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Reporting Technical Information

Eleventh Edition
Kenneth W. Houp, Thomas E. Pearsall, Elizabeth Tebeaux and Sam Dragga
ISBN13: 9780195178791ISBN10: 0195178793 Paperback, 640 pages
Jul 2005,  In Stock

Retail Price to Students:

$99.95 (04)
640 pages; 35 color & 68 b/w illus.; 7-1/2 x 9-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-517879-1ISBN10: 0-19-517879-3
A classic in the field for more than 30 years, in a new edition featuring an extensive companion website

Table of Contents

Preface
A New Direction
Our Approach and Organization
What's New in the Eleventh Edition
Ancillaries
A Final Note
Acknowledgments
1. An Overview of Technical Writing
The Matter of Definition
Writing at Work versus Writing at School
Eight Basic Differences
Writing and Communicating at Work
The Foundations of Effective Technical Writings
The Qualities of Good Technical Writing
Exercises
PART ONE. FOUNDATIONS
2. Composing
The Basic Parts of the Composing Process
Analyzing the Writing Situation: Audience and Purpose
Choosing/Discovering Content
Arranging Content
Drafting and Revising
Revision
Document Design
Editing
Using the Composing Process in a Workplace Environment
Understanding the Composing Process: Why Bother?
Exercises
3. Writing for Your Readers
Goals of Communication
The Planning Process
Determining Your Readers
Asking Questions to Analyze Your Readers
Determining Your Purpose
Understanding Your Role as a Writer
Planning the Content
Anticipating the Context in Which Your Writing Will Be Received
Thinking about Your Readers: A Summary of Considerations
Exercises
4. Achieving a Readable Style
The Paragraph
Basic Principles of Effective Style
Determine Readers' Knowledge of the Subject
Determine Whether a Particular Style Will Be Expected
Anticipate Readers' Comprehension Level in a Given Context
Know Your Relationship to the Readers and How You Want to Sound
Adjust the Style to the Reader, the Purpose, and the Context
Select Your Level of Language; Adjust the Density of Information
The Sentence
Watch Sentence Length
Keep Subjects and Verbs Close Together
Omit Verbiage; Use Concrete Verbs
Write "Clean" Prose
Avoid Ponderous Language
Avoid Excessive Use of Is/Are Verb Forms
Use Active Voice for Clarity
Define When Necessary
Avoid Impersonal Language
Exercises
5. Writing Ethically
Ethical Perspectives
Your Professional Obligations
Codes of Conduct
Recognizing Unethical Communication
Plagiarism and Theft of Intellectual Property
Deliberately Imprecise or Ambiguous Language
Manipulation of Numerical Information
Use of Misleading Illustrations
Promotion of Prejudice
Anticipating Consequences
Applying Principles
Handling Unethical Situations
Exercises
PART TWO. TECHNIQUES
6. Writing for International Readers
Establishing a Perspective on International Communication
Understanding Readers from Various Cultures
Individualism versus Collectivism: Valuing Either Individuals or Groups
Separation of Business and Private Relationships
Power Distance between Social Ranks
Universal or Relative View of Truth
Whether the Entire Message Is Contained in the Text
Whether Uncertainty Is to Be Avoided or Accepted
The Power and Value of Time
Masculine versus Feminine
Considering Culture in the Planning Process
Example International Documents
Writing Business Communications to Readers in Other Cultures
Culture and Graphics
Format Strategies in Other Cultures
A Final Word
Guides to Doing Business in Cultures around the World
Exercises
7. Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Information
Asking Productive Questions
Looking for Answers
Interviews
Newsgroups
World Wide Web
Libraries
Evaluating Answers
Interviews
Newsgroups
Web Sites
Books and Articles
Citing Sources
Exercises
8. Designing and Formatting Documents
Understanding the Basics of Document Design
Know What Decisions Are Yours to Make
Choose a Design That Fits Your Situation
Plan the Design from the Beginning
Reveal the Design to the Readers
Keep the Design Consistent
Designing Effective Pages and Screens
Use Blank Space to Frame and Group Information
Space the Lines of Text for Easy Reading
Set the Line Length for Easy Reading
Use a Ragged Right Margin
Choosing Readable Type
Choose a Legible Type Size
Choose a Font That Suits Your Document
Use Special Typefaces Sparingly
Use Highlighting Effectively
Use a Mixture of Cases, Not All Capitals
Use Color Cautiously and Consistently
Helping Readers Locate Information
Write Descriptive Headings
Design Distinctive Headings
Use Page Numbers and Headers or Footers
Designing Web Sites
Creating the Site
Designing the Pages of the Site
Maintaining the Site
Testing Your Design
Planning the Usability Test
Conducting the Test
Interpreting and Revising
Exercises
9. Creating and Managing Text
Collecting and Grouping Information
Planning Content Development
Reports with Standard Arrangement Patterns
Reports Designed for Specific Reader Needs
Persuasive Arrangement and Development
Strategies for Developing Content
Organization and Content Development
Other Types of Development
Exercises
10. Developing the Main Elements of Reports
Prefatory Elements
Letter of Transmittal
Title Page
Submission Page
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Glossary and List of Symbols
Abstracts and Summaries
Informative Abstract
Descriptive Abstract
Summary
Discussion or Body of the Report
Parts of the Discussion
Strategy for Presenting the Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
Appendixes
Online Reports
Exercises
11. Creating Tables and Figures
Choosing Illustrations
Consider Your Purpose
Consider Your Audience
Consider Your Audience Again
Consider Your Purpose Again
Creating Illustrations
Designing Tables
Designing Bar and Column Graphs
Designing Circle Graphs (Pie Charts)
Designing Line Graphs
Designing Flowcharts
Designing Diagrams
Editing Photographs
Designing Illustrations Ethically
Exercises
PART THREE. APPLICATIONS
12. Planning Correspondence and E-mail
Determining Your Purpose
Analyzing the Audience
Composing Letters, Memos, and E-mail
Finding the Appropriate Style
Direct versus Indirect Style
Conversational Style
Special Considerations for E-mail
Special Considerations for International Correspondence
Keeping Copies of Correspondence
Exercises
13. Creating Reports for Any Occasion
The Variable Nature of Reports
Liability and Report Writing
General Report Requirements
Determining Report Structure
Determining Internal Report Development
Importance of the Introduction and Summary
The Online Report
The Slide/Visual Presentation Report
Exercises
14. Developing Analytical Reports: Recommendation Reports and Feasibility Studies
Analytical Reports
Recommendation Reports
Feasibility Studies
Purpose
Environmental Impact Systems
Exercises
15. Developing Empirical Research Reports
Major Sections of Empirical Research Reports
Abstract
Introduction and Literature Review
Summary
Materials and Methods
Results
Conclusion
Acknowledgments and References
Other Examples for Analysis and Comparison
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Exercises
16. Writing Proposals and Progress Reports
The Relationship between Proposals and Progress Reports
Proposals
The Context of Proposal Development
Effective Argument in Proposal Development
Standard Sections of Proposals
Progress Reports
Structure by Work Performed
Structure by Chronological Order
Structure by Main Project Goals
Physical Appearance of Proposals and Progress Reports
Style and Tone of Proposals and Progress Reports
Other Forms of Proposals and Progress Reports
Exercises
17. Formulating Instructions, Procedures, and Policies
Planning Instructions and Procedures
Structure and Organization
Introduction
Theory Governing the Procedure or Instruction
Warnings, Cautions, Hazards, and Notes Regarding Safety or Quality
Conditions under which the Task Is to Be Performed
Steps in Performing the Task
Name of Each Step
Procedures
Format Considerations for Instructions and Procedures
Policies
Procedures and Policy Manuals
Exercises
18. Writing Collaboratively
Issues in Collaboration
Value of Collaboration
Techniques for Developing Collaborative Documents
The On-site Collaborative Group
The Distributed Collaborative Work Group
The Lead Author Work Group
Making Collaborative Projects Work
Collaborative Projects in Action
Exercises
19. Preparing Oral Reports: The Basics
Understanding the Speaking/Writing Relationship
Analyzing the Audience
Analyzing the Context
Determining the Goal of Your Presentation
Choosing and Shaping Content
Deciding How to Arrange and Organize Content
Designing Each Segment: Guidelines
Choose an Interesting Title
Develop Your Presentation about Three Main Divisions
Plan the Introduction Carefully
Design the Body to Help People Comprehend Your Ideas
Design the Conclusion to Reinforce Your Main Ideas
Choosing an Appropriate Speaking Style
Speaking to Multicultural Audiences
Using Techniques to Enhance Audience Comprehension
Planning Visuals to Enhance Your Purpose and Your Meaning
Designing and Presenting the Written Paper
Structuring the Written Speech
Writing the Speech
Practicing the Presentation
Speaking Effectively: Practice, Practice, Practice
Exercises
20. Understanding the Strategies and Communications of the Job Search
Preparation
Self-Assessment
Information Gathering
Networking
The Correspondence of the Job Search
Letter of Application
The Résumé
Follow-up Letters
Interviewing
The Interview
Negotiation
Before and after the Interview
Exercises
Appendix A. Handbook
Index

Available Resources

Companion Resources

The following resources are available from the "Reporting Technical Information, Eleventh Edition" companion site: