Strategies for technical communication in the workplace

Content: Preface            PART 1           FOUNDATIONS        1          Introduction to Technical Communication    What Is Technical Communication?             Who Creates Technical Communication?                Main Features of Technical Communication           Three Primary Purposes of Effective Technical Communication                Common Types of Technical Documents     The Importance of Proofreading                                2          Teamwork and Global Issues in Technical Communication            Teamwork in Technical Communication       Global Issues in Technical Communication   3          The Research Process in Technical Communication           Thinking Critically about Research  Primary versus Secondary Sources              Exploring Secondary Sources                       Exploring Primary Sources     4          Providing Audiences with Usable Information                     Analyze the Document's Audience   Determine the Document's Purpose Know How to Be Persuasive Create a Task Analysis for the Document   Consider Other Related Usability Factors   Develop an Information Plan for the Document      Write, Test, and Revise the Document                     5          Recognizing Ethical Issues in Technical Communication                Ethics, Technology, and Communication      Types of Ethical Choices       How Workplace Pressures Affect Ethical Values                Recognizing and Avoiding Ethical Abuses    PART 2           BLUEPRINTS                        6          Structuring Information for Your Readers   The Importance of an Understandable Structure     Outlining         Chunking        Sequencing     Paragraphing              Clarifying Headings Providing an Overview           7          Writing with a Readable Style          The Importance of a Readable Style            Writing Clearly          Writing Concisely      Writing Fluently         Writing Personably     8          Using Audience-Centered Visuals    The Importance of Using Audience-Centered Visuals                    When to Use Visuals             Types of Visuals        Special Considerations When Using Visuals             9          Designing User-Friendly Documents                        The Importance of User-Friendly Document Design                       Characteristics of Well Designed Documents                     Specific Design Elements        PART 3                       DOCUMENTS                       10        Resumes and Other Employment Materials                        Assessing Your Skills and Aptitudes                        Researching the Job Market                        Resumes         Application Letters    Dossiers, Portfolios, and Webfolios Interviews and Follow-Up Letters      11        Memos and Letters   Memo Basics             Memo Parts and Format       Memo Tone    Types of Memos        Letter Basics              Letter Parts and Formats      Letter Tone    Types of Letters         12        Definitions      Audience and Purpose of Definitions            Legal, Ethical, and Societal Implications of Definitions      Types of Definitions Methods for Expanding Definitions Using Multiple Expansion Methods             Placement of Definitions        13        Descriptions   Audience and Purpose of Descriptions         Objectivity in Descriptions    Elements of Descriptions      Product and Process Descriptions    A Complex Product Description        A Complex Process Description       Specifications              14        Instructions and Procedures Audience and Purpose of Definitions                        Types of Instructional Formats         Ethical and Legal Implications          Elements of Effective Instructions    Content, Style, and Design Considerations Procedures     Usability Testing         15        Summaries      Audience and Purpose of Summaries                       Elements of Effective Summaries     Writing Summaries Step-by-Step      Special Types of Summaries             Ethical Considerations In Summarizing Information                        16        Informal Reports       Two Categories of Reports: Informational and Analytical Progress Reports (Informational)     Periodic Activity Reports (Informational)    Trip Reports (Informational)             Meeting Minutes (Informational)     Feasibility Reports (Analytical)        Recommendation Reports (Analytical)        Peer Review Reports (Analytical)     17        Formal Reports          Audience and Purpose of Formal Reports    Elements of Effective Formal Reports                     Parts of Formal Reports        A Sample Formal Report        18        Proposals        Audience and Purpose of Proposals Types of Proposals    Organization of Informal and Formal Proposals      A Sample Formal Proposal     PART 4           DIGITAL MEDIA AND PRESENTATIONS                      19        Email and Text Messages     Email   Text Messages          Comparing Email and Text Messaging                    Copyright and Privacy in Digital Communication    Be Prepared for Technology to Fail  20        Blogs, Wikis, and Social Networks   Internal Corporate Blogs      External Corporate Blogs     Corporate WikisSocial Networks          21        Web Pages and Online Videos                      Audience and Purpose of Web Pages                       Elements of Effective Web Pages                 Online Videos             Ethical and Legal Considerations     PDF Files        Differences in Media Types  22        Oral Presentations     Audience and Purpose of Oral Presentations                       Types of Oral Presentations                         Parts of Oral Presentations   Preparing Oral Presentations                        Using Presentation Software             Delivering Oral Presentations                       APPENDICES                        A         Documenting Sources                        What Is Plagiarism? Identifying Sources and Information to be Documented                 Taking Effective and Accurate Notes                      Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Properly             Documentation: The Key to Avoiding Plagiarism    MLA Documentation Style   APA Documentation Style     CSE Documentation Style     Recognizing Copyright Issues                        B         A Brief Handbook      Grammar        Punctuation     Mechanics      Usage              Transitions     Lists                 Works Cited               Photo Credits             Index