07 Jan Document Design and

dq 1

Correspondence and Reader Perspective (graded)

Most of us have received a business letter, a memo, or an e-mail before. Although these documents may not seem like traditional forms of technical communication, they actually possess or should possess many of the same qualities as a standard technical document. They should be clear, concise, and written with a specific audience and purpose in mind. For this discussion

1. explain why the ABC format described in the text reading is beneficial for writing all correspondence; and

2. discuss several ways to incorporate the “You” attitude in your writing. Why is this important?

dq 2

Document Design and Organization (graded)

Our text states that document design plays a major role in how readers understand and perceive information. In fact, the way a document is designed or presented creates a subliminal effect, a first impression of sorts, which readers often use to judge the overall value of the document. Sound a little like psychology? Well, it is!

For this discussion, review the elements of document design covered in Chapter 5, and then choose two or three elements—color, consistency, grids, white space, the use of lists, parallelism, fonts, and so on—that you feel are the most important. Explain why you feel these elements are critical for helping create a good first impression.