Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job

by Oliu; Brusaw; Alred

• ISBN13: 9780312448448
• ISBN10: 0312448449
• Additional ISBN(s): 9781457611131
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-23
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Writing That Worksis unique among business and professional writing textbooks. The book's advice on the writing process, abundant workplace samples, guidance on working to deadline, and practical assignments all draw on the author team's real-world and academic experiences. Honed by the suggestions and contributions of more than a hundred teachers and writers over nine editions,Writing That Worksis an invaluable resource for both students and practitioners of business and professional communication. Streamlined for ease of use, packed with fresh examples and assignments, and now available for course management systems,Writing That Worksworks better than ever before.

Author Biography

WALTER E. OLIU until recently served as chief of the Publishing Services Branch at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He is a communications consultant in the Washington, D.C. area and has taught at Miami University of Ohio, Slippery Rock State University, and Montgomery College.

CHARLES T. BRUSAW worked for twenty years as a technical writer for the NCR Corporation and has also worked in advertising, public relations, and curriculum development. He has served as a business-writing consultant for corporations worldwide and has taught at both NCR Corporation's Management College and Sinclair Community College.

GERALD J. ALRED is professor of English at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where he teaches courses in professional writing and directs the Graduate Certificate Program in International Technical Communication. He received the 2004 Jay R. Gould Award for Excellence in Teaching Technical Comunication from the Society for Technical Communication. He is also the associate editor of Journal of Business Communication.

For Bedford/St. Martin's, all three are coauthors of The Business Writer's Handbook (2006); Handbook of Technical Writing (2006); The Business Writer's Companion (2005); and The Technical Writer's Companion (2002).

Table of Contents

PART I. THE WRITING PROCESS
  1. Getting Ready
   *At a Glance: The Writing Process
    Writing Systematically: An Introduction and Case Study
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Writing for Results
    Summary: Getting Started
    
  2. Organizing Your Information
   *At a Glance: Organization
    Voices from the Workplace
    Outlining
    Essential Organizing Patterns
    Summary: Organizing Your Information
    
  3. Writing the Draft
   *At a Glance: Drafting
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Time-Management Tactics
    Keeping Your Audience in Mind
    Development Strategies
    Writing an Opening
    Writing a Closing
    Case Study: Drafting the Lifemaker Brochure
    Summary: Writing the Draft
    
  4. Revising the Draft
   *At a Glance: Revision
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Content and Organization
    Coherence
    Emphasis
    Point of View
    Language
    Proofreading
    Physical Appearance
    Case Study: Revising the Lifemaker Brochure
    Summary: Revising the Draft
    
PART II. ESSENTIAL SKILLS: COLLABORATION, RESEARCH, AND DESIGN
  5. Collaborative Writing
   *At a Glance: Collaboration
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaborative Writing
    Functions of the Collaborative Writing Team
    The Role of Conflict in Collaborative Writing
    Leading a Collaborative Writing Team
    Collaborating with Other Departments
    Summary: Collaborative Writing
    
  6. Researching Your Subject
   *At a Glance: Research
    Voices from the Workplace
    Conducting Primary Research: Experience, Interviews, Observations, and Questionnaires
    Conducting Secondary Research: The Library and Internet
    Evaluating, Recording, and Acknowledging Sources
    Documenting Sources
    Summary: Research
    
  7. Designing Effective Documents and Visuals
   *At a Glance: Design
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Designing Documents
    Creating Visuals
    Summary: Designing Effective Documents and Visuals
    
PART III. WRITING AT WORK: FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE
  8. Understanding the Principles of Business Communication
   *At a Glance: Communication Principles
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Selecting the Appropriate Medium and Form
    Writing and Formatting Letters
    Writing and Formatting Memos
    Sending E-Mail and Instant Messages: Protocol and Strategies
   *Instant Messaging in the Workplace
    Writing International Correspondence
    Summary: Understanding the Principles of Business Correspondence
    
  9. Writing Business Correspondence
   *At a Glance: Routine, Positive, and Negative Messages
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Routine and Positive Messages
    Sensitive and Negative Messages
    Summary: Writing Business Correspondence
    
  10. Writing Informal Reports
   *At a Glance: Informal Reports
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Planning and Writing Informal Reports
    Types of Informal Reports
    Summary: Writing Informal Reports
    
  11. Writing Formal Reports
   *At a Glance: Formal Reports
    Voices from the Workplace
    Transmittal Letter or Memo
    Body
    Back Matter
    Summary: Writing Formal Reports
    
  *12. Writing Instructions
   *At a Glance: Instructions
    Voices from the Workplace
    Planning Instructions
   *Writing Instructions
    Using Illustrations and Design Principles
   *Testing for Usability
    Summary: Writing Instructions
    
  13. Writing Proposals
   *At a Glance: Proposals
    Voices from the Workplace
   *Planning and Writing Proposals
    Internal Proposals
   *External Proposals
    Summary: Writing Proposals
    
  14. Giving Presentations and Conducting Meetings
   *At a Glance: Presentations and Meetings
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Preparing and Delivering Presentations
    Listening
    Conducting Productive Meetings
    Summary: Giving Presentations and Conducting Meetings
    
  15. Writing for the Web: Rhetorical Principles
   *At a Glance: Web Content
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Writing for Rapid Consumption
    Crafting Content for the Web
    Highlighting Information
    Posting an Existing Document
    Protecting the Privacy of Your Users
    Documenting Sources of Information
    Summary: Writing for the Web
    
  16. Finding the Right Job
   *At a Glance: Resumes and Interviews
   *Voices from the Workplace
    Determining the Best Job for You
    Preparing an Effective Résumé
    Writing an Effective Letter of Application
    Doing Well in the Interview
    Sending Follow-Up Correspondence
    Sending a Resignation Letter or Memo
    Summary: Finding the Right Job
    
*PART IV. REVISION GUIDE: SENTENCES, PUNCTUATION, AND MECHANICS
    Proofreaders' Marks
    Sentences
    Punctuation
    Mechanics
    English as a Second Language (ESL)
    
    *New to this edition