Week 1 Intro (Chapter 1) - Technical Communication PDF

Chapter 1 Introduction to Technical Communication Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 1  Learning Objectives:  Define technical communication as a genre.  Apply technical communication skills to your career.  Identify the challenges of producing te...

Chapter 1 Introduction to Technical Communication Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 1  Learning Objectives:  Define technical communication as a genre.  Apply technical communication skills to your career.  Identify the challenges of producing technical documents.  List the characteristics of a technical document.  Describe the skills and qualities shared by successful workplace communicators. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 2 What Is Technical Communication? Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 3  Components of Technical Communication 2 1. the process of making and sharing technical information in the workplace 2. the documents you write and the presentations you deliver Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 4 4 Modes of Communication Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 5 Big Picture: Activities Toward Information Technical communication encompasses a set of activities that people do to... discover, shape, and transmit information. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 6  Core Elements to Remember Technical communication differs from other genres in the focus on... 1. Purpose 2. Audience Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 7  The PURPOSE of technical communication is... Technical helping others learn communication differs about a subject, from other genres in carry out a task, or the focus on make a decision 1.Purpose influencing 2. Audience attitudes and motivating readers to take action Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 8  The AUDIENCE of technical communication is... Technical peers and communication differs supervisors in from other genres in your company the focus on people outside 1. Purpose your company 2.Audience multiple audiences with different purposes Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 9  Discuss the Purpose and Audience (1 of 2) Figure 1.1: Page 4 Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 10  Discuss the Purpose and Audience (2 of 2) Figure 1.2: Page 5 Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 11 Big Picture: Communication Is Valuable Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 12 The Challenges of Technical Communication Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 13  The Five Challenges of Technical Communication  audience-related Sharing your ideas as a factors professional can be  purpose-related challenging. factors  setting-related factors  document-related factors To improve your  process-related documents and factors processes, work through each factor. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 14  Audience-Related Factors audience-related Consider the NEEDS and factors DEMOGRAPHICS of  purpose-related readers/listeners. factors  setting-related factors  What problems are being solved?  document-related  What languages or cultural factors considerations apply?  process-related  What backgrounds are factors present? Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 15  Purpose-Related Factors  audience-related Consider the GOALS and factors OUTCOMES. purpose-related factors  What will your audience need to know?  setting-related factors  What action will your audience  document-related complete after reading? factors  What purpose is most  process-related important?  Do you have secondary factors purposes? Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 16  Setting-Related Factors  audience-related Consider the CONTEXT factors and ENVIRONMENT.  purpose-related factors  What is the situation? setting-related  What are the stakes of the factors problem or document?  document-related  Where will the document be factors used?  process-related  How will the information be factors shared? Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 17  Document-Related Factors  audience-related Consider the CONTENT factors and DESIGN.  purpose-related factors  What type of content will be  setting-related factors included?  Will you use multiple document-related mediums? factors  What templates are  process-related available/expected? factors Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 18  Process-Related Factors  audience-related Consider the TIME and factors RESOURCES.  purpose-related factors  What tools are available?  setting-related factors  How much time do you have?  document-related  What budget considerations exist? factors  Will the document require process-related updating? factors Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 19 Characteristics of Technical Documents Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 20  A strong technical document: 1. addresses particular 6 readers. 2. helps readers solve problems. 3. reflects the organization’s goals and culture. 4. is produced collaboratively. 5. uses design to increase readability. 6. consists of words or images or both. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 21  Images Images can enhance a document when used to: make the document more interesting and appealing. communicate and reinforce difficult concepts. communicate instructions and descriptions of objects and processes. communicate large amounts of quantifiable data. communicate with nonnative speakers. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 22  Guidelines for Excellence Honesty Usability – Do not mislead the reader. – Achieve the purpose Clarity successfully. – Convey a single meaning. Conciseness Accuracy – Convey information – Remain objective and economically. unbiased. Professional Appearance Comprehensiveness – Adhere to format – Provide all the information standards. readers need. Correctness Accessibility – Check the grammar, – Create for people with varying punctuation, mechanics, physical abilities. and usage. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 23 Skills and Qualities Shared by Successful Communicators Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 24 Three Skills to Hone Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 25  Keys to Professional Success In the workplace— Be honest. and even your Be willing to learn. personal life—strive toward the model Display emotional behaviors shared by intelligence. successful Be generous. professionals. Monitor the best informatio Be self-disciplined. Prioritize and respond quickly. Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 26  Exercises  Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 28 Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 29 Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 30 Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 31  College or University’s Website measures of excellence in 3 technical communication: clarity, accessibility, and.professional appearance Copyright © 2021 Bedford/St. Martin’s. All rights reserved. 32