The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication [Hardcover]

James Paradis (Author), Muriel Zimmerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262161427 | ISBN-13: 978-0262161428 | Publication Date: March 1, 1997

Good communication makes a difference. Any successful scientist or engineer will have multiple communication tasks connected with any project. Drawing on their considerable experience teaching both college students and science professionals, James Paradis and Muriel Zimmerman have written a handbook that treats four kinds of literacy -- written, oral, graphic, electronic -- as crucial and inseparable to science and engineering communication.The MIT Guide emphasizes processes and forms that will help in creating documents and includes numerous realistic examples. A special feature of the book is its acceptance of the fact that most work in science these days is collaborative and that writing is often a group rather than a solitary activity. There is also a strong emphasis on the central role of the computer in creating and disseminating technical materials.First, Paradis and Zimmerman observe, it is essential to consider science and engineering as communication. The most effective engineers and scientists are skilled writers, and the first chapter shows how important good communication is to a successful career in science. The chapters that follow address such topics as: defining your audience and aims; organizing and drafting documents; revising for organization and style; developing graphics; conducting meetings; memos, letters, and e-mail; proposals; progress reports; reports and journal articles; instructional materials; electronic texts; oral presentations; job search strategies; document design for page and screen; strategies for searching the literature; and citation and reference styles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The MIT Guide contains an abundance of useful information onpractically every facet of contemporary technical communication.I enjoyed reading it immensely. The information is succinct and to thepoint, and the supporting graphics are not only relevant but oftenadmirable in the amount of information they convey." David F. Beer, Ph.D., Director of Technical Communication,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texasat Austin

About the Author

Muriel L. Zimmerman is Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Programs in Technical Communication in the Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 290 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262161427
• ISBN-13: 978-0262161428
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #880,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for written professional communication, January 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication (Hardcover)

This book mainly presents strategies to write effectively in real world engineering/science situations, assuring that what you write is really read. It shows how to present your ideas so that your target audience understands it. It describes the characteristics that a document aimed to a technical person, to a lay person and to a manager should have.

Besides, it shows how to write memos, letters, reports and even e-mails, explaining from the initial document outline, sentece/paragraph structure to the final polished form.

I wish I had read this book when I was an undergrad, I had to learn how to write effectivelly in the hard way.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide for Focused Thinking And Effective Writing, January 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication (Hardcover)

This book helped me to effectively write my dissertation. The methods described facilitate organizing a difficult task and presenting the ideas in a clear format. I continue to draw on the wealth of information contained within the text.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teacher and Engineer, August 14, 2004

By 

T. Limpeteeprakarn "terdkiat" (Boca Raton, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Communication: Second Edition (Plastic Comb)

The explanation for each particular topic is very concise and clear. I would recommend to have a look if it is available in your library. However, I would give a 5 star rating if the book provides more examples and visual aids.