Full Description
ALERTcourse syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products.PackagesAccess codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase. Used or rental booksIf you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code. Access codesAccess codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase.For courses in Introduction to Technical Communication or Technical Writing offered in English Departments.Technical Communication Strategies for Today offers students all of the topics and genres they need for their technical communication course-in fewer pages and at a significantly lower price. Students want their textbooks to cost less, and they want comprehensive topical coverage presented in a succinct and clear writing style. Technical Communication Strategies for Today offers both and speaks to today's students. Instructional narrative is "chunked," so that portions of text are combined with graphics. The chunked presentation also integrates an awareness of how documents are read-often skimmed by readers seeking the information they need, and it models the way today's technical documents should be designed. The contemporary writing style is matched by an approach that accurately reflects the modern day computer-centered technical workplace:Technical Communication Strategies for Today presents computers as thinking tools that powerfully influence how we develop, produce, design, and deliver technical documents and presentations.
Contents
Part 1Chapter 1 Communicating in the Technical Workplace Developing a Workplace Writing Process Genres and the Technical Writing Process Stage 1: Planning and Researching Stage 2: Organizing and Drafting Stage 3: Improving the Style Stage 4: Designing Stage 5: Revising and Editing What Is Technical Communication? Technical Communication Is Interactive and Adaptable Technical Communication Is Reader Centered Technical Communication Relies on Teamwork Technical Communication Is Visual Technical Communication Has Ethical, Legal, and PoliticalDimensions Technical Communication Is International and Cross-Cultural How Important Is Technical Communication? Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Chapter 2 Readers and Contexts of Use Profiling Your Readers Identifying Your Readers Profiling Your Readers' Needs, Values, and Attitudes Profiling Contexts of Use Identifying the Context of Use Using Profiles to Your Own Advantage International and Cross-Cultural Communication Differences in Content Differences in Organization Differences in Style Differences in Design Listen and Learn: The Key to International and Cross-Cultural Communication At Work: What Are Some Strategies for Communicating with People from Another Culture? Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: Installing a Medical Waste Incinerator Chapter 3 Working in Teams The Stages of Teaming Forming: Strategic Planning Step 1: Define the Project Mission and Objectives Step 2: Identify Project Outcomes Step 3: Define Team Member Responsibilities Step 4: Create a Project Calendar Step 5: Write Out a Work Plan Step 6: Agree on How Conflicts Will Be Resolved Storming: Managing Conflict Running Effective Meetings Mediating Conflicts Firing a Team Member Norming: Determining Team Roles Revising Objectives and Outcomes Help: Virtual Teaming Identifying Team Roles Using Groupware to Facilitate Work Performing: Improving Quality The Keys to Teaming Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: Not a Sunny Day Chapter 4 Letters, Memos, and E-Mails Features of Letters, Memos, and E-Mails Planning and Researching Determining the Rhetorical Situation Ethics in the Technical Workplace What Are Ethics? Where Do Ethics Come From? Personal Ethics Social Ethics Conservation Ethics Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Help: Stopping Cyberbullying and Computer Harassment Confronting an Ethical Dilemma Resolving an Ethical Dilemma When You Disagree with the Company Ethics in the Technical Workplace Copyright Law Trademarks At Work: Why Should Technical Professionals Learn About Ethics? Patents Privacy Information Sharing Proprietary Information Libel and Slander Fraud Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: This Company Is Bugging Me Part 2: Genres of Technical CommunicationChapter 5 Organizing and Drafting Introduction with a Purpose and a Main Point Body That Provides Need-to-Know Information Conclusion That Restates the Main Point Types of Letters, Memos, and E-Mails Inquiries Responses Claims or Complaints Adjustments Refusals Using Style and Design Strategies for Developing an Appropriate Style Designing and Formatting Letters, Envelopes, and Memos Using E-Mail Internationally Microgenre: Texting at Work Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: The Nastygram Chapter 6 Technical Descriptions and Specifications Planning and Researching Planning Quick Start: Technical Descriptions and Specifications Researching Partitioning the Subject At Work: How Does Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)Help Write Descriptions? Organizing and Drafting Specific and Precise Title Introduction with an Overall Description Description by Features, Functions, or Stages Description by Senses, Similes, Analogies, and Metaphors Conclusion Help: Using Digital Photography in Descriptions Using Style and Design Plain, Simple Style Page Layout That Fits Graphics That Illustrate Microgenre: Technical Definitions Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: In the Vapor Chapter 7 Instructions and Documentation Planning and Researching Quick Start: Instructions and Documentation Planning Researching Planning for Cross-Cultural Readers and Contexts Verbal Considerations Design Considerations Organizing and Drafting Specific and Precise Title Introduction List of Parts, Tools, and Conditions Required Sequentially Ordered Steps Safety Information Conclusion That Signals Completion of Task Using Style and Design Help: On-Screen Documentation Plain Style with a Touch of Emotion Functional, Attractive Page Layout Graphics That Reinforce Written Text User-Testing Your Documentation Microgenre: Emergency Instructions Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: The Flame Chapter 8 Proposals Planning and Researching Planning Quick Start: Proposals Researching Organizing and Drafting Writing the Introduction Describing the Current Situation Describing the Project Plan Describing Qualifications Concluding with Costs and Benefits Using Style and Design A Balance of Plain and Persuasive Styles An Attractive, Functional Design Microgenre: The Elevator Pitch Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: The Mole Chapter 9 Activity Reports Types of Activity Reports Progress Reports Briefings and White Papers Quick Start: Activity Reports Incident Reports Laboratory Reports Planning and Researching Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation Organizing and Drafting Writing the Introduction Writing the Body Writing the Conclusion Using Style and Design Using a Plain Style Using Design and Graphics Microgenre: The Status Report Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: Bad Chemistry Chapter 10 Analytical Reports Types of Analytical Reports Quick Start: Analytical Report Planning and Researching Planning Researching Organizing and Drafting Writing the Introduction At Work: What Is the Most Efficient Way to Write a Report? Describing Your Methodology Summarizing the Results of the Study Discussing Your Results Stating Your Overall Conclusions and Recommendations Help: Using Google Drive to Collaborate with InternationalTeams Drafting Front Matter and Back Matter Developing Front Matter Developing Back Matter Using Style and Design Using Plain Style in a Persuasive Way A Straightforward Design Microgenre: The Poster Presentation Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: The X-File Chapter 11 Starting Your Career Setting Goals, Making a Plan Setting Goals Using a Variety of Job-Seeking Paths Quick Start: Career Materials Preparing a Resume Types of Resumes Chronological Resume At Work: How Has the Internet Changed the Job Search Process?Functional Resume Designing the Resume Writing Effective Application Letters Content and Organization Help: Designing a Scannable/Searchable Resume Style Revising and Proofreading the Resume and Letter Creating a Professional Portfolio Collecting Materials Organizing Your Portfolio Assembling the Portfolio in a Binder Creating an Electronic Portfolio Interviewing Strategies Preparing for the Interview At the Interview Writing Thank You Letters and/or E-Mails Microgenre: The Bio Chapter Review Exercises and Projects Case Study: The Lie Part 3: Researching, Designing, PresentingChapter 12 Researching and Research Methods Beginning Your Research Defining Your Research Subject Narrowing Your Research Subject Formulating a Research Question and Hypothesis Developing a Research Methodology Mapping Out a Methodology Describing Your Methodology Using and Revising Your Methodology Triangulating Materials Using Electronic Sources Using Print Sources Using Empirical Sources Managing Information and Taking Notes Managing Information
