Technical Communication

Comprehensive, user-friendly instruction in workplace writing, technical communication, business writing

Today’s employees are tasked with writing documents such as emails, memos, letters, and informal reports, as well as more complex forms of communications such as formal reports, proposals, web pages, and presentations. Technical Communication, Fourteenth Edition builds upon the authority of the previous editions byclearly guiding students to write documents persuasively, effectively, and with an eye towards technological innovations and global communications. It incorporates the interpersonal, logical, ethical, and cultural demands of these different forms of workplace communications and provides students with the necessary skills to navigate these nuisances. Building on research and writing skills and touching on the importance of ethics, the authors prepare students for technical writing in any field. 

Also available with MyWritingLab™

MyWritingLab is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage readers and improve results. Within its structured environment, readers practice what they learn, test their understanding, and pursue a personalized study plan that helps them better absorb course material and understand difficult concepts. In addition to the full eText, activities directly from the text are available within MyWritingLab. These include the written assignments, readings from the text, review exercises and more.

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyWritingLab does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MyWritingLab, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

0134271955 / 9780134271958 Technical Communication Plus MyWritingLab with Pearson eText — Access Card Package

Package consists of:

• 0133944131 / 9780133944136  MyWritingLab with Pearson eText — Access Card
• 013394414X / 9780133944143  MyWritingLab with Pearson eText — Inside Star Sticker
• 0134118499 / 9780134118499  Technical Communication

John Lannon is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Writing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he developed the undergraduate major in professional writing and later co-developed the M.A. program in professional writing.

He has also taught at Cape Cod Community College, University of Idaho, Southern Vermont College, and University of Strasbourg. 
He has authored and coauthored five major textbooks in business communication, rhetoric, and technical communication, book reviews, filmstrips, and environmental documents and instructional software. He is the recipient of an NDEA Fellowship and Fulbright Lectureship. He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His initial training and work was in biomedical science and technology with the USAF. He has served as a communications consultant for various companies and government institutions.  He worked seven years in medical laboratories.

Laura J. Gurak is professor and founding chair of the Department of Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses in technical writing and digital communication. She holds an M.S. in technical communication and a Ph.D. in communication and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is author of two books from Yale University Press, one of which was the first book-length study of online social actions. Gurak is also co-editor of several edited collections and author on numerous conference presentations and papers. She is a recipient of the Society for Technical Communication’s Outstanding Article award. Gurak has authored and coauthored five textbooks in technical communication published by Pearson. She has worked as a software developer, technical writer, and communications consultant for various companies and organizations.

I: COMMUNICATING IN THE WORKPLACE

1. Introduction to Technical Communication

2. Meeting the Needs of Specific Audiences

3. Persuading Your Audience

4. Weighing the Ethical Issues

5. Teamwork and Global Considerations

6. An Overview of the Technical Writing Process

II. THE RESEARCH PROCESS

7. Thinking Critically About the Research Process

8. Evaluating and Interpreting Information

9. Summarizing Research Findings and Other Information

III. ORGANIZATION, STYLE, AND VISUAL DESIGN

10. Organizing for Readers

11. Editing for a Professional Style and Tone

12. Designing Visual information

13. Designing Pages and Document

IV. SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS AND APPLICATIONS

14. Email and Text Messages

15. Workplace Memos and Letters

16. Resumes and other Job Search Materials

17. Technical Definitions

18. Technical Descriptions, Specifications, and Marketing Materials

19. Instructions and Procedures

20. Informal Reports

21. Formal Analytical Reports

22. Proposals

23. Oral Presentations and Video Conferencing

24. Blogs, Wikis, and Web Pages

25. Social Media

V. RESOURCES FOR TECHNICAL WRITERS

A Quick Guide to Documentation

A Quick Guide to Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.