Category: Communications

Instructions
Form a group of two students and write a technical user manual together.
Think about the last time you consulted a user manual. Maybe it was to reference your vehicle’s oil type, recommended tire pressure, or air filter location. The point is: no one reads a user manual from beginning to end. A successful user manual provides quick answers in easy-to-understand terms. The most effective user manuals are organized to give users fast access to information.
The best writers understand their audience. When authoring manuals, writers must think like the end user and understand how the product will be used. This involves anticipating the end user’s skill level, most basic needs from the documentation and what problems led to referencing the manual.
Manual content should be written so that it presents the problem, offers a solution and presents methods toward achieving the solution. To achieve this, the writers should focus on the goal of outlining the steps necessary for accomplishing the task at hand.
User manual content can range from less than a dozen to hundreds of pages. Generally, the more complex the product, the lengthier the manual. At its core, a user manual is a set of instructions presented in a style and format that facilitates quick reference, and helps the product to succeed in the market. Here are six important components of effective user manuals:
1. Table of Contents
A table of contents is a list of its chapter or section titles or brief descriptions with their page numbers. It should be an automatic table of contents (if you still do not know how to make it, check on YouTube or ask a friend).
2. Introduction
Your user documentation should be comprehensive and provide accurate help to customers. That is when customers will start using it frequently for problem-solving. Your customers should be able to trust the information provided in the document. Therefore, provide general information about your company and the product in this section.
3. Procedural Steps
This is the main body of the user manual, and will most likely involve a problem that cannot easily be summarized or explained. Logical, numbered steps help the user solve a problem. To aid in clarity, illustrations or videos can help with component or experience visualization.
4. Content Clarity
Whenever possible, avoid technical language that may isolate audience segments. Imagine you are writing for a junior high school student. Tables and graphs can help show how sections of content relate, compliment and contrast.
5. Glossary of Terms
Every industry has its own language and vocabulary, but some users may not be familiar with even the most commonly used terms. A glossary of terms not only serves as a reference tool, but also gives each term a “home,” eliminating the need for the writer to repeatedly re-state and re-explain definitions.
6. Precautionary Information
Warnings, notes of caution and danger notices aid user safety and help the manufacturer address liability concerns related to the product. Use universal graphic symbols to represent each type of risk to the end user.
Submission guidelines
The team leader submits the assignment in Blackboard, indicates the team members on the cover page, and sends an email to me and the entire team, with the names of all team members. This email is to confirm that the document has been submitted.
Deadline: March 30, by 11:59 pm (Late submissions of the final version will be penalized 5% per day.) Create the document in MSWORD and submit your work in Blackboard.
The following information must appear, centered vertically and horizontally, on the first page (cover page) of your assignment:
COMM 2312: Technical and Professional Communication, Section #
Submitted to Dr. Joel Craig Richmond
By [insert your names, followed by your student numbers in parentheses)
Assignment 3: Technical User Manual The date
Begin the manual on page 2.
The assignment will be checked for plagiarism. Any evidence of plagiarism will automatically result in grade of 0.
Rubric (20 points = 20% of your final course grade)
Content (all required elements are properly covered) /10 points
Language (spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, etc.) /5 points
Format (cover page, layout, length, etc.)
/5 points
Total: /20

I have to fill out the outline. The topic I want to talk about is “the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships and communication skills.

Here is 2 examples of students discussing their opinions on the topic of examples where culture can cause a misunderstanding through nonverbal communication. Please respond to each student supporting their responses. 1.Reply from Chanel Stephens
Nonverbal communication includes many different factors such as body language, facial expressions, hand gestures, and tone. Nonverbal communication is just as, if not more, important as verbal communication. Sometimes the things left unsaid spell out a completely different picture than what is initially being presented. High-context cultures are those that rely more heavily on non-verbal communication. Countries such as Japan, China, Korea and many Middle Eastern countries are considered high-context. Direct communication is often seen as aggressive and disrespectful so a most of their verbal communication leans heavily on implied, ambiguous language. Communication seems to tap dance around the point instead of getting straight to it. This style of communication places more emphasis on how things are said and the context surrounding it rather than what was actually said. High-context communication requires an intimate knowledge of cultural norms for effective communication. In contrast, low-context cultures tend to be more direct in communication. The verbal communication leaves very little room for interpretation and is more so a “I said what I said” style. North America and Europe tend to use this style more frequently. Intercultural communications can be tricky to navigate so it is important to explore and learn about various cultures’ distinct differences. With Western cultures placing more emphasis on direct communication, conversations between an American businessman and a Japanese businessman may have some hiccups. Whereas the American businessman may offer a strong handshake and speak in a strong, direct tone, the Asian businessman may be more inclined to speak softer and rely more on “understanding” rather than words. A misunderstanding of non-verbal language can have detrimental effects on relationships and hinder communication efforts from moving forward. It is imperative to understand non-verbal cues in order to effectively communicate and be received. Although non-verbal communication is more ambiguous and leaves more to be interpreted. Learning the nuances behind non-verbal communication can help bridge the gap between cultures and also allow for more effective leadership. 2. Reply from Judnel Marcius We are all different in our culture, and sometimes there is some misunderstanding through nonverbal communication. That happens all the time in some summits, and business meetings. Let’s consider in Haiti a handshake is a common form of greeting between men and a hug is a common form of greeting for women. Bowing is the customary greeting in other cultures in the Middle East. As I said, imagine a business meeting where Haitian people and Middle Eastern people are participating. In this scenario, a Haitian man can extend his right hand for a handshake to greet someone from the Middle East. However, a person from the Middle East where bowing is the norm may interpret the extended hand as a gesture of rudeness until putting people in an uncomfortable situation. The Haitian man offering the handshake may interpret the lack of reciprocation or see bowing as a sign of disinterest. This misunderstanding arises from differing cultural norms regarding nonverbal communication and greetings. To understand nonverbal cues as they operate in human communication, we need to consider the roles they play when people interact. These roles become most apparent when we consider nonverbal cues as they relate to verbal messages. (Patricia Hayes Andrews, 2005)

In May 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress and in his speech (beginning at 45:50) outlined his vision for peace with the Palestinians. https://www.c-span.org/video/?299666-1/israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu-address-joint-meeting-congress Links to an external site.
In September of that year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations seeking a peaceful settlement of the conflict by requesting the UN to grant statehood for Palestine. https://www.c-span.org/video/?301726-2/palestinian-president-abbas-united-nations-address Links to an external site. In an essay of 6-8 pages, critically analyze these two speeches. How do the two leaders assign blame and responsibility for the impasse in the peace process, and why, according to each has the peace process foundered? Most importantly, how do these two speeches differ in the way they characterize the “final status issues” of the peace process as they emerged from the Madrid Conference (1991) and the Oslo Accord (1993)? How do they differ in their attitudes about international institutions such as the UN and UN resolutions? How do the differences in the balance of power between the two affect the negotiating positions of both leaders? How do they differ on notions of “compromise?” How do both leaders argue about the fundamental pathways and constraints to peace? Finally, in what way does the speech of John Kerry https://www.c-span.org/video/?420776-1/secretary-state-kerry-state-solution-path-middle-east-peace Links to an external site.lend support to the arguments of one or both of the two principal protagonists in this debate? Ideally, your essay should not simply be short-answer responses to the questions above, but should instead frame an “argument” in the form of a claim about the differences in the speeches that is supported by logical reasoning and evidence that backs your claim. Your essay should also contain properly cited sources – lectures, readings, video clips, films, etc. Link I will be sending in chat contains a google file with sources and class slide lectures that will be used.

After your interview, respond to and submit your answers to the following questions
1. What went well? What could use improvement?
2. Were you prepared with convincing answers to obvious or common questions? How did you prepare? Describe at what points you realized and felt that you were unprepared. 3. Were your answers clear and specific? What were the best statements you made that were clear and specific?
4. Did you reference evidence and examples? What were they? 5. Look back at your Key Competencies assignment. Did you tell them everything you wanted them to know about you from these competencies? What do you wish you had covered that would have made you a stronger candidate? 6. Did you use your voice well, varying the tone and pace of your answers?
7. To which question do you feel you gave the strongest answer? Briefly summarize the question and answer here, and describe why it worked so well.
8. Similarly, which answer was your weakest? Briefly describe the question and answer. How could you improve this answer in the future?
9. Overall, how well do you feel you answered the questions, on a scale of 1 – 5, with 5 being the highest? Why?
10. Describe your positive body language. What was challenging about your body language?
11. Did you seem truly interested in the position? What made you seem so?
12. Did you smile?
13. Did you prepare interesting questions to ask the interviewer? What were they?
14. What surprised you about the interview?
15. Did you research the role and the organization well enough?
16. Did your nerves get in the way of your answering well? 17. Are there relaxation techniques you could use to help you?
18. What else happened before, during, or after the interview that may reflect on you in the interviewer’s opinion? 19. What other preparation do you advise for yourself next time?

Write a 5 page essay that takes themes from The Stoic Art of Living and applies them to the workplace. Make connections to issues raised by readings, podcasts, and videos in this course. The best essays will be those with well-researched and well-documented examples.
Format:
1. Compositional essay:
– Includes an introduction with a thesis statement,
– A body with multiple paragraphs to develop the thesis,
– A conclusion.
2. Must draw from at least 4 chapters of the Stoic Art of Living (the chapter you presented on and 3 more)
3. Must integrate at least 3 other sources from the course (readings, podcasts, videos). Quote from these sources with page numbers.

Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction that involves the exchange of information, ideas, thoughts, and feelings between individuals or groups. There are various types of communication that serve different purposes and occur through different channels. The main types of communication include verbal, nonverbal, written, visual, and electronic communication.
Verbal Communication: Verbal communication involves the use of spoken words to convey messages. This type of communication can take place face-to-face, over the phone, or through video calls. Verbal communication is essential for expressing thoughts, emotions, and ideas effectively.
Nonverbal Communication: Nonverbal communication refers to the transmission of messages without the use of words. This type of communication includes gestures, facial expressions, body language, eye contact, and tone of voice. Nonverbal cues play a significant role in conveying emotions and attitudes in interpersonal interactions.
Written Communication: Written communication involves the use of written words to convey information. This type of communication includes emails, letters, memos, reports, and text messages. Written communication is crucial for documenting information, providing instructions, and maintaining records.
Visual Communication: Visual communication utilizes visual elements such as images, graphs, charts, diagrams, and videos to convey messages. This type of communication is effective in presenting complex information in a clear and engaging manner. Visual aids enhance understanding and retention of information.
Electronic Communication: Electronic communication involves the exchange of messages through electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and social media platforms. This type of communication includes emails, instant messaging, social networking sites, and video conferencing. Electronic communication enables real-time interaction and facilitates global connectivity.
References:
Adler, Ronald B., et al. “Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication.” Oxford University Press (Print).
DeVito, Joseph A. “The Interpersonal Communication Book.” Pearson Education (Print).
O’Hair, Dan et al. “Strategic Communication in Business and the Professions.” Pearson (Print).
Guerrero, Laura K., et al. “Nonverbal Communication in Close Relationships.” Routledge (Print).
Guffey, Mary Ellen et al. “Business Communication: Process & Product.” Cengage Learning (Print).

Topic: Organizational Culture Theory
Content: Based on what you learn, write a 2-page, double-spaced essay of at least 500 words in which you explain how the theory that you have chosen relates to your final paper’s research question. Make sure your literature review uses authoritative resources to cover as much of the following as you can:
Identify your workplace communication problem
State your proposed research question
Explain the significance of your research question
Provide context for your proposed research question
Identify and describe the communication theory you want to use for your final project
Summarize what you learn about the communication theory’s goal(s), approach, and classification
Describe what you learn about the communication theory’s strengths, weaknesses, and/or biases in terms
Assess the communication theory’s relevance to the paper’s research question
Use as many of the evaluation standards to review the communication theory’s concepts and/or assumptions (scope, logical consistency, testability, parsimony, utility, heurism, and/or test of time)
Explain how the theory could be used in the final research paper
Organization: Organize the literature review as follows:
Begin with an introduction that contains your research question, an explanation of its significance, and any other background information setting the context of your research.
Use the body paragraphs to describe and assess what you learned about the communication theory that you plan to use in your final project. Be specific. Use the characteristics of theory that you learned about in the Week 1 Overviews 1.1 and 1.2 as your guide to what you should explain about your communication theory. Do not use any quotes or paraphrases in your writing. Focus on synthesizing and summarizing your understanding of what you learned about your communication theory, and critique its utility for your final project. The conclusion should summarize the major issues that the researchers reported about the theory; it also should evaluate whether the theory accurately explains or can be used to resolve the workplace* communication problem you are investigating. Format:
2-3 pages (at least 600 words)
Double-spaced
12 point Arial, Calibri, or Times News Roman font
1” margins
APA-style title page
APA-style in-text citations
APA-style end-of-text references

Give an example where culture can cause a misunderstanding through nonverbal communication.
Think about gestures, proxemics, physical appearance and touch as areas of cultural differences.
For your posts, you must:
Compose a post of at least 3 paragraphs
Demonstrate thoughtful well-formulated responses to a minimum of two peers and support your argument with at least one source other than the text.
Support your work with in-text citations from your textbook and at least one outside source.

In organizational operations, in order to conduct successful meetings with internal and external stakeholders, knowing how to give a proper presentation is of the utmost importance for organizational success. In this assignment, you are required to craft a PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following:
Part One: Components of Highly Effective Presentations
Research proper presentation formats and techniques in physical and virtual environments, and then complete the following:
Assess the components of a highly effective persuasive presentation.
Evaluate the importance of each of the components that are required to craft a persuasive presentation.
Compare the key presentation skills in a virtual versus a physical setting.
Part Two: Examples of Highly Effective Presentations
Using the information that you learned from Part 1, locate an example of a great persuasive virtual presentation as well as an example of a great physical persuasive presentation, and then address the following:
Assess the components of the virtual presentation that align with the criteria that makes a highly effective persuasive presentation.
Assess the components of the physical presentation that align with the criteria that makes a highly effective persuasive presentation.
Describe what is missing from the virtual and physical presentations that would put it over the top in terms of a highly effective persuasive presentation.
The Effective Presentations presentation,
Must be five double-spaced slides plus the title and references slides and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s How to Make a PowerPoint PresentationLinks to an external site. and PresentationsLinks to an external site. resources.
Must include a separate title slide with the following:Title of project in bold fontSpace should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
Student’s name
Name of institution (University of Arizona Global Campus)
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Due date
Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.For assistance on writing Introductions & ConclusionsLinks to an external site. as well as Writing a Thesis StatementLinks to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
Must use at least three credible sources in addition to the course text.The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view The University of Arizona Global Campus Library Quick ‘n’ DirtyLinks to an external site. tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site. guide.
Must include separate references slide that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the APA: Formatting Your References List