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Technical Communication, Canadian Edition, 8th edition

Published by Pearson Canada (January 2, 2020) © 2021

  • John M. Lannon University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
  • Laura J. Gurak University of Minnesota
  • Don Klepp Mykon Communications
  • Shannon Kelly British Columbia Institute of Technology

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For courses in Technical Communication.

Complete coverage for any course in technical communication, business communication, or professional writing

Today's workplace requires writing emails, memos, letters, and informal reports, as well as more complex communications such as formal reports, proposals, web pages, and presentations. Technical Communication guides students to write persuasively, effectively, and with perspective on technological innovations and global communications. Lannon and Gurak incorporate the interpersonal, logical, ethical, and cultural demands of different forms of workplace communications, and encourage the development of skills students will need to navigate these considerations. Building on research and writing skills, the authors prepare students for technical writing in any field.

Hallmark features of this title

  • "On the Job" Boxes. Fully updated and enhanced for this edition, these boxes provide brief quotations from real professionals in the workplace and are interspersed throughout the text where the subject matter of the boxes matches the text discussion.
  • "Profile" Boxes. The book features profiles of 10 business professionals, tied to the subject matter of the chapters in which they appear, and each featuring an Exploratory Writing exercise that asks students to reflect upon and write about the topics discussed in the boxes.
  • “Guidelines” Boxes. Provide summarized “hands- on” advice on how to effectively prepare key documents, participate in meetings, make oral presentations, and much more. 

New and updated features of this title

  • Streamlined Presentation Tied to Revised Learning Objectives. The heading structure of every chapter has been revised to not only present the same content in a more manageable structure, but to also tie the fully revised Learning Objectives directly with each major section in each chapter.
  • New and Updated “On the Job” Boxes. Fully updated and enhanced for this edition of Technical Communication, these boxes provide brief quotations from real professionals in the workplace and are interspersed throughout the text where the subject matter of the boxes matches the text discussion.
  • New and Revised “Profile” Boxes. The revised and updated Profile boxes also provide real-world context, but in a more extended format. The book features profiles of 10 business professionals, tied to the subject matter of the chapters in which they appear, and each featuring an Exploratory Writing exercise that asks students to reflect upon and write about the topics discussed in the boxes.

Digital Assets in Revel

  • Animated Video. This new Revel edition contains 5 new animated videos covering key topics such as An Efficient Writing Process, and The Action Structure.
  • Revised Grammar and Style at Work by Don Klepp. This handbook supplement, now fully revised and available as an interactive appendix within Revel, will help you communicate clearly and effectively in business and technical settings, whether you're working part-time, volunteering, or applying for jobs. It keeps its focus on the essential English skills that you need to succeed in today's workplace. The Revel version features over 35 interactive exercises tailored to each section of the guide.
  1. Introduction to Technical Communications
  2. Preparing to Write: Audience/Purpose Analysis
  3. Writing Efficiently  
  4. Collaborating at Work
  5. Writing Persuasively
  6. Writing Ethically
  7. Gathering Information
  8. Recording and Reviewing Research Findings
  9. Documenting Research Findings  
  10. Summarizing  Information
  11. Organizing for Readers  
  12. Designing Visuals
  13. Designing Pages and Documents
  14. Definitions
  15. Descriptions and Specifications  
  16. Process Analyses, Instructions, and Procedures
  17. Manuals and Usability Testing
  18. Proposals  
  19. Formal Analytical Reports
  20. Adding Document Supplements
  21. Short Reports
  22. Workplace Correspondence
  23. Job-search Communications
  24. Oral Presentations
  25. Using Online Media

John Lannon is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Writing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where he developed the undergraduate major in professional writing and later codeveloped the M.A. program in professional writing. He has also taught at Cape Cod Community College, University of Idaho, Southern Vermont College and University of Strasbourg. He has authored and coauthored 5 major textbooks in business communication, rhetoric and technical communication, book reviews, filmstrips and environmental documents and instructional software. He is the recipient of an NDEA Fellowship and Fulbright Lectureship. He holds a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His initial training and work were in biomedical science and technology with the USAF. He has served as a communications consultant for various companies and government institutions. He worked 7 years in medical laboratories.

Laura J. Gurak is professor and founding chair of the Department of Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses in technical writing and digital communication. She holds an M.S. in technical communication and a Ph.D. in communication and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is author of 2 books from Yale University Press, one of which was the first book-length study of online social actions. Gurak is also coeditor of several edited collections and author on numerous conference presentations and papers. She is a recipient of the Society for Technical Communication's Outstanding Article award. Gurak has authored and coauthored five textbooks in technical communication published by Pearson. She has worked as a software developer, technical writer and communications consultant for various companies and organizations.

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