Description

Features

• Concise Format--Responding to instructors' requests for a briefer text, the Concise Guide is the first text in this format designed to be the primary text in an introductory Technical Communications class. It allows instructors to easily and affordably supplement the text with their own materials, materials from industry, or student examples.
• Based on the market leading technical communication text--Lannon's Technical Communication is the undisputed market leader, and the Concise Guide builds on the student-tested principles and approach of that book.
• Emphasis on usability throughout--Technical communicators realize that usability is the central problem in creating effective documents. By emphasizing the issue throughout the text, as well as in a separate chapter, the Concise Guide highlights this key issue.
• Sample documents throughout illustrate the principles and genres being discussed--A Concise Guide includes complete documents, sample pages from documents, as well as “faulty samples” so that students can see the difference between successful and unsuccessful documents.
• A unique chapter (Chapter 7) on copyright and privacy issues in the information age--As more and more communication goes online, reaching a worldwide audience, the copyright issues involved become more and more complex. The Concise Guide offers a complete chapter covering this important topic.
• Accommodation of a variety of writing skill levels--The authors provide strong grammar and writing style coverage to reach students at all writing levels. 
• Up-to-date coverage of ethics in technical communication--The ongoing significance and relevance of ethical issues in the professional domain is reflected with contemporary cases (vis a vis Enron and recent incidents in the accounting industry).
• “The Global Window”--Each chapter ends with an assignment that highlights the global nature of technical communication.
• “The Collaboration Window”--Each chapter also ends with a collaborative assignment, encouraging students to use what they’ve learned about teamwork and project management. 

New To This Edition

• An updated and thoroughly revised Chapter 8 (Document Design)—The third edition offers new discussion of templates, new model documents, inclusion of a few “before” and “after” documents to demonstrates effective document design, and new checklists for layout and design.                      
• New coverage of project management—Seen in the new section on “Teamwork, Virtual Teams, and Project Management” in Chapter 1 and the new section on telecommuting and working in virtual teams in Chapter 5, the third edition better prepares students to work collaboratively.
• A new complete, annotated model long report—This lengthy model in Chapter 12 provides greater practice with analyzing components of a successful report.
• New coverage and models—Users and reviewers asked for more coverage of resumes, cover letters, and PowerPoint, and the authors added instruction on all three areas.
• Updated coverage of Web research—To improve efficiency and accuracy with using electronic research tools (databases, for example), the third edition provides new tips for evaluating sources.
• New coverage of corresponding--Email, blogs, and instant messaging have quickly become popular means of communicating, and the third edition addresses means of using these forms as part of technical writing.
• New “Usability Checklists”—The authors have replaced the former “Review Checklists” with these strategy boxes to strengthen the Concise Guide’s emphasis on the importance of usability.
• New CSE documentation models have been added to Appendix B.

Table of Contents

(Note: Every chapter ends with “Exercises,” as well as “The Collaboration Window” and “The Global Window” activities)

I. TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES AND CONSIDERATIONS.

1. An Introduction to Technical Communication.

Communicating About Technology

Main Characteristics of Technical Communication

Types of Technical Communication

Technical Communication in the Workplace

Teamwork, Virtual Teams, and Project Management

Societal Dimensions of Technical Communication

Ethical Dimensions of Technical Communication

Checklist for Quality in Technical Communication 

2. A World of People and Purposes.

People, Purposes, and Communities

Analyzing Your Audience

Analyzing the Communication Purpose

Analyzing the Communication Context

Conducting an Audience/Purpose Interview

More Tools for Understanding Audience

Using Information from Your Analysis

Audiences Are Not Passive

Typical Audiences and Purposes for Technical Communication

Checklist for Analyzing Audience, Purpose, and Context

3. Designing Usable Information.

Usability and Technical Information

Usability–During the Planning Stages

Usability–During the Writing and Design Process

Usability–After the Information Is Released

Writing and Organizing Information for Usability

Checklist for Designing Usable Information

4. Performing Research for Technical Communication.

Thinking Critically About Research

Primary Research

Internet and Digital Research

Other Electronic Research Tools

Hard Copy Research

Checklist for Research

5. Technical Communication in a Digital World.

Communicating in Digital Space

Technical Communication Principles Still Apply

Designing Information for the New Media

Online Documentation and Interface Design

Corresponding Over the Wires: Email, Blogs, and Instant Messaging

Telecommuting and Virtual Teams

Presentation Software

Checklist for Digital Communication

6. Ethical Issues in Technical Communication.

Ethics, Technology, and Communication

Case Examples of Ethical Issues in Technical Communication

Types of Ethical Choices

What Is Legal Is Not Always Ethical

Additional Ways in Which Actions Can Be Unethical

Types of Technical Communication Affected by Ethical Issues

Responding to Ethical Situations

Checklist for Ethical Communication

7. Copyright and Privacy.

Why Technical Communicators Need to Understand Copyright and Privacy.

Copyright — An Overview

Documenting Your Sources

Electronic Technologies and Copyright

Privacy — An Overview

Computer Technologies, Privacy, and Technical Communication

Checklist for Copyright and Privacy

8. Page Layout and Document Design.

Creating Visually Effective Documents

Formatting the Page Effectively

Using Typography Effectively

Creating Effective Search Options

Designing Electronic Documents

Creating and Using Style Sheets and Tools

Checklist

9. Graphics and Visual Information.

The Power of the Picture

When to Use Visuals

Different Visuals for Different Audiences

Text into Tables

Numbers into Images

Illustrations

Diagrams

Symbols and Icons

Wordless Instruction

Photographs

Maps

Visualization and Medical Imaging

Software and Web-Based Images

Using Color

Avoiding Visual Noise

Visuals and Ethics

Cultural Considerations

Checklist for Visual Communication

II. TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.

10. Everyday Communication Situations.

Email

Memos

Letters

Resumes

Short Reports

Oral Communication

Checklist

11. Product-Oriented Communication Situations.

Specifications

Brief Instructions

Procedures

Documentation and Manuals

Technical Marketing Material

Checklist

12. Complex Communication Situations.

Definitions and Descriptions

Long Reports

Proposals

Checklist

Appendix A: Grammar.

Punctuation

Lists

Avoiding Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences

Usage (Commonly Misused Words)

Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Faulty Modification

Mechanics

Appendix B: Documenting Sources.

Quoting the Work of Others

How You Should Document

MLA Documentation Style

APA Documentation Style

CSE Documentation Style

Courses

Technical Communication - Intro  [BRIEF]   (Technical Communication)

Companion Website for Concise Guide to Technical Communication, A, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321458346  |  ISBN-13: 9780321458346
This online resource is available at no cost at http://www.ablongman.com/gurakconcise3e.
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Downloadable Instructor Resources

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Instructor's Manual, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  Paper; 163 pp  |  Instock
ISBN-10: 0321433505  |  ISBN-13: 9780321433503

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Exam Copy, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  Paper; 416 pp  |  Out of Stock
ISBN-10: 032141358X  |  ISBN-13: 9780321413581
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Companion Website for Concise Guide to Technical Communication, A, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321458346  |  ISBN-13: 9780321458346
This online resource is available at no cost at http://www.ablongman.com/gurakconcise3e.
More Info

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Companion Website for Concise Guide to Technical Communication, A, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321458346  |  ISBN-13: 9780321458346
This online resource is available at no cost at http://www.ablongman.com/gurakconcise3e.
More Info

Companion Website for Concise Guide to Technical Communication, A, 3/E
Gurak & Lannon
©2007  |  Longman  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321458346  |  ISBN-13: 9780321458346
This online resource is available at no cost at http://www.ablongman.com/gurakconcise3e.
More Info

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