Document-Based Cases for Technical Communication

*New to this edition

Preface for Instructors

Introduction for Students

CASE 1 Graphics: Selecting and Presenting Data

*The Situation

     *Figure 1.1 Sample APR Calculations for a Womens Golf Team

*The Challenge

*Your Job

When Youre Finished

TASK 1 Evaluate the Effectiveness of Graphics

     *Document 1.2 Line Graph of Academic Achievement Trends

     *Document 1.3 Bar Graph of Academic Achievement for All Womens Sports

*TASK 2 Assess and Improve Communication Strategies

     *Document 1.4 APR Statistics for Womens Sports 2009-2010

     *Document 1.5 APR Statistics for Mens Sports 2009-2010

     *Document 1.6 APR Snapshot

*TASK 3 Create Effective Graphics and Speakers Notes

     *Document 1.7 Average Multi-Year APR Scores in 2009-2010

*TASK 4 Write a Press Release and Integrate Text and Graphics

     *Document 1.8 First Page of Press Release Outline

     *Document 1.9 Second Page of Press Release Outline

CASE 2 Definitions and Descriptions: Helping Your Readers Understand

*The Situation

     *Figure 2.1 Baysides Community Garden

     *Figure 2.2 Model Parenthetical and Sentence Definitions

*The Challenge

*Your Job

When Youre Finished

TASK 1 Analyze Parenthetical and Sentence Definitions

     *Document 2.3 Parenthetical Definitions

     *Document 2.4 Sentence Definitions

*TASK 2 Evaluate and Revise Descriptions

     *Document 2.5 Object Description of Beneficial Insects

     *Document 2.6 Mechanism Description of Garden Tiller

     *Document 2.7 Process Description of Erosion Control

     *Document 2.8 Object Descriptions of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone8b

TASK 3 Clarify Definitions with Graphics  

TASK 4 Write Definitions  

     *Document 2.9 E-mail with Gardening Terms to Be Defined

CASE 3 Correspondence: Considering Your Readers Point of View

The Situation

     Figure 3.1 Axel Geirsson

The Challenge

Your Job

When Youre Finished

TASK 1 Evaluate and Revise an Internal Memo

     Document 3.2 Memo on H20 Pro-TechT Features

TASK 2 Evaluate and Revise a Response to a Customer

     Document 3.3 Customer Claim Letter

     Document 3.4 Response to Customer Claim Letter

TASK 3 Respond to Customer Claims

     Document 3.5 Customer Claim E-mail 1

     Document 3.6 Customer Claim E-mail 2

*TASK 4 Write a Microblog and a Blog Post

     *Document 3.7 Microblog Posts Critical of Company

     *Document 3.8 Blog Post Critical of Store

CASE 4 Proposals: Seeing Proposals through Reviewers Eyes

The Situation

The Challenge

Your Job

When Youre Finished

     Figure 4.1 Example of Funded Proposal

TASK 1 Evaluate Proposals

     Document 4.2 Skyview Coalition Proposal

     Document 4.3 Gameday Brigade Proposal

     Document 4.4 Teen Initiative Plan Proposal

     Document 4.5 Defensive Driving Course Proposal

TASK 2 Reflect on the Review Process  

TASK 3 Respond to Proposals  

TASK 4 Write a Proposal

     Document 4.6 E-mail with Notes on Bicycle Helmet Program

CASE 5 Reports: Learning to Write in an Organization

*The Situation

*The Challenge

     *Figure 5.1 Cover of United States Energy Information Administrations Web Editorial Style Guide

*Your Job

When Youre Finished

TASK 1 Learn about an Organizations Reports

     *Document 5.2 Web Page of United States Energy Information Administration

     *Document 5.3 Mission and Overview Page of the United States Energy Information Administration

     *Document 5.4 EIA Offices list for the United States Energy Information Administration

     *Document 5.5 Preface from International Energy Outlook 2010 (page 1)

     *Document 5.6 Preface from International Energy Outlook 2010 (page 2)

*TASK 2 Compare and Evaluate Report Design

     *Document 5.7 Web Page of Most Recent International Energy Outlook Report

     *Document 5.8 Web Page of Archived International Energy Outlook 2010

     *Document 5.9 Highlights Page from Printed Report of Archived International Energy Outlook 2010

TASK 3 Learn about Appropriate Report Content  

     *Document 5.10 Page from Greenhouse Emissions Report

     *Document 5.11 Excerpt on Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Greenhouse Emissions Report

     *Document 5.12 Excerpt on Residential Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Greenhouse Emissions Report

TASK 4 Use an Organizations Style Guide

     *Document 5.13 E-mail Query on How to Develop a Preface

     *Document 5.14 E-mail Query on How to Format a Table

CASE 6 Instructions: Guiding Readers in Performing a Task

*The Situation

     *Figure 6.1 Engineers Sketch of ECG Lead II Waveform Display

*The Challenge

*Your Job  

When Youre Finished

TASK 1 Interview a Subject Matter Expert

     *Document 6.2 E-mail Requesting Information on the Priti4.3 Monitor

TASK 2 Evaluate Instructions

     *Document 6.3 Engineers Sketch of Monitor User Interface

     *Document 6.4 Basic Instructions for Operationg Priti5 Monitor

TASK 3 Write Instructions

     *Document 6.5 Notes for Operating Priti5 Monitor 1

     *Document 6.6 Notes for Operating Priti5 Monitor 2

     *Document 6.7 Notes for Operating Priti5 Monitor 3

*TASK 4 Develop an Online Training Module

CASE 7 Presentation Graphics: Highlighting Important Information

The Situation

Figure 7.1 Example of E-mail Announcing Open Enrollment Meeting 

The Challenge

Your Job

When Youre Finished

*TASK 1 Design Presentation Slides

     Document 7.2 Opening Slide for Presentation

     Document 7.3 Presentation Slide with Agenda

     Document 7.4 Presentation Slide on Paper Applications

TASK 2 Present Information Visually

     Document 7.5 Presentation Slide with Pie Chart

     Document 7.6 Presentation Slide with Pie Chart

     Document 7.7 Presentation Slide on Benefits

*TASK 3 Create an Online Presentation

     *Document 7.8 Presentation Notes

TASK 4 Create a Presentation

     Document 7.9 E-mail Query on Presentation Graphics