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technical communication
Technical Communication 13th Edition John M. Lannon, Laura J. Gurak - Solutions
Find a document that presents the snmc information in seve ral languages (assembly instructions for various products are often written in two or three languages, for example). Evalu ate the design decisions made in these documen ts. for example, nrc the different languages presented side by side or
Many of today's technical documents are designed so they can be displnycd on the computer and also printed ;ind used in hard copy. The best choice for this approach is to crc;itc the document in PDF format(page 3 14). Locate a cop)' of your resume, a memo, or another document you wrote for work or
Working in small groups, redesign a document you select or )'Our instructor provides. Prepare a detailed expl;ination of your group's revision. Appoint a group member lo present your revision to the clnss
4. On campus or nt work, locate a document with n design that needs revision. Cnndidates include career coun!>cling handbooks, financial aid hand·books, student or faculty handbooks, software or computer manuals, medic;il information, newsletters, or rcgbtr:llion procedures. Redesign the whole
3. Using the checklist on page design, redesign an earlier assignment or a document you've prepared on the job. Submit to your instructor the revision and 1hc original, along with a memo explaining your improvements. Discuss your design in class.
2. The followi ng are headings from a set of instructions for listening. Rewrite 1he headings to make them parallel.• You ~lust Focus on the Message• Paying Attention to Nom·erbal Communication• Your Biases Should Be Suppressed• Listen for Main Ideas• Distractions Should Be Avoided•
1. Find an example of effective page design. Photocopy a selection (two or three pages). and attach a memo explaining to your instructor and classmates why this design is effective. 13e specific in your evaluation.Now do the same for an example of ineffective page design, making specific
How Page Design Transforms a Document
The International Organization for Standardiwtion(ISO) is a group devoted to standardizing a range of material, including technical specifications and visual information. If you've ever been in an airport and seen the many international signs directing travelers to the restroom or informing them
Compile a list of six Web sites that offer graphics sup port by way of advice, image banks, design ideas, art ·work catalogs, and the like. Provide the address for each site, along with a description of the resources offered and their approximate cost. Report your findings in the format stipulated
Assume that your instructor is planning to purchase five copies of a graphics software package for students to use in designing their documents. 111c instructor has not yet decided which general-purpose package would be most useful. Your group's task is to test one package and to make a
11. Locate a Web page that uses color effectively to mirror the site's main theme or personality. to orient the reader, and to provide cues for easy navigation.Download the page and print it. Prepare a brief memo justifying your choice.Note: In a computer classroom, consider doing your presentation
10. Locate a document (news, magazine, or journal article, brief instructions) that lacks adequate or appropriate visuals. Analyze the document and identify where visuals would be helpful. In a memo to the document's editor or author, provide an art brief and a thumbnail sketch (page 273) for each
9. Anywhere on campus or at work, locate a visual that needs revision for accuracy, clarity, appearance, or appropriateness. Look in computer manuals, lab manuals, newsletters, financial aid or admissions or placement brochures, student or faculty handbooks, newspapers, or textbooks. Using the
8. Display each of these sets of information in the visual format most appropriate for the stipulated audience. Complete the planning sheet in Figure 12.38 for each visual. Explain why you selected tJ1e type of visual as most effective for that audience Include with each visual a caption that
7. Choose the most appropriate visual for illustrating each of these relationships.a. A comparison of three top brands of skis, according to cost, weight, durability, and edge control.b. A breakdown of your monthly budget.c. The changing cost of an average cup of coffee, as opposed to that of an
6. In textbooks or professional journal articles, locate each of these visuals: a table, a multiple-bar graph, a multiline graph, a diagram, and a photograph.Evaluate each according to the revision checklist, and discuss lhe most effective visual in class.
5. Obtain enrollment figures at your college for the past five years by gender, age, race, or any other pertinent category. Construct a stacked-bar graph to illustrate one of these relationships over the five years.
4. Devise a pie chart to depict your yearly expenses.Title and discuss the chart.
3. Devise an organization chart showing the lines of responsibility and authority in an organization where you work.
2. Devise a flowchart for a process in your field or area of interest. Include a title and a brief discussion.
1. The following statistics are based on data from three colleges in a large western city. They compare lhe number of applicants to each college over six years.• In 2008 X college received 2,341 applications for admission, Y college received 3,116, and Z college 1,807.• In 2009 X college
Sea rch the Intern et using the keywords "international business culture" to learn about the style preferences of one particu lar culture. TI1en, in a one-page memo to your instructor and classmates, describe the style preferences of that culture and give examples of how these preferences differ
In teams of 3-4 students, use a laptop computer OR a smartphone (pick one or the other, one per team)to write an email message to your instructor, asking a question about next week's assignment. First, discuss the word choice, tone, and style most appropriate for this message. Then, as you type,
Use a documen t written for the course. In small groups, look for problems of clari ty, conciseness, and fluency. Mark any grammatical errors. ·n1en ask sru dents with different word-processing programs to run the paper through the grammar and style check programs available to them. Compare the
Using the Checklist for Style, revise the following selections.(l li11t: use the brief example on page 210 as a model for revision.) The new phone system has proven to be particularly interruptive to the administration office assistants.It is highly imperative that you take particular note to
Using the Checklist for Style, revise the following selections.(l li11t: use the brief example on page 210 as a model for revision.) We are presently awaiting an on-site inspection of the designated professional library location by corporate representatives relative to electrical adaptations
Using the Checklist for Style, revise the following selections.(l li11t: use the brief example on page 210 as a model for revision.)a. Letter to a local newspaper.In the absence of defi nitive studies regardjng the optimum length of the school day, I can only state my personal opinion based upon
Find examples of overly euphemistic language (such as "chronologically challenged") or of insensitive language (such as "lame excuse"). Discuss examples in class.
The sentences below suffer from negative emphasis, excessive informality, biased expressions, or offensive usage. Adjust the tone.a . If you want your workers to like you, show sensitivily to their needs.b . The union has won ils struggle for a decent wage.c. The group's spokesman demanded salary
These sentences have too few I or \Ve constructions or too many passive constructions.Adjust the tone.a. Payment will be made as soon as an itemized bill is received.b. You will be notified.c. Your help is appreciated.d. Our reply to your bid will be sen t nexl week.e. Your request will be given
The sentences below suffer from pretentious langu
Edit these sentences to make them more precise and informative.a. Anaerobic fermentation is used in this report.b. Your crew damaged a piece of office equipment.c. His performance was admirable.d. This thing bothers me
Edit these sentences to eliminate euphemism, overstatement, or unsupported generalizations.a. I finally must admit that I am an abuser of intoxicating beverages.b. I was less than candid.c. This employee is poorly motivated.d. Most entry- level jobs are bo ring and dehumanizing.e. Clerical jobs
Edit these sentences to eliminate useless jargon and triteness.a. To optimize your financial return, prioritize your investment goals.b. The use of this product engenders a 50 percent repeat consumer encounter.c. We'll have to swalJow our pride and ad mit our mistake.d. Managers who make the grade
Edit these sentences for straightforward and familiar language.a. May you find luck and success in all endeavors.b. I suggest you reduce the number of cigarettes you consume.c. Within the copier, a magnetic reed switch is utilized as a mode of replacement for the conventional microswitches that
Make these sentences more concise by changing negatives 10 positives and by clearing out clu tt er words and need less qualifiers.a. Our design must avoid nonconformity with buiJding codes.b. Never fail to wear protective clot hing.c. We are currently in the situation of completing our
Make these sentences more concise by eliminating needless preposiLions, to be constructions, and nominalizations.a. In the event of system failure, your sounding of the alarm is essen tial.b. These are the recommendations of the chairperson of the committee.c. Our acceptance of the offer is a
Edit each of these wordy and vague sentences to eliminate weak verbs.a. Our disposal procedure is in conformity with federal standards.b. Please make a decision today.c. We need to have a discussion about the problem.d. I have just come to the realization that I was mistaken.e. Your conclusion is
Make these sentences more concise by eliminating 111ere and It openers and needless prefaces.a. There was severe fire damage to the reactor.b. There are several reasons why Jane left the company.c. It is essential that we act immediately.d. It has been reported by 13ill that several safety
Make these sentences more concise by eliminating wordy phrases, redundancy, and needless repetition.a. I have admiration for Professor Jones.b. Due to the fact that we made the lowest bid, we won the contract.c. On previous occasions we have worked together.d. We have completely eliminated the bugs
Unscramble this overstuffed sentence by making shorter, clearer sentences.A smoke-filled room causes not only teary eyes and runny noses but also can alter people's hearing and vision, as well as creating dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, especially for people with heart and lung ailments, whose
The sentences below lack proper emphasis because of inappropriate use of the active voice.Convert each to passive voice.a. Joe's company flfed him.b. A power surge destroyed more than two thousand lines of our new applications program.c. You are paying inadequate atten tion to worker safety.d. You
Convert these passive voice sentences to concise, forceful, and direct expressions in the active voice.a. The evaluation was performed by us.b. Unless you pay me within three days, my lawyer will be contacted.c. Hard hats should be worn at all times.d. It was decided to reject your offer.e. Our
Edit to unstack modifying nouns or to rearrange word order for coherence and emphasis.a. Develop online editing system documentation.b. I recommend these management performance improvement incentives.c. Our profits have doubled since we automated our assembly line.d. Education enables us to
Edit each sentence below to eliminate ambiguities in pronoun reference or to clarify ambiguous modifiers.a. Janice dislikes working with Claire because she's impatient.b. Bill told Fred that he was mistaken.c. Only use this phone in a red alert.d. Just place the dishes back in the cabinets after 8
Find a document that presents the same information in several languages (assembly instructions, for example).Even without being able to understand all of the languages used, sec if you can spot any changes made in the use of headings, the length of paragraphs, or the extent to which information is
Locate a Web page and a print document (brochure, user guide) about the same product. Compare these, looking for different ways in which material is organized on the Web versus in print. Compare, for example, the use of headings in each. In class, give a short presentation on these differences.
Assume your group is preparing a report titled "The Negative Effects of Strip Mining on the Cumberland Plateau Region of Kentud.-y." After brainstorming and researching, you all settle on four major topics:• economic and social effects of strip mining• description of the strip-mining process•
1. For each document below, use the outlining strategy described on page 196 to list the topics that need to be covered. Then, organize your list into a formal outline (page 197) most suited to readers of this particular type of document.• instructions for operating a power tool• a campaign
Find a long article (longer than five pages) from a technical, scientific, financial, or similar publication that deals with an issue that is global in scope (for instance, an article about the use of pesticides in different countries or one that discusses the ways in which financial decisions have
In class, form teams whose members have similar majors or interests. Decide on a related topic currently in the news. Compare the news coverage of the same topic in different media formats. For example, find the print copy of a newspaper story, then an online version of the same story, and, if
Jn small groups, choose a topic for discussion: an employment problem, a campus problem, plans for an event, suggestions for energy conservation, or the like.(A possible topic: Should employers have the right to require lie detector tests, drug tests, or HIV tests for their employees?) Discuss the
2. Find a long article (at least five pages) and summarize it, following the step-by-step process described in this chapter, and keeping accuracy, completeness, conciseness, and nontechnical language always in mind. Capture the essence and main points of the original article in no more than
I . Find an article about your major field or area of interest and write both an informative abstract and a descriptive abstract for that article.
Differentiate among four special types of summari es: closing summaries, informative abstracts, descriptive abstracts, and executive abstracts
As indicated in the Consider This box on page 159, specifi c cultures have their own standards for credible evidence. ln other words, diflcrcnt cultures reason dilTerently. Using Google, research this phenomenon by conducting a search on "cultural differences in reasoning:· Learn how at least two
Uninformed opinions are usually based on assumptions we've never really examined. Examples of popular assumptions that are largely unexamined:• "13ottled water is safer and better for us than tap water:'• "Forest fires should always be prevented or suppressed immediately:·• "The fewer germs
Projects from the previous or fo llowing section may be done as team projects.
From media, personal experience, or the Int ern et, identify an example of each of the following sources of distortion or of interpretive error:• a studr with questionable sponsorship or motives• reliance on insufficient evidence• unbalanced present ation• deceptive framing of facts•
Using the Guidelines for Informational Interviews on pages 142-43, write an email to an interviewee who speaks fluent English but comes from another country.How might you approach the request for an interview differently? In addition to research about your topic and your respondent's background
Using Wikipedia as a starting point, research a topic for this class or another class. Select a topic that is "big"(for example, global warming). Use the footnotes in the Wikipedia article to help you narrow your focus.(For instance, you might discover a footnote to an article about global warming
Divide into groups according to majors. Assume that several employers in your field are holding a job fair on campus next month and will be interviewing entry-level candidates. Each member of your group is assigned to develop a profile of one of these companies or organizations by researching its
Phase Three: Organizing Your Data and Writing the Reporta. Revise your working outline as needed.b. Document each source of information (page 648).c. Write your final draft according to the checklist on page 171.d. Proofread carefully. Add front and end matter supplements (Chapter 22).Due Dates: To
Phase 1\vo: Collecting, Evaluating, and Interpreting Data (Read Chapters 8-9 in preparation for this phase.)a. In your research, begin with general works for an overview, and then consult more specific sources.b. Skim the sources, looking for high points.c. Take notes selectively (page 644),
Begin researching for the analytical report (Chapter 22)due al semester's end.Phase One: Preliminary Stepsa. Choose a topic that affects you, your workplace, or your community directly.b. Develop a tree chart (page 127) to help you ask the right questions.c. Complete an audience and use profile
• Differentiate between primary and secondary research
Differentiate between procedural stages and inquiry stages of research
Does the writing process in an Eastern culture (such as Japan, China, or Tndin) differ from that in Western cultures? Use the Internet to research this question. Be prepared to discuss your findings in class.
in teams of3-4 students, imagine that as a team you have been asked to create a job description for an entry-level job at your company. (Use your past experience or an internship you've had to tJ1ink of a job that would be suit able for this exercise.) Before writing the ad, you need to generate
Working in groups, assume that you are a training team for XYZ Corporation. After completing the first section of this text and the course, what advice about the writing process would you have for a beginning writer who wi ll freque ntly need to write reports on the job? In a one- or two -page memo
Compare Glenn's second draft (page 113) with his final draft (page 116). Identify all improvements in content, arrangement, and style besides those already discussed.
On the Web, examine the role of global collaboration in building the International Space Station.Summarize your findings in a memo to share in class.
In teams of 2-4 students, discuss (in class) the virtual meeting technologies described on page 87. Which technologies would be most useful for students projects? For workplace meetings?Do you currently use technologies that are not listed here (for example, do you use Facebook for connecting with
3. Use email or instant messaging to confer on all phases of a collaborative project, including peer review (page 96).When your project is complete, write an explanation telling how electronic conferencing eased or hampered the group's efforts and how it improved or detracted from the overall
2. Listening Competence: Use the Guidelines on page 91 to:a. assess the listening behaviors of one member in your group during collaborative work,b. have another member assess your behaviors, andc. do a self-assessment.Record the findings and compare each selfassessment with the corresponding
1. Gender Differences: Divide into small groups of mixed genders. Review pages 89-90. Then test the hypothesis that women and men communicate differently in the workplace.Each member prepares the following brief messages-wit11out consulting other members:• A thank-you note to a coworker who has
Find an example of a document designed to "sell"an item, an idea, or a viewpoint (a sales brochure for a new automobile, a pharmaceutical brochure for some popular prescription medication, a Web page for an environmental or political organization, or something similar). Write a brief description of
Examine Web sites that make competing claims about a controversial topic such as bioengineered foods and crops, nuclear power, or alternative medicine.For example, compare claims about nuclear energy from the Nuclear Energy Institute .vww.nei.org> with claims from the Sierra Club , the American
Assume that you are a training manager for ABC Corporation, which is in the process of overhauling its policies on company ethics. Developing the company's official Code of Ethics will require months of research and collaboration with attorneys, ethics consultants, editors, and company officers.
2. Prepare a brief presentation for classmates or coworkers in which you answer these questions: What is plagiarism? How do I avoid it? Start by exploring the following sites:• Plagiarism: What fl Is and How to Recognize a11d Avoid It, from Writing Tutorial Services at • Avoiding Plagiarism,
I. Visit a Web site for a profess ional association in your field (American Psychological Association, Society for Technical Communication, American Nursing Association) and locate its code of ethics.How often are communication-related issues mentioned? Print a copy of the code for a class
Differentiate between ethical practices and legal guidelines
2. Use the questions on page 52 as a basis for interviewing a srudent from another count qr or culture.Be prepared to share your findings with the class.
l . Effective persuasive techniques in one culture may not work in another culture. Do a Web search on"i ntercu ltural communication" and locate a topic that is important for technical communication. For instance, you might locate information about the different ways in which certain types of
Digital information, such as Web sites, Facebook pages, or YouTube videos, uses a mix of media formats (text, images, color, sounds) and a focus on particular audiences to make a persuasive case. Using the same topic your class selected for the Team project, work in teams of 2-3 students to
As a class, select a topic that involves persuasion. Topics might include childhood obesity, climate change, nutritional supplements, or other. In teams of 2-3 students.find a document (on line or print) that makes a persuasive case about the topic. Write a short summary of what techniques these
2. Think about some change you would like to see on your campus or at work. Perhaps you would Jjke to promote something new, such as a campus-wide policy on plagiarism, changes in course offerings or requirements, an off-campus shuttle service, or a daycare center. Or perhaps you would like to
I. Find an effective persuasive letter. In a memo(Chapter 14) to your instructor, explain how the message succeeds. Base your evaluation on the persuasion guidelines pages (53-55) and the checklist(page 59). Attach the letter to your memo. Now, evaluate an ineffective document, explaining how and
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service's Web site, at , is designed for a truly global audience.After visiting the site, answer these questions:• Would this site be easy for virtually any English speaker to navigate? List the features that accommodate readers from diverse areas of the
Locate a Web site that accommodates various readers at different levels of technicality. Sites for government agencies such as those listed below are good sources of both general and specialized information.• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)• National
Form teams of 3-6 people. Teammates should be of the same or similar majors (electrical engineering. biology, graphic design, etc.). Research the job market for graduates in your major, including specific types of skills that employers seek beyond those courses in your specialty(such as technical
2. Assume that a new employee is taking over your job because you have been promoted. Identify a specific problem in the job that could cause difficulty for the new employee. Assume that you will need to write instructions for the employee to help him or her avoid or cope with the problem. Create
GENERAL I. Find a short article from your field (or part of a long article or a selection from your textbook for an advanced course). Choose a piece written at the highest level of technicality you can understand and then translate that piece for a layperson, as in the example on page 23. Exchange
Look back at the Sarah Burnes case in this chapter.Assume that you are about to join a team :it work, a team that has members from Ireland, India, China, and the United States. Use the Internet to le:irn what you can about patterns of communication; issues to look for include polit eness,
With a team of 2-3 other students, visit a government Web site, such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, NASA , or the Environmental Protection Agency . Locate documents that are similar in purpose to r:igure 1.1 in this chapter. Analyze these documents, noting
Class members will work together often this semester.To help everyone become acquainted, your task is to introduce to the class the person seated next to you.(That person, in turn, will introduce you.) Follow this procedure:a. Exchange with your neighbor whatever personal information you think the
2. Locate a Web site for an organization that hires graduates in your major. In addition to technical knowledge, what writing and communication skills does this organization seek in job candidates?Discuss your findings in dass and write a short memo to other students, explaining what communication
1. Write a memo to your boss, justifying reimbursement for this course. Explain how the course will help you become more effective on the job. (See Chapter 14 for memo elements and fom1at.)
Observe and discuss the challenges facing one communicator at work
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