40 Questions
What is ethics primarily concerned with?
Doing good and avoiding evil
What has made it easier to access others' intellectual property?
Advancements in communication technology
What can sometimes be difficult to determine?
Ethical classification
What is an example of a clear ethical issue in writing?
Fabricating data
What is the primary goal of technical writing?
To use technical knowledge to do good
What is a moral duty of technical writers?
To use technical knowledge to do good
What is necessary for good technical writing?
Awareness and sensitivity
What is the 'Schön scandal' an example of?
Ethical issues in research
What is a potential issue with modern technology in digital processing?
It enables unlawful alteration of data with the intent of misleading others
What should be done when modifying data to enhance clarity?
The modification should be mentioned in the caption or title
What is the purpose of mentioning the nature of alteration in digital processing?
To provide transparency and accountability
What is the term for unlawfully altering data with the intent of misleading others?
Misrepresenting reality
Why is it essential to mention the purpose of alteration in digital processing?
To provide context and transparency
What is the primary concern with doctored photographs?
They can be misleading and unethical
What is the recommended location for mentioning data alterations?
In the caption or title
What is the main purpose of digital processing in technical writing?
To enhance clarity and accuracy of data
What is the key factor in distinguishing between ethical and non-ethical writing?
The writer's intention and the audience's expectation
What is plagiarism often referred to as?
Theft of ideas
What is a consequence of plagiarism and cheating?
Legal consequences and damage to one's career
How can one avoid plagiarism?
By always citing others' work
What has made plagiarism easier and cheating more accessible?
Modern communication technology
What is an exception to citation in writing?
Common knowledge
Why is plagiarism harmful to the person who commits it?
It can result in unfairness to others and harm to oneself
What is the purpose of citing others' work in technical writing?
To acknowledge the author's contribution
What is the main purpose of grouping items on a page?
To highlight related information
What is the function of headings in a document?
To signal various levels of information
What is the purpose of using borders and rules in a document?
To carve a page into smaller groups of information
What is consistency in design principle?
Creating a uniform design throughout the document
What is the recommended number of typefaces to use in a document?
Two typefaces
What is the characteristic of serif fonts?
They are more formal and traditional
What is the purpose of using rules in a document?
To carve a document into sections
What is the importance of consistency in headings?
It helps to create a uniform design
When should you use 'I' or 'we' in a sentence?
When you are the subject of the sentence or phrase
What is the error in the sentence 'Jones’s team and me went down to the factory floor to see how things were going'?
Incorrect use of 'me' as the subject of the sentence
What is the purpose of quotation marks in writing?
To indicate the literal usage of others' statements
When should you use single quotation marks?
When quoting someone within a quotation
How should neighboring sentences typically reflect tense?
In the same tense
What is a vague pronoun reference?
A pronoun that is unclear in its reference
How should titles of articles or songs be formatted?
In italics
What should be done to correct the sentence 'Fred and Javier went to the store, and then he went home'?
Change 'he' to 'Javier'
Study Notes
Ethical Writing
- Ethical writing involves using knowledge in a technical field and communication skills to do good and worthy things.
- There is no universal consensus on what is good and worthy, and a fine line exists between ethical and non-ethical writing, depending on the writer's intention and the audience's perception.
Plagiarism
- Plagiarism is a form of theft, presenting others' work as one's own work, including stealing ideas and expressions of ideas.
- Modern communication technology has made plagiarism easier, but also allows for easier investigation.
- Plagiarism is not fair to others and can be harmful to the person who commits the act, resulting in legal consequences and damaging one's career.
- Acknowledge other people's work by citation, except for common knowledge.
Misrepresenting Reality
- Modern technology allows for the unlawful alteration of data, which can mislead others.
- Some modifications are done to enhance clarity, and it's essential to mention the nature of the alteration.
- Doctored photographs can be misleading, and the purpose of the alteration should be mentioned.
Design Principles
- Grouping: Group items on a page to highlight related information, using headings to signal various levels of information.
- Using Borders and Rules: Use borders and rules to carve a page into smaller groups of information, with borders framing parts of the document.
- Consistency: Use consistency to create uniformity in the design of a document or interface, including predictable headings, consistent bulleting, and page numbers.
- Choosing Typefaces: Choose typefaces carefully, limiting the number of typefaces to two, with serif fonts appearing more formal and traditional, and sans serif fonts appearing more informal and progressive.
Grammar and Punctuation
- Pronoun Case Error: Use I or we as the subject of a sentence or phrase, and me or us elsewhere.
- Shifted Tense: Ensure neighboring sentences reflect the same tense.
- Vague Pronoun: Avoid unclear pronoun references by clearly specifying the antecedent.
- Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks for literal usage of others' statements, titles of articles, songs, or documents, and to set off quotations within quotations.
Explore the importance of ethical writing in engineering, including the interaction between people, laws, and ethics. Discuss how communication technology has made it easier to access others' intellectual property and reach out to others.
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