#19836
Policies and Procedures 1995 PIC Meeting 
This session is intended for those interested in (a) policies and procedures as a subject, (b) networking with others concerned with policies and procedures, (c) learning about this PIC, (d) influencing the direction of this PIC, or (e) listening, commenting, or volunteering. The first portion of the meeting will briefly review the PIC's history, mission, membership, budget, teams, goals, and progress. The second portion will be open to discuss new business.
Urgo, Raymond E. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Policies and Procedures
#14542
ACT NOW: A Six-Step Crisis Communication Strategy 
Because a crisis by nature catches people unprepared, every organization must have a crisis communication strategy firmly in place to guide those involved through the rough, uncharted waters. An effective strategy is a what I call A-C-T N-O-W: (1) Anticipate disaster before a crisis, using risk management techniques. (2) Care about people affected. (3) Tell what you know immediately. (4) Note your next steps. (5) Offer help to reinforcements. (5) Write press kits and other pieces of public information. Since crisis mismanagement can lead to the end of the company, effective preparation for a crisis may well save your company’s life.
Reimold, Cheryl. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Management>Risk Communication>Crisis Communication
#31378
Activity Theory and Its Implications for Writing Instruction 
Proposes that educational institutions continue to improve the uses of writing in society in two ways: extend writing across the curriculum efforts and raise the awareness of students, the university community, and the public to the role of writing in society by having those who study writing teach an introductory liberal arts course on it. Both are important steps toward removing the remedial stigma attached to writing and its teaching, and toward combating the myth of autonomous literacy that reinforces the remedial stigma.
Russell, David R. Iowa State University (1995). Articles>Education>Writing>Activity Theory
#19129
Adding Value as a Professional Technical Communicator 
Value added means generating greater return on investment than the cost of the initial investment.
Redish, Janice C. 'Ginny'. Technical Communication Online (1995). Articles>TC>Assessment
#24852
Administration of an Electronic Classroom
The electronic classroom in the Oklahoma State University English Department is now a little over a year old. In the three semesters we've been using it, a number of administrative challenges have surfaced. Some of those challenges were easily overcome, but others have been consistent dilemmas with no clear solution in sight. The day-to-day administrative issues in operating the facility center on issues of access and maintenance and repair. This article will focus on some of the major challenges with the intention of pointing out potential problems that may occur as other writing programs establish similar electronic teaching facilities.
Turner, John R. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Education>Online
#19875
Analysis and Resolution of Problems Occurring During the Production of Manuals
We produce numerous manuals pertaining to telecommunications and, although we routinely devote much energy to reducing the number of problems occurring during the production process, this time we took up the challenge of eliminating the occurrence of problems altogether. Here, we overview the characterisitics of problems occurring at the company, profile their occurrence by process, and review a few corrective measures.
Konno, Toshiaki, Masanori Takagi and Osamu Tomooka. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Quality
#20827
The Anti-Mac: Violating the Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines
Graphical computer interfaces have become the norm. They are based on a number of principles such as metaphor, see-and-point, direct manipulation, user control, and WYSIWIG. The Anti-Mac project explored alternative interfaces that might result from violating the principles behind conventional graphical interfaces. What emerges is a human-computer interface based on language, a richer representation of objects, expert users, skilled agents, and shared control.
Nielsen, Jakob. ACM SIGCHI (1995). Articles>Human Computer Interaction>User Interface>Standards
#27835
Are You Prepared for Unpredictable Business Losses?
Freelancing is business. Loss from unexpected problems, such as a robbery, is a business loss, not a reflection of who you are.
Maislin, Seth A. Editorial Freelancers Association (1995). Careers>Freelance
#21239
As the Paradigm Shifts: Skills Technical Communications Will Need in the Coming Ice Age
Forces are converging in the mid-90's that threaten to change the shape of technical communication forever. This paper-attempts to examine a few important manifestations of the coming ICE age (Information, Communication, Entertainment): business pressures to shrink documentation; a manifesto to move from paper to online documentation; a growing emphasis on making the user successful; a convergence of documentation and training; and the explosion of multimedia/interactive media. This paper then predicts what new skills technical communicators must develop in order to remain marketable -- and grasp opportunity -- during this period of great change.
Cheirrett, Peg A. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC
#24796
Assumptions About Technical Communication Programs
Survey data indicate that current academic programs in technical communication exhibit more differences than similarities in requirements, student support, faculty, schedule, and student support. Moreover, current programs are vigorous, continue to increase, and exhibit three primary needs: increased budgets, more new faculty, and increased involvement with industry.
Rainey, Kenneth T. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Education>TC
#13728
The Author's Voice and the Reader's Role: An Analysis of Rhetorical Issues in How-to Texts 
In mainstream computer applications such as Microsoft Word for Windows version 6.0, one will find a User's Guide included with the product. This User's Guide is a primary manual. It is included with the software application. A visit to any large bookstore will also reveal a large number of manuals about Word. Called secondary manuals, these manuals are not written by the same software development company that produced Word, nor are they included with Word. Both types of manuals are produced by technical writers and in many ways are similar in scope, content and cognitive strategies. However, in other respects some primary and secondary manuals are quite different, and that difference is the focus of this thesis.
Chatfield, Carl S. Wisechat.com (1995). Books>Rhetoric>Theory
#24913
Balancing Paper and Online: Integrating CD-ROM into Document Libraries
A panel of industry experts provides an overview of the CD-ROM publishing process—and its business issues, for technical communicators who are responsible for implementing CD-ROM publishing in their organizations. The panel will also discuss guidelines for integrating print and CD-ROM documents into a complete user support library, while still gaining the economies of CD-ROM publishing.
Gale, John, Stephanie L. Rosenbaum and Pamela Sansbury. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>CD ROM
#20835
Bass Curves for the Diffusion of Innovations
Uptake of hypertext is likely to happen somewhat differently than the standard Bass curve. First, the market for hypertext use is highly dependent on the number of people who have computers with certain minimum capabilities (typically at least a graphical user interface; for WWW use it is also necessary to have Internet access). Second, the influence of other hypertext users is almost certainly not linear.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1995). Articles>Human Computer Interaction
#21953
Your document won't print? Don't panic - here's a systematic guide to troubleshooting the problem.
Powers, Lynn. Adobe Magazine (1995). Articles>Computing
#24908
A physicist-turned-editor shows you the basics required for copyediting physics papers (physical quantities, symbols, units, scientific notation, the structure of mathematical expressions, the nature of graphs), and points the way to learning enough 'editorial physics' to begin substantive editing.
Murphy, Peter W. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Editing>Scientific Communication
#19556
How to tell your client the truth even when a project isn't working out as planned.
Holland, Anton. Writer's Block (1995). Careers>Freelance>Consulting
#14563
Bright Words, Dull Words, and Snags: A Theory of Technical Writing
While all words on the page should be necessary, not every word carries the same importance. Yet words compete for attention, and depending on what they mean to readers, one word may make a greater impression than another. As writers, we must express what’s important with bright words. We must tone down what’s not important and express them with dull words. We must avoid snags, words that distract, confuse, or interfere in any way with the smooth transfer of information.
Palkovic, Lawrence A. STC Proceedings (1995). Presentations>Writing>Rhetoric
#19558
Writers, of course, seldom find themselves in life-and-death situations. However, the way in which a writing project is managed can often mean the difference between a project’s failure and success. For writers managing a project, obtaining backup consists of two issues: making sure someone can continue your work if something prevents you from doing so yourself; and knowing how to get help when you can’t keep your head above water.
Holland, Anton. Writer's Block (1995). Articles>Writing>Workflow
#19880
The purpose of this workshop is to expose members to the complexities of capital equipment budgeting and purchase. Specifically, the topics include: depreciation, useful life of a product, accounting and company policy. This workshop is for you if your group is using obsolete equipment and you need the skills to sell management on an upgrade for your department.
Caernarven-Smith, Patricia. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Workplace>Technology
#14547
Career Options for Technical Communicators in a Restructured World
In a booming economy, promotions and advancement 'up the career ladder' seemed like reasonable expectations for capable technical communicators. But in the new downsized business environment a new career pat tern is emerging called the portfolio career. In a portfolio career, a person develops a range of skills and applies them in a series of jobs or assignments or responsibilities. Technical communicators are in a unique position to take advantage of this new trend in the workplace because they often possess a wide range of transferable skills and have a good overview of the company's product line and business processes.
Fisher, Lori H. STC Proceedings (1995). Careers>TC>Workplace
#20620
There are a number of careers in which people with a science background write as a major part of their job. What may spring to mind first when you hear the term 'science writer' is a reporter covering science topics for a newspaper, but writing careers for scientists are very diverse and include not only traditional science journalism, but medical writing, technical writing/editing, marketing, and science textbook publishing (and the list is by no means complete!). There is definitely overlap among the four areas listed below.
Yahoo (1995). Careers>Scientific Communication
#24806
CD-ROM Publishing: Personal Coaching from Industry Experts
Are you considering publishing your documentation on CD-ROM? Sign up for an individual consultation with industry experts. NOTE: This "workshop" takes place in individual 15-minute one-on-one sessions; with three consultants, we can offer 20 sessions. Please try to arrive early and sigh up for your time slot; then you're on your own (for example, to visit exhibits or meet with colleagues) until your session time. This way all participants receive the complete attention of a CD-ROM consultant. We'll work with drop-ins if any time slots remain unassigned.
Gale, John, Stephanie L. Rosenbaum and Pamela Sansbury. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Publishing>CD ROM
#24803
Choices, Challenges, and Constraints: Documentation and Newsletters Over the World Wide Web
Providing timely information to diverse users on different platforms can challenge any document delivery system; however, the World Wide Web provides an effective solution for some applications. While the Web presents some extra problems and challenges that other media do not, the results justify the resources required. This paper describes and evaluates an implementation of Computing and Information Services documentation on the World Wide Web.
Ray, Eric J. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Online
#24775
Choices, Challenges, and Constraints: Putting Documents on the World Wide Web
A case study of the Unidata Program Center’s efforts to move information into online formats on the World Wide Web. Types of documents placed on line are discussed, as is the appropriateness of the medium for those documents. The conversion process is looked at. Obstacles to placing information online are also reviewed.
Hicks, Matthew B. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Publishing>Web Design
#19891
Collaborating in Project Management, Long-Distance
From early 1993 through July of 1994, three STC chapters jointly managed a research project on Technical Communication in Western Canada. Based in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver, the managers were thousands of miles apart, relative strangers and simultaneously engaged in running their own businesses. In this volunteer assignment, they involved committees within their own chapters. As team building and collaborative arrangements become more prevalent in technical communications projects, it can be instructive to look at how such a farflung research project fared. We will relate this experience briefly to some research results reported in Technical Communication.
Jones, Sheila C. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Project Management>TC>Collaboration