Effective professionals need to be able to communicate their ideas through speaking as well as writing. Successful presentations involve using strategies to overcome anxiety, organizing the presentation, analyzing the audience, and managing nonverbal elements of the presentation. (JOW)

Compares several technical reports written by students showing the influences of a writer's identification with a community on features of the resulting document. Finds that features most affected were personal and community references within the document, writer's stance toward the reader, and definition of the rhetorical problem. (RS)

Examines psychophysiological and cognitive processing of television events to see what kinds of contextual information might be stored as a result of both real and fictional television events and mediated and unmediated television events. Examines decision processes that use this information. Suggests that television may result in contextual…

Explores the results of a random phone survey of 300 small businesses in order to develop a pollution-prevention campaign. Results indicate that respondents understood the concept of pollution prevention and were taking steps to reduce their part in it. Businesses preferred to obtain their information from suppliers, publications, and other…

Considers how technical communication is included in accommodating the values and ethics of its many audiences. Presents an introduction and annotated bibliography of articles from technical writing and communication journals published over the past quarter century arranged in categories of professional, academic, and systematic approaches. (NH)

Applies M. Foucault's account of power-discourse and its relationship to its owners to aspects of late 19th/early 20th centuries, when new technologies have multiplied the capacity of power-discourse to intervene in lives. Identifies industrial urban crowd as a target for discourse; considers this conjunction in light of Foucault's theories.…

Shows two experiments at Delft University of Technology support the conclusion that an introduction makes audiences more willing to listen to a speech. States subjects (in experiment 1) viewed videotapes of professional presentations on "Sick Building Syndrome." Indicates audiences respond to exordial techniques in a predictable manner.…

Presents a comparative analysis of two pieces of computer-based interactive multimedia whose words are similar but visual structures different. Argues that the visual aspects of these texts are "idea" and "assertion," doing the work of "content" and "information." Suggests that educators need to expand or…

States that recently a new operational perspective on language has emerged, and as a result, a specific, analogical solution within such an approach is being developed. Describes that position briefly and sketches how such a perspective can lead to a theoretical justification of selected elements of established technical writing practice. (PA)

Reproduces a conversation among playwrights, directors, and dramaturges participating in the Bonderman/IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis) experience. Features their answers to six questions regarding new play development, its focus, and influence on the world of theater for young audiences. (PA)

Gives advice on the proper presentation and selection of conference papers. Suggestions include the following: (1) practice the talk; (2) clarify the paper's thesis; (3) respect the assigned time limit; (4) avoid interpolations; (5) make the paper a complete work; (6) avoid dialogue with the chair; (7) minimize the use of quotations; and (8)…

Outlines a procedure which training professionals and business managers can use to assess the effectiveness of their corporate evaluation studies. Meta-evaluation is explained; and phases in the training evaluation process, including plan, develop, obtain, analyze, and report, are described based on experiences at Motorola. (Contains two…

Describes procedures for librarians interested in building a World Wide Web site. Highlights include hypertext markup language; home pages; determining audiences and purposes; promoting safety; the planning process, including text length and density, links to external sites, and maintenance; and copyright concerns. (LRW)

Discusses the creation of an advertisement to catch the attention of the target audience: student readers. Notes the consideration of several important factors including: the product, the audience, the positioning, the principles, and the ingredients. Describes ways to get started and several points in approaching the design process. (SC)

Presents a comparative analysis of two pieces of computer-based interactive multimedia whose words are similar but visual structures different. Argues that the visual aspects of these texts are "idea" and "assertion," doing the work of "content" and "information." Suggests that educators need to expand or…