Practical and affordable, Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace offers complete coverage of routine workplace documents, complex forms of communication, and the latest technological innovations in a streamlined presentation of 528 pages. Emphasizing immediate and ongoing document creation as well as audience and purpose, Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace is appropriate for technical communication students and writers of all levels. Three new chapters cover email and text messages, blogs, wikis, and social networks, and ehtics. There is increased coverage on audience analysis in Chapter 4, where readers learn how to write persuasively in addition to analyzing audience/purpose and creating usable documents.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
PART 1 FOUNDATIONS
1 Introduction to Technical Communication
What Is Technical Communication?
Who Creates Technical Communication?
Main Features of Technical Communication
Three Primary Purposes of Effective Technical Communication
Common Types of Technical Documents
The Importance of Proofreading
2 Teamwork and Global Issues in Technical Communication
Teamwork in Technical Communication
Global Issues in Technical Communication
3 The Research Process in Technical Communication
Thinking Critically about Research
Primary versus Secondary Sources
Exploring Secondary Sources
Exploring Primary Sources
4 Providing Audiences with Usable Information
Analyze the Document's Audience
Determine the Document's Purpose
Know How to Be Persuasive
Create a Task Analysis for the Document
Consider Other Related Usability Factors
Develop an Information Plan for the Document
Write, Test, and Revise the Document
5 Recognizing Ethical Issues in Technical Communication
Ethics, Technology, and Communication
Types of Ethical Choices
How Workplace Pressures Affect Ethical Values
Recognizing and Avoiding Ethical Abuses
PART 2 BLUEPRINTS
6 Structuring Information for Your Readers
The Importance of an Understandable Structure
Outlining
Chunking
Sequencing
Paragraphing
Clarifying Headings
Providing an Overview
7 Writing with a Readable Style
The Importance of a Readable Style
Writing Clearly
Writing Concisely
Writing Fluently
Writing Personably
8 Using Audience-Centered Visuals
The Importance of Using Audience-Centered Visuals
When to Use Visuals
Types of Visuals
Special Considerations When Using Visuals
9 Designing User-Friendly Documents
The Importance of User-Friendly Document Design
Characteristics of Well Designed Documents
Specific Design Elements
PART 3 DOCUMENTS
10 Résumés and Other Employment Materials
Assessing Your Skills and Aptitudes
Researching the Job Market
Résumés
Application Letters
Dossiers, Portfolios, and Webfolios
Interviews and Follow-Up Letters
11 Memos and Letters
Memo Basics
Memo Parts and Format
Memo Tone
Types of Memos
Letter Basics
Letter Parts and Formats
Letter Tone
Types of Letters
12 Definitions
Audience and Purpose of Definitions
Legal, Ethical, and Societal Implications of Definitions
Types of Definitions
Methods for Expanding Definitions
Using Multiple Expansion Methods
Placement of Definitions
13 Descriptions
Audience and Purpose of Descriptions
Objectivity in Descriptions
Elements of Descriptions
Product and Process Descriptions
A Complex Product Description
A Complex Process Description
Specifications
14 Instructions and Procedures
Audience and Purpose of Definitions
Types of Instructional Formats
Ethical and Legal Implications
Elements of Effective Instructions
Content, Style, and Design Considerations
Procedures
Usability Testing
15 Summaries
Audience and Purpose of Summaries
Elements of Effective Summaries
Writing Summaries Step-by-Step
Special Types of Summaries
Ethical Considerations In Summarizing Information
16 Informal Reports
Two Categories of Reports: Informational and Analytical
Progress Reports (Informational)
Periodic Activity Reports (Informational)
Trip Reports (Informational)
Meeting Minutes (Informational)
Feasibility Reports (Analytical)
Recommendation Reports (Analytical)
Peer Review Reports (Analytical)
17 Formal Reports
Audience and Purpose of Formal Reports
Elements of Effective Formal Reports
Parts of Formal Reports
A Sample Formal Report
18 Proposals
Audience and Purpose of Proposals
Types of Proposals
Organization of Informal and Formal Proposals
A Sample Formal Proposal
PART 4 DIGITAL MEDIA AND PRESENTATIONS
19 Email and Text Messages
Email
Text Messages
Comparing Email and Text Messaging
Copyright and Privacy in Digital Communication
Be Prepared for Technology to Fail
20 Blogs, Wikis, and Social Networks
Internal Corporate Blogs
External Corporate Blogs
Corporate Wikis
Social Networks
21 Web Pages and Online Videos
Audience and Purpose of Web Pages
Elements of Effective Web Pages
Online Videos
Ethical and Legal Considerations
PDF Files
Differences in Media Types
22 Oral Presentations
Audience and Purpose of Oral Presentations
Types of Oral Presentations
Parts of Oral Presentations
Preparing Oral Presentations
Using Presentation Software
Delivering Oral Presentations
APPENDICES
A Documenting Sources
What Is Plagiarism?
Identifying Sources and Information to be Documented
