Arts and Humanities Commons^™

05.15: Logic - Recognizing Fallacies, Steve Miller, Cherie Miller

Open Technical Communication

Taken with kind permission from the book Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense by J. Steve Miller and Cherie K. Miller.

06: Usability Testing, Cassandra Race

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Explain the characteristics of a usable document.
2. Conduct a usability test.

08: Technical Editing, Jonathan Arnett

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Explain the general procedure for technical editing.
2. Explain the different levels of edit.
3. Explain the purposes of style guides and style sheets.
4. Use copyediting symbols appropriately.
5. Use proofreading symbols appropriately.

09: Introduction To Html, Tiffani Reardon

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Define HTML and identify what it stands for.
2. Build a simple web page using HTML coding.
• Identify and use common HTML tags.
• Explain and apply basic tag rules.
• Explain attributes and use them to stylize text and images.
• Embed videos and other embeddable items into HTML web pages.
3. Identify websites where readers can learn more and practice their HTML skills.

10: Examples, Cases, And Models Index, Tiffani Reardon

Open Technical Communication

The following are links to the examples and models of the kinds reports, letters, and other documents discussed in this book. (Some of the items are excerpts.) True, many of these examples are as much as twenty years old. However, the point here is technical writing, format, organization, style—not up-to-date technology. Even so, why not write a technology update on blood glucose monitoring systems, voice recognition software, laptop computers, wind power systems? (And then send it to us at treardo2@kennesaw.edu)

07: Collaborative Writing, Monique Logan

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Define successful and effective collaborative writing.
2. Explain and employ strategies for effective collaboration.
3. Explain and employ strategies for dealing with differences and conflict.

01: Introduction To Technical Communication, Cassandra Race

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Define technical writing.
2. Summarize the six characteristics of technical writing.
3. Explain basic standards of good technical writing.

02.02: Types Of Technical Reports, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Identify common types of technical documents.
2. Summarize the purposes and formats of common types of technical documents.

02.04: Proposals, David Mcmurrey, Jonathan Arnett

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the purpose of a proposal.
2. Identify and explain the different types of proposals.
3. Navigate and apply the format and structure of a proposal.

02.03: Business Plans, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the purpose of a business plan.
2. Identify and define common sections of business plans.
3. Navigate and apply the format of business plans.

02.01: Business Correspondence And Resumes, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to:
1. Summarize the basics of format and style in business correspondence.
2. Explain and distinguish between three common types of business letters.
3. Explain and apply basic guidelines for resume-writing.

02.05: Progress Reports, David Mcmurrey

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the purpose of a progress report.
2. Navigate and apply the format and structure of a proposal.
3. Explain common components of a progress report.

02.06: Instructions, David Mcmurrey, Cassandra Race

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Analyze and evaluate a set of technical instructions.
2. Write clear and accurate instructions with an introduction and conclusion.
3. Develop and design an instruction manual for a specific audience.

The focus for this chapter is one of the most important of all uses of technical writing—instructions. As you know, instructions are those step-by-step explanations of how to do something: how to build, operate, repair, or maintain things.

02.07: User Guides, David Mcmurrey, Tamara Powell

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the purpose of a user guide.
2. Define the technical writing concepts of this textbook that apply to user guides.
3. Explain and apply the style, format, components, and process for creating user guides.

02.08: Standard Operational Policies And Procedures, David Mcmurrey, Tamara Powell

Open Technical Communication

Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
1. Explain the purpose of standard operating policies and procedures.
2. Identify basic structure of standard operating policies and procedures.
3. Review examples and apply concepts from them to their writing.