strategy of the Conventional Superstructure for Proposals

536

(2)

Superstructure for Proposals

538

(7)

Sample Proposal

545

(9)

CHAPTER 22 Instructions

554

(25)

Four Important Points

555

(1)

Superstructure for Instructions

556

(12)

Physical Construction of Instructions

568

(1)

Online Instructions

569

(1)

Sample Instructions

569

(9)

Exercises

578

(1)

Appendixes

579

(48)

APPENDIX A Formats for Letters, Memos, and Books

581

(22)

Letter Format

582

(3)

Memo Format

585

(1)

Book Format

585

(18)

APPENDIX B Documenting Your Sources

603

(13)

Choosing a Format for Documentation

604

(1)

Deciding Where to Place In-Text Citations

604

(1)

Using the APA Documentation Style

605

(5)

Using the MLA Documentation Style

610

(6)

APPENDIX C Projects

616

(11)

Project 1 Résumé and Job Application Letter

617

(1)

Project 2 Informational Web Site

617

(1)

Project 3 Informational Page

618

(1)

Project 4 Unsolicited Recommendation

619

(1)

Project 5 Brochure

620

(1)

Project 6 Instructions

620

(1)

Project 7 User Test and Report

621

(1)

Project 8 Project Proposal

622

(1)

Project 9 Progress Report

623

(1)

Project 10 Formal Report or Proposal

623

(1)

Project 11 Oral Briefing I: Project Plans

624

(1)

Project 12 Oral Briefing II: Project Results

625

(2)

Acknowledgments

627

(6)

References

633

(4)

Index

637

Technical Communication A Reader-Centered Approach (with MLA Updates)

9781413002836

1413002838

Summary

Table of Contents

Write a Review

Technical Communication A Reader-Centered Approach (with MLA Updates)

9781413002836

1413002838

Summary

Table of Contents

Write a Review

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