baseline logic definition of text schemata –a set of slots –relationships among them...

Baseline LogicBaseline Logic Definition of Text Schemata

– A set of slots– Relationships among them– Automatic cueing

Driving schemata– each component sets the stage for the next– some components are shared– features of the component trigger an expectation for

the next component

A proposal ExampleA proposal Example

“In today’s business world, it is more important than ever to have a wide range of skills and interests.”

What slot? What next?

What Next?What Next?

Today’s business

world

SituationMore about business

world

What’s to be done

Development

Objectives

Slots--Raising ExpectationsSlots--Raising Expectations

If you give a mouse a cookie.. He’ll ask you for a glass of milk.

If you give your audience a problematic situation you’ll point them to a solution

Invoking DependenciesInvoking Dependencies

If you promise a mouse a cookie you’d better have a cookie

If you propose to do a project you’d better make a case for why you are

qualified do it

How to Use SlotsHow to Use Slots

all slots accounted for– in the text

– in the legwork

– in the situation

An example: Situation SlotAn example: Situation Slot“While many new disciplines have become involved in technical communication, the goal remains to make the life of the user as easy as possible.”

Do I need to elaborate?Does my audience know and accept this goal?

“to make the life of the user as easy as possible”

Yes: simple remindNo: explain, support

Proposal SchemaProposal Schema

Situation objectives methods qualifications costs benefits

Scrabble Game--Assigning Scrabble Game--Assigning SlotsSlots

A. We have recently developed a 2 semester writing intensive sequence at X college.

B. A person aspiring to enter the business world must be a modern day orator.

C. In today’s business world, it is more important than ever to have a wide range of skills and interests.

D. Our workshop will be of interest to educators and administrators seeking to better prepare their students for the business world.

E. Colleges should develop writing-intensive courses.

F. We propose to describe our sequence and lessons learned in a 3 hour workshop.

Situation TypesSituation Types Lack insight

– Traditional technical communicators have skills that will go unrecognized if we are not willing to change the way we think of ourselves.

Insight but no plan– In my presentation, I will address areas where technical

communicators can add value for their companies and the end users they support.

Insight and plan, but no implementation– If you are a multidisciplinary team creating large

documents with many files, you need tools that allow you to work and track your changes.

Linking Situation to Linking Situation to ObjectivesObjectives

lack insight -> – give insight

insight but no plan -> – develop plan

insight and plan, but no implementation -> – implementation

Linking Situations to Objectives:Linking Situations to Objectives: Situation: Insight and plan, but no

implementation– “We are a multidisciplinary team creating large

documents with many files, and need tools that allow us to work and track our changes.”

Objective: Implementation– “This session will train us to use Studio 3.0,

teaching its main features and functions.”

Insight ProjectsInsight Projects

Make me smarter:– Competitive assessments

– Marketing studies

– Review of the literature

– Benchmarking studies

– membership surveys

– war stories

Planning ProjectsPlanning Projects

Give me a plan– recommend a process

– define the options

– analyze alternatives

– describe a technique or tool

Implementation ProjectsImplementation Projects

Make me work better– increase or improve

– decrease or reduce

– support or further goals

AligningAligning

Are benefits aligned with objectives & desired result?– Desired Result: Encourage teams with diverse

backgrounds to define tasks and goals.– Objective: “I will demonstrate the Interface

Design Kit.”– Realigned Objective: “I will demonstrate how the

exercises in the Interface Design Kit encourages users to explore, evaluate, and define task goals.”

AlignAlign Are benefits aligned with current

situation?– Benefit: we can better position ourselves to

continue advocacy for the end user

– Situation: Technical Communication Skills will go unrecognized

– Realigned Situation: Skills technical communicators use to advocate for the end user are going unrecognized.