Technical Communication Today

by Johnson-Sheehan, Richard

Edition:

3rd

ISBN13:

9780205632442

ISBN10:

0205632440

Format:

Paperback

Pub. Date:

1/1/2010

Publisher(s):

Longman

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Customer Reviews

Technical Communication Textbook March 29, 2011
by Liam

I rented this textbook for my course, after the course, a good teacher, and reading through a lot of this book, I realized I have much to learn. I almost don't want to sell this book back simply because it would prove to be a great resource for the future, it's an excellent textbook, very well presented and is easy to read and understand. I feel that this textbook has improved my writing abilities vastly in the past month.

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Technical Communication Today: 5 out of 5 stars based on 1 user reviews.

Summary

For the Introduction to Technical Communication level course. People use their computers to help them think, research, compose, design, and edit. Technical Communication Today speaks to today's modern student and how they expect to learn information. Instructional narrative is chunked, so that readable portions of text are combined with graphics. Not only does this presentation facilitate learning, but it also models the way today's technical documents should be designed.

Additionally, the chunked presentation integrates an awareness of how documents are read often raided by readers seeking the information they need. By mirroring these processes in its content and structure, this textbookoffers a higher level of accessibility for readers.

Technical Communication Today remains the only text to fully centralize the computer in the technical workplace, presenting how writers use computers throughout their communication process. Writers use their computers to help them think, research, compose, design, and edit. Not only is Technical Communication Today firmly rooted in core rhetorical principles, but the text also presents computers as thinking tools that powerfully influence how we develop, produce, design, and deliver technical documents and presentations.

Each chapter places an emphasis on the activity of producing effective documents by following a process approach that mirrors how professionals communicate in the technical workplace and how students learn in the classroom.

The text incorporates the newest technology-driven changes in workplace communication with in-depth discussions of email, instant messaging, working in virtual teams, making Web sites, blogging, podcasting, incorporating digital audio and visuals in documents, using PDAs, and negotiating ethical situations in electronic communication among many other available strategies and tools.

Clear instruction not only describes technical documents, but also guides the reader through the activity of producing them. Technical Communication Today helps communicators draft and design documents, prepares material for print and Web publication, and makes oral presentations; by bringing computers to the foreground as thinking tools, it accurately reflects the modern day computer-centered technical workplace.

Preface
Elements Of Technical Communcation
Communicating in the Workplace
How Important is Technical Communication?
What is Technical Communication?
Technical Communication: Actions, Words, Images
Your Career and Technical Communication
Help: How to Learn New Software Quickly
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
The Technical Writing Process Today
Genres in Technical Communication
Genres and the Technical Writing Process
Planning and Researching
Organizing and Drafting
Help: Using Your Computer to Overcome Writer's Block
Improving the Style
Designing
Revising and Editing
Developing Your Own Writing Process
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Changing Bad Habits
Readers and Context of Use
Profiling Your Readers
Help: Profiling Readers with Search Engines
Profiling Contexts of Use
Using Profiles to Your Own Advantage
International and Cross-Cultural Communication
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Installing a Medical Waste Incinerator
Working in Teams
The Stages of Teaming
Forming: Strategic Planning
Storming: Managing a Conflict
Norming: Determining Team Roles
Help: Virtual Teaming
Performing: Improving Quality
The Keys to Teaming
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Not a Sunny Day
Ethics in the Technical Workplace
What Are Ethics?
Where Do Ethics Come From?
Help: Stopping Cyberbullying and Computer Harassment
Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
Ethics in the Technical Workplace
Copyright Law in Technical Communication
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: This Company is Bugging Me
Communicating In The Technical Workplace
Planning and Persuasion
Using Strategic Planning
Help: Planning with Online Calendars
Developing a Persuasion Strategy
Persuading with Reasoning
Persuading with Values
Persuasion in High-Context Cultures
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Leapfrogging with Wireless
Researching and Managing Information
Beginning Your Research
Defining Your Research Subject
Formulating a Research Question or Hypothesis
Developing a Research Methodology
Triangulating Materials
Managing Information and Taking Notes
Help: Avoiding Junk Science on the Internet
Appraising Your Information
Avoiding Plagiarism
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Life of a Dilemma
Organizing and Drafting
Basic Organization for Any Document
Using Genres to Organize Information
Outlining the Document
Help: Organizing with Presentation Software
Organizing and Drafting the Introduction
Organizing and Drafting the Body
Organizing and Drafting the Conclusion
Organizing Cross-Cultural Documents
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Bad News
Using Plain and Persuasive Style
What is Style?
Writing Plain Sentences
Help: Intercultural Style and Translation Software
Writing Plain Paragraphs
When Is It Appropriate to Use Passive Voice? Persuasive Style
Balancing Plain and Persuasive Style
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Going Over the Top
Designing Documents and Interfaces
Five Principles of Design
Design Principle 1: Balance
Design Principle 2: Alignment
Design Principle 3: Grouping
Design Principle 4: Consistency
Help: Using Styles and Templates
Design Principle 5: Contrast
Cross-Cultural Design
Using the Principles of Design
A Primer on Binding and Paper
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Scorpions Invade
Creating and Using Graphics
Guidelines for Using Graphics
Displaying Data with Graphs, Tables, and Charts
Help: Making Visuals with a Spreadsheet Program
Using Pictures, Drawings, and Screenshots
Using Cross-Cultural Symbols
Using Video and Audio
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Lying with the Truth
Revising and Editing for Usability
Levels of Edit
Revising: Level 1 Editing
Substantive Editing: Level 2 Editing
Copyediting: Level 3 Editing
Proofreading: Level 4 Editing
Lost in Translation: Cross-Cultural Editing
Using Copyediting Symbols
Help: Online Copyediting
Documenting Cycling and Usability Testing
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Just My (Bad) Style
Working In The Wired Workplace
Using E-Mail and Instant Messaging
E-Mail Basics
Features of E-Mail
Managing E-Mail
E-Mail Netiquette
Help: Using E-Mail Internationally
Using Instant Messaging at Work
Using Text Messaging at Work
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Exposed
Designing Websites
Basic Features of a Website
Planning and Researching a Website
Organizing and Drafting a Website
Help: Using Web-Authoring Software
Using Style in a Website
Designing the Website
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Uploading, Testing, and Maintaining Your Website
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Slowed to a Crawl
Starting Your Career
Setting Goals, Making a Plan
Preparing a Resume
Writing Effective Application Letters
Help: Designing a Scannable/Searchable Resume
Creating a Professional Portfolio
Interviewing Strategies
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Lie
Preparing and Giving Presentations
Planning and Researching Your Presentation
Choosing the Right Presentation Technology
Organizing the Content of Your Presentation
Help: Giving Presentations with your iPod, MP3, PDA, or Smartphone
Choosing Your Presentation Style
Creating Visuals
Delivering the Presentation
Practicing and Rehearsing
Working Cross-Culturally with Translators
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Coward
Genres Of Technical Communication
Letters and Memos
Basic Features of Letters and Memos
Planning and Researching Letters and Memos
Organizing and Drafting Letters and Memos
Types of Letters and Memos
Using Style in Letters and Memos
Designing and Formatting Letters and Memos
Help: Making Letter and Memo Templates
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Nastygram
Technical Definitions
Types of Technical Definitions
Planning and Researching Technical Definitions
Organizing and Drafting Technical Definitions
Help: Using Online Sources for Definitions
Using Style and Design in Technical Definitions
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Fast-Food High School
Technical Descriptions
Basic Features of Technical Descriptions
Planning and Researching Technical Descriptions
Partitioning the Subject
Organizing and Drafting Technical Descriptions
Using Style in Technical Descriptions
Designing Technical Descriptions
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Help: Using Digital Photography in Descriptions
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: In the Vapor
Instructions and Other Documentation
Basic Features of Documentation
Planning and Researching Documentation
Planning for Cross-Cultural Readers and Contexts
Organizing and Drafting Documentation
Using Style in Documentation
Help: On-Screen Documentation
Designing Documentation
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Flame
Proposals
Basic Features of Proposals
Planning and Researching Proposals
Help: Roughing Out a Budget with a Spreadsheet
Organizing and Drafting Proposals
Using Style in Proposals
Designing Proposals
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The Mole
Activity Reports
Basic Features of Activity Reports
Types of Activity Reports
Planning and Researching Activity Reports
Organizing and Drafting Activity Reports
Help: Making and Using PDFs
Using Style and Design in Activity Reports
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: Bad Chemistry
Analytical Reports
Basic Features of Analytical Reports
Types of Analytical Reports
Planning and Researching Analytical Reports
Organizing and Drafting Analytical Reports
Help: Using Google Docs to Collaborate with International Teams
Drafting Front Matter and Back Matter
Using Style in Analytical Reports
Designing Analytical Reports
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Chapter Review
Exercises and Projects
Case Study: The X-File
Grammar and Punctuation Guide
English as a Second Language Guide
Documentation Guide
References
Credits
Index
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