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Technical Writing: Principles, Strategies, and Readings, 6/E
Diana C. Reep, University of Akron

ISBN-10: 0321333500
ISBN-13: 9780321333506

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 608 pp
Published: 06/22/2005

Suggested retail price: $95.80
Not available for purchase at this time.

Technical Writing: Principles, Strategies and Readings offers a flexible combination of instructional chapters and readings that reflect the variety of emphases in today's technical writing classroom.

The fifteen instructional chapters offer a general introduction to technical communication, while articles from professional journals and Web sites—which constitute about one-fourth of the text—offer insight and advice on specific communication topics, including writing for the Web. Strategy Boxes in each chapter also introduce students to important subjects related to technical communication, such as voice mail and videoconferencing.

Each concise and self-contained instructional unit includes extended models and exercises which can be used in class or for collaborative or homework assignments. Students who study technical writing as part of their career preparation in science, business, engineering, social services and technical fields will find this text particularly useful.

  • Includes several models in every chapter, illustrating technical documents and Web pages. Many of these models show successive drafts so students can analyze changes made during the drafting process.
  • Extensive assignments in each chapter provide abundant material for instructors to assign in class or for homework which includes writing assignments specifically designed as individual, collaborative and Internet-related.
  • An appendix offers a convenient reference for the fundamentals of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics of style.
  • Provides strategy boxes in every chapter on special topics, such as Web page design, cell phone etiquette and style features.
  • Contains readings on subjects such as writing for the Web, usability guidelines, oral presentations, meetings, international communication, and job interviews.
  • Covers job correspondence, including guidelines for traditional, scanned, email and Web-based résumés.
  • Includes guidelines for Web writing and design, including citation of Internet sources, and presents Web pages as models for discussion and exercises.

  • Additional Strategy Boxes on Cell phones, instant messaging, Telephone job interviews, computer viruses, telephone manners, and job interview questions.
  • Chapter with additional coverage specifically for “Writing for the Web.”
  • New writing assignments in every chapter.
  • Updated Appendix C: “Internet Resources for Technical Communication”
  • Expanded ethics discussion to include plagiarism, copyright infringement, and Web logs.
  • Expanded discussion of e-mail use.
  • Tips for interviewing sources via e-mail.

I. TECHNICAL WRITING: WAYS OF WRITING.

Technical Writing on the Job.

Writing in Organizations.

Reader/Purpose/Situation.

Diversity in Technical Writing.

Writing as a Process.

        One Writer’s Process.

        Stages of Writing.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Collaboration and Ethics.

Writing with Others.

        Writing with a Partner.

        Writing on a Team.

        Writing for Management Review.

        Writing for Multiple Reviewers.

        Writing with a Technical Editor.

        Writing Ethically.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Audience.

Analyzing Readers.

        Subject Knowledge.

        Position in the Organization.

        Personal Attitudes.

        Reading Style.

        Multiple Readers.

        International Readers.

Finding Out about Readers.

        Informal Checking.

        Interviewing.

Testing Reader-Oriented Documents.

        Readers Working as a Group.

        Readers Answering Questions.

        Readers Performing a Task.

        Readers Thinking Aloud.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Organization.

Sorting Information.

        Select Major Topics.

        Identify Subtopics.

Constructing Outlines.

        Informal Outlines.

        Formal Outlines.

        Topic Outlines.

        Sentence Outlines.

Developing Effective Paragraphs.

        Unity.

        Coherence.

        Development.

        Patterns for Presenting Information.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Revision.

Creating a Final Draft.

        Global Revision.

        Fine-tuning Revision.

        Revising On-Screen.

Making Global Revisions.

        Content.

        Organization.

Making Fine-tuning Revisions.

        Overloaded Sentences.

        Clipped Sentences.

        Lengthy Sentences.

        Passive Voice.

        Jargon.

        Sexist Language.

        Concrete versus Abstract Words.

        Gobbledygook.

        Wordiness.

Revising for the Web.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Document Design.

Understanding Design Features.

        Purpose of Design Features.

        Design Principles.

Creating Graphic Aids.

        Purpose of Graphic Aids.

        Tables.

        Figures.

Using Format Elements.

        Written Cues.

        White Space.

        Color.

        Typographic Devices.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Writing for the Web.

Planning a Web Site.

Organizing Web Pages.

        Homepage.

        Information Pages.

Writing Effectively.

Designing Elements for Special Needs.

        Senior Users.

        Disabled Users.

        International Users.

Evaluating Your Web Site.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Definition.

Understanding Definitions.

Writing Informal Definitions.

Writing Formal Sentence Definitions.

Writing Expanded Definitions.

        Cause and Effect.

        Classification.

        Comparison and Contrast.

        Description.

        Development or History.

        Etymology.

        Examples.

        Method of Operation or Process.

        Negation.

        Partition.

        Stipulation.

Placing Definitions in Documents.

        Within the Text.

        In an Appendix.

        In Footnotes.

        In a Glossary.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Description.

Understanding Description.

Planning Descriptions.

Subjects.

        Kinds of Information.

        Details and Language.

        Graphic Aids.

        Writing Descriptions.

Organization.

        Sections of a Technical Description.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Instructions, Procedures, and Process Explanations.

Understanding Instructions, Procedures, and Process Explanations.

Instructions.

        Procedures.

        Process Explanations.

        Graphic Aids.

        Writing Instructions.

Readers.

        Organization.

        Details and Language.

        Narrative Style.

        Troubleshooting Instructions.

Writing Procedures.

        Procedures for One Employee.

        Procedures for Several Employees.

        Procedures for Handling Equipment and Systems.

        Writing Process Explanations.

Readers.

        Organization.

        Details and Language.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Formal Report Elements.

Selecting Formal Report Elements.

Writing Front Matter.

Title Page.

        Transmittal Letter or Memo.

        Table of Contents.

        List of Figures.

        List of Tables.

        Abstract and Executive Summary.

Writing Back Matter.

        References.

        Glossary/List of Symbols.

        Appendixes.

Documenting Sources.

        APA System: Citations in the Text.

        APA System: List of References.

        Number-Reference System.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Models.

Exercises.

Short and Long Reports.

Understanding Reports.

Developing Short Reports.

        Opening-Summary Organization.

                Delayed-Summary Organization.

        Developing Long Reports.

Planning Long Reports.

        Gathering Information.

        Evaluating Sources.

        Taking Notes.

        Interpreting Data.

        Drafting Long Reports.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Models.

Exercises.

Types of Reports.

Understanding Conventional Report Types.

Writing a Feasibility Study.

Purpose.

        Organization.

        Writing an Incident Report.

Purpose.

        Organization.

        Writing an Investigative Report.

Purpose.

        Organization.

        Writing a Progress Report.

Purpose.

        Organization.

        Writing a Trip Report.

Purpose.

        Organization.

        Writing a Proposal.

Purpose.

        Organization.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Models.

Exercises.

Letters, Memos, and Email.

Understanding Letters, Memos, and Email.

Letters.

        Memos.

        Email.

        Developing Effective Tone.

Natural Language.

        Positive Language.

        You-Attitude.

        Organizing Letters and Memos.

Direct Organization.

Indirect Organization.

        Persuasive Organization.

        Writing Memos as a Manager.

        Selecting Letter Format.

Date Line.

        Inside Address.

        Salutation.

        Body.

        Close.

        Signature Block.

        Notations.

        Second Page.

        Envelope.

Selecting Memo Format.

Selecting Email Format.

Using the Fax.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Career Communication.

Looking for a Job.

Writing Résumés.

Traditional Résumés.

        Scannable Résumés.

        Email Résumés.

        Web-based Résumés.

Writing Job-Application Letters.

Writing Other Job-Related Letters.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Models.

Exercises.

Oral Presentations.

Understanding Oral Presentations.

        Purpose.

        Advantages.

        Disadvantages.

        Types of Oral Presentations.

Organizing Oral Presentations.

        Preparing for Oral Presentations.

        Delivering Oral Presentations.

        Rehearsal.

        Notes and Outlines.

        Voice.

        Professional Image.

        Gestures.

        Eye Contact.

        Questions.

Using Visual Aids.

        Equipment.

        Presentation Software.

Joining a Team Presentation.

        Facing International Audiences.

Chapter Summary.

Supplemental Readings in Part 2.

Endnotes.

Exercises.

II. TECHNICAL WRITING: ADVICE FROM THE WORKPLACE.

Allen, L., and Voss, D. “Ethics in Technical Communication”.

Bagin, C.B., and Van Doren, J. “How to Avoid Costly Proofreading Errors”.

* Barefoot, D.K. “Ten Tips on Writing White Papers”.

Caher, J.M. “Technical Documentation and Legal Liability”.

Frazee, V. “Establishing Relations in Germany”.

Garhan, A. “ePublishing”.

Hagevik, S. “Behavioral Interviewing: Write a Story, Tell a Story”.

* Hart, G.J.S. “PowerPoint Presentations: A Speaker’s Guide”.

Humphries, A.C. “Business Manners”.

* IABC.  “Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators”.

Kostelnick, C., and Roberts, D.D. “Ethos”.

McAdams, M. “It’s All in the Links”.

Messmer, M. “Prepare, Listen, Follow up”.

* Nielsen, J. “Ten Steps for Cleaning Up Information Pollution”.

* Nielsen, J. “Top Ten Guidelines for Homepage Usability”.

“ResumeMaker’s 25 Tips–Interviewing”.

Robinson, J. “6 Tips for Talking Technical When Your Audience Isn’t”.

Smith, G.M. “Eleven Commandments for Business Meeting Etiquette”.

Weiss, E.H. “Taking Your Presentation Abroad”.

Wicclair, M.R., and Farkas, D.K. “Ethical Reasoning in Technical Communication: A Practical Framework”.

Appendix A: Guidelines for Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics.

Grammar.

Dangling Modifiers.

Misplaced Modifiers.

Squinting Modifiers.

Parallel Construction.

Pronoun Agreement.

Pronoun Reference.

Reflexive Pronouns.

Sentence Faults.

Subject/Verb Agreement.

Punctuation.

Apostrophe.

Colon.

Comma.

Dash.

Exclamation Point.

Hyphen.

Parentheses.

Question Mark.

Quotation Marks.

Semicolon.

Slash.

Mechanics.

Acronyms and Initialisms.

Brackets.

Capital Letters.

Ellipsis.

Italics.

Measurements.

Numbers.

Symbols and Equations.

Appendix B: Frequently Confused Words.


Appendix C: Internet Resources for Technical Communication.


Writing for the Web.

Oral Presentations.

Job Search.

Professional Associations.

Credits.


Index.

 

    Technical Writing: Principles, Strategies and Readings offers a flexible combination of instructional chapters and readings that reflect the variety of emphases in today's technical writing classroom.

     

    The fifteen instructional chapters offer a general introduction to technical communication, while articles from professional journals and Web sites–which constitute about one-fourth of the text–offer insight and advice on specific communication topics, including writing for the Web. Strategy Boxes in each chapter also introduce students to important subjects related to technical communication, such as voice mail and videoconferencing.

     

    Each concise and self-contained instructional unit includes extended models and exercises which can be used in class or for collaborative or homework assignments. Students who study technical writing as part of their career preparation in science, business, engineering, social services and technical fields will find this text particularly useful.
  • 0205603408Technical Writing, 7/E
    Reep
    © 2009 | Longman | Paper; 608 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205603408 | ISBN-13: 9780205603404
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