Business and Technical Writing

Author(s): Jeffrey Jablonski

Edition: 6

Copyright: 2016

Pages: 406

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$57.89

ISBN 9781524910228

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Business and Technical Writing takes a rhetorical approach that emphasizes writing in context and aims to move students through a continuum of writing experiences ranging from less contextualized workplace simulations to more situated, more authentic, client-based projects.  

Business and Technical Writing develops multiple literacies, including rhetorical literacy, visual literacy, information literacy, computer literacy, and ethical literacy.

Business and Technical Writing by Jeffrey Jablonski:

  • Demonstrates how students can identify the multiple purposes of business and technical writing; follow the conventions of memos, letters, email, reports, resumes, presentations, and social media; and write using a professional tone and style.
  • Discusses project management, research, and collaboration techniques for the production of effective team reports.
  • Is Practical! Students learn to plan and carry out a multi-stage, collaborative research and writing projects, and to research, analyze and present large amounts of information clearly and persuasively in professional quality documents.
  • Is Activity Based! Students are given problem-based writing tasks ranging from case assignments to larger client-based research projects that help students apply the principles discussed.

Preface
Acknowledgments

I. Principles
CHAPTER 1—Business Writing

Good Communication Skills Needed to Get Ahead in Business
No Microwave Food—Ever!
Pancakes on Fleek
Rhetorical Principles for Effective Business Writing
Conclusion: “Good Writing” Is More Than “Good Grammar”
Exercises

CHAPTER 2—Technical Writing
Why Study Technical Writing?
Effective Technical Writing Is Rhetorical
Conclusion
Exercises

CHAPTER 3—Professional Writing Style
Revision versus Editing
Principles of Effective Professional Writing
Draft, Revise, Take a Break…Then Revise Again
Exercises

CHAPTER 4—Editing
Why Edit?
Uses of Editing
Levels of Edits in a Top-Down Editing Process
Utilizing Word’s Spelling- and Grammar-Checking Capabilities
Proofreading Strategies
Digital Copyediting Using MS Word’s Track Changes
Online Resources
Exercises

CHAPTER 5—Business Correspondence
Memos
Letters
Email
Generic Structure of Memos, Letters, and Email
Correspondence Style
Common Genres of Correspondence
Writing Electronic Correspondence
Exercises

CHAPTER 6—Writing Electronically
Learning Outcomes
Benefits of Learning about Electronic Writing
Electronic Written Communication in Organizations
Writing Effective Instant Messages
Writing Effective Business Blogs
Writing Effectively at Social Network Sites

CHAPTER 7—Collaboration
Developing Team Skills
Team Leadership and Roles
Organizing and Managing the Project
Document Production
Revision and Editing Stages

CHAPTER 8—Reports
Reports as a Type of Professional Writing
Report Format
Report Design
Graphics
Adopt a Style Guide

CHAPTER 9—Resumes
Purposes
Format
Organization
Content
Resume Style
Resume Visual Design
Applicant Tracking Systems
Conclusion: Do It Your Way!

CHAPTER 10—Cover Letters and Personal Statements
Aims of the Cover Letter
Cover Letter Format
Submission Format
The Personal Statement
Conclusion

CHAPTER 11—Presentations
Purpose
Audience
Organization
Visual Aids
Delivery
The Big Day

CHAPTER 12—Writing for Social Media
Networking
Increased Exposure
Major Platforms
Principles of Effective Writing for Social Media
Exercises

CHAPTER 13—Definitions
Types of Definitions
Writing Effective Technical Definitions
Potential Problem Areas

CHAPTER 14—Instructions
Aim and Importance
Common Forms
How to Organize Instructions
Common Components
Effective Design
Graphics
Special Notices

CHAPTER 15—Usability Testing
How are Usability Tests Conducted?

II . Projects
CHAPTER 16—Introductory Memo Project

Project Objectives
Steps for Completing this Assignment
Follow the Required Memo Format
Write Using a Business Style
Submission Format
Evaluation Criteria

CHAPTER 17—Situation Analysis
Project Objectives
Preliminary Considerations
Audience
Purpose and Intended Use(s)
The Writer
Document Design
Notes
Optional: Situation Analysis Memo

CHAPTER 18—Project Assessment Memo
Overview
Context
Documents
Production
Summary

CHAPTER 19—Definitions Project
Project Objectives
Background: Bad Culture – New Management – New Policies
Exercises

CHAPTER 20—Cases: Overview of Goals and Strategies
Questions for Analyzing Cases
Focus on Managing Ethical Dilemmas
Focus on Following the Chain of Command

CHAPTER 21—Big-1 Rental Agency Case
Case Overview
Background Information
Exercises

CHAPTER 22—A Business Faux Pas Case
Case Overview
Jeaneaux Letter
Nester Letter
Exercises

CHAPTER 23—The Error at OTS Case
Official Rules: Thomson’s Sales Training Program
Email Winning Notification
Exercises

CHAPTER 24—Insurance Fraud at MedTech Case
Letter from Susan Seer
Susan Seer’s Physician’s Report/Certification of Disability
Online Resources
Exercises

CHAPTER 25—Complaint at the Colonnade Hotel Case
Scenario
Background Information
Exercises

CHAPTER 26—Foodborne Illness on Festival Case
Exercises

CHAPTER 27—Lego Bricks Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Designing a Model
Planning
Instructions Set
Usability Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 28—Job Search Project
Project Objectives
Find an Actual Job Advertisement
Research the Company
Job Analysis Planning
Resume and Cover Letter
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 29—Staff Development
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
Proposal

CHAPTER 30—Procedures Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Steps for Completing the Project

CHAPTER 31—Client Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
Project Plan
Client Letter
Progress Report
Final Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 32—Usability Project
Project Objectives
What Does Usability Have to Do with Learning How to Write?
Deliverables
Choosing a Client Website
Design Plan Report
Progress Report
Usability Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 33—International Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
General Evaluation Criteria for the International Project

Jeffrey Jablonski

Jeffrey Jablonski, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of English at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He received his Ph.D. in English from Purdue University (2000) and specializes in academic and professional writing. He has delivered numerous national presentations, published several articles, and written two books. Professor Jablonski teaches courses in composition theory, document design, and business and technical writing. He has also consulted for organizations such as Bechtel Nevada, Stoller-Navarro, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Business and Technical Writing takes a rhetorical approach that emphasizes writing in context and aims to move students through a continuum of writing experiences ranging from less contextualized workplace simulations to more situated, more authentic, client-based projects.  

Business and Technical Writing develops multiple literacies, including rhetorical literacy, visual literacy, information literacy, computer literacy, and ethical literacy.

Business and Technical Writing by Jeffrey Jablonski:

  • Demonstrates how students can identify the multiple purposes of business and technical writing; follow the conventions of memos, letters, email, reports, resumes, presentations, and social media; and write using a professional tone and style.
  • Discusses project management, research, and collaboration techniques for the production of effective team reports.
  • Is Practical! Students learn to plan and carry out a multi-stage, collaborative research and writing projects, and to research, analyze and present large amounts of information clearly and persuasively in professional quality documents.
  • Is Activity Based! Students are given problem-based writing tasks ranging from case assignments to larger client-based research projects that help students apply the principles discussed.

Preface
Acknowledgments

I. Principles
CHAPTER 1—Business Writing

Good Communication Skills Needed to Get Ahead in Business
No Microwave Food—Ever!
Pancakes on Fleek
Rhetorical Principles for Effective Business Writing
Conclusion: “Good Writing” Is More Than “Good Grammar”
Exercises

CHAPTER 2—Technical Writing
Why Study Technical Writing?
Effective Technical Writing Is Rhetorical
Conclusion
Exercises

CHAPTER 3—Professional Writing Style
Revision versus Editing
Principles of Effective Professional Writing
Draft, Revise, Take a Break…Then Revise Again
Exercises

CHAPTER 4—Editing
Why Edit?
Uses of Editing
Levels of Edits in a Top-Down Editing Process
Utilizing Word’s Spelling- and Grammar-Checking Capabilities
Proofreading Strategies
Digital Copyediting Using MS Word’s Track Changes
Online Resources
Exercises

CHAPTER 5—Business Correspondence
Memos
Letters
Email
Generic Structure of Memos, Letters, and Email
Correspondence Style
Common Genres of Correspondence
Writing Electronic Correspondence
Exercises

CHAPTER 6—Writing Electronically
Learning Outcomes
Benefits of Learning about Electronic Writing
Electronic Written Communication in Organizations
Writing Effective Instant Messages
Writing Effective Business Blogs
Writing Effectively at Social Network Sites

CHAPTER 7—Collaboration
Developing Team Skills
Team Leadership and Roles
Organizing and Managing the Project
Document Production
Revision and Editing Stages

CHAPTER 8—Reports
Reports as a Type of Professional Writing
Report Format
Report Design
Graphics
Adopt a Style Guide

CHAPTER 9—Resumes
Purposes
Format
Organization
Content
Resume Style
Resume Visual Design
Applicant Tracking Systems
Conclusion: Do It Your Way!

CHAPTER 10—Cover Letters and Personal Statements
Aims of the Cover Letter
Cover Letter Format
Submission Format
The Personal Statement
Conclusion

CHAPTER 11—Presentations
Purpose
Audience
Organization
Visual Aids
Delivery
The Big Day

CHAPTER 12—Writing for Social Media
Networking
Increased Exposure
Major Platforms
Principles of Effective Writing for Social Media
Exercises

CHAPTER 13—Definitions
Types of Definitions
Writing Effective Technical Definitions
Potential Problem Areas

CHAPTER 14—Instructions
Aim and Importance
Common Forms
How to Organize Instructions
Common Components
Effective Design
Graphics
Special Notices

CHAPTER 15—Usability Testing
How are Usability Tests Conducted?

II . Projects
CHAPTER 16—Introductory Memo Project

Project Objectives
Steps for Completing this Assignment
Follow the Required Memo Format
Write Using a Business Style
Submission Format
Evaluation Criteria

CHAPTER 17—Situation Analysis
Project Objectives
Preliminary Considerations
Audience
Purpose and Intended Use(s)
The Writer
Document Design
Notes
Optional: Situation Analysis Memo

CHAPTER 18—Project Assessment Memo
Overview
Context
Documents
Production
Summary

CHAPTER 19—Definitions Project
Project Objectives
Background: Bad Culture – New Management – New Policies
Exercises

CHAPTER 20—Cases: Overview of Goals and Strategies
Questions for Analyzing Cases
Focus on Managing Ethical Dilemmas
Focus on Following the Chain of Command

CHAPTER 21—Big-1 Rental Agency Case
Case Overview
Background Information
Exercises

CHAPTER 22—A Business Faux Pas Case
Case Overview
Jeaneaux Letter
Nester Letter
Exercises

CHAPTER 23—The Error at OTS Case
Official Rules: Thomson’s Sales Training Program
Email Winning Notification
Exercises

CHAPTER 24—Insurance Fraud at MedTech Case
Letter from Susan Seer
Susan Seer’s Physician’s Report/Certification of Disability
Online Resources
Exercises

CHAPTER 25—Complaint at the Colonnade Hotel Case
Scenario
Background Information
Exercises

CHAPTER 26—Foodborne Illness on Festival Case
Exercises

CHAPTER 27—Lego Bricks Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Designing a Model
Planning
Instructions Set
Usability Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 28—Job Search Project
Project Objectives
Find an Actual Job Advertisement
Research the Company
Job Analysis Planning
Resume and Cover Letter
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 29—Staff Development
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
Proposal

CHAPTER 30—Procedures Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Steps for Completing the Project

CHAPTER 31—Client Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
Project Plan
Client Letter
Progress Report
Final Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 32—Usability Project
Project Objectives
What Does Usability Have to Do with Learning How to Write?
Deliverables
Choosing a Client Website
Design Plan Report
Progress Report
Usability Report
Project Assessment Memo

CHAPTER 33—International Project
Project Objectives
Deliverables
Planning
General Evaluation Criteria for the International Project

Jeffrey Jablonski

Jeffrey Jablonski, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of English at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He received his Ph.D. in English from Purdue University (2000) and specializes in academic and professional writing. He has delivered numerous national presentations, published several articles, and written two books. Professor Jablonski teaches courses in composition theory, document design, and business and technical writing. He has also consulted for organizations such as Bechtel Nevada, Stoller-Navarro, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.