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Chapter 4 Summary

The document summarizes key points from Chapter 4 of APLED 121 about achieving clarity, conciseness, and accuracy in technical communication. It discusses using specific details, answering basic questions, and simple words to ensure clarity. For conciseness, it recommends brevity while considering readers' time and technology limits. It also provides tips for proofreading to achieve accuracy such as having others review drafts. The document outlines various methods for organizing information such as analysis, chronology, and problem-solution approaches. It concludes with an overview of the writing process involving prewriting, writing an initial draft, and rewriting through revisions.

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267 views2 pages

Chapter 4 Summary

The document summarizes key points from Chapter 4 of APLED 121 about achieving clarity, conciseness, and accuracy in technical communication. It discusses using specific details, answering basic questions, and simple words to ensure clarity. For conciseness, it recommends brevity while considering readers' time and technology limits. It also provides tips for proofreading to achieve accuracy such as having others review drafts. The document outlines various methods for organizing information such as analysis, chronology, and problem-solution approaches. It concludes with an overview of the writing process involving prewriting, writing an initial draft, and rewriting through revisions.

Uploaded by

api-550123704
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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To: Nancy Myers

From: William Conklin


Date: April 11, 2021
Subject: APLED 121-Chapter 4 Summary

CHAPTER 4
OBJECTIVES IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION
Achieving Clarity in Technical Communication

• Provide Specific Detail-Use specific language in stead of vague adjectives and adverb. Specific
dates, times and measurements will help to create clarity.
• Answer the Reporter’s Questions-Answering who, what, when, where, why and how will help
ensure clarity.
• Use Easily Understandable Words-Avoid obscure word. Write to express not impress. Here are
some examples:
❖ Use later instead of subsequent.
❖ Use get instead of obtain.
❖ Use try instead of endeavor.

Simplifying Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs for Conciseness

• Conciseness Saves Time-Peoples time is valuable, do not waste it. Keep it short.
• Technology Demands Conciseness-The size of your device and character limitations impact the
length of your communication.
• Conciseness Improves Readability-Your audience may not read at the level you do. Write to the
general public.
• Limit Word Length for Conciseness-Try to use one and two syllable words when possible.
Lengthy words can be confusing.
• Limit Sentence Length-Delete “be” verbs and Shun words.
• Limit Paragraph Length-Shorter paragraphs invite the reader in and helps them understand the
content.

Achieving Accuracy in Technical Communication

• Proofreading Tips
✓ Let someone else read it-Another reader might catch errors we miss.
✓ Let it sit-You may be more objective later.
✓ Print it out-printing can give a different perspective.
✓ Use technology-Computer spelling and grammar checks are helpful.
✓ Read it out loud-you may hear errors that you cannot see.
Organizing Technical Communication

• Analysis-You can focus on smaller pieces that make up the whole of the document.
• Spatial Organization-Useful when providing physical descriptions.
• Chronology-depending on the circumstances you can use chronological order or reverse
chronology.
• Importance-You are telling the reader which topics are most important and least important.
• Compare/Contrast-You can offer pros and cons to the choices available to your audience.
• Problem/Solution-You may respond to customer complaints with solutions to their problems.
• Cause and Effect-focus on the causes of specific situations and its results.

The Writing Process at Work

• Prewriting-Brainstorming
• Writing-Write an initial draft
• Rewriting-Edit and make revisions

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