PTC Writing
This type of writing is done by personnel such as engineers and scientists with specialized knowledge
Technical Writing
"Why am I writing?" is also known as
Who am I writing for is also known as
audience
"What should it look like?" is also known as...
Design
When should you avoid email?
Formal correspondence
Lengthy discussions
Sensitive or protected information
Personal or private communication
This kind of writing is for occupational purposes or needs of an organization/company
How do you make your purpose clear in an email?
be specific about subject
Who is your audience in professional writing?
The person or people looking at your document/presentation etc.
What are the 6 elements of document design?
Arrangement
Emphasis
Clarity
Conciseness
Tone
Ethos
What are the characteristics of a memo?
Standard form of in-house business communication
Professional and formal tone
Hard copy vs. digital communication
Short (1-3 pages) - It should be a memo
Long (3+ pages) - It should be a report
Widely circulated
As a technical writer, if you write a report, you want your audience to...
use the information
How do you make your purpose clear in a report?
state the problem right away
What are two types of audiences?
There are primary and secondary audiences.
This focuses on how to incorporate visuals with text
What is the purpose of research?
Are you solving a problem?
Are you gathering information to understand an issue?
Are you determining the feasibility of an action?
As a professional writer, if you write a report you want your audience to...
What are some common purpose-related mistake?
Burying purpose
Confusing the end result
Not considering end result
Overlooking multiple purposes
What are 4 types of audience in PTC?
Lay audience (uniformed/least knowledgeable)
Executive (acquainted/informed)
Technical experts inside field (expert)
-Technical experts outside field. (informed/acquainted)
What are some rhetorical choices to make a document visually appealing?
Shaping the page
Choosing appropriate font
Organizing text in usable and inviting way
List some good reasons to collaborate at work.
Develop and or change perspectives
Develop critical thinking skills
Enhance written and oral communication skills
Develop problem solving skills
Generate alternative POVs and/or solutions
Work on projects too complex or large for one person
Apply your different backgrounds, experiences and expertise to a problem
Teach one another
Gain structured experience
The art of communication is also called...
rhetoric
How do you answer the question: What is my purpose?
Consider the end result
Why do you need to come up with an informed guess about your audience?
Audience is a dynamic, changing group of people.
Personality
Expertise
Interest
Cultural factors
Biased Language
Assumptions
Good visuals do:
Impress people in the workplace
Help digest and interpret data more efficiently
Communicate certain ideas more quickly than words
List 3 types of reports
Informational
Analytical
Recommendation