Ch 1 - Technical Communication in the Entreprenurial Workplace

Question 1

List eight example Entrepreneur’s traits

Answer 1

Corporate leaders regularly list the following:

• innovator
• leader
• listener
• network savvy
• self-reliant
• ethical
• resilient
• communicator

Question 2

Define Entrepreneurship

Answer 2

Process of

• sensing new opportunities
• developing new products and services
• creating new methods of production
• constructively reorganizing resources in new ways

Question 3

What will you learn by developing a Writing Process?

Answer 3

How to write more efficiently. In other words, you will “work smarter, not harder.”

Question 4

What Stages form a useful workplace Writing Process?

Answer 4

Stage 1: Research and planning
Stage 2: Organizing and drafting
Stage 3: Improving the style
Stage 4: Designing
Stage 5: Revising and editing
(involves moving back and forth among several stages)

Question 5

Why do technical writers need to employ Entrepreneurship?

Answer 5

Entrepreneurship is now a key component of any technical workplace, whether you are working for a company or starting your own business.

Question 6

Name six qualities of Technical Communication.

Answer 6

• highly mobile, interactive, and adaptable
• reader centered
• team oriented (collaborative creation)
• highly visual
• multidimensional, involving ethics, laws, and politics
• shaped by international and trans-cultural demands

Question 7

Define “Technical Communication”

Answer 7

Process of managing technical information in ways that allow people to take action.

Question 8

What five functions do technical writing Genres serve?

Answer 8

Shapes a project’s content, organization, style, and design, as well as the medium in which it is delivered.

Helpful for organizing information into patterns that your readers will recognize and understand.

Question 9

Name two techniques for exercising creativity.

Answer 9

Concept mapping - Diagram that depicts suggested relationships between concepts

Brainstorming lists - brain dump of everything that comes to mind regarding a topic

Question 10

What are the three steps to devising a Strategic Plan?

Answer 10

1) Identify Top Rank Objective (TRO) and secondary objectives (3-5)
2) Create task list
3) Create project timeline

Question 11

What are the two types of Research used to connect evidence for technical communication?

Answer 11

Start-up Research - for developing overview. Comprises Google and video searches. Jot down key terms and recurring themes/issues. Identify key players and sources of information.
Formal Research - Emperical sources for factual and data-driven evidence. Includes self-generated data from studies, surveys, tests, etc.

Question 12

Name the five components of Stage 1: Research and Planning for technical communications.

Answer 12

• Research your topic
• Define your purpose
• Develop profile of readers
• Tap into creative side
• Devise strategic plan

Question 13

Name the two components of Stage 2: Organizing and Drafting

Answer 13

• Choose a genre to organize the content

- Generate first draft

Question 14

What must be determined during Stage 3: Improving the Style of technical communication.

Answer 14

Choose between:
Plain style - stresses clarity and accuracy
Persuasive style - motivates readers by appealing to physical senses, personal values, and emotions

Question 15

Name the components of Stage 4: Designing

Answer 15

Ensure important ideas and facts are highlighted
Use effective graphics and layouts

“Readers are raiders” for information

Question 16

Name the four components of Stage 5: Revising and Editing

Answer 16

Level 1: Revising - Re-examine subject/purpose & what readers need to know.
Level 2: Substantive Editing - Content, organization, and design. Ensure can find needed information.
Level 3: Copy Editing - Check sentences, paragraphs, and graphics for clarity and accuracy.
Level 4: Proofreading - grammar, typos, spelling, and usage.