Technical Writing Basics Book

Foreword     v
Preface     vii
Acknowledgments     xi
Introduction     1
What Is "Business" or "Technical" Writing?     1
Transactional Writing     1
Transactional Versus Academic Writing     3
Working Together     3
Growing a Document     3
Using Computers     4
Saying What You Mean: A Grammar Refresher     5
Grammar and Usage Assist Credibility     6
Sentence Types in Technical Writing     9
Sentence Problems     10
Other Mechanical Difficulties     11
Dangling Modifiers     11
Parallelism     12
Diction and International Concerns     13
Assignments     16
Organizing Information     21
Introduction     21
Patterns of Order     22
Types of Order     22
Essentials of Logical Order     23
Specific Templates     23
Summary     24
Process     26
Analysis     27
Comparison     30
Persuasion     33
Ethics in Persuasion     36
Assignments     37
Letters, Memos, E-mail, and Related Forms     39
Introduction     39
Letters: The Basics     40
Full Block Form     41
Semi-Block Form     43
Simplified Form     44
Memos: The Basics     47
Varieties of Letters and Memos     49
Neutral Letters     50
Good News Letters     51
Bad News Letters     53
Good News, Bad News, and Neutral Memos     55
E-mail and Related Forms     57
E-mail     57
Fax Cover Sheets     58
Other Transmittals     58
Assignments     58
Our House to Yours: Using Summaries to Inform     63
Introduction     53
Announcements and Bulletins     63
Leaflets and Flyers     67
Analyses of Documents     69
Consumer Circuit     69
The New AT&T Bill     69
Finesse Finishing Papers     76
State Farm 1995 Annual Report     76
Assignments     76
Directions and Instructions: Writing About Process     79
Process Explains "How"     79
Process Writing Concerns     80
Audience     80
Vocabulary     82
Pattern     82
Transition     82
Exemplification     86
Parallelism     86
Format     86
Graphics     86
Invention     88
Developing Ideas     88
Invention Specifics     89
Visualization Techniques     89
"Tasking" Techniques     89
General Patterns for Process Writing     93
International Communications     94
Assignment     94
Using Analysis: Writing a Report     99
Subject Headings     99
Division     99
Classification     102
Definition     103
Use of Narrative     103
Types of Reports     104
Short Reports     105
Semi-Formal Reports     106
Proposals     110
Analysis of Proposal     110
Analysis of Text Prospectus     112
Discussion of Grant Proposal     116
Discussion of Student Proposal     120
Assignments     121
Writing the Formal Report      123
Features of the Formal Report     123
Overview     123
Binding     123
Booklet Format     125
Cover Sheet     125
Transmittal Letter or Memo     126
Table of Contents     127
Table of Illustrations     128
Abstract, or Executive Summary     128
Introduction     130
Support Section     131
Closing Section     132
Back Matter     132
Understanding the Role of the Persuasive Pattern     133
Developing Long Reports from Shorter Ones     134
Methods of Research     135
Strategy     135
Types of Research Materials-Retrospective and Current     135
Primary and Secondary Materials     141
Handling Sources     141
Overview     141
Documentation Systems-Citation and Reference List     142
What Should Get Cited?     142
Integrating References     142
Gallery of Documents     143
Assignments     174
Selling Yourself     177
Introduction     177
Keeping a Work-History File     177
The Modern Job Search     178
Resumes     181
Chronological Resumes     182
Functional Resumes     182
Mixed Resumes     182
Parts of Resumes     187
Cover Letters     189
Vitae and Portfolios     193
Interviews     193
Follow-up Correspondence     197
Assignments     198
References     201
Introduction     201
Valediction     202
Enhancing Your Document with Graphics     203
Index     213