Technical Communication Principles and Practice

by Raman, Meenakshi; Sharma, Sangeeta

• ISBN13: 9780195668049
• ISBN10: 0195668049
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-13
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Technical Communication: Principles and Practice is specifically aimed at undergraduate students of engineering. With its comprehensive coverage it conforms to be the syllabi of major institutes for their course in Technical Communication/Report Writing. Completely up-to-date in terms of communication technology, its discussion on contemporary software like LaTex for presenting technical documents in an added advantage.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Part I: Overview	1	(69)
Basics of Technical Communication	1	(20)
Introduction	1	(1)
The Process of Communication	2	(3)
Language as a Tool of Communication	5	(5)
Levels of Communication	10	(2)
The Flow of Communication	12	(3)
Communication Networks	15	(3)
The Importance of Technical Communication	18	(1)
Exercises	19	(2)
Barriers to Communication	21	(17)
Definition of Noise	21	(2)
Classification of Barriers	23	(14)
Exercises	37	(1)
Technology in Communication	38	(32)
Impact of Technology	38	(1)
Software for Creating Messages	39	(5)
Software for Writing Documents	44	(2)
Software for Presenting Documents	46	(21)
Transmitting Documents	67	(1)
Effective Use of Available Technology	68	(1)
Exercises	69	(1)
Part II: Oral Forms	70	(98)
Active Listening	70	(10)
Introduction	70	(1)
Types of Listening	71	(1)
Traits of a good Listener	72	(3)
Active Versus Passive Listening	75	(2)
Implications of Effective Listening	77	(1)
Exercises	78	(2)
Effective Presentation Strategies	80	(32)
Introduction	80	(1)
Defining Purpose	81	(1)
Analysing Audience and Locale	81	(2)
Organizing Contents	83	(4)
Preparing an Outline	87	(1)
Visual Aids	87	(2)
Understanding Nuances of Delivery	89	(4)
Kinesics	93	(4)
Proxemics	97	(1)
Paralinguistics	98	(4)
Chronemics	102	(1)
Sample Speech	103	(8)
Exercises	111	(1)
Interviews	112	(20)
Introduction	112	(1)
Objectives	112	(1)
Types of Interviews	113	(2)
Job Interviews	115	(16)
Exercises	131	(1)
Group Communication	132	(36)
Introduction	132	(3)
Group Discussion	135	(1)
Organizational Group Discussions	136	(2)
Group Discussion as Part of a Selection Process	138	(8)
Meetings	146	(15)
Conferences	161	(5)
Exercises	166	(2)
Part III: Constituents of Effective Writing	168	(109)
Words and Phrases	168	(18)
A Brief History of Words	168	(4)
Dictionary and Thesaurus	172	(1)
Elements of Style	173	(3)
Guidelines for Effectiveness	176	(8)
Exercises	184	(2)
Sentence Construction	186	(14)
Introduction	186	(1)
Guidelines for Effectiveness	187	(10)
Exercises	197	(3)
Paragraph Development	200	(21)
Introduction	200	(2)
Central Components of a Paragraph	202	(12)
Length	214	(2)
Techniques for Paragraph Development	216	(2)
Exercises	218	(3)
The Art of Condensation	221	(23)
Introduction	221	(1)
Steps to Effective Precis Writing	222	(1)
Samples	223	(13)
Guidelines	236	(1)
Exercises	237	(7)
Reading Comprehension	244	(33)
Introduction	244	(1)
Purpose of Reading	245	(1)
Reading Rates	245	(2)
What is Reading Comprehension?	247	(1)
Reasons for Poor Comprehension	247	(1)
Improving Comprehension Skills	247	(1)
Techniques for Good Comprehension	248	(7)
Worked Out Sample Passages	255	(9)
Exercises	264	(13)
Part IV: Written Forms	277	(313)
Letters, Memos, and E-mails	277	(87)
Business Letters	277	(51)
Memos	328	(13)
E-mails	341	(18)
Exercises	359	(5)
Reports	364	(94)
Introduction	364	(1)
Objectives	365	(1)
Characteristics of a Report	365	(2)
Types of Reports	367	(4)
The Importance of Reports	371	(1)
Formats	372	(3)
Prewriting	375	(22)
Structure of Reports	397	(17)
Writing the Report	414	(16)
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading	430	(1)
Samples	431	(19)
Exercises	450	(8)
Technical Proposals	458	(42)
Definition	458	(1)
Purposes	458	(1)
Types	459	(1)
Characteristics	460	(1)
Elements of Structure	461	(5)
Style and Appearance	466	(1)
Evaluation	466	(32)
Exercises	498	(2)
Research Paper, Dissertation, and Thesis	500	(34)
Introduction	500	(1)
Research Paper	501	(19)
Dissertation	520	(4)
Thesis	524	(9)
Exercises	533	(1)
Instruction Manuals and Technical Description	534	(32)
Instruction Manuals	534	(1)
Types of Instructions	535	(1)
Writing Instructions	536	(8)
User's Manuals	544	(10)
Technical Description	554	(4)
Process Description	558	(1)
Guidelines for Writing Good Descriptions	558	(7)
Exercises	565	(1)
Appendices	566	(24)
Appendix A---Common Errors: Usage	566	(6)
Appendix B---Punctuation and Capitalization	572	(7)
Appendix C---Words Commonly Misspelt	579	(6)
Appendix D---Words and Phrases from Foreign Languages	585	(2)
Appendix E---Proofreading Symbols	587	(3)
Appendix F---Sample Brochure	590