Articles
The technical expert is not expected to write with the flair style of a professional writer. Journal editors will polish arid rewrite the engineer's manuscript to make it more interesting and readable. But a well-organized, cleanly written first draft does increase your chances for publication; if your draft - is too poorly written or difficult to understand, the editor may reject it.
Many corporations, including Raytheon, Westinghouse, and International Paper, publish their own magazines for distribu, tion to customers and employees. The articles in these "house organs" are shorter, less technical, and newsier because many of the readers are nontechnical.
Types of articles published include case histories, industry roundups, and stories on market trends, controversial issues, new products, improved technologies, ongoing research and development, new materials, new manufacturing techniques, energy-saving ideas and systems, environmental compliance, service, engineering, quality management, and performance.
If you would like to see your name in print, contact the editor of the journal for which you want to write and ask about submitting an article. Although you won't gain the fame and fortune of a Stephen King or a Sidney Sheldon, technical publications have their own rewards.
Reports
Technical reports are the documents in which engineers, scientists, and managers, transmit the results of their research, field, work, and other activities to people in their organization. Here's what the University of Rochester's department of chemical engineering has to say about engineers and report writing:
The importance of being able to write a good report cannot be emphasized too strongly. The chemical engineer who carries out an investigation or study has not completed his job until he has submitted a report on the project. The true value of the project and the abilities of the investigator may be distorted or unrecognized unless the engineer is able to write a commendable report.
Often, a written report is the only tangible product of hundreds of hours of work. Rightly or wrongly, the quality and worth of that work are judged by the quality of the written report-its clarity, organization, and content. Therefore, it pays to take the time to write a good report.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Adjustment Letters
OPENING: Acknowledge the mistake.
FOCUS: Apologize for the error.
ACTION: Give a solution.
CLOSING: Apologize again to the reader.
Practice: Wrte and adjustment letter.
Company: Monsalve Moreno Cia. Ltda.
Claim: They ordered 50 canon calculators and they received 50 sharp calculators, they wanted the items by October 27 and received on november 11. The total invoice was for $1,090 and they paid half of it in advance. Now they are returning the merchandise and want a complete refund.
FOCUS: Apologize for the error.
ACTION: Give a solution.
CLOSING: Apologize again to the reader.
Practice: Wrte and adjustment letter.
Company: Monsalve Moreno Cia. Ltda.
Claim: They ordered 50 canon calculators and they received 50 sharp calculators, they wanted the items by October 27 and received on november 11. The total invoice was for $1,090 and they paid half of it in advance. Now they are returning the merchandise and want a complete refund.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Claim Letter
OPENING: Explain the problem.
Ex: In a recent shipment from your company, New Tech Computers, there were two problems: some of the items we received were broken and they came later than we expected.
FOCUS: Give your reaction.
Ex: We are returning by overnight mail the damaged merchandise.
ACTION: Give a solution.
Ex: Please give us a complete refund for the money we gave you in advance, this is $4,500 (Four thousand and five hundred US dollars).
CLOSING: Thank the reader.
Ex: Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Write a Claim Letter for the following situation:
You ordered 200 Ipods Shuffle and 200 Ipods Nano, you received 300 Ipods Shuffle and 100 Ipods Nano. In addition, 27 Ipods Shuffle came with their box opened. You ordered the items by September 24 and they arrived on october 10. Moreover, they sent you the invoices for 200 Nanos $35,800 and 200 Shuffles $17,800.
Ex: In a recent shipment from your company, New Tech Computers, there were two problems: some of the items we received were broken and they came later than we expected.
FOCUS: Give your reaction.
Ex: We are returning by overnight mail the damaged merchandise.
ACTION: Give a solution.
Ex: Please give us a complete refund for the money we gave you in advance, this is $4,500 (Four thousand and five hundred US dollars).
CLOSING: Thank the reader.
Ex: Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Write a Claim Letter for the following situation:
You ordered 200 Ipods Shuffle and 200 Ipods Nano, you received 300 Ipods Shuffle and 100 Ipods Nano. In addition, 27 Ipods Shuffle came with their box opened. You ordered the items by September 24 and they arrived on october 10. Moreover, they sent you the invoices for 200 Nanos $35,800 and 200 Shuffles $17,800.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Ordering Supplies
OPENING: Tell what you are ordering.
FOCUS: Tell when you need the items. Tell how to deliver them.
ACTION: Tell how you will pay for the items.
CLOSING: Ask them to contact you if necessary.
For your practice, order the following items:
Item: Ipod Nano, serial number ESS-128, quantity 200, unit price $179, total cost $35,800, stock date September 24.
Item: Ipod Shuffle, serial number MMM-766, quantity 200, unit price $89, total cost $17,800, stock date September 24.
FOCUS: Tell when you need the items. Tell how to deliver them.
ACTION: Tell how you will pay for the items.
CLOSING: Ask them to contact you if necessary.
For your practice, order the following items:
Item: Ipod Nano, serial number ESS-128, quantity 200, unit price $179, total cost $35,800, stock date September 24.
Item: Ipod Shuffle, serial number MMM-766, quantity 200, unit price $89, total cost $17,800, stock date September 24.
Apply to this job
Web Discount Corporation of Barcelona, Spain, seeks full-time Client Services Coordinator. Responsabilities include greeting clients, answering telephones, and performing other clerical functions.
Requirements:
1. High school diploma and/or University diploma.
2. 2-4 years of clerical or administrative experience.
3. Excellent organizational skills.
4. Typing speed of 30 wpm.
5. Good communication skills.
Give or email your cover letter to:
Thomas Youman
Email: tomyyou@yahoo.com
Requirements:
1. High school diploma and/or University diploma.
2. 2-4 years of clerical or administrative experience.
3. Excellent organizational skills.
4. Typing speed of 30 wpm.
5. Good communication skills.
Give or email your cover letter to:
Thomas Youman
Email: tomyyou@yahoo.com
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Requesting a Service
OPENING: Tell why you are writing
FOCUS: Give details about your request.
ACTION: Give a time frame.
CLOSING: Thank the reader and mention future communication.
FOCUS: Give details about your request.
ACTION: Give a time frame.
CLOSING: Thank the reader and mention future communication.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Writing a Cover Letter
When you write a letter in English, you should follow this scheme:
1. Your Address
2. Date: MM-DD-YY
3. Recipients Name and Address
4. Salutation
5. Body:
5.1. OPENING: Tell that you are applying for a job and the source of your information.
5.2. FOCUS: Tell why you are suited for the job.
5.3. ACTION: Tell what you plan to do.
5.4. CLOSING: Be positive.
6. Complementary Closing
7. Signature
8. Typed Name
1. Your Address
2. Date: MM-DD-YY
3. Recipients Name and Address
4. Salutation
5. Body:
5.1. OPENING: Tell that you are applying for a job and the source of your information.
5.2. FOCUS: Tell why you are suited for the job.
5.3. ACTION: Tell what you plan to do.
5.4. CLOSING: Be positive.
6. Complementary Closing
7. Signature
8. Typed Name
Monday, August 6, 2007
BASICS OF TECHNICAL WRITING
What Is Technical Writing?
Technical writing is defined by its subject matter: It is writing that deals with topics of a technical nature. By technical we mean anything having to do with the specialized areas of science and technology.
Technical vs. nontechnical writing
Because technical writing usually deals with an object, process, system, or abstract idea, the language is utilitarian, stressing accuracy rather than style. The tone is objective; the technical content, not the writing style or author's feelings toward the subject, is the focal point.
The difference between technical writing and ordinary composition is more than just content, however. The two differ in purpose as well. The primary goal of any technical communication is to transmit technical information accurately. In this regard, technical writing differs from popular nonfiction, in which the writing is meant to entertain, or from advertising copywriting, which is intended to sell.
Technical writers are concerned with communication. If they have to, they will sacrifice style, grace, and technique for clarity, precision, and organization.
Good Technical Writing Is ...
1. Technically Accurate
2. Useful
3. Concise
4. Complete
5. Clear
6. Consistent
7. Correct in Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar
8. Targeted
9. Well Organized
10. Interesting
2 A Few Useful Rules of Writing Numbers, Units of Measure, Punctuation, Abbreviation, and Capitalization
Numbers
1. Write out all numbers below 10
2. When two or more numbers are presented in the same section of writing, write them as numerals
3. Write large numbers in the form most familiar to your audience and easiest to understand.
4. Place a hyphen between a number and unit of measure when they modify a noun.
5. Use the singular when fractions and decimals of one or less are used as adjectives.
6. Write decimals and fractions as numerals, not words.
7. Do not inflate the degree of accuracy by writing decimals with too many digits.
8. If a number is an approximation, write it out.
9. Do not begin a sentence with numerals.
Units of Measure
10. Keep all units of measure consistent.
11. Write secondary units in parentheses after the primary units.
Punctuation
12. Hyphenate two adjacent nouns if they are both necessary to express a single idea.
13. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each except the last.
14. Omit the period at the end of a parenthetical expression within a sentence; retain it if the entire parenthetical expression stands alone as a sentence.
Abbreviation
15. Spell out abbreviations at their first appearance.
16. Omit internal and terminal punctuation in abbreviations.
17. The abbreviation for a specific word or phrase takes the same case (upper case or lower case) as the word or phrase.
Capitalization
18. Capitalize trade names.
19. Do not capitalize words to emphasize their importance.
20. Capitalize the full names of government agencies, companies, departments, divisions, and organizations.
Technical writing is defined by its subject matter: It is writing that deals with topics of a technical nature. By technical we mean anything having to do with the specialized areas of science and technology.
Technical vs. nontechnical writing
Because technical writing usually deals with an object, process, system, or abstract idea, the language is utilitarian, stressing accuracy rather than style. The tone is objective; the technical content, not the writing style or author's feelings toward the subject, is the focal point.
The difference between technical writing and ordinary composition is more than just content, however. The two differ in purpose as well. The primary goal of any technical communication is to transmit technical information accurately. In this regard, technical writing differs from popular nonfiction, in which the writing is meant to entertain, or from advertising copywriting, which is intended to sell.
Technical writers are concerned with communication. If they have to, they will sacrifice style, grace, and technique for clarity, precision, and organization.
Good Technical Writing Is ...
1. Technically Accurate
2. Useful
3. Concise
4. Complete
5. Clear
6. Consistent
7. Correct in Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar
8. Targeted
9. Well Organized
10. Interesting
2 A Few Useful Rules of Writing Numbers, Units of Measure, Punctuation, Abbreviation, and Capitalization
Numbers
1. Write out all numbers below 10
2. When two or more numbers are presented in the same section of writing, write them as numerals
3. Write large numbers in the form most familiar to your audience and easiest to understand.
4. Place a hyphen between a number and unit of measure when they modify a noun.
5. Use the singular when fractions and decimals of one or less are used as adjectives.
6. Write decimals and fractions as numerals, not words.
7. Do not inflate the degree of accuracy by writing decimals with too many digits.
8. If a number is an approximation, write it out.
9. Do not begin a sentence with numerals.
Units of Measure
10. Keep all units of measure consistent.
11. Write secondary units in parentheses after the primary units.
Punctuation
12. Hyphenate two adjacent nouns if they are both necessary to express a single idea.
13. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each except the last.
14. Omit the period at the end of a parenthetical expression within a sentence; retain it if the entire parenthetical expression stands alone as a sentence.
Abbreviation
15. Spell out abbreviations at their first appearance.
16. Omit internal and terminal punctuation in abbreviations.
17. The abbreviation for a specific word or phrase takes the same case (upper case or lower case) as the word or phrase.
Capitalization
18. Capitalize trade names.
19. Do not capitalize words to emphasize their importance.
20. Capitalize the full names of government agencies, companies, departments, divisions, and organizations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
