A Concise Guide to Technical Communication
2nd Edition
Published on 27. January 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-321-14615-1 (ISBN)
Description
The book takes a situational approach, emphasizing issues of audience, purpose, and task. In addition, it is the first Technical Communication text which acknowledges that most technical communication today is electronic-whether it be Web sites, CD-ROM help files, or e-mail reports, today's technical communicators work more in the new media than in the old ones. The Concise Guide offers a seamless connection between the new and old worlds of technical communication. Offering a critical look at communication technologies in relation to technical communication, this text is designed for a broad range of undergraduate classes.
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 159 mm
Weight
479 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-321-14615-1 (9780321146151)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Laura Gurak | John Lannon
Concise Guide to Technical Communication, A
Book
10/2006
3rd Edition
Pearson
€98.40
Article is exhausted; no reprint
Previous edition
Laura J. Gurak | John M. Lannon
A Concise Guide to Technical Communication
Book
03/2002
Pearson
€39.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
Each chapter contains a "Review Checklist," "Exercises," "The Collaboration Window," "The GlobalWindow," "Click on This," and "For More Information." 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.
Technical Communication in an Electronic Age.
Societal Dimensions of Technical Communication..
Ethical Dimensions of 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.
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.
4. Performing Research for Technical Communication.
Thinking Critically About Research.
Primary Research.
Internet Research.
Other Electronic Research Tools.
Hard Copy 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 Conventions.
Working on the Wires.
Presentation software.
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.
7. Copyright and Privacy.
Why Technical Communicators Need to Understand Copyright and Privacy.
Section One: Copyright.
Section Two: Privacy.
8. Page Layout and Document Design.
Creating Visually Effective Documents.
Typography.
Page Layout.
Creating an Effective Table of Contents and Index.
Creating and Using Style Sheets.
Organizational Style Guides.
Using Word-Processing and Page Layout Software.
Designing Electronic Documents.
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.
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.
10. Everyday Communication Situations.
Email.
Memos.
Letters.
Short Reports.
Oral Communication.
11. Product-Oriented Communication Situations.
Specifications.
Brief Instructions.
Procedures.
Documentation and Manuals.
Technical Marketing Material.
12. Complex Communication Situations.
Definitions and Descriptions.
Long Reports.
Proposals.
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.
References.
Credits.
Index.
1. An Introduction to Technical Communication.
Communicating About Technology.
Main Characteristics of Technical Communication.
Types of Technical Communication.
Technical Communication in the Workplace.
Technical Communication in an Electronic Age.
Societal Dimensions of Technical Communication..
Ethical Dimensions of 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.
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.
4. Performing Research for Technical Communication.
Thinking Critically About Research.
Primary Research.
Internet Research.
Other Electronic Research Tools.
Hard Copy 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 Conventions.
Working on the Wires.
Presentation software.
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.
7. Copyright and Privacy.
Why Technical Communicators Need to Understand Copyright and Privacy.
Section One: Copyright.
Section Two: Privacy.
8. Page Layout and Document Design.
Creating Visually Effective Documents.
Typography.
Page Layout.
Creating an Effective Table of Contents and Index.
Creating and Using Style Sheets.
Organizational Style Guides.
Using Word-Processing and Page Layout Software.
Designing Electronic Documents.
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.
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS AND APPLICATIONS.
10. Everyday Communication Situations.
Email.
Memos.
Letters.
Short Reports.
Oral Communication.
11. Product-Oriented Communication Situations.
Specifications.
Brief Instructions.
Procedures.
Documentation and Manuals.
Technical Marketing Material.
12. Complex Communication Situations.
Definitions and Descriptions.
Long Reports.
Proposals.
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.
References.
Credits.
Index.