Technical Communication notes for 080630
Technical Communication
Agenda for 080630
Introductions
Questions and announcements
Research
Documentation
Definitions
Group work
Introductions
Name(s)?
Major and minor?
Your favorite website?
Questions and announcements
Questions
I will post answer keys to D2L Content right after class
Correspondence
Include “Eng 271” on the subject line
Points for participating in a research activity
Remember that this is an optional activity.
To earn the points, you must submit all of the participation materials to
Jennifer Bruns by July 21.
Why conduct research?
In academic research, your
goal is to find information
that will help you answer a
scholarly question.
In workplace research, your
goal is to find information
that will help you answer a
practical question, usually
one that involves the
organization you work for.
Mike Markel’s slides for
Chapter 6
Bob Mosher, 2007 Twin Cities ASTD Conference
Technical Communication notes for 080630
How should you evaluate research?
authorship
publishing body
knowledge of the literature
accuracy and verifiability of the information
timeliness
Mike Markel’s slides for Chapter 6
Example 1 – Ecorealism
http://www.newsweek.com/id/110185
authorship
Who are these people and what are their credentials for writing about the
environment?
Robert Samuelson
Gregg Easterbrook, A Moment on the Earth: The Coming Age of Environmental
Optimism
publishing body
Where did they publish? For whom were they writing? What was the review process?
knowledge of the literature
What evidence does Easterbrook provide to support his claims? How does he deal
with the opposition? What was the critical response to his book?
accuracy and verifiability of the information
How well does Easterbrook document his claims?
timeliness
When was Easterbrook’s book published? Did he coin the term “ecorealism”? How
persuasive was he? What is the current status of ecorealism?
Example 2 – Global Warming
The Royal Society
http://royalsociety.org/
Is Global Warming a Swindle?
http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=6229
Technical Communication notes for 080630
Technical Communication notes for 080630
Bush Administration accused of distorting science
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0219-02.htm
Why document your sources?
Ethics – because it’s the right thing to do; just say No to plagiarism
Legal – because it’s illegal not to
Efficiency – because your readers find it useful; you’re being open and helpful
Ethos – because your readers find you more credible if you do
Documentation—styles
MLA
Name of author(s) appear in the text.
Works cited list is alphabetized by (first) author’s last name.
Technical Communication notes for 080630
Author-year
Name of author(s) and year appear in the text.
Reference (works cited) list is alphabetized, typically by the (first) author’s last
name. The year is the second element of the bibliographic entry.
Examples include APA, Chicago, CBE.
Number
Number appears in brackets or parentheses in the text. If using footnotes or
endnotes, the number may be superscripted.
Footnote numbers refer to comments and bibliographical information placed in
numbered notes as the bottom of the page.
Endnote numbers refer to comments and bibliographical information placed in
numbered notes at the end of chapters or at the end of the book. (Endnotes
appearing at the end of a book are usually grouped by chapter.)
When using a number system, on your references page(s), you typically either
list your sources in alphabetical order, typically by the (first) author’s last name, and then
number your sources;
list your sources in the order in which you cite them, and then number your sources.
Definitions
Methods of definition
Synonym (parenthetical)
You are enrolled in Technical Communication (Eng 271-01).
Antonym
“Peace is the opposite of security.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
http://overcomingviolence.org/news-and-events/news/dov-news-english/article/1323/peaceis-the-opposite-of.html
Negation
Example
Sentence (formal)
Typically makes use of some form of the verb “be.” Term --> class --> differentia
A chair is a piece of furniture upon which one sits.
Purpose (functional)
Classification and partition
Principle of operation
A mercury thermometer operates on the principle that metals expand when heated.
A teeter totter is a lever.
Comparison (metaphor) and contrast
History
Etymology
Illustration
Technical Communication notes for 080630
Importance of definition
Example of definition
Ed Rybicki, “Where did Viruses Come From?” Scientific American
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=experts-where-did-viruses-come-fr
Technical Communication notes for 080630
Group work
Finally, let’s have you move to D2L and to your small group (personal) chat;
then, please complete the following task:
1. Evaluate the description of how a stationary steam engine works:
http://www.mgsteam.btinternet.co.uk/hditwork.htm
2. Based on your understanding of Chapter 9: “Drafting and Revising Definitions and
Descriptions,” as well as the other chapters that you’ve read, what does the author
of this website do well? What needs to be improved? Be as specific as possible in
providing support for your claims.
3. Elect a group member to serve as recorder, who will
summarize your discussion in the body of an email message;
send the message to me (roland.nord@mnsu.edu);
CC the message to each group member;
include “Eng 271: Desc of steam engine” (without the quotation marks) on the
subject line.
Questions?
If not, you have until 8:30 to complete your task.
I will be available in the 271 Main chat area if you have questions.