Writing for the Technical Professions (3rd Edition) [Plastic Comb]

Kristin R. Woolever (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0321202112 | ISBN-13: 978-0321202116 | Edition: 3

Writing for the Technical Professions provides practical advice for composing a wide variety of professional documents.
This easy to read, easy to reference book will help any one in a technical profession communicate their ideas.   A focus on
the electronic workplace, legal and ethical issues, and an emphasis on collaboration and international communication make this book one
of the most up-to-date books on the market today. Any technical writer or professional interested in improving their writing
skills.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Kristin R. Woolever, Writing for the Technical Professions, Fourth Edition

Revered for its attention to the real-world context in which technical writing is carried out, Writing for the Technical Professions provides the reader with accessible, concise, and applicable advice for composing technical documents and functioning in the contemporary workplace. Writing for the Technical Professions emphasizes problem-solving techniques for communication situations that technical professionals encounter every day.

How the fourth edition is effective in shaping technical professionals

• New and varied sample documents cover a broader scope of disciplines and professional fields.
• A new chapter (Chapter 17) on communicating globally explores the challenges of working in a global context, as most technical communicators must now do.
• Coverage of the electronic workplace has been expanded reflect the growing dependence on electronic media.
• “Community Action Projects” provide suggestions for how readers can develop real projects in their local communities.
• Task-oriented strategies for real-world situations further develop the author’s problem-solving emphasis.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 528 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 3 edition (April 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321202112
• ISBN-13: 978-0321202116
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,305,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not great., May 16, 2011

By 

Spjutster - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing for the Technical Professions (4th Edition) (Spiral-bound)

This textbook shares some useful information, but at times I feel myself saying "well, duh - that's just commons sense." Some sections feel a bit wordy and cluttered. I thinks it's pretty comical that the first sections of the book talk about organizing your ideas before you begin writing, but some places in the book seem so disorganized. Overall though, I'm learning what I need to know from the book to be able to pass my class and feel that some of the information will come in handy throughout my future career.

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable: Tech Writing Gem, March 26, 2010

By 

Marianne Brough "youth mentor" (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing for the Technical Professions (4th Edition) (Spiral-bound)

This book has become an indispensable reference guide when I write. It is written in a manual/workbook format with tabs for quick reference. It is clearly organized and endlessly useful; each chapter has:

- a brief overview of the topic/writing project

- strategies for execution (including rhetorical context and device)

- steps and process tips

- checklists and conceptually illustrative charts

- excellent examples

- classroom exercises

The book is organized into two sections, Basic Tools (featuring format, style, and editing issues) and Professional Applications (featuring specific kinds of technical writing like reports, proposals, executive summaries, etc). The book includes a useful glossary and additional online resources.

The formatting is excellent: attractive, "scannable", with clear visual hierarchies. The pages look more like a website than a reference guide.

My copy is battered from over-use, highlighted, tagged, and cross-referenced. Use it, you will love it. I'm buying another copy so that I can have one at home and one at work.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference Tool, February 27, 2008

By 

C. Love (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing for the Technical Professions (3rd Edition) (Plastic Comb)

This is a excellent resource for actual professionals or those just getting started in tech writing. Contents include everyday documentation like emails, reports, and RFP responses as well as sections on international communication. It also covers style and rhetorical strategy (pathos anyone?).

I used this book for a college course then kept it for my work in the real world, writing user guides for technology classrooms at my University. It is designed as a handbook and not a textbook so some chapters may be repetitive if you a reading from cover to cover. Those of you looking for long drowned out chapters of text with no meat should look elsewhere.

I hear there is a 4th edition floating around somewhere.