Technical Writing Unit

This Week ► Presentation guidelines ► Ideas for displaying data

Non-negotiable requirements No more than 15 minutes No more than 15 minutes Address 3M as your primary audience, not me Address 3M as your primary audience, not me Main purpose of session is to demonstrate value(no value added = bad presentation) Main purpose of session is to demonstrate value(no value added = bad presentation) Must use powerpoint (can also use other visual aids too); PM posts audio with slides to Moodle Must use powerpoint (can also use other visual aids too); PM posts audio with slides to Moodle Instructions for recording the presentation on course site. Instructions for recording the presentation on course site. presentation/

The genre: a “ walkthrough ” Walk your audience through the current scenario, highlighting problems Walk your audience through the current scenario, highlighting problems Walk them through the transformed scenario, highlighting how you addressed the problems Walk them through the transformed scenario, highlighting how you addressed the problems Highlight along the way the most important changes to the technical document. Highlight along the way the most important changes to the technical document.

Current & Transformed Activities Remember that what you have to offer here is an ability to transform communication: a TC’s eye view of the best ways to present information; this is valuable! Very valuable! Remember that what you have to offer here is an ability to transform communication: a TC’s eye view of the best ways to present information; this is valuable! Very valuable! When you talk about transformed content…talk about activities (not simply the systems, technologies, or regulations that are involved). When you talk about transformed content…talk about activities (not simply the systems, technologies, or regulations that are involved). Think current activity, transformed activity - this puts the information you designed into motion Think current activity, transformed activity - this puts the information you designed into motion Our main activity: safe disposal of waste; most of our presentations will take perspectives on safety activities of one sort or another Our main activity: safe disposal of waste; most of our presentations will take perspectives on safety activities of one sort or another

Evidence, evidence, evidence! You should be very, very focused on presenting evidence to back up: You description of the current scenario You description of the current scenario Your description of problems with the current scenario Your description of problems with the current scenario Your demonstration of the transformed document Your demonstration of the transformed document i.e. your solutions to the problems in the current scenario i.e. your solutions to the problems in the current scenario

Sample structure (6 slides) Slide 1: Slide 2: Slide 3: Slide 4: Slide 5: Slide 6: Current scenario, described or illustrated in some way Description of analytic steps you took Transformed scenario, described or illustrated Qualifications, demonstration of your team’s quality Conclusion, review value added and thank client for opportunity Of course, introduce yourselves too. The above is not the only possibility. Six slides is not a magic number. But 12 minutes goes by quickly…especially if you demonstrate with evidence.

Mention your research Talk about your work on this project as a process of inquiry: Frame issues as questions: “ we wondered…what aspects of the document design would inhibit readers ability to retain important information? ” Frame issues as questions: “ we wondered…what aspects of the document design would inhibit readers ability to retain important information? ” Mention your research methods, but briefly: “ to find out the answer to this question, we first … ” Mention your research methods, but briefly: “ to find out the answer to this question, we first … ”

Rhetoric works! Use stasis questions Building a strong case for your claims means answering these: Is there a problem [how do we know?] Is there a problem [how do we know?] What type of problem is it? [what makes us think so?] What type of problem is it? [what makes us think so?] How severe is this problem? [who does it impact and how?] How severe is this problem? [who does it impact and how?]

What do you, Jon the teacher, want to see? Here ’ s what makes me happy: 1. You impressing them, not me, with your work. 2. You being polished, so that your presentation is smooth and doesn ’ t sound like “ an assignment ” 3. You using evidence - if you do nothing else, do this - to back up your claims. 4. Your audience responding (comes later) with positive affirmation, comments, etc. That ’ s how you know you succeed.

Next Week ► More about Final Client Project and Final individual report