Engineering communication / Charles W. Knisely, Bucknell University, Karin I. Knisely, Bucknell University.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ch. 1 Why Do Engineers Need to Communicate? --
Communication Skills---Part of the Job Description --
A Day in the Life of an Engineer --
Types of Technical Communications --
Wanted by Industry: Engineering Students with Communication Skills --
What Can Good Communication Skills Do for Me Professionally? --
Hallmarks of Technical Writing --
What Can I Do to Become a Better Writer? --
Before You Start Writing --
Preview of Upcoming Chapters --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
pt. ONE INTRODUCTION TO FINDING, READING, AND CITING TECHNICAL SOURCES --
ch. 2 Finding Information and Citing Sources --
Types of Sources --
Finding Technical Literature --
Databases and Search Engines for Engineering Information --
Comparison of Databases --
Database Search Strategies --
Understand Your Topic --
Define Your Research Goals --
Subdivide Your Topic into Concepts --
Choose Effective Keywords --
Connect Keywords with the Operators and, or, or not --
Use Truncation Symbols for Multiple Word Endings --
Search the Exact Phrase --
Use the Same Keywords in a Different Database or Search Engine --
Evaluating Search Results --
Finding Related Articles --
Obtaining Full-text Articles --
Common Engineering Citation Formats --
The Citation-Sequence System --
The Name-Year System --
Personal Communication --
End Reference Format --
Format for a Journal Article --
Unpublished Laboratory Exercise --
Sources from the Internet and the World Wide Web --
Managing References and Citations --
RefWorks --
Plagiarism --
Information That Does Not Have to Be Acknowledged --
Information That Has to Be Acknowledged --
Paraphrasing the Source Text --
Reputation --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
Resources-Evaluating Web Pages --
ch. 3 Reading Technical Reports --
Acquiring Knowledge---A Lifelong Endeavor --
Technical Report Structure --
Examples of Technical Document Structure --
Elements of Technical Reports --
Title --
List of Authors --
Ancillary Front Matter --
Abstract (or Executive Summary) --
Section Headings --
Introduction --
Theoretical Analysis (if any) --
Apparatus and Procedures --
Results --
Discussion and Conclusions --
Acknowledgments --
References --
Appendices (if needed) --
Merits of the Technical Report Format --
Strategies for Reading Technical Literature --
Determine the Topic --
Acquire Background Information on the Topic --
Read the Introduction --
Skim the Discussion and Conclusion Sections --
Read the Results Section Selectively --
Re-read the Discussion Section --
Skim the Apparatus and Procedures Section --
Read the Report Several Times --
Strategies for Reading Textbooks --
Study Groups --
Model Papers --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
pt. TWO PREPARING TECHNICAL REPORTS --
ch. 4 Step-By-Step Preparation of a Laboratory Report With Sample Report --
Timetable --
Format Your Report Correctly --
Computer Savvy --
Getting Started --
Re-read the Laboratory Instructions --
Audience and Tone --
Start with the Apparatus and Procedures Section --
Tense --
Voice --
Level of Detail --
Write the Theory Section --
Equations --
Prepare the Results Section Next --
Visual Elements --
Text --
Making Connections --
Write the Discussion --
Write the Introduction --
Write the Conclusions --
Effective Advertising---Selling Your Work --
Write the Abstract --
Compose the Title --
Review and Revise the Conclusions --
Reference and Citation Format --
Plagiarism --
Citation Systems --
Engineering Lab Report Checklist --
Sample Lab Report --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 5 Revising Reports and Reviewing Grammar --
Getting Ready to Revise --
Take a Break --
Slow Down and Concentrate --
Think of Your Audience --
Assess Readability --
Editing --
Overall Structure --
Calculations --
Section Content --
Paragraph Structure --
Sentence Style --
Word Choice --
Figures and Tables --
Proofreading: The Home Stretch --
Grammatically Correct Sentences --
Spelling --
Punctuation --
Standard Notation and Units --
Numbers --
Format --
Final Check --
Get Feedback --
Tips for Being a Good Peer Reviewer --
Have an Informal Discussion with Your Peer Reviewer --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 6 Engineering Toolbox and Visual Elements --
Symbols and Conventions --
Basic Nomenclature --
Greek Letters --
Units and Dimensions --
Significant Figures --
Visual Elements --
Equations --
Tables --
Figures --
x-y Graphs --
Bar Graphs --
Pie Graphs --
Area Graphs --
Formatting Graphs---Details --
Axes and Scales --
Gridlines --
Symbols and Legends --
Landscape versus Portrait Orientation --
Titles, Captions, Labels, and Margins --
Organizing Your Data --
A Little Math: Graphs of Standard Functions --
Rectangular Coordinates (or Cartesian Coordinates) --
Logarithmic Coordinates --
Semi-Logarithmic Coordinates --
Applying Graphical Analysis --
Drawing Schematics, Diagrams, Sketches, and Illustrations --
Processing Images --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
pt. THREE OTHER TYPES OF PROFESSIONAL WRITING --
ch. 7 Professional Correspondence --
Memos --
Header --
Summary Paragraph --
Supporting Paragraphs --
Conclusions --
Business Email --
Components of Business Emails --
Email Etiquette --
Letters --
Business Letters --
Types of Business Letters --
Personal Letters --
Resumes --
What Does Not Belong in a Resume? --
What Does Belong in a Resume? --
International Employment Applications --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 8 Proposals, Collaborative Writing, and Progress Reports --
Proposals --
Purpose of a Proposal --
Style of a Proposal --
Preparing to Write --
Components of a Full Proposal --
Submission --
Short Proposal Formats --
Additional Proposal Preparation Resources --
Annotated Sample Student Proposal --
Collaborative Writing --
Research and Information Gathering --
Selection of Software --
Document Format --
Writing Style --
Schedule and Deadlines --
Revision --
Individual Responsibilities --
Progress Reports --
Annotated Senior Design Project Progress Report --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 9 Specifications, Contracts, and Intellectual Property --
Engineering Specifications --
Types of Specifications --
Product Technical Specifications --
New Product Development --
Electronic Product Development, Specifications, and Requirements --
Software Development and Specifications --
Building Construction Specifications --
Process Specifications --
Procurement Specifications --
Word Use in Engineering Specifications --
Six Characteristics of Good Specifications --
Clearly Written --
Coherent and Well Organized --
Complete --
Concise --
Consistent --
Correct --
Specification Checklist --
Contracts --
Intellectual Property---Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights --
Patents --
What Can and Cannot Be Patented? --
How to Prepare a Patent Application --
Copyrights --
Trademarks --
Benefits of Federal Registration of a Trademark --
Registration Process --
Summary --
Acknowledgments --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 10 Overview Reports --
Review Articles --
Audience --
References for a Literature Review --
Reading Log --
Analysis and Synthesis --
Model Review Papers --
Writing the Review Article --
Sample Review Article --
Site Visits --
Purpose of a Site Visit --
Preparation before the Visit --
Writing the Site Visit Report --
Sample Annotated Site Visit Report --
White Papers --
What Is a White Paper? --
How to Write a White Paper --
Final Thoughts on White Papers --
Sample White Paper --
Professional Trade Journal Articles --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
pt. FOUR ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND POSTER PREPARATION --
ch. 11 Oral Presentations and Running Meetings --
Oral Presentations --
Organization --
Preparation of a Presentation --
Group Presentations --
Fielding Listener Questions --
Feedback --
Evaluation Forms for Oral Presentations --
Online Supplements --
Additional Resources for Preparing Presentations --
Running a Meeting --
Robert's Rules --
Characteristics of Effective Meetings --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
ch. 12 Poster Presentations --
Why Are Posters Used? --
Poster Format --
Layout --
Appearance --
Font (Type Size and Appearance) --
Mounting Options --
Making a Poster in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 --
Page Setup --
Adding Text, Images, and Graphs --
Aligning Objects --
Proofread Your Work --
Final Printing --
Poster Content --
Title Banner --
Introduction --
Apparatus and Procedures --
Results --
Discussion or Conclusions --
Literature Citations --
Acknowledgments --
White Space --
Presenting Your Poster --
Evaluation Form for Poster Presentations --
Sample Posters --
Summary --
Exercises --
References --
Appendix I Word Processing in Microsoft Word 2010 --
Introduction --
Increasing Your Word Processing Efficiency --
Navigation --
Navigation Pane --
Text Selection --
Commands in Word 2010 --
Unfurling the Ribbon --
The File Tab --
The Home Tab --
The Insert Tab --
The Page Layout Tab --
The References Tab --
The Review Tab --
The View Tab --
Proofreading Your Documents --
Spelling and Grammar --
Format --
Document Inspector --
Finally, Print a Hard Copy --
Housekeeping --
Organizing Your Files in Folders --
Accessing Files and Folders Quickly --
Naming Your Files --
Saving Your Documents --
Backing Up Your Files --
Working with Previous Versions of MS Word --
References --
Appendix II Making Graphs in Microsoft Excel 2010 and Excel for Mac 2011 --
Introduction --
Handling Computer Files --
Accessing Commands in Excel --
Formulas in Excel --
Writing Formulas --
Unfurling the Ribbon --
The File Tab --
The Home Tab --
The Insert Tab --
The Page Layout Tab --
The View Tab --
More Tabs Below --
Excel Terminology --
Goodbye Chart Wizard, Hello Insert Charts --
Plotting x-y Graphs (Scatter Charts) --
Adding Data after Completing Graph --
Multiple Data Sets on an x-y Graph --
Trendline Applications --
Plotting Bar Graphs --
Column Charts --
Clustered Column Charts --
Stacked Column Charts --
Bar Charts --
Pie Graphs --
Entering Data in Worksheet --
Creating the Pie Chart --
Error Bars and Variability --
Adding Error Bars about the Means --
Data Analysis with Error Bars --
References --
Appendix III Preparing Oral Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 --
Introduction --
Autocorrect --
Customize the Ribbon --
Handling Computer Files --
Commands in PowerPoint 2010 --
Designs for New Presentations --
Views for Organizing and Writing Your Presentation --
Slide Layouts --
Title Slide --
Adding Slides --
Basic Layouts --
Custom Layouts --
Deleting Slides --
The Last Slide --
Navigating Among Slides in Normal View --
Formatting Text --
Sample Presentation --
Visuals --
Tables --
Pictures --
Line Drawings --
SmartArt Graphics --
Graphs (Charts) --
Hyperlinks --
Multimedia Files --
Saving and Printing Presentations --
Revising and Polishing Presentations --
Moving Slides --
Adding and Deleting Slides --
Copying Slides --
Spell Check --
Applying a Theme --
Animations and Slide Transitions --
Tweaking Slide, Handout, and Notes Masters --
Text, Bullets, and Illustrations --
Headers and Footers --
Handouts and Notes Pages --
Delivering Presentations --
Resources in the Presentation Room --
Navigating among Slides during a Slide Show.

"A practical how-to book, ENGINEERING COMMUNICATION is more than a guidebook for creating clear, accurate and engaging communication -- it is a complete teaching tool that includes the use of technology to produce dynamic written, oral, and visual communication. There are numerous complete examples, many taken directly from either student or business samples. It also asks students to critically examine the goals and methods of engineering communication. Written with step-by-step instruction on how to create both written and oral communication, the pedagogy includes end-of-chapter exercises to give the students opportunity to use what they have learned, and for the instructor to assess student mastery."--Publisher's website.