Asserts that research in technical communication must grow in quantity, quality, and coherence. Assesses the research reports in the proceedings of the annual conferences of the Society for Technical Communication for the last 20 years. Suggests a model for future growth. (SR)

Examines learning and teaching strategies by giving a one-hour workshop on techniques for reading technical material to undergraduate psychology students. Uses a blank information map, a set of behavioral objectives, and instructions for notetaking as study aids. Demonstrates that using information maps and behavioral objectives improves exam…

Investigates whether readers are aware of and have any preferences about paragraph length. Finds that readers are aware and have a more positive attitude toward writing with paragraphs of less than 100 words. Finds that paragraph length does not affect attitudes toward the expertise of the writer, ease of comprehension, or quality of the passage.…

Discusses how hypermedia interfaces can use graphic design and language to help users of hypermedia programs to structure a cognitive approach to information retrieval. Argues that such interfaces should acknowledge the medium's limits, identify authorship levels, define a program model, provide overviews, and narrow the navigation functions. (SR)

Proposes that the value of formal writing conventions has diminished. Notes that, although formal conventions are important, the findings are hard to generalize. Uses content analysis to prove formal conventions are valuable and are often justified on rhetorical grounds, suggesting the dichotomy between formalist and rhetorical axiologies is…

Argues the major problem with report writing is poorly developed or lack of audience awareness, not grammar and mechanics. Discusses reliability of such reports and how lack of audience awareness may be remedied. Suggests that teachers have students follow a 10-step outlining process. (PA)

Offers brief annotations of 52 articles and papers on document production (from the Society for Technical Communication's journal and proceedings) on 9 topics: information processing, document design, using color, typography, tables, illustrations, photography, printing and binding, and production management. (SR)

Compares the original and the current status of procedures documentation, a business communication genre. Advocates changing the perception of what the genre ought to be by looking not only at the end product being created but also at the process that created it. Justifies the shift by the changing global environment for effective management…

Discusses differences between academic and industry training in technical communication. Argues that each needs to learn from the other and cooperate in developing truly beneficial curricula which would prepare students to function effectively in the organization, streamline the organization's information processes, and adapt quickly to change.…

Describes how technical communicators can learn to write capital equipment requests that specify the needed new equipment, show the benefits to the company from buying it, and recommend the way to account for it. Shows that to do so, they must learn some business basics and make friends outside their own departments. (SR)

Discusses how literature can help students to better understand the human condition and, therefore, the way people do business. Discusses the importance of expressiveness in technical writing. Notes student resistance to these concepts. (SR)

Occupational reading competencies that should be taught in workplace literacy programs include technical vocabulary, finding and using information, following directions, and self-regulation of reading processes. Simulations of work tasks help learners understand the importance of reading in work settings. (SK)

Describes and flowcharts the process of writing a resume to help students to write more orderly and logically. Includes steps beginning with the personal inventory and ending with the final copy. (PRA)

Discusses three aspects of reading (inferring, reasoning analogically, and learning). Demonstrates in sample texts their role in building consensual meaning in persuasive business communications. Proposes four guidelines to supplement guidelines already developed. (SR)

In a study of the textual metafunction of language, marked themes in research articles (RAs) were analyzed. Results indicate that thematic flow can be predicted on the basis of the rhetorical goals inherent in each section of RA discourse. (24 references) (Author/LB)