Professional Writing Online: Users' Handbook

by Porter, James E.; Sullivan, Patricia; Johnson-Eilola, Johndan

• ISBN13: 9780205279180
• ISBN10: 020527918X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

writers can begin their writing processes directly on PWO, in many sections where they can fill out forms for research, planning, or feedback and can use e-mail functions to share their work with others. "The Principles" section provides extensive coverage of important and current topics: social and cultural issues, ethics, reader-orientation, argument and persuasion, usability testing, and writing online. "The Resources" section includes links to search engines, instruction on searching online, sources for business and technical writing research, coverage of online documentation, and job and career resources. The first Web book provides an innovative approach to the theory and practice of writing for the workplace and allows readers to work with the medium that is becoming increasingly dominant in the real world.

Table of Contents

I. PROJECTS.

Software Learning Initiative Case.
Computer Documentation and Technical Training.

Researching Writing Practices Case.
Investigating and Theorizing about the Ways Writing Functions in a Particular Field.

Allied Mutual Insurance Case.
Letter Writing.
Corporate Image.
Handling Customer Complaints.

Airbag Case.
Instruction Writing.
Safety and Accuracy.

Copyshop Case.
Legal Issues.
Policy Writing.

United Drill Case.
Policy Writing.
Sexual Harassment.

Corporate Web Project.
Web Page Development.
Usability.
Corporate Image.

Big 1 Case.
Corporate Relations.
Bad News.

E-Commerce Case.
Electronic Commerce.
Business Feasibility.
Web Business.
Research Report.

Employment Case.
Applying for a Job Using Application Letter.
Print Résumé.
Web Résumé.

Lester Crane Case.
International Communication.
Scheduling.
Client Relations.
Politics.

Pacific Corp Case.
Policy for Monitoring Factory Waste.

Microbook Case.
Online Documentation.
Usability.

II. PRINCIPLES.
What Is Professional Writing?
Approaches to Readers, Organizations, and Writing.
Functional Overview of the Website.
Suggestions for Working in PWO.
Notes to the Teacher.
Notes to the Student.

Understanding Readers.
Introduction to Readers.
What Readers Read.
How Readers Read.
How Readers Are Often Classified.
When Readers Are Like Me (or Not).

Social and Cultural Issues.
Why Social and Cultural Issues Are Important in Professional Writing.
Ethics.
Gender.
Race.
Class.
International Communication.

Shaping Texts for Readers.
Introduction to Shaping Texts for Readers.
Markers for Readers.
Using ISIS as a Tool for Inspecting a Text.
Style, Audience, and the Arrangement of Information.

Analyzing Workplace Writing.
Introduction to Analyzing Workplace Writing.
Representing Thinking Visually.

Building Arguments.
Introduction to Building Arguments.
Types of Arguments.
Managing Information.
Arguing Visually.
Meeting Standards/Writing Specs.
Opening Statements.
Summarizing Information (Cross-Link from Doc Section?)

Managing Projects.
Preparing Project Schedules.
Preparing and Using Project Logs.
Versioning Documents.
Organizing File and Directory Structures.
Approaches to Working in Teams.

Arranging Information.
Style, Audience, and the Arrangement of Information.
Thinking about Document Design.
Ordering Information for Understanding and Use.
Using Formats and Templates.
Constructing Visuals.
Designing with Color.
Following Citation Formats.
Building Tables.

Research.
Introduction: Why Writers Need to Find and Use Information.
Methodology and Design.
Finding Sources That Already Exist.
Taking Notes for Future Work.
Gathering and Analyzing New Information.

Writing Reports.
A Generalized View of Reports.
Reporting in the Processes of Work.
Structured Writing.
Types of Reports.
Developing Documents across Technical Investigations.

Writing Online.
Writing at the Computer.
Reading at the Computer.
Similarities and Differences between Print and Screen.
Communicating in E-mail, Chat, and MOO.
Designing Websites.
Designing Basic Multimedia.

Usability Testing.
Introduction.
Overview of Methods for Document Testing.
Setting Up a User Test (Broad Issues).
Charting User Interactions with a Document.
Charting User Interactions with a Product.
Aids from a Guide for Informal Usability Testing.
Worksheet: Question Posing and Selecting.
Example Observation Sheets.
Worksheet: Analyzing Data.

Style.
Style Overview.
Types of Revising and Editing.
Style, Audience, and the Arrangement of Information.
Citing Sources and Figures in the Report Text.
Style Exercise.
Style and Editing Activity.
Talking Heads.

Memos.
Templates.
Types.

III. DOCUMENTS.

Samples.
B. McCormick, Sample 1.
B. McCormick, Sample 2.
B. McCormick, Sample 3.
Problem at the Power Plant.
Changes at the Parking Garage.

Letters.
Templates.
Types.

Samples.
Past Due Reminder Notice to Customer (Bad News).
Request for Deposit Refund (Bad News), Plus Revision.
Motor Club Business Letter.
Electric Co. Business Letter.
Electric Co. Marketing Business Letter.
Phone Co. Rate Increase Business Letter.

Reports.
Templates.
Types.
Purposes.
Report Readers.
10 Tips for Report Writing.

Samples.
Recommendation Report: Design and Benefits of a Website for the Revegetation and Wildlife Management Center (Corporate Web Project).

Policy Writing.
Why Policy Research Is Important.

Samples.
Policy Writing Sample 1.

Employment Documents.
Introduction: Locating Jobs Online.
Templates.

Samples.
Résumé for a Teaching Position.
Résumé for a Technical Writing Position.
Résumé for an Engineering Position.
Electronic Résumé for a Technical Writing Position.
References Page.
Application Letter for a Teaching Position.

Electronic Documents.
E-mail.
Web Pages/Sites.

Promotional Materials.
Flyers.
Brochures.
Newsletters.
Web Pages/Sites.

Instructional Text.
Definitions.
Descriptions.
Specifications.
Directions/Instructions.
Tutorials.
Online Documentation.

Oral Presentations.
Evaluation Criteria.

IV. RESOURCES.
Search Engines.
Searching Online.
Business and Technical Writing.
Research Sources.
Job and Career Resources.
Graphics and Visuals.
Online Documentation.
Corporate Websites (Samples).
Web Consulting Firms.
Professional Writing Programs.
Offline Resources (Not Available on the Web).