Writing Material Safety Data Sheets Using the American National Standard for Hazardous Industrial Chemicals-MSDS Preparation    

This article presents the history of the ANSI standard for preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets, and then provides a section-by-section guide to preparing MSDSs that comply with the standard.

Croft, Suzanne D. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>Risk Communication>Standards>Technical Writing

Review: The Writing System: A Step-by-Step Guide for Business and Technical Writers  

I would recommend this book to subject matter experts who lack writing expertise. The exercises and examples are especially beneficial to lone writers who often do not have an expert writer nearby to review their writing.

Jones, Irene. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: XML Pocket Consultant  

XML Pocket Consultant is the latest in Microsoft Press's Pocket Consultant series. Other books in the series include guides to server administration developed for IT professionals. Stanek explains in his introduction that XML pocket consultant is aimed at a wider audience, namely 'developers creating XML-based solutions, administrators who support XML-based solutions and technologists working with XML.'

Jungwirth, Barbara. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>XML

Review: XML Step by Step  

It is easy to see why the first edition of Michael Young's book won the top award, 'Distinguished Technical Communication,' in the 2000–-2001 International Technical Publications Competition. Young has taken the complex subject of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and written about it in such a way as to make learning about XML an enjoyable experience.

Lunemann, Rhonda S. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Reviews>XML

Review: You Send Me: Getting It Right When You Write Online  

This book addresses the issues of online writing and particularly writing e-mail, which should concern all us who spend a good chunk of our days in front of a computer screen creating and replying to e-mail messages. The book is structured in three parts: 'The virtual mensch,' 'Alpha mail,' and 'Words of passage.'

Crawley, Charles R. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Reviews>Style Guides>Email

Research in Technical Communication: Perspectives and Thoughts on the Process  

Technical communication can be viewed as both a discipline and a profession. As a discipline, it concerns itself with the pursuit of knowledge and the development of theory. As a profession, it attempts to meet the needs of the individuals it serves through the application of knowledge and theory. Research links the discipline and the profession and sustains both by providing the bases from which to develop new areas of inquiry and to find solutions to problems.

Barclay, Rebecca O. Technical Communication Online (1992). Articles>TC>Research>Body of Knowledge

Exploring Human Factors in Virtual Worlds    

Why are virtual worlds increasingly relevant to technical communicators? What human factors influence the design of virtual worlds? This article explores these two important questions from a technical communication perspective.

Padmanabhan, Poornima. Technical Communication Online (2008). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Online>3D

Wanted: Tenure and Promotion for Technical Communication Faculty    

If technical communication has come of age, then its faculty owe their newer colleagues (and themselves) a clear road map for professional development and career progress. Hiring new faculty for maturing academic programs demands attention to the systems of promotion and tenure, which anchor faculty review and reward structures and define academic career success.

Kreppel, Maria Curro. Technical Communication Online (1995). Careers>Academic>Tenure

A Technology Transfer Model for Program Assessment in Technical Communication    

In this article we seek to reframe accountability by means of an emphasis not on auditing but on student performance, not on the development of databases but on the creation of reflective practice. We attempt to demonstrate one model of program assessment that focuses on student performance as the center of a reflective assessment framework that can act as a technology transfer model for the diffusion of program assessment knowledge.

Coppola, Nancy W. and Norbert Elliot. Technical Communication Online (2007). Articles>Education>Assessment>Technology Transfer

The Newest Tool for Technical Communicators: Redux    

Discusses color properties and color systems. Re-examines and supports Jan V. White's advice to technical communicators to use color to increase document usability. Discusses what technical communicators should know about color to work effectively with professional printers.

Mackiewicz, Jo M. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Document Design>Prepress>Color

Creating Marketing Slides for Engineering Presentations    

Defines basic sales terms. Explores ways to use text and illustrations to create engineering marketing slides. Examines six methods of strengthening the persuasiveness of engineering marketing slides.

Jennings, Ann S. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Presentations>Marketing>Engineering

Managing Three Mediation Effects that Influence PowerPoint Deck Authoring    

Reviews the extreme claims that have been made about PowerPoint. Sets forth practical design ideas that are especially applicable to technical presentations. Explains three ways in which PowerPoint can subtly influence the intended meaning of deck authors and shows how these problems can be addressed.

Farkas, David K. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Presentations

Cultural Contexts in Technical Communication:    

Explores how and why the German and Chinese cultures differ in the presentation and perception of technical information. Presents a theoretical framework for technical communication across different cultures. Provides guidelines to technical communicators in Sino-German technical communication and services.

Wang, Yiqin and Dan Wang. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>TC>Cultural Theory>International

Analysis of the Skills Called for by Technical Communication Employers in Recruitment Postings    

Provides a framework of experiences and skills employers call for in job postings. Shows that potential employers are seeking very technical or domain-specific knowledge from technical writers. Shows that specific technology tool skills are less important to employers than more basic technical writing skills.

Lanier, Clinton R. Technical Communication Online (2009). Careers>TC

Mentoring in Technical Communication    

Reports on an online survey of 158 technical communication teachers who were asked about their experiences with mentoring. Finds a divergence between the academic mentor's experiences in mentoring and previously reported research on the protégée's mentoring experiences. Argues that risks are inherent in mentoring and proposes a new model that acknowledges them.

Zimmerman, Beverly B., Paul Danette and Katherine Cook Pritchard. Technical Communication Online (2009). Careers>TC>Mentoring

The Impact of Agile on User-Centered Design    

Discusses the impact of an agile software development process on usability testing. Reports opinions about usability testing within a company before and after a change to agile. Presents strategies to incorporate usability testing into agile product development.

Dayton, David and Carol S. Barnum. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>User Centered Design>Collaboration>Agile

Localizing Medical Information for U.S. Spanish-Speakers    

Examines focus group data about Spanish speakers' preferences for health communication. Contrasts known preferences of Mexican Spanish speakers with Spanish speakers in the U.S. Makes recommendations from the data for communicating health information to Spanish speakers within the U.S.

Germaine-Madison, Nicolet St. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Scientific Communication>Biomedical>Localization

Three Decades of Research and Professional Practice on Printed Software Tutorials for Novices    

Provides a historic overview of research on printed software tutorials. Describes developments in design approaches, refinements in design, and user experience.

van der Meij, Hans, Joyce Karreman and Michaël Steehouder. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Documentation>Help>User Experience

Putting China's Technical Communication into Historical Context    

Examines the Chinese culinary instruction genre. Analyzes culinary texts produced from 500 BC to the present. Argues for a historicized and contextualized understanding of technical communication in China.

Yu, Han. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>TC>History>China

Exploiting Verbal-Visual Synergy in Presentation Slides    

Describes the most challenging aspect of creating slides for an oral presentation. Presents two principles for creating informative and persuasive graphics. Explains how to use drawing tools to communicate the schema of the slide and to emphasize important portions of the images.

Markel, Mike. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Presentations>Writing>Rhetoric

How Do Experts Assess Usability Problems? An Empirical Analysis of Cognitive Shortcuts    

Discusses the cognitive shortcuts that may hinder technical communicators in empathizing with readers. Explores the issue of judging the severity of problems detected in a document evaluation. Demonstrates how cognitive shortcuts may affect technical communicators' capability to assess the likelihood and impact of reader problems.

Lentz, Leo and Menno D.T. de Jong. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Usability>Assessment>Cognitive Psychology

Master's Programs in Technical Communication:    

Reports on the current state of curriculum in 84 Master's programs. Answers questions about program location, degree names, course requirements, internships, and cumulative experiences. Suggests additional research areas to provide more information on how well academic programs are meeting the needs of students and other stakeholders.

Meloncon, Lisa. Technical Communication Online (2009). Academic>Education>Graduate

Applying to Graduate School in Technical Communication    

Provides extensive guidance on applying to Master's and PhD programs for practitioners. Provides tips on applying for current students. Provides tables listing current graduate programs in technical communication, organized by state.

Eaton, Angela. Technical Communication Online (2009). Academic>Education>Graduate

Directed Research Groups as a Means of Training Students to Become Technical Communication Researchers    

Describes the activities of a university “directed research group,” highlighting interesting tensions that emerged therein. Asserts that actively exploring such tensions with students creates a rich learning environment.

Larson, Jerrod, Colin Birge, Yi-Min Huang, Brook Sattler, Jennifer Turns and Jessica M. Yellin. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Education>Research>Case Studies

Goal-Based Scenarios    

Discusses the potential of goal-based scenarios as an approach to designing online learning environments. Explores practical applications of goal-based scenarios for online training. Presents a procedural approach to designing a goal-based scenario.

Padmanabhan, Poornima. Technical Communication Online (2009). Articles>Education>Assessment