1. Technical communication
has two meanings:
the process of making and sharing technical information in the workplace
a set of applications—the documents you write and the presentations you deliver
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2. You have three roles as a communicator: the writer of a document
a member of a project team
an information resource for others
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3. Technical communication
affects your career:
Companies say communication skills are important.
Strong communication skills make you a more valuable employee.
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4. Technical communication has six main characteristics:
It addresses particular readers.
It helps readers solve problems.
It reflects the organization’s goals and culture.
It is produced collaboratively.
It uses design to increase readability.
It consists of words or images or both.
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5. Communicators use design features
to accomplish three basic purposes:
to make the document look attractive and professional
to help readers navigate the document
to help readers understand the document
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6. perform five main functions:
Images help the writer
perform five main functions:
to make the document more interesting and appealing
to communicate and reinforce difficult concepts
to communicate instructions and descriptions of objects and processes
to communicate large amounts of quantifiable data
to communicate with nonnative speakers
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7. An example of technical communication
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005 <
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8. An example of technical communication
Source: Sage Software, 2009 <
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9. An example of technical communication
Source: Marathon Technologies, 2010 <
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10. There are eight measures of excellence
in technical communication:
honesty
clarity
accuracy
comprehensiveness
accessibility
conciseness
professional appearance
correctness
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11. honestly for three reasons:
You must communicate
honestly for three reasons:
It is the right thing to do.
If you are dishonest, readers can get hurt.
If you are dishonest, you and your organization could face serious legal charges.
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12. Technical communication
must be clear for two reasons:
Unclear technical communication can be dangerous.
Unclear technical communication is expensive.
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