1. Introduction to Technical Communication Chapter Notes

2. Who creates technical communication?

3. Where is the focus? Writer or reader?

4. Typical Forms of User-Centered Communication Instructions User Manual Report Memo Procedures

5. Efficient and Accessible

6. Clear and Relevant

7. Uses Media Effectively

8. Created for and by both individuals and teams

9. Targets a global audience

10. Persuasive and truthful

11. Based on Research

12. Three Primary Purposes Informational Instructional Persuasive

13. Common Documents Memos Emails Letters Instructions Procedures Manuals Brochures Proposals Reports

14. Proofread Sentence errors Punctuation errors Usage errors Mechanical errors Format errors Typographical errors

15. Teamwork, Ethics, Persuasion and Global Issues

16. Reviewing and Editing the Work of Others Accurate, appropriate, useful and legal content Material organized for the reader’s understanding Clear, easy to read, engaging style Effective visuals and page design

17. Review

18. For editing, make the following types of suggestions: Rephrasing or reorganizing sentences Clarifying a topic sentence Choosing a better word or phrase Correcting spelling, usage, punctuation and so forth

19. Strategies for Review Read the entire piece twice before you comment Focus first on the big picture Be honest and diplomatic Explain why something doesn’t work Make specific recommendations for improvements Don’t expect everyone to agree with your suggestions Understand the acceptable limits of editing Focus next on the particulars

21. Ethics in technical communication “Usually, ethical rules are broken not because people are dishonest, but because they feel pressure to bend or break the rules.”

22. Ethical Abuses Made by Writers Plagiarizing the work of others Falsifying or fabricating information Suppressing or downplaying information Exaggerating claims Using visual images that conceal the truth Stealing or divulging proprietary information Misusing electronic information Exploiting cultural differences

23. Strategies to Avoid Ethical Abuses: Always cite your sources Give the audience everything it needs to know Give people a clear understanding of what the information means Never manipulate information or data in your writing or in your visuals Use common sense and follow your company’s confidential guidelines Do not exploit cultural inequalities or manipulate international readers Ask yourself, “Would I stand behind what I have created and be held public accountable for it”

24. Persuasion

25. Claims are a Basis for Persuasion

26. Claims are more effective when you connect to your audience:

27. Three Types of Connection

28. Power Connection (Compliance) Do it because I said so!

29. Relationship Connection (Identification) Do it because I’d appreciate it.

30. Rational Connection (Internalization) Do it because it makes sense.

31. Strategies for Persuasion Identify your specific goal Anticipate your audience’s reaction Don’t ask for too much Allow for give-and-take Recognize constraints Consider the cultural context Choose the right time and the right medium Connect with your audience

32. The Research Process I think you guys know this information. Review the chapter. If you want more help, I’ll schedule a librarian!

33. Global Issues Learn as much as possible about the culture and background of your reader Be respectful and considerate Avoid the use of humor, slang, and idioms Avoid stereotyping

34. Image sources: Flickr CC http://www.flickr.com/photos/aye_shamus/2929888687/#/photos/aye_shamus/2929888687/lightbox/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/intherough/2465713315/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/caribb/180273920/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/422234138/#/photos/jurvetson/422234138/lightbox/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/-skipper-/4232651568/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanmolin/5181018746/#/photos/seanmolin/5181018746/lightbox/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/5287303391/#/photos/home_of_chaos/5287303391/lightbox/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbrotherishuge/2940395301/