book

Technical and Professional Writing: Solving Problems at Work

Name: Technical and Professional Writing: Solving Problems at Work
ISBN: 0130550728

by George E. Kennedy, Tracy T. Montgomery

December 2001

Intermediate to advanced

510 pages

14h 42m

English

Pearson

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Copyright
Dedication
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Professionalism and Problem Solving
CASE STUDY: Susan James's OfficeProfessionals And ProfessionalismExamples of ProfessionalismProfessional ActivitySolving Technical and Rhetorical ProblemsWriting in Response to ProblemsProfiles of ProfessionalsThe Problems They Solve and the Documents They WriteHighlights of the Professional ProfilesSolving Problems by Asking and Answering QuestionsExercisesAssignmentTerm Project Option
2. Technical Problem Solving
CASE STUDY: Susan James's OfficeAn Overview of Technical Problem SolvingDefinitionDefining Multiple ProblemsTechniques of the Definition ProcessTechniques to Use for a Well-Informed AudiencePhysical DescriptionComparison and ContrastProcess DescriptionExampleTechniques to Use for a Lay AudienceEtymologySynonyms and AntonymsSimiles and MetaphorsAnalogiesHistory of Discovery or DevelopmentSummary of the Definition ProcessResearchStraightforward Primary ResearchComplex Primary Research with FieldworkAcquiring and Evaluating Secondary Research MaterialsThe Annotated Bibliography: A Helpful ToolSummary of the Research ProcessAnalysisResolution and SynthesisImplementationConclusionsExercisesAssignmentsTerm Project Options
3. Rhetorical Problem Solving
CASE STUDY: Mary Anne Cox's OfficeAn Overview of Rhetorical Problem SolvingPurposePrimary PurposesSecondary PurposesAudienceFirst Level of Audience AnalysisSecond Level of Audience AnalysisContextEthical StanceRhetorical Problem Solving as a Recursive ProcessWriting for Someone Else's SignatureConclusionsExercisesAssignmentsTerm Project Option
4. Solving Problems Through Advanced Research
CASE STUDY: Patricia Wynjenek's OfficeIntroduction to Some Essentials of ResearchThe Need for a Different Floor PlanThe Need to Increase Retail Market ShareReview of Kinds of ResearchPrimary ResearchSecondary ResearchVarieties of Primary ResearchExperimental/Empirical/Quantifiable ResearchNonexperimental/Qualifiable ResearchThe Case Of Patricia WynjenekAdvantages and Disadvantages of Close-Ended QuestionnairesPatricia Wynjenek's Interview ScheduleA Word About Self-ReportingVarieties of Secondary ResearchSearching Libraries On-lineBoolean SearchingKeyword SearchingSearching the InternetOther Problems and Moves to Solve ThemUsing Search EnginesCommon Searching Methods on Search EnginesBoolean SearchingPhrase SearchingRelevance RankingSelected Search EnginesThe Ethics of Performing ResearchKinds of Ethical TheoriesAre There Common Grounds Between Theories?The Ethics of Patricia Wynjenek's ResearchConclusionsWorks Cited and/or ConsultedExercises
Bibliography
5. Collaborative Writing and the Uses of Technology
CASE STUDY: Adrian Rivera's OfficeBasics of CollaborationCommunicate to Solve Problems CollaborativelyCommunicate about ContentCommunicate about Tasks and RolesCollaborative Writing StrategiesTechnology for CollaborationGeneral Guidelines for Use of TechnologyTechnical Problem Solving and PlanningUsing FTF Meetings EffectivelyUsing E-mail EffectivelyTechnology Support for Drafting, Distribution, RevisionPointers for Successful CollaborationEpilogueReferencesExercises
6. Solving Problems Through Proposals
CASE STUDY: Patricia Wynjenek's OfficeFundamentals of a ProposalPurpose and RationaleKinds of ProposalsSolicited ProposalsUnsolicited ProposalsResearch ProposalsPractical ProposalsAnalyzing the Process of Proposal WritingStatement of the ProblemDefining the Problem for a Solicited ProposalDefining the Problem for an Unsolicited ProposalAnalysis of the AudiencesDirect Beneficiaries of the Work to Be DoneReviewing AudiencesThe Review ProcessPublic OrganizationsPrivate OrganizationsStatement of the Objectives of the Work ProposedReview of the Literature and Previous WorkMethods for Doing the WorkFacilitiesPersonnelBudget and ScheduleExpected Results and Evaluation PlanFormat of a ProposalBasic FormatExpanded FormatLetter of TransmittalCover PageAbstract or Executive SummaryTable of ContentsGraphic Depictions of ScheduleReferences CitedConclusionsExerciseAssignmentsTerm Project OptionSample Student Proposals
7. Solving Problems Through Periodic (Progress) Reports and Completion Reports
CASE STUDY: Leah Feldstein's OfficeFundamentals of a Periodic ReportPurpose and RationaleQuestions That Periodic Reports AnswerWhat Project or Work Is Being Reviewed in the Report?What Period of Time Does the Report Cover?In Summary, What Has Happened during This Period?What Work Has Been Accomplished?What Problems Arose While Doing the Work?Is the Work on Schedule and within Budget?What Work Has to Be Done in the Future?Format and Substance of a Periodic ReportSample Professional Periodic ReportExercisesAssignmentsTerm Project OptionCASE STUDY REVISITED: Patricia Wynjenek's OfficeFundamentals of a Completion ReportPurpose and RationaleQuestions That Completion Reports AnswerWhat Is the Problem? Why Does It Warrant Special Attention?What Work Was Done? How Was It Done? What, in General, Were the Results?What Conclusions Can Be Drawn from the Work That Was Done? How Can the Data be Interpreted? What Decisions, If Any Are Necessary, Can Be Made, Given What Is Now Known?Format and Substance of a Completion ReportElements of the Format for a Nonacademic AudienceLetter of TransmittalCoverTitle PageAcknowledgmentsExecutive SummaryTable of ContentsIntroductionAnalysis and DiscussionConclusionsRecommendationsWorks CitedAppendixesElements of the Format for an Academic, Research-Oriented AudienceLetter of Transmittal, Cover, Title Page, and AcknowledgmentsAbstractTable of ContentsIntroductionReview of LiteratureMethods and MaterialsResultsDiscussionSummary and ConclusionWorks Cited and AppendixesSample Professional Completion ReportExercisesAssignmentTerm Project OptionSample Student Completion Report

8. Solving Problems Through Trip Reports, Feasibility Studies, and Scientific Reports
CASE STUDY: Bruce Kennewick's OfficeFundamentals of a Trip ReportPurpose and RationaleAnalyzing the Process of Writing a Trip ReportIntroductionOverall Assessment of the Work DoneProblems and SolutionsConclusions and RecommendationsFormat and Substance of a Trip ReportSample Professional Trip ReportExercisesAssignmentCASE STUDY: Al RobinsonFundamentals of a Feasibility StudyPurpose and RationaleAnalyzing the Process of Writing a Feasibility StudySample Outline for a Feasibility StudySample Engineering Feasibility StudyExercisesFundamentals of Scientific WritingEvolution of Scientific WritingThe Professional Writing ContinuumFormat and Substance of a Scientific ReportSample Student-Authored Scientific ArticleExercises
9. Solving Problems Through Policy Statements, Manuals, and Procedures
Distinguishing among Policy Statements, Manuals, and ProceduresPolicy StatementsManualsProceduresCASE STUDY: Ruth Warner's OfficeRhetorical Problem Solving for Policy Statements, Manuals, and ProceduresGuidelines for Writing an Enforceable Policy StatementSample Policy StatementCASE STUDY: Bob Hanley's OfficeGuidelines for Producing a Functional ManualFormattingReadabilityOrganizationAppendixes and AttachmentsSample Outline for a ManualCASE STUDY: Professor Rick Allen's OfficeGuidelines for Writing a Logical ProcedureEssential Characteristics of ProceduresModel for Procedure WritingSample Action StepSample WarningSample Decision StepSample Cross-ReferenceSample NoteSample Administrative ProcedureSample Operations ProcedureAnalyzing an Administrative ProcedureConclusionsPostscriptExercisesAssignment
10. Solving Problems Through Letters and Memoranda
CASE STUDY: Super Bowl Sunday 3:20 P.M. – Jay Dalton's CubicleMemos and Letters as Problem SolversDocumenting with Memos and LettersDistinguishing between Memos and LettersFormat of a Letter and a MemoStandard Letter FormatStandard Memo FormatConventions of Administrative WritingStructure and ContentLengthReading and Writing Professionally, at Two LevelsThe Literal LevelAnalysis of the Revised MemoCommon Errors in Administrative Writing at the Literal LevelThe Implicit LevelElements to Consider at the Implicit LevelWriter's ToneIdentity of the Author and Indication of a GhostwriterRecipients of CopiesAnalyzing the Administrative Writing ProcessIsolating the Main ProblemIdentifying Underlying ProblemsApplying the Principles of Rhetorical Problem SolvingSample Professional Memo Written to Solve a ProblemPostscriptTransmittal Letters as Problem SolversFunctions of a Transmittal LetterTransmittal Letters as DocumentationCopy Notation for a Transmittal LetterSample Professional Transmittal LettersWriting For Someone Else's SignatureConsidering the AudienceAnalyzing the Rest of the Rhetorical SituationProofing the DocumentConclusionsExercisesAssignmentTerm Project Option
11. Solving Problems in the Professional Job Search
CASE STUDY: Evening Rush HourFundamentals of the Job SearchAppealing to EmployersCommon Job Application ErrorsThe Job Search ProcessReactivate Placement FileApproach RecommendersResearch Possible Employers, and Find Position DescriptionsUpdate RésuméBasics of a Strong RésuméPurposeAudienceArrangementSample College RésuméPlan for Updating the College RésuméRevising ContentObjective StatementPersonal InformationProfessional ActivitiesPublications and PapersEducationAwardsReferencesAttending to ReadabilityLengthWhite SpaceTypographySample Professional RésuméWrite Cover LettersAdapt, Where Legitimate, for Audience NeedsInform through SummaryPersuade through EvidenceSynthesize as Necessary to Correlate Experience and Requirements of the PositionSample Position DescriptionSample Cover Letter for an Advertised PositionSubmitting an Unsolicited ApplicationSample Cover Letter for an Unsolicited ApplicationPostscriptShaping Up a Student RésuméFirst Draft of the RésuméPurposeAudienceArrangementRevised Student RésuméFundamentals of the Interview ProcessThe InterviewerInterview GuidelinesResponsivenessPreparednessFinesse with Trick and Hostile QuestionsHonestyConclusionsExercisesAssignmentsTerm Project Option
12. Solving Problems Through Document Design
CASE STUDY: Kevin Ersting's OfficeThe Importance of PresentationElements of Document DesignWhite SpaceTextHeadingsTypefacesColumnsJustificationGraphicsDisplaced TextTablesPie ChartsBar GraphsLine GraphsPhotographsIllustrations and DrawingsSample Professional Document DesignCreativity Versus Convention in Document DesignConclusionsExerciseAssignment
13. Solving Problems Through Oral Presentations
CASE STUDY: Leah Feldstein's OfficeThe Naturalness of Oral CommunicationPractical Limitations Resulting from the SettingRhetorical Analysis of an Oral PresentationPurposeAudienceContextEthical StanceEssential Elements in Preparing an Oral PresentationKnowing the MaterialKnowing What Is Important to DiscussPlanning the Physical Aspects of the PresentationPracticingPlanning the Text for an Oral PresentationThe Introduction (or the Appetizer)The Body (or the Main Course)The Conclusion (or the Dessert)The Mechanics of Effective Public SpeakingRelaxSpeak Loudly Enough to Be HeardMaintain Eye Contact with the AudienceKeep the Body Poised and VibrantTalk—Don't ReadDon't Take the “Sleepers” PersonallyTips for Giving Oral Presentations to Specific GroupsCommitteesWhen the Speaker Is a GuestWhen the Speaker Is a Committee MemberWhen the Speaker Is the Committee ChairCivic or Special Interest GroupsUnderstanding the Goals of the GroupMeeting the Informational Needs of the GroupBoards of DirectorsUnderstanding the Purposes of Board MeetingsProviding Information to Enable Decision MakingConclusionsExerciseAssignmentTerm Project Option
Selected Problems of Usage and Style
Problems With the Passive VoiceIdentifying Passive Voice and Passive ConstructionsRecognizing When It Is Appropriate to Use the Passive VoiceVariations of Passive ConstructionsExercisesProblems With NominalizationIdentifying NominalizationRecognizing When a Revision Will Alter MeaningExercisesProblems With Diction and JargonSome Questionable NounsThe Bottom LinePerception CheckQuality TimeReality CheckSome Questionable Verbs and VerbalsTo Access, AccessingTo Conference, ConferencingTo Fast-Track, Fast-TrackingTo Impact, ImpactingTo Mainstream, MainstreamingTo Network, NetworkingTo Transition, TransitioningOther Problems with DictionIn terms ofAs far as . . . is (are) concernedExercisesProblems With Embedded ProseIdentifying Embedded ProseWhy Embedded Prose Is a Common ProblemWhy the Strategy of Embedding Is a Bad PolicyThe Writer's Commitments to Avoid Embedded ProseThe Intellectual CommitmentThe Rhetorical CommitmentThe Ethical CommitmentExercisesProblems With Sentence StructureSentence FragmentsRun-On Sentences and Comma SplicesFused SentencesExercises

Content preview from Technical and Professional Writing: Solving Problems at Work

Chapter 1. Professionalism and Problem Solving

PREVIEW OF THE CHAPTER

CASE STUDY: Susan James's Office

ITE Industries, Inc. ▪ Richmond, California

It may have been the lack of a lunch hour, or maybe the lousy pastrami sandwich she had delivered from the corner deli, but Susan James felt particularly out of sorts as she stared at her computer, trying to complete the outline of her latest quarterly report. As head of Purchasing, Susan had been under ...

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Technical and Professional Writing: Solving Problems at Work

by George E. Kennedy, Tracy T. Montgomery

Chapter 1. Professionalism and Problem Solving

CASE STUDY: Susan James's Office

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