Technical and Professional Writing Commons^™

"Issue" Or "Problem"?, Don Norwood

Word for Word 2019

No abstract provided.

What Packaging Designs And Marketing Strategies Are Common To High-End Cosmetic Brands Sold In Stores, Such As Sephora?, Taylor Hickey

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

"-Log" Or "-Logue"?, Sunita Patterson

Word for Word 2019

No abstract provided.

"Incidence" Or "Prevalence"?, Erica Goodoff

Word for Word 2019

No abstract provided.

"Disinterested" Or "Uninterested"?, Ann Sutton

Word for Word 2019

No abstract provided.

02.13: Memos And Emails, Tamara Powell, Tiffani Reardon

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Identify basic memo and email formats.
2. Describe the key differences between basic memo and basic email formats.
3. Explain cc, bc, and attachment functions and when to use them.

02.10: Handbooks, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Explain the three types of information found in handbooks.
2. Explain and apply the guidelines for handbook format and style.

A handbook, as we are defining it here, is a combination of concept, instruction, and reference information focused on a specific topic for a specific audience's needs.

02.09: Recommendation And Feasibility Reports, David Mcmurrey, Jonathan Arnett

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the differences between recommendation, feasibility, and evaluation reports.
2. Define the common components of recommendation and feasibility reports.
3. Explain and apply organization strategies for reports.

02.12: Oral Presentations, David Mcmurrey, Cassandra Race

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Plan and prepare a talk or presentation.
2. Deliver the presentation.
3. Create presentation materials that reflect standards of effective presentation.
4. Evaluate presentations delivered by others, including classmates.

02.14: Technical Definitions And Descriptions, Jonathan Arnett

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Explain and apply the 5 primary characteristics of technical definitions.
2. Write a definition using appropriate content, descriptors, details, length, placement, and audience analysis.
3. Avoid common technical definition problems.
4. Explain and apply the 5 primary characteristics of technical descriptions.
5. Write a description using the 6 common parts.
6. Organize a description according to the 3 common organizational patterns.

02.11: Titles, Abstracts, Introductions, And Conclusions, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Summarize strategies for writing effective document titles.
2. Define abstract and explain the different types of abstracts.
3. Explain the purposes of different types of introductions and summarize the common elements of them.
4. Explain the components and purposes of conclusions.

03: Ethics, Tamara Powell

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Define ethics.
2. Analyze a situation with regard to utility, right, justice, and care.
3. Explain the importance of ethical behavior.
4. Explain copyright law, why it is important, and how to make ethical decisions regarding it.
5. Explain how to ethically analyze data.
6. Explain how biases can lead to unethical decisions/behavior in technical communication.

04.01: Report Design, David Mcmurrey, Jonathan Arnett

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the importance of effective report design.
2. Explain the purpose of a letter of transmittal.
3. Define when covers and labels are appropriate for reports.
4. Explain the purposes of and write a descriptive abstract and executive summary for a report.
5. Apply design principles of tables of contents and figures.
6. Apply basic design considerations on the body of a report.
7. Define the appropriateness of a conclusion, appendix, and information sources.

04.08: Graphics, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Explain and apply the various uses of graphics in technical documents.
2. Create and format appropriate graphics for technical documents.

04.05: Lists, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Distinguish between different types of lists in technical documents and explain appropriate situations for using each.
2. Explain and apply general guidelines for formatting different types of lists.
3. Use Microsoft Word to style lists appropriately.

04.06: Special Notes, David Mcmurrey, Tamara Powell

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Distinguish between the four most common types of special notices.
2. Explain and apply the appropriate use for each type of special notice.
3. Explain and apply standard format guidelines for each type of special notice.

05.01: Writing Process - From Audience To Rough Draft, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Brainstorm and narrow down topics for a report.
2. Create an outline for a report.

05.02: Audience Analysis, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Identify the four common categories of audience and explain the differences between them.
2. Analyze your audience and explain how to tailor your writing to that audience.

05.03: Task Analysis, David Mcmurrey, Tamara Powell

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Define documentation.
2. Identify and analyze tasks in order to create documentation.
3. Differentiate between function and task orientation and explain the pros and cons of each approach.
4. Explain how to begin writing documentation.

04.09: Indexing, Cassandra Race

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to create an index using Microsoft Word.