Technical Communication for Readers and Writers

Sims' Technical Communication for Readers and Writers, Second Edition, guides students in planning, writing, and designing effective documents to meet the needs of users and readers. Thoroughly revised, expanded, and redesigned in full color, this edition gives students the tools they need to create appropriate technical documents for a multitude of writing situations and audiences. The text takes a process approach rather than the model-based approach of older tech writing texts.

ISBN 0618221735   Pages 720 ISBN13 9780618221738 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Cengage Learning, Inc   Weight (grammes) 1044 Imprint Houghton Mifflin   Published in Boston Format Paperback   Height (mm) 231 Publication date 24 Oct 2002   Width (mm) 190 Library of Congress PE1475.S56   Spine width (mm) 21 DEWEY 808.0666   Academic level General, Undergraduate, Professional / Scholarly, Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC21

1. Writing, the Workplace, and This Book How Will Writing Impact Your Career? How Does the Workplace Affect What and How You Write? The Reader's Corner: Are You Ready to Be an Information Broker? What Makes Technical Communication Effective? Taking It into the Workplace: Visiting with a Professional in Your Field What's Ahead in This Book? I. Understanding the Role of the Writer 2. Understanding and Writing for Your Readers Principle 1: Determine Your Purpose for Writing Principle 2: Identify Your Readers Taking It into the Workplace: Readers and the Web Principle 3: Determine Your Readers' Purpose, Needs, and Preferences Principle 4: Analyze Your Readers' Attitudes The Reader's Corner: How We Read Conclusion Worksheet for Identifying Your Readers Exercises Case Study: Informing Students About Financial Aid 3. Facing Ethical and Legal Challenges Understanding Ethics Making Ethical Decisions The Reader's Corner: "Uh, Where Are We?" Principle 1: Ask the Right Questions Taking It into the Workplace: Your Profession and Its Code of Conduct Principle 2: Work Through Ethical Decisions Principle 3: Communicate Ethically Turning to the Law When Faced with an Ethical Dilemma Conclusion Worksheet for Ethical Communication Exercises Case Study: A Broken Promise 4. Collaborating and the Writing Process Collaborative Writing in the Workplace Principle 1: Collaborate to Analyze the Writing Situation and Plan the Document Taking It into the Workplace: Collaborating Across Generations Principle 2: Use Electronic Media to Collaborate Principle 3: Collaborate Effectively The Reader's Corner: Conducting a Successful Teleconference Conclusion Worksheet for Successful Collaboration Exercises Case Study: A Public Relations Problem at Big Lake II. Knowing the Tools of the Writer 5. Researching Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources Principle 1: Plan Your Research Principle 2: Select Appropriate Primary Research Techniques Principle 3: Select Appropriate Secondary Research Strategies Taking It into the Workplace: Copyright Laws and "Fair Use" Principle 4: Evaluate the Information and Sources The Reader's Corner: The Disadvantages of Web Research Conclusion Worksheet for Researching Information Using Primary and Secondary Sources Exercises Case Study: Discovering Job Prospects in Your Field 6. Organizing Information for Your Readers Readers and Your Documents Principle 1: Decide How to Organize Your Document Principle 2: Consider Using the Standard Patters of Organization Principle 3: Prepare an Outline The Reader's Corner: Organizing Web Sites Taking It into the Workplace: Organization Makes a Difference Principle 4: Tell Readers What You Are Writing About Principle 5: Use Headings to Show the Organization of Your Document Conclusion Worksheet for Organizing Your Documents Exercises Case Study: Writing Overviews and Headings 7. Writing Reader-Oriented Sentences and Paragraphs Focus on Actors and Actions Principle 1: Make the Actors the Subjects of Your Sentences The Reader's Corner: Reader-Oriented Poetry Principle 2: Put the Action in Verbs Principle 3: Emphasize the Important Information in Your Sentences Principle 4: Tie Your Sentences Together Taking It into the Workplace: How Are Your Editing Skills? Conclusion Worksheet for Writing Reader-Oriented Sentences and Paragraphs Exercises 8. Using Reader-Oriented Language Principle 1: Use Specific and Unambiguous Language The Reader's Corner: Localizing Documents for International Readers Principle 2: Use Only the Words Your Readers Need Principle 3: Use Simple Words Principle 4: Use Positive Language Principle 5: Use Technical Terminology Consistently and Appropriately Principle 6: Use Nonsexist Language Principle 7: Consider Your Readers' Culture and Language Taking It into the Workplace: What Is Simplified English? Conclusion Worksheet for Using Reader-Oriented Language Exercises Case Study: Changing Old Habits 9. Designing Documents for Your Readers How Design Makes Documents More Readabl

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