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"Technical Communication in the Information Age" provides a foundation in technical communications for the information technology professional. The text provides a basic understanding of audience and writing purpose, as well as tips for writing well and credibly. Information is presented in such a way as to encourage the reader to consider how the basic tenants of good communications apply to their own writing. This text seeks to help the reader learn how to adapt their own style to suit the needs of their specific writing project. While this text focuses on communications for the information technology, computer science and engineering professional, its ideas are pertinent to most writers in any business or academic field.
Special topics within the text include the following:
- illustrations of the importance of communications, including an example using communications issues within NASA
- discussions on writing for audiences with various levels of expertise and different needs
- tips for brainstorming topic ideas, beginning research, taking notes from research sources and tracking sources
- detailed suggestions for using source material effectively and ethically
- formatting documents for effectiveness, professionalism and credibility
- developing outlines, annotated bibliographies, proposals, progress reports, resumes, and research papers
Dr. Rebecca Snarski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Promotion Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a Master of Science in Communications Technology and a PhD in Education from Capella University. Rebecca has been working in communications and technical writing for over 20 years, developing documents from press releases and advertisements to automotive service manuals, Web sites and journal articles. Rebecca has written documents for such companies as AMC Theaters, Capella University, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors. In her personal time Rebecca enjoys creative writing projects, and has written an unpublished screenplay and two teleplays, as well as various short stories. Rebecca splits her time between Tampa, Florida and Port Huron, Michigan, where she lives with her partner, their young son and three cats.
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Technical Communications The Information Age * Defining Technical Communications * The Importance of Technical Communications * Shuttle Disasters
Chapter 2: Audience and Purpose Audience * Purpose * Other Concerns * Maintaining Audience, Purpose and Guidelines * Communicating with Different Populations * Communicating to a Mixed Audience
Chapter 3: Credibility through Ethics and Mechanics Credibility * Grammar and Mechanics * Ethics in Communications * Plagiarism * Using Source Material for Research
Chapter 4: Topic Selection and Research Brainstorming and Choosing Topics * Outlines * Beginning the Actual Research * Taking Notes
Chapter 5: The Writing Process Introduction * Revising * Summary
Chapter 6: Document Types and Formatting Research papers * Proposals * Progress Report * Abstracts and Executive Summaries
Chapter 7: Career and Correspondence Resumes * Cover Letters * Follow-Up and Thank You Letters * E-mail
Chapter 8: Oral Communications and Graphics Oral Communications * Using Graphics Effectively
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