Part One Basic Principles and Strategies 3
Chapter 1 Introduction to Technical Communication 3
Ⅰ．Importance of Technical Communication 3
Ⅱ．Three Essential Criteria of Technical Communication 4
Ⅲ．Rhetorical Elements of Technical Communication 8
Exercises 9
Chapter 2 Effective Reading Strategies 12
Ⅰ．Skimming and Scanning 12
Ⅱ．Identifying Structure and Hierarchy 13
Ⅲ．Distinguishing Main Points 16
Ⅳ．Drawing Inferences 18
Exercises 19
Chapter 3 Technical Writing Process 28
Ⅰ．Exploring and Inventing 28
Ⅱ．Document Planning 30
Ⅲ．Drafting 31
Ⅳ．Revising 32
Ⅴ．Editing 34
Exercises 36
Chapter 4 Audience Analysis 38
Ⅰ．Determining Purposes 38
Ⅱ．Identifying Audiences 39
Ⅲ．Analyzing Audiences 41
Exercises 45
Chapter 5 Means of Information Collection 48
Ⅰ．Interviews 48
Ⅱ．Surveys 52
Exercises 56
Chapter 6 Technical Style and Rhetoric 58
Ⅰ．Considering Audiences 58
Ⅱ．Selecting Appropriate Words 61
Ⅲ．Writing Clear Sentences 65
Ⅳ．Organizing Documents Effectively 70
Exercises 73
Chapter 7 Ethics and Documentation 77
Ⅰ．Intellectual Property and Ethics 77
Ⅱ．Incorporating Source Material in Your Writing 78
Ⅲ．Documenting Your Sources 82
Exercises 88
Part Two Visual Presentation 93
Chapter 8 Graphics 93
Ⅰ．Tables 93
Ⅱ．Graphs 95
Ⅲ．Charts 103
Ⅳ．Graphic Illustrations 106
Ⅴ．Avoiding Visual Distortion 108
Ⅵ．General Guidelines for Graphics 112
Exercises 113
Chapter 9 Document Design 115
Ⅰ．Chunking and Labeling Information 115
Ⅱ．Organizing Information 122
Ⅲ．Emphasizing Information 125
Exercises 129
Part Three Technical Writing Techniques 133
Chapter 10 Technical Definition 133
Ⅰ．Informal Definitions 133
Ⅱ．Formal Definitions 134
Ⅲ．Guidelines for Definition Writing 134
Exercises 137
Chapter 11 Technical Description 140
Ⅰ．Introduction of Technical Description 140
Ⅱ．Part-by-Part Description 141
Ⅲ．Graphics Used in Technical Description 143
Ⅳ．General Guidelines for Technical Description 146
Exercises 147
Chapter 12 Technical Analysis 150
Ⅰ．Analysis Through Classification 150
Ⅱ．Analysis Through Partition 154
Exercises 157
Chapter 13 Technical Argumentation 160
Ⅰ．Organization of Argumentation 160
Ⅱ．Methods of Argumentation 162
Ⅲ．Avoiding Logical Fallacies 166
Exercises 170
Part Four Technical Writing Tasks 179
Chapter 14 Technical Abstracts 179
Ⅰ．Types of Technical Abstracts 179
Ⅱ．Formats of Informative Abstracts 181
Ⅲ．Tenses Used in Informative Abstracts 184
Ⅳ．Guidelines for Writing Informative Abstracts 185
Exercises 186
Chapter 15 Experimental Research Reports 188
Ⅰ．Title and Author 189
Ⅱ．Abstract and Keywords 191
Ⅲ．Introduction 192
Ⅳ．Methods 197
Ⅴ．Results 200
Ⅵ．Discussion 203
Ⅶ．Acknowledgements 206
Ⅷ．References 207
Ⅸ．Appendixes 208
Exercises 208
Chapter 16 Literature Reviews 212
Ⅰ．Differences Between a Literature Review and a Research Report 212
Ⅱ．Preparation for Writing the Literature Review 212
Ⅲ．Organization of the Literature Review 214
Ⅳ．Guidelines for Composing the Literature Review 218
Exercises 219
Chapter 17 Instructions 221
Ⅰ．Purpose and Audience 221
Ⅱ．Main Tasks and Subtasks 222
Ⅲ．Step-by-Step Instructions 222
Ⅳ．Notes and Hazard Notices 226
Ⅴ．Graphics 227
Ⅵ．Organization of Instructions 228
Exercises 234
Chapter 18 Correspondence 237
Ⅰ．Memorandums 237
Ⅱ．Letters 240
Ⅲ．Email 245
Exercises 249
Part Five Other Technical Communication Tasks 253
Chapter 19 Oral Presentations 253
Ⅰ．Organizing Your Presentation 253
Ⅱ．Selecting the Right Audio-Visual Aids 254
Ⅲ．Choosing Appropriate Delivery Techniques 257
Ⅳ．Practicing Your Presentation 258
Ⅴ．Delivering Your Oral Presentation 259
Ⅵ．Learning How to Read Formulas and Equations 262
Exercises 265
Chapter 20 Job Application 270
Ⅰ．Job Search 270
Ⅱ．Resumes 271
Ⅲ．Letters of Application 275
Ⅳ．Interviews 278
Ⅴ．Follow-up Measures 282
Exercises 285