Pearson - Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E - Sidney I. Dobrin, Christian R. Weisser & Christopher J. Keller

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Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Sidney I. Dobrin
Christian R. Weisser
Christopher J. Keller

ISBN-10: 0135031745
ISBN-13: 9780135031742

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2010
Format: Paper; 816 pp
Published: 01/08/2009
Status: Instock

Net price: $83.00 (What's this?)

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Description

For courses in Business Writing and Technical Communication.

Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (TCTC) prepares students to be successful writers and readers of technical communication, regardless of their career path. Featuring a wealth of examples and cases, it emphasizes problem-solving, collaboration, visual rhetoric and usability. Its approach analyzes why something worked or did not work, as well as how to produce the appropriate communication. Now available with the MyTechCommLab online learning tool, this edition features more focus on transnational communication, forty-five new case studies, and new information on the relationship between technology and communication.

NOW AVAILABLE WITH MyTechCommLab!

Offering the best available online resources for technical writing, MyTechCommLab is a dynamic, comprehensive site that engages as it helps to improve the skills that technical writers need most–writing, research, and document design. Also included: extensive review and practice opportunities for basic grammar and usage. Most activities in MyTechCommLab report through Grade Tracker, an easy-to-use feature that allows students and instructors to view student results on all of the site's exercises and activities. The book-specific CourseCompass versions of MyTechCommLab provide complete ebooks, book-specific resources, and extensive course management tools. Learn more...

Pearson's MyTechCommLab has been completely reorganized, with a wealth of new content specific to technical communication, including a completely new section on document design and graphics, a tutorial on writing formal reports, and new model documents and activities!

NEW! Document Design and Graphics section, including step-by-step tutorials on document design/ visual rhetoric and Web-page design
NEW! More than 80 sample documents, many interactive
NEW! Document-based Case Studies on usability
NEW! More than 65 document-based activities
NEW! Tutorial on Writing Formal Reports
And much, much more!

Features

Hallmark Features

Rhetorical Approach - This text emphasizes rhetorical thinking - writing for a specific audience to inform or persuade.

· Students will study and practice using language in various print and electronic formats and medium to inform or influence others and solve problems in the workplace.

Problem-Solving Approach (PSA) — An iterative heuristic is provided and applied throughout the book to provide students with a framework for analyzing communication situations and execute appropriate communication strategies.

· Encourages students to think about all aspects of communication from the outset including audience analysis, writing solutions, document production and delivery.

Real People/Real Writing - This text features writing done by real people on-the-job. Each chapter opens with a profile of a person working in a professional, technical, or business environment talking about the writing and communication they do on the job.

· The profiles of workplace writers and the examples in the text reinforce the relevance and importance of the skills being taught in this course.

Case Study Approach - Each chapter presents a case study in the text, and three or more additional case studies on the Companion Website.

· The wide variety of case studies provides the instructor with choice and the students with writing scenarios to fit their interests.

TCTC Video Cases – 16 video cases set in four different company settings are available on DVD for the instructor. The videos present rhetorical situations in workplace settings. A video case synopsis with assignments and writing prompts is presented at the end of each chapter in the text. The videos are available on an Instructor DVD and online on the Companion Website.

· Students see communication situations in context and have opportunities for written response.

Ethical Approach — A cornerstone of the text, ethical scenarios are presented in real workplace environments dealing with issues such as plagiarism, patent rights, privacy laws, confidentiality, copyright, software licensing and more.

· Students gain practical guidance and advice about how to analyze and resolve ethical dilemmas that occur in the workplace.

Collaborative Approach — Whether gathering information, verifying information, or conducting a usability test, collaboration is a crucial part of technical communication in the real world. This point is emphasized in the text and reinforced in end of chapter and web-based assignments.

· Students are made aware that collaborative writing scenarios are abundant in the workplace. Through the assignments, they are provided with multiple opportunities to develop their collaboration skills.

Focus on Technology — Critical awareness of technology is included in every chapter of the text. A full chapter, chapter 3, is devoted to the role of electronic technologies in the workplace.

· A better understanding of how technology affects the communication process will help students produce more effective communication.

Focus on Visual Rhetoric — TCTC emphasizes the important role of visual elements in the technical communication.

· Students will learn to apply visuals effectively into their work for a more professional presentation.

Focus on Usability — Includes usability guidelines, tests and protocols (Chapter 11).

· Ensures students will produce technical documents that are more readable, user friendly, and accurate.

Technical Writing Experiential Boxes — Three types of boxes are placed within the chapters asking students to think about or explore chapter topics in their own experience.

· In Your Experience– boxes get students to think about chapter topics as they relate to their own lives and past experiences.

· Explore– exercises encourage students to look beyond the text and conduct further investigation to learn more about particular subjects.

· Analyze This–exercises engage students in rhetorical analysis of a range of technical documents in order to better understand the subject matter at hand.

Companion Website : Go to www.prenhall.com/dobrin

The Companion Website offers a variety of student resources, including the following:

· PowerPoint Chapter Review–provides a quick review of key concepts in the textbook.

· Website Design Tutorial–provides a basic introduction to HTML coding and website design and development.

· Visual Rhetoric Tutorial–provides an interactive approach to learning about visual rhetorical choices, including use of images and graphics as well as page design and layout.

· Interactive Editing and Revision Exercises–allow students to see poorly written and corrected versions of documents along with additional document revision exercises.

· Case Studies–provide three or more additional case studies for each chapter

· Video Case Studies–streaming video of the video case presented in the textbook, 16 in all.

· Activities and Exercises–specific to a variety of technical and career fields allow students to practice producing communication relevant to their interests.

· Collaboration Exercises–provide practice for writing and communicating in teams.

· Web Resources–provide links to helpful online resources related to chapter content.

· Chapter Quizzes–are self-grading, multiple-choice aids that help students master chapter concepts and prepare for tests.

· TCTC Newsletter Instructor Sign-up–Each year, TCTC authors provide instructors with updates, teaching suggestions, and information to assist in technical communications classrooms.

Instructor Supplements:

Instructor’s Manual with Toolkit for New Instructors

· In addition to our detailed instructor’s manual you’ll also receive a toolkit for new or first time instructors that includes: teaching tips, sample syllabi, chapter outlines, and chapter notes.

Prentice Hall Test Generator

· Our computerized test generation system gives you maximum flexibility in preparing tests.

PowerPoint Lecture Presentation Package

· High quality lecture presentation screens for each chapter.

Instructor Resources CD (IRCD)

· Our complete Instructor’s Manual, Toolkit for New Instructors, and the PowerPoint Lecture Presentation Package.

TCTC Video Cases on DVD

· NOW AVAILABLE WITH MyTechCommLab! Offering the best available online resources for technical writing, MyTechCommLab is a dynamic, comprehensive site that engages as it helps to improve the skills that technical writers need most—writing, research, and document design. Also included: extensive review and practice opportunities for basic grammar and usage. The book-specific CourseCompass versions of MyTechCommLab provide complete ebooks, book-specific resources, and extensive course management tools. Learn more...

Additional Resources

Dictionary and Thesaurus

· A dictionary and thesaurus can be packaged with this textbook at very low cost.

Writer’s OneKey Access Code:

This amazing website has everything in one place for writing and research, saving both students and instructors time.

· Search the New York Times archives and 25,000 journal articles and create works-cited lists easily with the new AutoCite website.

· Contact the Tutor Center. Whether by phone, e-mail, or WebEx, writing teachers can help answer questions or give feedback on essays.

· Use the Practice and Assess exercises to practice grammar or test understanding of key concepts.

· Log on to Exchange for peer review and online grading of papers.

New To This Edition

New to This Edition

New! Chapter 5: Workplace Writing in a Transnational World.

· Places more focus on transnational and transcultural workplace communication.

New! Forty-five new case studies–appear in the book and Companion Website.

· Provide a variety of writing scenarios to develop and apply writing and rhetorical thinking skills.

New! More on the relationship between technology and communication.

· Addresses workplace communication technologies such as wikis, instant messaging, and blogging.

New! New writing assignments appear at the end of each chapter.

· Gives instructors new assignments to use in class and for homework.

New! Available with Mytechcommlab–where you save time and improve results.

· Includes an interactive textbook with a variety of multimedia technical communication resources such as sample documents, visual rhetoric tutorials, grammar and mechanics exercises and more!

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1. Technical and Professional Communication in the Workplace

2. Rhetoric and Technical Communication

3. Technical Writing and Electronic Technologies

4. Ethics and the Workplace Writer

5. Workplace Writing in a Transnational World

6. Researching and Evaluating Source Materials

7. Organizing and Drafting Documents

8. Visual Rhetoric and Using Visuals

9. Layout and Design

10. Revising, Rewriting, and Editing

11. Usability

12. E-mail, E-messaging, and Memos

13. Letters

14. Finding and Obtaining Employment

15. Technical Definitions

16. Technical Descriptions and Specifications

17. Websites and Online Environments

18. Technical Instructions

19. Manuals

20. Proposals and Requests for Proposals

21. Informal Reports

22. Formal Reports

23. Presentations

APPENDIX A: HANDBOOK

APPENDIX B: DOCUMENTATION

Courses

Technical Communication - Intro (Technical Communication)

Previous Edition(s)

Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century
Dobrin, Weisser & Keller
©2008 | Longman | Paper; 768 pp | Out of Print
ISBN-10: 0131172883 | ISBN-13: 9780131172883
Brief Description |
Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (TCTC) will prepare students to be successful writers and readers of technical communication, regardless of their career path. This text features a wealth of interesting examples, applications, and cases that engage the student and demonstrate both effective and flawed communication. An emphasis is placed on analyzing why something worked or did not work as well as on how to produce the appropriate communication. TCTC’s problem-solving approach asks students to think rhetorically about writing situations through detailed explanations and specific examples. The Problem-Solving Approach (PSA) provides students with a useful heuristic to guide them through the process of analyzing a variety of communication situations and solving workplace communication problems.

NOW AVAILABLE WITH MyTechCommLab!

Offering the best available online resources for technical writing, MyTechCommLab is a dynamic, comprehensive site that engages as it helps to improve the skills that technical writers need most—writing, research, and document design. Also included: extensive review and practice opportunities for basic grammar and usage. Most activities in MyTechCommLab report through Grade Tracker, an easy-to-use feature that allows students and instructors to view student results on all of the site's exercises and activities. The book-specific CourseCompass versions of MyTechCommLab provide complete ebooks, book-specific resources, and extensive course management tools. Learn more...

Pearson's MyTechCommLab has been completely reorganized, with a wealth of new content specific to technical communication, including a completely new section on document design and graphics, a tutorial on writing formal reports, and new model documents and activities!

NEW! Document Design and Graphics section, including step-by-step tutorials on document design/ visual rhetoric and Web-page design
NEW! More than 80 sample documents, many interactive
NEW! Document-based Case Studies on usability
NEW! More than 65 document-based activities
NEW! Tutorial on Writing Formal Reports
And much, much more!
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Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 013503213X | ISBN-13: 9780135032138
More Info

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Instant Access -- for Technical Communication in the 21st Century, 2/E
Dobrin, Weisser & Keller
©2010 | Longman | Website; 816 pp | Live
ISBN-10: 0135031583 | ISBN-13: 9780135031582
Online purchase price: $65.00More Info

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Instant Access -- for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin, Weisser & Keller
©2010 | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0133029069 | ISBN-13: 9780133029062
Online purchase price: $65.00Take a Tour | More Info

Student Access Codes

MyTechCommLab -- Standalone Access Card, 2/E
Pearson
©2009 | Longman | Access Code Card | Estimated Availability : 12/31/2010
ISBN-10: 0135031958 | ISBN-13: 9780135031957
Suggested retail price: $46.67Net price: $35.00 (What's this?)More Info

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Technical Communications in the 21st Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | Access Code Card; 816 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0135031567 | ISBN-13: 9780135031568
Net price: $62.00 (What's this?)More Info

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Valuepack Access Card
Pearson
©2009 | Longman | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0205680097 | ISBN-13: 9780205680092
Suggested retail price: $13.33Net price: $10.00 (What's this?)More Info

Instructor Access Codes

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Instructor Access Code
Pearson Longman
©2008 | Longman | Digital Access Code | Available
ISBN-10: 0205605184 | ISBN-13: 9780205605187
URL: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/catalog/aiv/customerType?catalog_code=mytechcommlab-long
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eLearning & Assessment

Websites and Online Courses
Student Access Codes
Instructor Access Codes

Instructor's Manual (Download only) for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0135032040 | ISBN-13: 9780135032046
URL: http://www.prenhall.com/dobrin

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PowerPoint Lecture Presentation Package (Download only) for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0135031990 | ISBN-13: 9780135031995
URL: http://www.prenhall.com/dobrin

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TestGen® Computerized Test Bank for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0135032032 | ISBN-13: 9780135032039

Show Downloadable Files

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Companion Website for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 013503213X | ISBN-13: 9780135032138
More Info

Instructor's DVD for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | DVD | Instock
ISBN-10: 0135032121 | ISBN-13: 9780135032121
More Info

Access code cards

MyTechCommLab with Pearson eText -- Access Card -- for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century
Dobrin, Weisser & Keller
©2010 | Longman | Access Code Card | Estimated Availability : 12/30/2011
ISBN-10: 0133029050 | ISBN-13: 9780133029055
Suggested retail price: $82.67Net price: $62.00 (What's this?)More Info

Websites and online courses

Companion Website for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 013503213X | ISBN-13: 9780135032138
More Info

Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E
Dobrin
©2010 | Longman | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 013503213X | ISBN-13: 9780135032138
More Info

Student Access Codes

Instructor Access Codes

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Pearson Custom Business Skills
Pearson
©2009 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0135075475 | ISBN-13: 9780135075470
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Pearson Custom Business Skills database enables you to select chapters, in any sequence or combination, from leading textbooks. This custom program gives you the power to scale the length, content and cost of your custom textbook to meet the needs of your course exactly.

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Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, CourseSmart eTextbook, 2/E
Dobrin, Weisser & Keller
©2010 | Longman | Electronic Book; 816 pp | Available
ISBN-10: 0135056195 | ISBN-13: 9780135056196
Online purchase price: $42.99
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CourseSmart eTextbooks are a creative digital solution that offers the freedom and convenience of online, offline, and mobile access using a single platform. With a CourseSmart eTextbook, students can:
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Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, 2/E