Chapter 19

In chapter 19, Preparing Proposals, Burnett talks about what it takes to make an effective proposal. The one part of the chapter that stood out to me the most is the section where she said that preparing a good proposal is easier if you know why so many are turned down or rejected. She then went on to list 10 main reasons why proposals are turned down. The list includes: lack of new ideas, unfocused research plan, and uncertainty concerning the future direction. I diffidently agree with this idea that it is important to know why proposals fail. If a proposal is presented and it is unoriginal, and doesn’t present a future plan of action to accomplish the proposed idea, it would be completely ineffective.

Chapter 21

The final chapter in Burnett's book is about preparing instructions and manuals. In this chapter Burnett goes more in depth with instructions and manuals. While I was reading the chapter I found myself realizing that most of these points Burnett brings up are common things I notice or do with out thinking about it. One example is how Burnett talks about visual elements of instructions. Such as using a lightning bolt in a high voltage sign in order to get the point across more quickly or better. Burnett also talks about how international companies must put out instructions or manuals that come in multiple languages. This is also true for smaller companies whose employees 1st language varies, many of their instructions and danger signs will be in multiple languages. Burnett also talks about audience comparing adult instructions to kids instructions which I found to be self explanatory. Finally making sure the instructions are grammatically correct is a big issue. If you have instructions that are confusing to read or words that do not make sense this may give the person a completely different idea or they may disregard the sign and instructions.

Chapter 18

In chapter 18 they talk about preparing correspondence. Unlike face to face conversations, correspondence documents interactions, which acn be checked or reffered to. This chapter shows you how to compose correspondence using appropriate planning, selecting appropriate content, and developing an appropriate organization so the document is legible, readable, and usable. Correspondence can be distinguished from other forms of technical communication in a few different ways: audience, composing and revising, datedness, and conventions. Correspondense typically adresses one person or and identified group. Since correspondence is normally written fairly quickly, it does not go through as much revisions. Correspondense usually deals with a current situation and is updated more frequently than other technical documents. And finally, since correspondence is prepared quickly, writers usually pay less attention to such mechanics as grammer, diction, and sequence of information.

Chapter 20

As the Book is steadily coming to a close Burnett uses chapter 20 almost as a way to bring the entire book together. Throughout the previous chapters that we have blogged Burnett has described different types of technical writing and various needed techniques for writing, and in chapter 20 she brings all of these together and describes how to actually compose a technical report. As mentioned we have already blogged on almost everything that this chapter has to offer however we have not discussed the actual process of putting everything together therefore I thought we could discuss what techniques we used to compose our reports. Burnett gives five sections that every report should contain; 1.) Overview, 2.) Background, 3.) Recommendations, 4.) Evidence, and 5.) Discussion. I may have a different style of writing than most but what I started with for this report was the Evidence section. I went to the gant chart and I basically summarized the semester in a way that made me remember all the details of the assignments and activities. With the assignments fresh in my mind I then gave different recommendations as to what I would or wouldn't change in the course material and in each assignment. I was also able to give the background information such as what computer programs we used for the course. With that amount of information I was able to create the conclusion or the discussion section of the report by simply analyzing and summarizing the other two sections. After creating a conclusion I wrote the Overview or the Introduction by simply stating the purpose of the report,thesis statement, and giving a summary sentence from each section of the report.

Chapter 15

In this chapter, Burnett discusses technical descriptions and how they can be used. We worked with technical descriptions in one of our in-class assignments. A technical description should included details such as what it is, its propose, characteristics like size, shape, color, and its parts. Burnett also discussed how we can use technical descriptions in our careers. If you were doing first-hand research, you would need to write down your observations and data to compose a technical description of the research. Another area where we might come across technical descriptions is in training materials for a new job. When we get our first jobs after graduating, our employers will us with documents describing the tools and systems that we will be working with. They will contain the necessary details to acquaint with our new job.

Chp 17

This chapter is titled “Engaging in Oral Communication”. The main point of this chapter explains how to communicate your ideas and your plans effectively when giving an oral presentation. There are many different types of presentations that you can give in a variety of settings. The different settings will effect the audience’s expectations and thus your approach. Visuals, organization, knowing the information, and active involvement of the group you are speaking to are usually very important in order to have a successful presentation. I can relate to this in my interpersonal communications class. Knowing my audience, being organized, knowing the information, and using visuals will be reflected in the grade I received for various speeches.

Chapter 16

The main point of this chapter is Process explanations. Straight to the point, a process explanation provides an overview or background regardless of the audience's specific tasks (Burnett, 580). Process explanations can help simplify something extremely technical like how wine is made, how hurricanes are tracked or how oil wells are drilled. The book has an example about wind turbines. A wind turbine is the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to create wind they use wind to make electricity. The action of a fan is reversed in which wind turns the blades, which turns a generator, which makes electricity. Most of us use process explanations to explain how or why we do things. In my job, I need to explain to the people I manage why we must separate packages that are delivered to cities in Minnesota from other packages. We have a guarantee that says any package being delivered from a Minnesota address to another Minnesota address will be delivered the next day. Anytime any of you explain why something is the way it is, or explain the benefits of a certain item you are using process explanations.

Chapter 14

This chapter covers definitions. It talks about how some words have multiple meanings in different contexts, how words can symbolize other things and also how to figure out a definition. Every day I run into words that I have no idea what they mean. I have this problem most when I am studying for my chemistry class. I come across words and I have to look them up in the margin or in the glossary. This chapter made me realize how much I utilize the glossary or an online dictionary and how helpful they can be.

TEAM KARL working on the best Soccer Game Card in the class

Chapter 13

In this chapter, it deals alot with electronical communication. This type of communication is something that all of us use a lot here at MSU and I would assume in our every day lives. This ranges from cell phones to our PC's. Think of how fortunate we our to have all the information in the world so accessible to us. Ten years ago we were practically paging through the encyclopedia, today the encyclopedia is on the internet.
Also in the chapter it dealt a lot with web design. It talked about how websites are layed out and how things are linked on different sites for our use. It is interesting to see how some of these sites our layed out in a certain way so it can grab our attention for the needs and uses of the site. Web design is a new high priced industry today. The money people can make by creating sites for business's is amazing and well deserving. For a business it is just one huge advertisement and if it is set up right, an online store!$$$

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 was about visuals in technical communications. Visuals aren't new, people have been using them for centuries dating back to DeVinci. Visuals are good in communication because they can be more specific then text and can be understood more clearly. The chapter also discussed incorporating visuals with text when and where to put them. Then the Chapter explained the 7 major functions of visuals (page 417-417) The chapter then talked about color and how it can hlep but also distract the reader.
A Good example of visuals in my daily ilfe is at work I use building maps that are color coordinated. I have a fire escape and water pump map I would use to give to firemen in case of an emergency. They color coordinated make it easy to find BLUE- for the water pumps. or RED for the escapes. Each floor has the color coded map and its much easier then reading a paragraph describing where each fire pump is. Visuals are very importatn for me for a quick review when I have to act fast to complete or show someone something in the building.