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Technical Report Writing Today, Ninth Edition
Daniel G. Riordan, University of Wisconsin, Stout
Steven E. Pauley
Table of Contents

I: Technical Communication Basics
1. Definition of Technical Communication
A General Definition of Technical Communication
Major Traits of Technical Communication
Globalization and Cultural Awareness

2. Profiling Audiences
An Example of Technical Writing
Who Is the Audience?
What Is the Audience's Task?
What Is the Audience's Knowledge Level?
What Factors Influence the Situation?
Creating Audience Profiles

3. The Technical Communication Process
An Overview of the Process
Planning Your Document
Drafting and Finishing Your Document
Editing

4. Technical Communication Style
Write Clear Sentences for Your Reader
Write Clear Paragraphs for Your Reader
Globalization and Style
Choose a Tone for the Reader
Ethics and Style

5. Researching
The Purpose of Research
Questioning--The Basic Skill of Researching
Collecting Information from People
Collecting Published Information

6. Designing Pages
Using Visual Features to Reveal Content
Using Text Features to Convey Meaning
Developing a Style Sheet and Template

7. Using Visual Aids
The Uses of Visual Aids
Creating and Discussing Visual Aids
Using Tables
Using Line Graphs
Using Bar Graphs
Using Pie Charts
Ethics and Visual Effects
Globalization and Visual Aids
Using Charts
Using Illustrations

8. Summarizing
Summarizing

9. Defining
Creating Formal Definitions
Creating Informal Definitions
Developing Extended Definitions
Planning Your Definition
10. Describing
Planning the Mechanism Description
Writing the Mechanism Description
Planning the Process Description
Writing the Process Description
Planning the Description of a Human System
Writing the Description of a Human System

II. Technical Communication Applications

11. Sets of Instructions
Planning the Sets of Instructions
Globalization and Instructions
Writing the Set of Instructions
Field-Testing Instructions
Article Instructions


12. Memorandums and Informal Reports
The Elements of Memos
The Elements of Informal Reports
Types of Informal Reports
Ethics and E-mail


13. Developing Websites
Basic Web Concepts
Planning a Website or Web Document
Drafting
Testing
Ethics and Websites


14. Formal Reports
The Elements of a Formal Report
Front Material
Globalization/Localization and Websites
The Body of the Formal Report
End Material


15. Recommendation and Feasibility Reports
Planning the Recommendation Report
Drafting the Recommendation Report
Planning the Feasibility Report
Writing the Feasibility Report


16. Proposals
The External Proposal
Planning the External Proposal
Writing the External Proposal
The Internal Proposal
Planning the Internal Proposal
Ethics and Proposals
Writing the Internal Proposal


17. User Manuals
Planning the Manual
Writing the Manual


III. Professional Communication

18. Oral Presentations
Planning the Presentation
Make an Effective Presentation
Globalization and Oral Presentations


19. Letters
Three Basic Letter Formats
Elements of a Letter
Planning Business Letters
Globalization and Letters
Ethics and Letters
Types of Business Letters

20. Job Application Materials

Analyzing the Situation
Planning the Résumé
Writing the Résumé
Planning a Letter of Application
Ethics and Résumés
Writing a Letter of Application
Globalization and Job Applications
Interviewing
Writing Follow-Up Letters
Appendices

Appendix A Brief Handbook for Technical Writers
Problems with Sentence Construction
Punctuation
Abbreviations, Capitalization, and Numbers

Appendix B Documenting Sources
How Internal Documentation Works
The APA Method
The MLA Method
Numbered References


Index



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