Technical and Professional Writing Commons^™

Beyond Audience Analysis: Conceptualizing Empathy For Technical Communication, Bernadette L. Cash

Technical Communication Capstone Course

The concept of empathy involves understanding others’ perspectives. Technical communication requires knowing the context of users; however, empathy is neither a prominent term nor a common subject in the accompanying literature.

This article will establish a foundation for empathy to be conceptualized for technical communication. Several definitions of empathy will be reviewed, followed by applicable resemblances from examples pertaining to audience analysis. A wide‑ranging analysis will connect features of empathy to topics from the areas of user experience, human‑information interaction, user value, business, and design thinking.

This article concludes that there is significant value in giving empathetic attention to the …

Isolation And Onboarding: Gender Bias In Aviation Training Documents, William Hart

Technical Communication Capstone Course

There is a growing interest in male-dominated industries and the challenges women face finding their place within the workplace community. Yet, there seems to be little research on how training documents, generally created by technical communicators, may isolate and limit women who seek to pursue careers in these fields. Technical communication and gender scholars have examined women in the technical communication field and gender bias in male-dominated industries but have not yet examined gender stereotypes in training documents. Training documents are designed to provide written instructions and a reference guide for job functions, workplace rules, orientation, and company policies. This …

Inclusive Writing In Video Game Documentation: A Technical Communication Approach, Samantha N. Sousa

Technical Communication Capstone Course

This article examines the current conversation of inclusive writing in the technical communication field. Historically, the field of technical writing has been considered a straightforward and unbiased form of communication but I look to identify the pitfalls associated with these characteristics, specifically in the study of inclusive writing. By examining technical documentation through a traditionally gender-biased field of video game development, I present issues and suggest ways to implement inclusive writing through documentation. By envisioning and creating inclusive content in video games, we can expand these solutions to other areas of technical communication and strengthen the influence we have in …

Cognitive Load Theory: Applications In Medical Education, Adam W. Wissman

Technical Communication Capstone Course

This article examines how cognitive load theory can help instructional designers in medical education design material and content to best suit their audience. Through the examination of schema construction, working and long-term memory, biologically primary/secondary knowledge, and novice and experienced learners, this article proposes instructional design best practices. This article separates these best practices into three categories: activities, pre-lecture resources, and teaching strategies, which can be applied to either novice learners or experienced learners.

Millennials Expect Less And More: Workplace Writing For Today's Workforce, Gina Weber

Technical Communication Capstone Course

As the makeup of a company’s workforce changes so must their internal practices. The newest members of the professional workplace belong to the so-called Millennial generation. While there have always been challenges when new generations enter the workforce research shows that this latest generation has brought with it more challenges than previous generations. This paper looks at what is so different about this generation, how it affects the workplace, and finally, how these unique qualities can best be incorporated in a company’s policy and procedure writing to better keep the attention of this new worker. Characteristics of the generations currently …

Credibility Strategies Of Popular Health Websites: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Parkinson's Information Pages, Abigail Bakke

English Department Publications

Though using e-health is a common patient practice, unregulated and inaccurate online medical content can pose real dangers. To effectively convey important and accurate health messages, online health organizations must make their information stand out as trustworthy. To identify credibility strategies, I conducted a rhetorical analysis of Parkinson’s disease content from the two most popular U.S. health websites: NIH.gov and WebMD. Based on the range of credibility strategies identified in these webpages, I recommend that medical writers and e-health designers convey both expertise and trustworthiness to build credibility in their content.

A Word From The Writing Center (January 2018), Jennifer Wilson, Ms, Els

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• New Year, New Publishing Goals
• Grammar Time
• Writing Cafe

The Write Stuff - Winter 2018 (Vol. 15, No. 1), Research Medical Library

Write Stuff 2018

• Information Security’s “questionable journal” initiative flags potentially predatory publishers and sponsors
• Communicating with your editor to make the most of the help you receive
• NIH’s Next Generation Researchers Initiative
• Scientific Publications offers writing consultation services
• Getting to know the NIH grant programs
• Unusual terms used in scientific writing and publishing: Gold, platinum, and green open access

Comments To Progress: How To Achieve A Student Writer's Sense Of Authority Through Feedback In The Revision Process, Jocie Scherkenbach

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Building authority, or agency, in the undergraduate writing classroom is considered beneficial to producing confident and well-rounded student writers who later become integral members of society. However, it is widely recognized by scholars that this agency is lacking in many student writers. Students feeling a lack of authority over their work urges a closer look at how the revision process can assist in the development of greater student confidence and ownership. This paper seeks to examine factors that may influence student authority over their writing, and especially how teacher feedback and peer review can encourage students to gain and establish …

From Big Ag To Campus Cafeterias: Intersections Of Food-Supply Networks As Technical Communication Pedagogy, Jessie Lynn Richards, Joshua Lenart, David Sumner, Douglas Christensen

Faculty Publications

This article presents a pedagogical approach to teaching technical and professional writing with an eye toward cultivating awareness and generating informed research among undergraduate students about food production and its various, intricate networks between Big Ag and campus cafeterias. Our pedagogy, influenced by interdisciplinary content, is designed to teach students to differentiate between food processes—such as production versus distribution and consumption—by viewing these networks as communicative practices rather than as inevitable chains or simple functions of one another. Our approach encourages students to locate and analyze differences between interdependent, but seemingly disparate pathways and to make visible communicative intersections that …

The Book Of Thesis Books, Elizabeth Leeper, Jennifer Liese, Center For Arts & Language

Thesis Writing

89 pages : color illustrations ; 18 x 23 cm."This guide is intended to help future thesis writers understand the range of approaches to and content in RISD thesis books, locate some especially strong examples in the Library's vast thesis collection, and imagine and plan their own theses." - from the introduction. "Introduction by Jennifer Liese" - Colophon. Contents: Academic thesis -- Monograph -- Project document -- Mosaic essay -- Artist's book. "Designed by Elizabeth Leeper (MFA Graphic Design 2017). Set in Parry and Parry Grotesque, by Artur Schmal, and printed by Lulu."--Colophon.

Dimensions Of Online/Offline Social Communication: An Extension Of The Hyperpersonal Model, Devin Joseph Kelly

ETD Archive

With the rise of technology it becomes important to measure and analyze the communication patterns that are emerging from these changes. Technologies open up different communication patterns for individuals to use (Tomas & Carlson 2015; Walther, 1996; Wei & Leung, 1999). Thus, this study develops the “ASOHIO” perspective, which incorporates a range of new and old communication patterns, online communication, offline communication, synchronous communication, asynchronous communication, interpersonal communication, and hyperpersonal communication. This work also looks to extend the hyperpersonal model greatly by developing an actual multi-item scale to measure the construct at the individual level. Walther’s (1996) basic description of …

Publishing Basics: How To Get Started & Where To Begin: Tips For First-Time Writers Looking To Get Published, Shamika Dalton, Michele Villagran

Faculty Publications

The world of publishing can be overwhelming, especially for first-time writers and newer librarians. Is my idea good enough? Is my article articulated well enough? Will anyone read it? These are all common questions you might have. Most importantly, you want to make a good first impression among your colleagues. The intent of this article is to acknowledge the common internal fears of first-time writers, explore publication opportunities, and provide suggestions on how to get started. Here we offer a writer’s survival toolkit to help throughout the publication process

Approach To Developing Basic And Scientific Writing Competency In Dnp Students At Samuel Merritt University, Michelle Hampton

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Library-Press Partnership: An Overview And Two Case Studies, Yuan Li, Sarah Kalikman Lippincott, Sarah Hare, Jamie Wittenberg, Suzanne Preate, Amanda Page, Suzanne E. Guiod

Libraries' and Librarians' Publications

This article provides an overview of the changing role of the library in scholarly publishing and the rising phenomenon of library-press collaboration. It examines, through a literature review and two case studies, how and why the library has taken on this new role in scholarly publishing and created partnerships with university presses. The case studies describe current library-press partnerships from the perspective of institutional context, publishing services, and respective roles and responsibilities. Authors also briefly discuss the possible future of the library-press partnership in scholarly publishing.

Enterprise Content Management In Technical Communication, Kristen Bledsoe-Fritz

Technical Communication Capstone Course

The goal of this project is to examine how the evolution of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is helping to shape the role of Technical Communicator. Technical communicators are often at the forefront of Enterprise Content Management, as their job involves the creation, utilization, and distribution of most corporate content. The research conducted for this project examines the impact that Enterprise Content Management, influenced by evolving technology, has had on the expectation associated with the skillset of a technical communicator. Additionally, how technical communicators can grow and expand their skillset to serve as leaders in an ever-evolving industry is explored.

Don’T Get Lost In Translation: A Discussion Of Best Practices For Creating Translation-Friendly Text And Related Curriculum For Technical Communication, Adrienne Urban

Technical Communication Capstone Course

Within global companies, a single source document, created by a technical communicator, is often translated into more than twenty-six languages. Simple modifications to semantics and style that are incorporated upfront in the source document can save multinational companies who rely on translations vast quantities of time, money, and labor. However, the perception of English as the lingua franca has led technical communication programs to discount the importance of teaching students to write for translation. In order to address this issue, institutions of higher learning should consider revising their technical communication programs to include a writing-for-translation component. Moreover, comprehensive sources need …

Using Infographics To Educate Stem Students About Interpersonal Communication, Anna Ziesak

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the viability of infographics in educating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics students about interpersonal communication skills. To determine if infographics are viable tools, the study used two surveys to gather information. The first survey was formatted as a needs assessment and revealed three areas with which STEM students wanted help: presentations, group projects, and communication. Three infographics were created to address these concerns, and a second survey was used to assess these infographics. Results from the second survey indicate that STEM students learned new information from the infographics and wanted to see …

Human Factors In The Design Of Virtual Reality Instruction, Tim Lewis

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The objective of this project was to identify measurable factors that contribute to the quality and effectiveness of training and education in a virtual reality environment. The second objective was to develop a VR application using the Oculus Rift head mounted display and hand controllers to present high resolution 360° video with cumulative multi-choice challenges to create a mental state of flow, immersion, and a suspension of disbelief. Finally, this document represents a guideline on how to produce virtual reality education and training content with a real-world example of the process from research, design, production and use.

Fake News: Latinos, Representacion, Ciudadanizo Y Trump, Grace Thieme

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis uses in-depth analysis of historical Los Angeles Times articles to trace the changing representations of the Latino community in the media. Focusing on themes of patriotism and citizenship, this thesis draws out the subtleties of syntax and semantics that silently influence public opinion. The Zoot Suit Riots and the Chicano Moratorium serve as the main historical backdrop, leading to a concluding exploration of Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric surrounding immigration and the Latino community.