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Technical Communication: Concept and Process

Author: Dr. Dharma Adhikari & Dr. Phanindra Upadhyaya
  • ISBN: 9789937302876
  • Version: English
  • Price NRs. 495
  • Avaliablility: In stock
  • University: Pokhara University

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This book, intended for proficiency level study at the Bachelor’s level programs in Nepal, is the first among two volumes on technical communication. This volume, Technical Communication: Concept and Process (Book I), offers conceptual insight into the field of technical communication, and covers definitions related to the field, principles of technical communication, audience analysis, competencies, processes, design and graphics, style and grammar, and ethics.
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the general field of communication, examines the problems inherent in defining the field, discusses the nature and process of communication, highlights its models, identifies its principles, and categories its types.
Chapter 2 introduces technical communication. It defines this sub-field of communication, traces its evolution, describes its forms and domains, classifies its types, elaborates on its principles, and explains its importance.
Chapter 3 focuses on audience-centered technical communication. It explains various approaches to audience analysis in practice, describes steps in testing on intended audience, defines audience-centered measures like usability and persuasiveness, and refers to the need for feedback and review.
Chapter 4 is about technical communication competencies. It defines competency contrasting it with attitudes, values and personality. It examines core competencies in technical communication, identifies the skill sets for technical writers, discusses approaches to assessing competencies in the workplace, and considers occupational outlook.
Chapter 5 looks at the technical communication process at two different levels: the document, and collaboration. In the document process, it describes planning, audience-analysis, outlining, drafting, revision and delivery phases. In the collaboration process, the chapter highlights the pros and cons of collaboration, describes the collaborative writing approaches, and discusses the strategies for effective collaborative writing.
Chapter 6 is about legal, ethical and cultural issues. It offers useful guidelines with examples.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 focus on organization, design and graphics. They identify the types of organization, describes document design and its types, and various categories of graphics or figures.
Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 are about technical communication style and grammar. They cover the features of good writing, and include sections on mechanics, grammar and usage.
The book is written with the Nepali context in mind, drawing examples from everyday life, academia and workplaces. Each chapter includes sample questions for comprehension or practice. Relevant references are also provided at the end of each chapter.
The companion volume, Technical Communication: Tools and Applications (Book II), focuses on the application of the concepts discussed in this volume. It offers practical guidelines in enhancing skills such as writing basic technical documents in the workplace, and public speaking, or presentations.