Plain Language

You want to ensure that your readers understand what you write. That’s where Plain Language comes in—it eliminates jargon and complicated or confusing language to make your documents more readable. You’ll use this strategy in everything you write for the course.

• Plain Language: An Introduction
  • Plain Language: A Brief History
  • Plain Language: Techniques

Document Design

The format and design of a document can make it more effective and more likely to be read. These guidelines also apply to everything you write in the course.

• Ch 3. Document Design (Technical Writing Essentials)
  • Ch 3.1 Key Concept: Readability
  • Ch 3.2 Headings
  • Ch 3.3 Lists
  • Ch 3.4 Figures and Tables
• Document Design: An Introduction
  • Document Design: CRAP Principles
  • Document Design: More Design Principles
  • Document Design: Making Captivating Charts and Graphs

Instructions

Instructions are a key document in the workplace. No matter the career you’re pursuing, you will need to tell someone how to do something at some point—probably quite frequently. You’ll use the information in these readings as you redesign documentation for Major Project #2.

All readings from Chapter 17: Instructions (Howdy or Hello? Technical and Professional Communication)

• Writing Instructions
• Preliminary Steps
• Common Sections in Instructions
• Writing Style
• Illustrating Your Instructions