Description

For courses in Technical Writing.

This concise and cumulative guide shows students the art of technical writing for a variety of contexts and institutions. Using examples from the business and non-corporate world, the book emphasizes transactional writing through practical explanations, real-world examples, and a variety of “role-playing” exercises. Each section builds on the next as readers learn a variety of models of style and format. This edition features a stronger emphasis on electronic communication, integrated coverage of ethics, and more explanation of how to create technical documents that produce concrete results.

Features

For courses in Technical Writing.

This concise and cumulative guide shows students the art of technical writing for a variety of contexts and institutions. Using examples from the business and non-corporate world, the book emphasizes transactional writing through practical explanations, real-world examples, and a variety of “role-playing” exercises. Each section builds on the next as readers learn a variety of models of style and format. This edition features a stronger emphasis on electronic communication, integrated coverage of ethics, and more explanation of how to create technical documents that produce concrete results.

Hallmark Features

Progressive, stand-alone sections–cover concepts in an incremental and cumulative manner.

• Begins with the basics of technical writing (from fundamental components of technical communication, to templates of presentation, to construction of letters, memos, announcements and instructions) and then focuses on using these skills to construct short and long reports and a job search portfolio.
• Gives students a chance to master one topic before moving on to the next. 

References to the business and non-corporate world–makes it applicable to a variety of audiences.

• Goes beyond the large corporate view to survey challenges within a variety of settings—e.g., small businesses, social services, the academy, the corporation.
• Offers students a broadened perspective of business and technical writing that encompasses a range of institutional contexts.  

Practical examples of simple and complex documents–appear throughout the text.

• Illustrates technical writing in a variety of job and personal situations.
• Incorporates suggestions for document design and development.

Coverage of technical writing and the job search process–includes a variety of exercises that can be used for individual, group, or class assignments.

• Provides exercises and longer assignments that build on each other, such as: creating a work-experience file; developing a resume, writing cover letters, and follow-up correspondence; and preparing for an interview presentation using visual aids, a researched topic, and a persuasive format.

New to this Edition

This edition has been updated to include:

• A stronger emphasis on electronic communication
• Updated examples and figures
• More discussion of ethics
• More on document preparation

Table of Contents

Chapter 1   What Is “Business” or “Technical” Writing?

Chapter 2   Organizing Information

Chapter 3   Letters, Memos, E-mail, and Related Forms

Chapter 4   Our House to Yours: Using Summaries to Inform

Chapter 5   Directions and Instructions: Writing About Process

Chapter 6   Using Analysis: Writing a Report

Chapter 7   Writing the Formal Report

Chapter 8   Selling Yourself

References

Appendix   Enhancing Your Document with Graphics

Index