Professional and Technical Writing Strategies

Book excerpt: Abstract: Designed primarily for the two year college student seeking an Associate of Arts degree, this text is also suitable for college students at any level, professional and technical writers in the field, and business people looking for a concise desk reference. The text includes writing samples which illustrate actual writing demands in a variety of career fields. The book covers strategies for writing effective correspondence, professional reports, and technical manual components. It also focuses on writing research and documented reports and on building oral communication skills. Each chapter provides a list of skills which should be obtained, writing strategy guidelines, samples, exercises to reinforce the strategies, and writing options. The appendices provide conventions for construction, grammar, usage, punctuation, and mechanical conventions.