#14054
The Affective Domain and the Writing Process: Working Definitions 
Since the time of classical Greece, we have been accustomed to viewing humans as both thinking and feeling individuals. The dichotomy of cognition and affect is so ingrained in Western thought that it seems a natural one; the two elements have seldom, however, been deemed equally important in the scientific community. During the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, psychology gave primacy to affect; humans were thought to be at the mercy of various drives and passions. As behaviorism became more domiúnant in the field, affect was discounted; indeed, there were those who wished to exclude affect from scientific study altogether. More recently, with the ascendancy of cognitive psychology, humans have been viewed as problem-solvers whose thinking processes operate rather like a computer. Often in such a view, affect is seen as “a regrettable flaw in an otherwise perfect cognitive machine” (Scherer 293). But most researchers who study human behavior and human nature agree that the views of both extremes—emphasizing only affect or only cognition—are undesirable.
McLeod, Susan H. JAC (1991). Articles>Rhetoric>Theory
#20816
Assessing the Usability of a User Interface Standard
User interface standards can be hard to use for developers. In a laboratory experiment, 26 students achieved only 71% compliance with a two page standard; many violations were due to influence from previous experience with non-standard systems. In a study of a real company's standard,developers were only able to find 4 of 12 deviations in a sample system, and three real products broke between 32% and 55% of the mandatory rules in the standard. Designers were found to rely heavily on the examples in the standard and their experience with other user interfaces.
Thovtrup, Henrik and Jakob Nielsen. Alertbox (1991). Articles>User Interface>Standards>Usability
#24233
Beyond Copy-Editing: The Editor-Writer Relationship
Editing is often narrowly defined as making corrections after a document is written. This approach typically relegates the editor to a low-status role within the organisation.
Durham, Marsha. Technical Editors Eyrie (1991). Articles>Editing>Collaboration
#30308
Have you ever been working at the computer so long that your eyes 'went buggy?' Or so intensely that you could barely move when you got up? Working long hours at a computer may be more hazardous than you know. One real possibility is that you will develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).
Rollins, Cindy. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>Biomedical>RSI
#30312
Contracting as a Career Alternative
The technical contracting industry provides a unique career opportunity for experienced professionals in most technical communications disciplines. It also provides a possible alternative to unemployment in view of the continuing 'down-sizing' and restructuring activity going on in today's marketplace.
Randolph, Brett W.F. Boston Broadside (1991). Careers>Consulting>Freelance
#24460
Creating a Text/Creating a Company: The Role of a Text in the Rise and Decline of a New Organization 
A case study in the history of Microware, a microcomputer software company.
Doheny-Farina, Stephen. WAC Clearinghouse (1991). Articles>Management
#30311
Fighting the Non-Sexist Language Battle
Sexist language consists of various words and terms that foster stereotypes of social roles based on gender. Professional writers must keep abreast of significant changes in our language, and the issue of sexism is an integral change. Sexist language has become offensive. Sexist language is confusing.
Bourns, Tracy. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Writing>Diction>Gender
#14056
Fluency, Fluidity, and Word Processing
Despite the above maxim, numerous studies have been conducted over the past five years to determine whether student compositions improve significantly with the use of a computer. As Gail Hawisher (summarizing Seymour Papert) suggests, our field is so new that we seem lobe in a technoúcentric phase comparable to the egocentric phase through which Piaget’s children must pass on the way to maturity. We are searching for “THE effect” of the computer on the product (the text) rather than “the effects” of the computer both on the writer and on the context in which the product is produced. We have already passed judgment on what the computer should do (improve the product) rather than investigate what it does do. Thus, the results of the studies conducted to date appear contradictory.
Boiarsky, Carolyn. JAC (1991). Articles>Rhetoric>Computers and Writing
#10812
Forget About the Lawyers! First, Let's Kill the Editors! Right?
Some companies and upper management, and even some documentation managers and writers, seem to agree. After all, in today's world of desktop publishing, writers are also typesetters and illustrators -- why not let them be editors as well? They know English. So why not save money, terminate the editors, and let peer editing begin? Or if we do keep some editors, let them be the designers, illustrators, and typesetters. As for language? Forget it! The readers will understand. Besides, who reads documentation anyway?
Sorotskin, Marilee J. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Editing>Documentation
#24496
During scientific researchers' collaborations, authors draw on many extratextual resources (social, intellectual and empirical) which are deployed in their texts.
Bazerman, Charles. WAC Clearinghouse (1991). Articles>Scientific Communication>Collaboration
#30317
How Safe is the Data on Your Hard Disk?
As a technical writer with above average organizational skill, you likely already keep your files in nice little subdirectories in logical little groups -- User's Guide illustrations here, research notes there, stuff for the service manual over yonder. But what if, in an instant, your files were all taken out of their subdirectories and put in one big directory? Could you distinguish one file from the other without opening them up? You can only assume that files with identical names disappeared.
Varney, Gord. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Technology>Security
#30314
How to Plan On-line and Paper Versions of a Software Manual
On projects for which you must produce both on-line and paper documentation, there are many things you should consider before you start.
Kozuma, Bruce. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Documentation>Project Management>Planning
#14258
Human Factors in Software Development: Models, Techniques, and Outcomes 
We present the results of a survey designed to identify ways that human factors engineers have been successfully involved in software projects. Surveys describing successful and unsuccessful outcomes were returned by 14 human factors engineers and 21 software and documentation engineers at Hewlett Packard. In addition to describing the type of involvement and techniques used, respondents were also asked to define what they considered to be a successful outcome and give their views on what factors contribute to success or failure. The results of this study suggest ways in which the human factors/R&D partnership can be more effective in current development scenarios.
Lundell, Jay and Mark Notess. ACM SIGCHI (1991). Design>Human Computer Interaction>Software
#30313
In Praise of Usability Testing
Documentation usability testing has been with us at least since 1983. But, to all intents and purposes, it seems that there is still very little testing being done. Of all the documentation quality assurance activities that we can carry out, usability testing represents one of the best values in the process chain. Without devaluing any of the other quality assurance functions, it is safe to say that money spent on usability testing is extremely well spent.
Hosier, William J. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Usability>Testing
#30310
Low Budget Usability Testing Can Work
With just a modest amount of equipment and effort, you can uncover some serious product glitches and potentially earn your company thousands of dollars and a sterling reputation. The first step is to get a video camera, a product prototype, and a small sample of your target audience.
Umbhua, Kurt. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Usability>Testing
#30306
Make Yourself More Than Just an "Entry-Level" Tech Writer
To make the most of limited opportunities, you have to distinguish yourself from the crowd of other technical writers who'll be vying for the same positions you're after. In other words, you have to go into that job market armed with more than just a bachelor's degree and some classroom writing samples. Following are some suggestions that can help you acquire some professional technical writing experience, broaden your skills and knowledge of the technical writing field, and get you over the entry-level hump.
Monahan, Jim. Boston Broadside (1991). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing
#14259
A Nose Gesture Interface Device: Extending Virtual Realities
This paper reports on the development of a nose-machine interface device that provides real-time gesture, position, smell and facial expression information. The DATA NOSETM2—Data AtomaTa CORNUCOPIA pNeumatic Olfactory I/O-deviSE Tactile Manipulation—allows novice users without any formal nose training to perform complex interactive tasks.
Henry, Tyson, Scott E. Hudson, Andrey K. Yeatts, Brad A. Myers and Steven Feiner. Carnegie Mellon University (1991). Humor>Usability>User Interface
#27844
Order from Chaos: Developmental Editing
The definition varies from publisher to publisher and from client to client, but basically a developmental editor helps an author develop ideas—or develop a manuscript if it already exists--into a coherent, readable work.
Jaffee, Cyrisse. Editorial Freelancers Association (1991). Articles>Editing
#30318
No matter how simple a task may first appear, you're better off to thoroughly read through the documentation, especially if the equipment you're using is borrowed. I've also learned that perhaps department stores really don't charge a fortune in comparison to my home project.
Davies, Beth. Boston Broadside (1991). Articles>Documentation>TC
#22634
La Profession de Réviseur Vous Intéresse?
Peu de gens décident d'eux-mêmes de devenir réviseurs. Le plus souvent, c'est la profession qui les choisit. Dans un sens, tout le monde fait de la révision, que ce soit l'écrivain qui change ne serait-ce qu'un mot à son manuscrit, le conférencier qui s'arrête au milieu d'une phrase pour trouver un mot ou une tournure plus justes, le directeur qui revoit une consigne ou qui modifie les clauses d'un contrat, ou encore la secrétaire qui clarifie une phrase d'un texte qu'on lui a dicté. La révision est aussi une profession hautement spécialisée dont le seul objectif est d'améliorer la qualité de la communication. Le travail de la plupart des réviseurs porte sur le texte, mais certains s'occupent des illustrations, de la conception graphique, de la production ou de la gestion.
#24445
A Psychiatrist Using DSM-III: The Influence of a Charter Document in Psychiatry
Explores the influence of DSM-III in the limited sphere of a single child psychiatrist.
McCarthy, Lucille Parkinson. WAC Clearinghouse (1991). Articles>Scientific Communication>Standards
#14153
The Psychology of Menu Selection: Designing Cognitive Control at the Human/Computer Interface
Menu selection is emerging as an important mode of human/computer interaction. This book, the first entirely devoted to this important form of human/computer interaction, provides detailed theoretical and empirical information of interest to software designers and human/computer interaction specialists and researchers. A new theoretical approach to menu selection is taken by developing a psychological theory of cognitive control by the user. A comprehensive review of empirical research on menu selection is presented in an organized fashion to aid in the design and evaluation of systems. Finally, information is given on how to protype and evaluate menu selection systems using both performance data and user ratings.
Norman, Kent L. University of Maryland (1991). Books>Information Design>Usability>Cognitive Psychology
#21974
The Rhetoric of Decision Science, or Herbert A. Simon Says
The tools of decision science are widely used and accepted in industrial and governmental decision making. But...
Miller, Carolyn R. North Carolina State University (1991). Articles>Rhetoric>Theory
#14055
A Scheme for Representing Written Argument
A scheme for representing argument is a formalism used to describe the structure or pattern within argumentative discourse. The value of any such scheme lies in its ability to focus attention on certain aspects of perceptually complex argument and direct interpretation and use of these aspects in detail. Formal logic, beginning with the syllogism, represents a large class of argument schemes. So too do the schemes of classical rhetoric.
Kaufer, David S. and Cheryl Geisler. JAC (1991). Articles>Rhetoric>Writing
#24444
Explains how rhetoric is related to modes of inquiry and to the social community in classical rhetoric and in scientific rhetoric in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Zappen, James P. WAC Clearinghouse (1991). Articles>History>Scientific Communication