Chapter 1 Technical and Professional Communication in the Workplace

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Chapter 1 Technical and Professional Communication in the Workplace by Mind Map: Chapter 1 Technical and Professional Communication in the Workplace

1. Technical and Professional Communication is: communication about coomplex, detailed problems, issues, or subjects, which helps audiences to understand info so they can make informed and ethical decisions.

2. Genres

2.1. E-mails and Memos

2.2. Letters

2.3. Job Search Documentation

2.4. Technical Definitions

2.5. Technical Descriptions

2.6. Websites

2.7. Technical instructions

2.8. Manuals

2.9. Proposal and requests for proposals

2.10. Informal reports

2.11. formal reports

2.12. Presentations

3. Characteristics

3.1. Rhetorical

3.2. Audience Centered

3.2.1. HTW - Audience

3.3. Technology Oriented

3.4. Ethical

3.4.1. HTW - Ethics in Writing

3.5. Research Oriented

3.6. Professional

3.7. Visual

3.8. Design Centered

3.9. Concise

3.9.1. HTW - Sentence Construction and Sentence Faults

4. Chapter 3 Technical Communication and Electronic Technologies

4.1. Creating Documents

4.1.1. Word Processors

4.1.2. Presentation Software

4.1.3. Graphics and Imaging Software

4.1.4. Web-Authoring Software

4.1.5. Desktop Publishing

4.1.6. Help and E-Learning Authoring tools

4.1.7. Single-Sourcing Programs

4.2. Communicating and Collaborating

4.2.1. The Internet

4.2.1.1. The World Wide Web

4.2.1.2. E-Mail

4.2.1.2.1. Advantages

4.2.1.3. Electronic Messaging

4.2.1.3.1. HTW - page 256-58

4.2.1.4. Videoconferences

4.2.1.5. Groupware

4.2.1.5.1. HTW - Groupware for meeting from remote locations, use groupware or whiteboard software (page 324)

4.3. Ethics and Electronic Communication

4.3.1. Netiquette

4.3.1.1. Choose appropriate email address

4.3.1.2. Use appropriate subject line

4.3.1.3. Respect other's bandwidth

4.3.1.4. Lurk before you leap

4.3.1.5. Polish your writing

4.3.1.6. Watch those caps

4.3.1.7. Use attachments appropriately

4.3.1.8. Back it up and save it

4.3.1.9. When it's out there, it's out there!

4.3.1.10. HTW - Page 163 provides further workplace netiquette checklist

4.3.1.10.1. Maintain professionalism

4.3.1.10.2. Review your organization's policy regarding appropriate use of email

4.3.1.10.3. Use cc: and bcc: thoughtfully

4.3.1.10.4. Include cover letters for emails w/attachments

4.3.1.10.5. avoid abbreviations and emoticons

4.4. In the Future?

4.4.1. Wi-Fi will improve

4.4.2. Bandwidth and Connection speed will improve

4.4.3. Integration and portability will continue to increase

4.4.4. Prices for technology will drop

4.4.5. Transnationalism will continue to influence computer technology

5. Chapter 5 Technical Communication in a Transnational World

5.1. Learning about Differences

5.1.1. Culture

5.1.1.1. Language

5.1.1.1.1. Target language

5.1.1.1.2. Official Language

5.1.1.1.3. Text Directionality

5.1.1.1.4. Writing Style

5.1.1.1.5. Never assume English is known

5.1.1.2. Technology

5.1.1.2.1. Does target country have same access to technology?

5.1.1.3. Education

5.1.1.3.1. Literacy

5.1.1.3.2. Common Body of Knowledge

5.1.1.3.3. Learning Style

5.1.1.4. Politics and Law

5.1.1.4.1. Trade isssues

5.1.1.4.2. Legal issues - copyrights, trademarks, etc

5.1.1.4.3. Political Traditions and Symbols

5.1.1.5. Economics

5.1.1.6. Society

5.1.1.6.1. Age

5.1.1.6.2. Business Etiquette

5.1.1.6.3. Family and Social interaction

5.1.1.7. Religion

5.2. Avoiding Stereotypes

5.2.1. Avoid Assumptions

5.2.2. Ask Questions

5.2.3. Collaborate with the Translator

5.3. Enhancing Translation

5.3.1. Terminology

5.3.2. Clarity

5.3.3. Cultural and Rhetorical Differences

5.3.4. Design

5.4. Ways to accommodate Transnational audiences

5.4.1. Localization

5.4.2. Internationalization

5.4.2.1. 1. Internationalization of transnational document

5.4.2.2. 2. then Localization of the document

5.4.3. Globalizaiton

5.4.4. Verbal Communication

5.5. Transnational Ethics

5.6. Guidelines for Writing for Transnational Audiences

5.6.1. Write Clearly

5.6.1.1. Use correct Punctuation

5.6.1.2. Include definite articles

5.6.1.3. avoid using pronouns

5.6.1.4. use terminology

5.6.1.5. avoid idiomatic language

5.6.1.6. avoid comparatives

5.6.1.7. HTW - Gobbledygook page 233 -Avoid!

5.6.2. Localize your Writing

5.6.2.1. Recognize Alphabetic differences

5.6.2.2. use local numbers

5.6.2.3. Be alert to time difference

5.6.2.4. avoid references to holidays

5.6.2.5. avoid cultural references

5.6.2.6. avoid humor

5.6.3. Account for Visual and auditory perceptions

5.6.3.1. Avoid images of people and hand gestures

5.6.3.2. Reevaluate design elements and principles

5.6.3.3. account for differences in sound interpretation

5.6.3.4. HTW - Page 230-1 - global graphics

5.6.3.4.1. symbols, images, and colors are not free from cultural associations, they depend on context - checklist page 232

6. Process

6.1. Planning

6.2. Researching

6.3. Organizing

6.4. Drafting

6.5. Designing

6.5.1. HTW - Layout and Design

6.6. Integrating Visuals

6.7. Revising

6.8. Rewriting

6.9. Editing

6.10. Testing

7. Problem Solving

7.1. Workplace Problem

7.1.1. PSA (Problem Solving Approach)

7.1.1.1. Plan

7.1.1.1.1. Define and describe "Real" problem

7.1.1.1.2. Establish goals and purposes for writing

7.1.1.1.3. Identify stakeholders and what they need

7.1.1.1.4. Consider Ethical choices with the problem

7.1.1.1.5. Consider document formats and delivery mode

7.1.1.1.6. Figure out what you know and what you need to find out

7.1.1.2. Research

7.1.1.3. Draft

7.1.1.3.1. Confirm document goals, purposes, format and delivery method

7.1.1.3.2. Organize and Draft the document

7.1.1.3.3. Design and Arrange the document

7.1.1.3.4. Add visual elements if appropriate

7.1.1.4. Review

7.1.1.4.1. Test usability of document

7.1.1.4.2. Get feedback from peers or colleagues

7.1.1.4.3. Revise or rewrite document

7.1.1.4.4. Edit to ensure correctness

7.1.1.5. Distribute

7.1.1.5.1. Include related documents and attachements

7.1.1.5.2. Confirm appropriate means to transmit document

7.1.1.5.3. Transmit the document

7.1.1.5.4. Follow up to ensure it was received

7.1.1.5.5. Asses the document's outcome

7.2. Rhetorical Problem

7.2.1. HTW - Persuasion

7.2.1.1. What is Rhetoric?

7.2.1.1.1. Thinking Rhetorically

8. Chapter 2 Rhetorical and Technical Communication Problem Solving - Workplace and Rhetorical

8.1. always more than one way to solve a problem

9. Chapter 4 Ethics and the Workplace Writer

9.1. Ethics

9.1.1. Ethical guidelines for Workplace Writers

9.1.1.1. # 1 Ethics and Laws are no the same

9.1.1.1.1. Liability laws

9.1.1.1.2. Environmental laws

9.1.1.1.3. Copyright laws

9.1.1.1.4. Patent law

9.1.1.1.5. Trademark and Service Mark laws

9.1.1.1.6. Contract laws

9.1.1.2. #2 Be Honest

9.1.1.3. #3 Respect Confidentiality

9.1.2. Ethics in context

9.1.2.1. Situation and Perspective

9.1.2.2. Circulation

9.1.2.3. Revision and Editing

9.1.3. Codes of Ethics

9.1.4. Ethics and Technology

9.1.4.1. Email - never private, anything can be posted, true or false

9.1.4.2. Webpages- not all info on the web is true

9.1.4.3. Visuals - graphics can be altered and misleading

9.1.5. Environmental Factors

9.1.5.1. ethical/rhetorical choices can have environmental ramifications

9.1.6. Avoiding Unethical Writing

9.1.6.1. Don't use deceptive or evasive language

9.1.6.2. Don't obscure or misinterpret the issue

9.1.6.2.1. Abstract language

9.1.6.2.2. Jargon

9.1.6.2.3. Emphasis or suppression of info

9.1.6.2.4. Visual Rhetoric

9.1.6.2.5. Plagiarism

9.1.6.2.6. Use of inaccurate info

10. Chapter 7 Organizing and Drafting Documents

10.1. Predrafting strategies

10.1.1. Confirm purpose

10.1.2. Analyze your audience

10.1.3. Gather your info

10.1.4. Develop ideas about the info

10.1.4.1. Collaboration and Discussion

10.1.4.2. Listing

10.1.4.3. Freewriting

10.1.4.4. Clustering

10.1.5. Organize your info

10.1.5.1. Sequential

10.1.5.2. Chronological

10.1.5.3. Order of importance

10.1.5.4. General/Specific

10.1.5.5. Division

10.1.5.6. Classification

10.1.5.7. Cause and Effect

10.1.5.8. Comparison/Contrast

10.1.5.9. spatial

10.1.5.10. HTW - Called Methods of Development page 329-32 -most documents rely on a blend of the above methods

10.1.6. Outline your important ideas

10.1.6.1. HTW - Outlining page 362-365

10.2. Writing the Draft

10.2.1. Parts of a Document

10.2.1.1. Front matter

10.2.1.2. Body

10.2.1.3. End matter

10.2.2. Is a nonlinear process

10.2.3. Draft the Body

10.2.3.1. Coverage and length-don't worry about it, just do quality work

10.2.3.2. Organization and Access

10.2.4. Draft the Conclusion

10.2.5. Draft he Introduction

10.2.5.1. purpose/objective

10.2.5.2. Scope

10.2.5.3. statement of the problem

10.2.5.4. Relevant info/background

10.2.5.5. Key Terms

10.2.5.6. Overview of organization

10.2.5.7. Summary

10.2.6. Templates and wizards - generally, do not use - make your own document

10.2.7. HTW - Writing a Rough Draft pages 569-70 - writing and revising are two different things. Follow your outline and get your ideas down without worrying about writing it perfectly the first time. Includes a writer's checklist