Technical and Professional Writing Commons^™

On Copyright Law: What Technical Communicators Need To Know, Mariana Chao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Copyright law, in general, is a multi-faceted and sometimes difficult to understand process. Although it is law, it is often not straight-forward and cannot be applied universally. While the concepts of copyright infringement and plagiarism may sometimes overlap, many confuse one for the other or think they are the same offense. This thesis is intended to serve as a primer to some basic aspects of copyright law for technical communicators, including issues surrounding public domain works, the fair use doctrine, the copyright clearance process, as well as why we should be concerned about our current copyright laws. Over the past …

The Relevance Of Benjamin Franklin's And Thomas Jefferson's Technical Writing For Modern Communicators, Kristin Fecko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today's technical communicators enjoy an increasingly broader role and influence in the workplace, and are often given latitude to use engaging rhetoric and personal touches in many kinds of communications. Historical documents, particularly those that are substantially removed from our own era, can offer fresh approaches and insight into the enduring elements of successful communication. This study explores the technical writings of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and considers their usefulness to professionals today. Although the political writing of Franklin and Jefferson is more familiar, both men frequently wrote about scientific and technical subjects and were well-known in their day …

Female Bias In Technical Communication And An Exploration Of Pedagogical Strategies For Reversing The Bias, Rebecca Beeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores technical communication and seeks to establish that females outnumber males in the field while also holder more high-level positions. It further seeks to show why a field does not benefit from having one sex outnumber the other. The benefits of having an equal number of females and males contributing to the growth and expansion of the field are discussed. Finally, this thesis discusses potential pedagogical strategies which could be employed at the college level as a means of attracting more young men to the field and allowing for maximum growth of technical communication as a field of …

Narrative In Technical Communication, James Fenn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research is on the involvement of narrative learning within technical communication and the benefits that such an involvement can bring to the field. I analyze literature from within technical communication to determine how narrative is perceived, as well as the traditions in technical communication that made the field resistant to the use of narrative in the past. These findings are considered with respect to the history and definition of narrative, as well as to how narrative can improve learning outcomes when compared to expository learning approaches commonly used in technical documentation. While narrative is not a …

Technical Communicators And Writing Consultants: Identity And Expertise, Nichole Cepero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the roles of technical communicators and writing center consultants in regards to their identities and the expertise that they bring to what they do. Both fields have struggled with a lack of understanding surrounding what their positions entail and more importantly how they perform in their roles. With this in mind, the goal of this paper is to analyze how the growth of each field and the variations of each position contribute to the issue of identity. Furthermore, as a result of the identity problem that faces each position, I suggest using the theory of liminality, communication …

College-(Writing) Ready: Aligning The Common Core State Standards With The Wpa Outcomes For First-Year Composition, Clancy Ratliff

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The State Of The Anti-Union Address: A Rhetorical Critique Of Select Service Worker Training Methods, Richard Ries

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is an interdisciplinary master's level thesis that explores links among technical writing, training manuals, surveillance, and anti-union rhetoric used with service workers in select American chains and franchises. Brief histories are provided, including those of technical writing, the rise of unions in America, and how technical writing became inextricably linked with labor. A major shift occurred in the 20th century when workers began interacting less with products and more with the public. The research focuses on training manuals, techniques, and rehearsed dialogues of McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Panera, and Publix, though similar organizations are referenced. Service worker language, …

Creating And Examining An Online Advising Module For Graduate Students: A Usability Study, Leah Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advisors are always examining best practices when serving students with technology. Online instruction has become a popular choice for students in higher education, and educators and other student personnel are looking to further accommodate their students by including academic services as part of a virtual environment. This study examines the usefulness of an online advising module geared at graduate students. I conducted a usability study of an online advising module created for graduate students in the College of Education and Human Performance (CEDHP) at the University of Central Florida. The online advising module was presented to current graduate students in …

Shifting The Center: Piloting Embedded Tutoring Models To Support Multimodal Communication Across The Disciplines, Dustin Hannum, Joy Bracewell, Karen J. Head

English and Technical Communication Faculty Research & Creative Works

Beginning in its third year, the Georgia Tech Communication Center began investigating embedded tutoring as part of the overall slate of tutoring services already in practice. Because our center remains in a nascent period of identity, we continue to enjoy an unusual amount of flexibility in how we are exploring new ways to work within the tutoring milieu—that is, we have not had time to become complacent in providing services in particular ways. Additionally, because we are somewhat unusual given our professional staff of postdoctoral fellows, we have a broader ability to work across disciplines with instructors who are more …

The Changing Discourse Of The Supreme Court, Stephen M. Johnson

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] “Academics, judges, and other commentators complain that, for the past few decades, the Justices on the Supreme Court have been increasingly writing opinions that are unreadable for most American citizens. Those critics complain that the opinions are too long and too complex, riddled with incomprehensible multi-part tests. They also attack the style of the opinions and assert that recent opinions are more likely to be written in a technocratic, rather than persuasive, style.

There seems to be little consensus among the critics regarding why the Justices are writing opinions that are increasingly unreadable. Some attribute it to the increasing …

Technical Communicators In Marketing: Switching Roles And Changing Ethical Perspectives When Working With Content Marketing, Nicole Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an alternate career path for technical communicators in the area of content marketing and expands on the ethical and goal-related issues associated with a career change to a marketing-focused role. Many of the skills necessary for technical communication are transferable to marketing communication roles; however, a successful career change requires that technical communicators understand how the ethical values and goals of marketing professionals can differ from those of technical communicators. Through a detailed literature review and autoethnographic study, this thesis discusses the performance goals of marketing professionals to determine how these clash with those of technical communicators. …

“Untitled” Aka “Unhinged”, Nicholas Stentzel, Jeff Parkin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over the past year I have had the privilege to direct a senior film project entitled “Unhinged,” it is the story of Phillip, a struggling artist who is attempting to complete a final painting for his gallery opening. However, as he works his girlfriend, Mary, continually distracts him and because of his neglectful attitude she finally leaves him. Phillip soon realizes that it is Mary’s presence in his life that allows him to find his true voice.

Online Resources For Technical Communication In Writing Across The Curriculum At Technological Universities - A Case Study, Deborah A. Hulse-Miksiewicz

Theses

Writing across the Curriculum (WAC) initiatives have begun to embrace multiple resources to aid in the evolution of writing and technology. WAC initiatives enhance the teaching of writing across the disciplines by incorporating the writing instruction directly into the discipline courses, in addition to providing guidance designed to complement the instruction provided in the technical classroom. This thesis will explore the WAC initiative, discuss why this initiative is important, and examine case studies of successful implementations in technological universities.

Playdate With Little Rock, Emily Ann Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

Moms will find it invaluable to have a guide book for playdate locations that goes beyond a mere description of a place and delves right into such issues as: Should I bring a snack for my child? Where should I park? When should I get there to avoid crowds? Can I bring a stroller? These are the issues that mothers with young children really care about when it comes to trying out new locations for playdates. The purpose of Playdate with Little Rock is to give moms with young children a resource that they can count on. It is a …

Real Wounds: Navigating Women Past Abuse And Bitterness, Patricia Walker

Theses and Dissertations

"Real W.O.U.N.D.S.: Navigating Women Past Abuse and Bitterness" identifies how a website could better assist women victims who are coping with the aftermath of domestic abuse and violence in the state of Arkansas. The study focuses around the elements of user-centered design that include: visibility, limitation, accessibility, legibility, and language. Examinations further indicate the website should contain the following basic conventions: page header, persistent navigation, feature area, content area, text links, sidebars, and footer navigation. Accompanying the manuscript is a cassette disc of the website with color changes from what is originally noted in this Thesis.

The Ethos Of Humor In Technical Communication, David Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within the realm of technical communication, humor has often been regarded as an unnecessary or risky rhetorical device that can negatively impact the credibility of a document. While many other professional fields, such as medicine, computer technology fields, or business have used humor, and humor continues to crop up in "user as producer" documentation, technical writing continues to approach humor cautiously and with little theoretical guidance. In order to fully understand how humor functions, it is important to understand the main theories of humor: superiority, relief, and incongruity. It is also important to understand how humor functions, by looking at …

Intercultural Communication In The Global Age: Lessons Learned From French Technical Communicators, Nicole Tallman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the cultural considerations American technical communicators must address when working with French colleagues and when creating technical documentation for French audiences. A review of the literature on intercultural communication theory was conducted, along with a review of the limited research on technical communication in France and the needs of French audiences. A qualitative online survey of French technical communicators was also conducted. Through this survey, French technical communicators reported on their intercultural beliefs, experiences, and practices, and information, language, and cultural needs. Survey responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Two main themes were developed as a …

Virtual Teams And Intercultural Ethics: Preventative Measures For Ethical Dilemmas, Rebecca Blanton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the ethical challenges faced by technical communicators working in global virtual teams. Virtual teams usage are becoming increasingly more popular and diverse. As a result, it is valuable for technical communicators to understand and recognize the challenges that are faced within global virtual teams in order to find solutions and preventive measures for these challenges. The ethical challenges present in global virtual teams were determined by examining the literature on virtual teams and intercultural ethics and conducting a survey of practicing technical communicators who have experience in virtual teams. The purpose of the survey was to determine …

Social Media And Its Effect On Privacy, Brittney Adams

HIM 1990-2015

While research has been conducted on social media, few comparisons have been made in regards to the privacy issues that exist within the most common social media networks, such as Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. Most research has concentrated on technical issues with the networks and on the effects of social media in fields such as medicine, law, and science. Although the effects on these fields are beneficial to the people related to them, few studies have shown how everyday users are affected by the use of social media. Social media networks affect the privacy of users because the networks …

Seniors And Social Networking: A Class To Connect Family And Friends, Catherine A. Chatelain

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important life stages that senior citizens experience is the need to share the legacy of their lives with others. While many senior citizens are able to share these with family members, many others do not have the opportunity or the people to share this important time in their lives with. This project was designed with both of these groups in mind in an attempt to connect seniors with others through the social networking site, Facebook. The element of writing was also adopted into the project as a means to get seniors to reflect on their lives …

Creating A Standard Operating Procedures Manual: The Ualr Graduate School Experience, Shannon Marie Clowney

Theses and Dissertations

In the summer of 2009 I was given the task to create a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual for the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This was a unique work assignment because SOPs are typically created for scientific, medical, or military organizations. Therefore there was not a reliable template I could find to use as a model for this document. The purpose of this thesis is to help fill that gap. It offers other technical writers a set of steps to follow when given the task of writing an SOP for an organization within higher …

Simulations For Financial Literacy, Angela Hamilton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Financially literate consumers are empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to make sound financial decisions that ensure their long-term economic well-being. Within the context of the range of cognitive, psychological, and social factors that influence consumer behavior, simulations enhance financial literacy by developing consumers’ mental models for decision-making. Technical communicators leverage plain language and visual language techniques to communicate complex financial concepts in ways that consumers can relate to and understand. Simulations for financial education and decision support illustrate abstract financial concepts, provide a means of safe experimentation, and allow consumers to make informed choices based on a longitudinal …

The Gender Gap In Technical Communication: How Women Challenge The Predominant Objectivist Paradigm, Nathan Bower

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women are currently underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how this underrepresentation translates to a gender gap in the field of technical communication and how this gap causes women to challenge the predominant objectivist paradigm in the field. Through an investigation of peer-reviewed journal articles, periodicals, critical theory, and articles published in online magazines such as Slate, I identify the gendered nature of modern technology and discuss to what extent a shift in the predominant paradigm has occurred in the professional arena. In looking at several theoretical approaches …

Technology Implementation In K-12 Schools: A Research Study Of Perceptions And Practice, Kaitlin Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, even though 97% of classrooms have at least one instructional computer available, only 40% of teachers in public schools (including elementary and secondary) report using computers in the classroom often. My project aims to illustrate the barriers that are keeping K-12 teachers from integrating technology in their classrooms, such as the lack of availability for training, teacher’s lack of knowledge or schooling, or a lack of IT support. It also discusses possible solutions to the problem, such as teacher training and better resources. By assessing the Level of Technology Integration, or LoTi, …

Lac 1a Instructor Resource Guide: Uni I Am Writing, David Grant, Debra Dimond Young

Faculty Work

Writing is an important aspect of any college experience. It goes beyond mere examinations of knowledge and is part of the very learning process itself. We are proud to have so much collective experience and so many talents across our campus that can help students in all years tackle a ubiquitous task that is at once complex, daunting, and seemingly self-­‐evident. This guide is meant to supplement, support, and enhance the talents and experience of our staff. We recognize that teaching writing is a collaborative endeavor. You may be teaching writing for the first semester as a Graduate Assistant, as …

Low-Stakes, Reflective Writing: Moving Students Into Their Professional Fields, Joyce Neff, Garrett J. Mcauliffe, Carl Whithaus, Nial P. Quinlan

English Faculty Publications

This study examines low-stakes, written commentaries from a graduate counseling course to better understand the role writing plays in the transition from being a student to becoming a professional practitioner. The cross disciplinary research team used methods from Grounded Theory to analyze 60 commentaries and found that: (1) low-stakes, reflective writing revealed changes in self-awareness from Situational Self-Knowledge to Pattern Self-Knowledge (Weinstein & Alschuler, 1985); (2) low-stakes writing provided evidence of students connecting personally to learning and then connecting learning to professional practice; and (3) low-stakes writing encouraged the instructor to make mid-course adjustments to his teaching methods. This study …

Gender Bias In The Technical Disciplines, Jessica Lynn Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how women are affected by gender bias in the workplace. Despite the increasing numbers of women in the workforce, women are still under-represented and under-valued in workplaces, which, in part, is due to their gender stereotype. This study demonstrates how gender bias in the workplace has been proven to limit women in their careers and potential in their occupational roles. The media’s negative depiction of women in their gender stereotype reinforces and perpetuates this image as a cultural norm in society. Women both conform and are judged and evaluated according to their weak and submissive gender stereotype. …

A Technical Writer's Guide To Search Engine Optimization, James Arrowood

Theses and Dissertations

Search engine optimization is a process that requires extensive technical writing skills. Technical writers are well poised to fill the role of search engine optimizer due to a strong background in rhetorical analysis of web text, audience analysis, document indexing, and copywriting. The search engine optimization techniques discussed in this thesis demonstrate the writing processes involved in search engine optimization and serves as a guide to technical writers that may one day find themselves in a search engine optimization role.

Becoming A Professional Indexer, Robyn Dewall

Theses and Dissertations

Indexing is an important, yet behind-the-scenes, rhetorical activity that provides readers with quick access to information. The format and creation of the index, since its inception, continues to evolve with the transforming format and mode of information. Although professional freelance indexers come from all walks of life, the journey to become such always progresses through the same three stages--gaining an introduction to the profession, followed by learning an indexing methodology, until finally, gaining enough confidence in their abilities, they can announce to the world that they are open for business. After becoming a professional, indexers use the skill of textual …

Faculty Perceptions About Attributes And Barriers Impacting The Diffusion Of Online Education In Two Saudi Universities, Mohammed Mfarij Alhawiti

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recognizing that faculty are an essential part of the success of any distance education program, this study sought to examine faculty perceptions of attributes and barriers impacting diffusion of online education at two Saudi universities: Taif University and Tabuk University. More specifically, the study intended to (a) give an overview of faculty members’ current stage in the innovation-decision process in regards to online education, (b) examine faculty perceptions about attributes (motivating factors) and barriers (inhibiting factors) impacting diffusion of online education, (c) investigate the relationship between faculty members’ selected personal characteristics (including age, years of teaching, DE experience, gender, academic …