Strategies for Business and Technical Writing » (7th Edition)

This unique anthology was created with a simple principle in mind: to offer the best advice from the best sources about the most important issues business and technical writers face every day.

Strategies for Business and Technical Writing teaches effective writing for the world of work. Reading selections from seasoned professionals in business, technical, and academic fields provide examples, models, and sound advice for writers at any level. Covering such topics as audience analysis, language use and misuse, writing and revision processes, and the influence of technology on communication in the working world, this book will appeal to both practical-minded students and professionals already working in business, technology, and industry.

Booknews

A collection of essays, most previously published, by professionals in business and technical communication. Suitable as a supplement to core texts in either technical writing or general composition, or as a core text itself. Explores the process of writing, problems with language, correspondence, reports and other longer documents, and resumes and other written materials for a job search. The first three editions, between 1980 and 1989, were published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Preface xi

Introduction 1

Part 1 Process as well as product 5

Using PAFEO Planning John Keenan 8

The Writing Process Michael E. Adelstein 16

Evaluating and Testing as Tou Revise Linda Flower John Ackerman 21

The Project Worksheet for Efficient Writing Management John S. Harris 34

The Composing Process of An Engineer Jack Selzer 44

Part 2 Problems with Language 55

Gobbledygook Stuart Chase 58

"What Do You Mean You Don't Like My Style?" John S. Fielden 66

Clear Writing Means Clear Thinking Means... Marvin H. Swift 80

University of Wisconsin-Extension Equal Opportunities Program Office and Department of Agricultural Journalism: A Guide to Nonsexist Language 86

International Communication and Language Gwyneth Oloffson 92

Part 3 Business and Technical correspondence 117

The Importance of Memos, Letters, and E-mail Sharon J. Gerson Steven M. Gerson 120

Making Your Correspondence Get Results David V. Lewis 141

"I Have Some Bad News for You" Allan A. Glatthorn 150

How to Use Bottom-Line Writing in Corporate Communications John S. Fielden Ronald E. Dulek 154

Part 4 Reports and other longer documents 165

Audience Analysis: The Problem and a Solution J. C. Mathes Dwight W. Stevenson 168

What Experienced Collaborators Say About Collaborative Writing Nancy Allen Dianne Atkinson Meg Morgan Teresa Moore Craig Snow 184

Ten Report Writing Pitfalls: How to Avoid Them Vincent Vinci 203

A Pixel (Picture) Is Worth a Thousand Words Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts 210

How to Lie with Statistics Darrell Huff 222

Strategies of Persuasion David W. Ewing 230

Determining the Ethics of Style Dan Jones 242

Part 5 Resumes and other written materials for ajob search 247

Writing Resumes and Letters in the Language of Employers John L. Munschauer 254

The Basics of a Cover Letter Steven Graber 283

Writing Resumes Diana C. Reep 298

Resume Formats Matthew Yate 304

Follow- Up Letters Karl Weber Rob Kaplan 315

Acknowledgments 327

Index 331