Technical Communication: Includes 2009 Mla & 2010 Apa Updates Book

Preface for InstructorsPreface for Writers Part One: Understanding the Technical Communication Environment 1. Introduction to Technical Communication      What is Technical Communication?      Who Produces Technical Documents?      Technical Communication and Your Career      Characteristics of Technical Documents          Addresses Particular Readers          Helps Readers Solve Problems          Reflects an Organization's Goals and Culture          Is Produced Collaboratively           Uses Design to Increase Readability          Consistes of Words or Graphics or Both                Interactive Sample Document: Studying How Technical Communication Combines Words and Graphics      A Look at Three Sample Documents      Measures of Excellence in Technical Communication            Honesty            Clarity            Accuracy            Comprehensiveness            Accessibility            Conciseness            Professional Appearance            Correctness      Exercises
• CASE 1: Judging Entries in a Technical Communication Competition 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations      A Brief Introduction to Ethics      Your Ethical Obligations            Obligations to Your Employer            Obligations to the Public            Obligations to the Environment      Your Legal Obligations            Copyright Law                  Guidelines: Determining Fair use                  Guidelines: Dealing with Copyright Questions                   Ethics Note: Distinguishing Plagiarism from Acceptable Re-Use of Information            Trademark Law                  Guidelines: Protecting Trademarks            Contract Law            Liability Law                  Guidelines: Abiding by Liability Laws      The Role of Corporate Culture in Ethical and Legal Conduct                  Interactive Sample Document: Dealing with Copyright Questions      Communicating Ethically Across Cultures            Communicating with Cultures with Different Ethical Beliefs            Communicating with Cultures with Different Laws      Principles for Ethical Communication            Abide by Relevant Laws            Abide by the Appropriate Professional Code of Conduct            Take Advantage of Your Employer's Ethics Resources            Tell the Truth            Don't Mislead Your Readers            Use Design to Highlight Important Ethical and Legal Information            Be Clear            Avoid Discriminatory Language            Acknowledge Assistance from Others      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 2: Playing the Name Game 3. Writing Technical Documents      Planning            Analyzing Your Audience            Analyzing Your Purpose            Generating Ideas About Your Subject            Researching Additional Information            Organizing and Outlining Your Document                   Tech Tip: How to Use Outliine View            Selecting an Application, a Design, and a Delivery Method            Devising a Schedule and a Budget      Drafting                  Guidelines: Drafting Effectively            Using Templates                  Tech Tip: How to Modify Templates                  Interactive Sample Document: Analyzing a Code of Conduct            Using Styles                  Tech Tip: How to Use the Styles Group       Revising            Studying the Draft by Yourself            Seeking Help from Others                  Ethics Note: Acknowledge Reviewers Responsibly      Editing      Proofreading      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 3: Using Revision Software Effectively        4. Writing Collaboratively       Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaboration            Advantages of Collaboration            Disadvantages of Collaboration      Managing Projects                  Guidelines: Managing Your Project      Conducting Meetings            Listening Effectively                  Guidelines: Listening Effectively            Setting Your Group's Agenda                  Guidelines: Setting Your Agenda                  Ethics Note: Pulling Your Weight on Collaborative Projects            Conducting Efficient Face-to-Face Meetings            Communicating Diplomatically                  Guidelines: Communicating Diplomatically            Critiquing a Group Member's Work                  Guidelines: Critiquing a Colleague's Work        Using Electronic Tools in Collaboration            Using the Comment, Revision, and Highlighting Features on a Word Processor                  Tech Tip: How to Use the Review Tab                  Interactive Sample Document: Critiquing a Draft Clearly and Diplomatically            Using Groupware      Using Videoconferencing Technology                  Guidelines: Participating in a Videoconference      Gender and Collaboration      Culture and Collaboration      Collaborator's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 4: Handling Interpersonal Conflict         Part Two: Planning the Document 5. Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose      Determining the Important Characteristics of Your Audience            Who Are Your Readers?            Why is Your Audience Reading Your Document?            What Are Your Readers' Attitudes and Expectations?            How Will Your Readers Use Your Document?      Techniques for Learning about an Audience            Tallying What You Do and Do Not Already Know about Your Audience            Interviewing People            Searching for Information on the Internet            Reading Documents Your Readers Have Written      Applying What You Have Learned about Your Audience      Communicating Across Cultures            Understanding the Cultural Variables "On the Surface"            Understanding the Cultural Variables "Beneath the Surface"            Considering Cultural Variables as You Write                  Guidelines: Writing for Readers from Other Cultures                  Ethics Note: Meeting Your Readers' Needs Responsibly                  Interactive Sample Document: Examining Cultural Variables in a Business Letter            Using Graphics and Design for Multicultural Readers      Using an Audience Profile Sheet      Writing for Multiple Audiences      Determining Your Purpose      Gaining Management's Approval      Revising Information for a New Audience and Purpose      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 5: Planning an Apology to a Customer from the People's Republic of China 6. Researching Your Subject      Understanding the Differences Between Academic and Workplace Research      Understanding the Research Process      Choosing Appropriate Research Methods                  Guidelines: Researching a Topic      Conducting Secondary Research            Understanding the Research Media            Using Basic Research Tools            Researching Government Information   #160;        Using Web 2.0 Resources            Evaluating the Information                  Guidelines: Evaluating Print and Online Sources                  Interactive Sample Document: Evaluating Information from the Internet          Conducting Primary Research            Observations and Demonstrations            Inspections            Experiments            Field Research            Interviews                  Guidelines: Conducting an Interview            Inquiry letters or E-mails            Questionnaires                  Guidelines: Reporting and Analyzing Data Honestly      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 6: Choosing an Appropriate Primary Research Method 7. Organizing Your Information      Understanding Three Principles for Organizing Technical Information            Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose            Using Conventional Patterns of Arrangement            Displaying Your Arrangement Prominently      Using Basic Patterns of Organizing Information            Chronological                  Guidelines: Organizing Information Chronologically            Spatial                  Guidelines: Organizing Information Spatially            General to Specific                  Guidelines: Organizing Information from General to Specific            More Important to Less Important                  Guidelines: Organizing Information from More Important to Less Important            Comparison and Contrast                  Guidelines: Organizing Information by Comparison and Contrast                   Ethics Note: Comparing and Contrasting Fairly                  Interactive Sample Documentl Comparing and Contrasting Honestly            Classification and Partition                  Guidelines: Organizing Information by Classification and Partition            Problem-Methods-Solution                  Guidelines: Organizing Information by Problem-Methods-Solution            Cause and Effect                  Guidelines: Organizing Information by Cause and Effect      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 7: Organizing a Document  Part Three: Developing and Testing the Verbal and Visual Information 8. Commuicating Persuasively      Considering the Context of Your Argument            Understanding Your Audience's Broader Goals            Working Within Constraints      Crafting a Persuasive Argument            Identifying the Elements of Your Argument            Using the Right Kinds of Evidence                  Interactive Sample Document: Analyzing Evidence in Argument            Considering Opposing Viewpoints            Appealing to Emotions Responsibly            Deciding Where to Present the Claim      Avoiding Logical Fallacies      Presenting Yourself Effectively                  Guidelines: Creating a Professional Persona      Using Graphics and Design as Persuasive Elements                  Ethics Note: Seeming Honest versus Being Honest in Persuasive Writing      A Look at Several Persuasive Arguments      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 8: Being Persuasive about Privacy 9. Writing Coherent Documents      Writing Coherent Titles      Writing Coherent Headings                  Guidelines: Revising Headings      Writing Coherent Lists      Writing Coherent Paragraphs            Structure Paragraphs Clearly                  Ethics Note: Avoiding Burying Bad News in Paragraphs                  Guidelines: Dividing Long Paragraphs            Use Coherence Devices Within and Between Paragraphs                  Interactive Sample Document: Identifying the Elements of a Coherent Paragraph      Creating a Coherent Design            Using Headers and Footers to Enhance Coherence            Use Typeface to Enhance Coherence                  Tech Tip: How to Use the Style Group      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 9: Writing Guidelines About Coherence 10. Writing Effective Sentences      Structuring Effective Sentences            Use Lists                  Guidelines: Creating Effective Lists                  Tech Tip: How to Create Bulleted and Numbered Lists            Emphasize New and Important Information            Choose an Appropriate Sentence Length            Focus on the "Real" Subject            Focus on the "Real" Verb            Use Parallel Structures            Use Modifiers Effectively      Choosing the Right Words and Phrases            Select an Appropriate Level of Formality            Be Clear and Specific                  Ethics Note: Euphemisms and Truth Telling            Be Concise                  Interactive Sample Document: Revising for Conciseness and Simplicity            Use Inoffensive Language                  Guidelines: Avoiding Sexist Language                  Guidelines: Using the People-First Approach      Understanding Simplified English for Nonnative Speakers      Preparing Text for Translation      Writer's Checklist
• Exercises
• CASE 10: Preparing Products for the Global Marketplace 11. Designing Documents and Web Sites      Goals of Document and Web Design      Understanding Design Principles            Proximity            Alignment            Repetition            Contrast      Planning the Design of Documents and Web Sites            Analyze Your Audience and Purpose            Determine Your Resources      Designing Documents            Size            Paper            Bindings            Accessing Tools                  Tech Tip: How to Set Up Pages      Designing Pages                  Guidelines: Understanding Learning Theory and Page Design            Page Layout            Columns                  Tech Tip: How to Format Columns            Typography                  Tech Tip: How to Format Fonts                  Ethics Note: Using Type Sizes Responsibly                  Tech Tip: How to Modify Line Spacing                  Tech Tip: How To Modify Justification            Titles and Headings            Other Design Features                  Tech Tip: How to Create Borders and Screens     &n