Technical Technical WritingWriting

Unit 7Unit 7

20132013

This WeekThis Week

►Presentation guidelinesPresentation guidelines►Ideas for displaying dataIdeas for displaying data

Non-negotiable Non-negotiable requirementsrequirements

• No more than 15 minutesNo more than 15 minutes• Address 3M as your primary audience, Address 3M as your primary audience, not menot me• Main purpose of session is to demonstrate Main purpose of session is to demonstrate

valuevalue(no value added = bad presentation)(no value added = bad presentation)• Must use powerpoint (can also use other visual Must use powerpoint (can also use other visual

aids too); PM posts audio with slides to Moodleaids too); PM posts audio with slides to Moodle• Instructions for recording the presentation on Instructions for recording the presentation on

course site.course site.http://www.elo.iastate.edu/engl-314/oral-http://www.elo.iastate.edu/engl-314/oral-

presentation/presentation/

The genre: a The genre: a ““walkthroughwalkthrough””

• Walk your audience through the Walk your audience through the current scenario, highlighting current scenario, highlighting problemsproblems

• Walk them through the transformed Walk them through the transformed scenario, highlighting how you scenario, highlighting how you addressed the problemsaddressed the problems

• Highlight along the way the most Highlight along the way the most important changes to the technical important changes to the technical document.document.

Current & Transformed Current & Transformed ActivitiesActivities

• Remember that what you have to offer here is an Remember that what you have to offer here is an ability to transform communication: a TC’s eye ability to transform communication: a TC’s eye view of the best ways to present information; this view of the best ways to present information; this is valuable! Very valuable!is valuable! Very valuable!

• When you talk about transformed content…talk When you talk about transformed content…talk about about activitiesactivities (not simply the systems, (not simply the systems, technologies, or regulations that are involved).technologies, or regulations that are involved).

• Think current activity, transformed activity - this Think current activity, transformed activity - this puts the information you designed into motionputs the information you designed into motion

• Our main activity: Our main activity: safe disposal of waste; safe disposal of waste; most most of our presentations will take perspectives on of our presentations will take perspectives on safety activities of one sort or anothersafety activities of one sort or another

Evidence, evidence, Evidence, evidence, evidence!evidence!

You should be very, very focused on You should be very, very focused on presenting evidence to back up:presenting evidence to back up:

• You description of the current scenarioYou description of the current scenario• Your description of problems with the Your description of problems with the

current scenariocurrent scenario• Your demonstration of the transformed Your demonstration of the transformed

documentdocument• i.e. your solutions to the problems in the i.e. your solutions to the problems in the

current scenariocurrent scenario

Sample structure (6 Sample structure (6 slides)slides)

Slide 1:Slide 1:Slide 2:Slide 2:Slide 3:Slide 3:Slide 4:Slide 4:Slide 5:Slide 5:Slide 6:Slide 6:

Current scenario, described or illustrated in some wayDescription of analytic steps you tookTransformed scenario, described or illustratedQualifications, demonstration of your team’s qualityConclusion, review value added and thank client for opportunity

Of course, introduce yourselves too. The above is not the only possibility. Six slides is not a magic number. But 12 minutes goes by quickly…especially if you demonstrate with evidence.

Mention your researchMention your researchTalk about your work on this project as a Talk about your work on this project as a

process of inquiry:process of inquiry:• Frame issues as questions: Frame issues as questions: ““we we

wondered…what aspects of the document wondered…what aspects of the document design would inhibit readers ability to design would inhibit readers ability to retain important information?retain important information?””

• Mention your research methods, but Mention your research methods, but briefly: briefly: ““to find out the answer to this to find out the answer to this question, we first …question, we first …””

Rhetoric works!Rhetoric works!Use Use stasisstasis questions questions

Building a strong case for your claims Building a strong case for your claims means answering these:means answering these:

• Is there a problem [how do we know?]Is there a problem [how do we know?]• What type of problem is it? [what makes What type of problem is it? [what makes

us think so?]us think so?]• How severe is this problem? [who does it How severe is this problem? [who does it

impact and how?]impact and how?]

What do you, Jon the What do you, Jon the teacher, want to see?teacher, want to see?

HereHere’’s what makes me happy:s what makes me happy:1.1. You impressing them, not me, with your You impressing them, not me, with your

work.work.2.2. You being polished, so that your You being polished, so that your

presentation is smooth and doesnpresentation is smooth and doesn’’t sound t sound like like ““an assignmentan assignment””

3.3. You using evidence - if you do nothing else, You using evidence - if you do nothing else, do this - to back up your claims.do this - to back up your claims.

4.4. Your audience responding (comes later) Your audience responding (comes later) with positive affirmation, comments, etc. with positive affirmation, comments, etc. ThatThat’’s how you know you succeed.s how you know you succeed.

Next WeekNext Week

►More about Final Client Project More about Final Client Project and Final individual reportand Final individual report