Professional Writing and Technical Communication

Professional Writing and Technical Communication Research Guide

• Journal and Magazine Databases
• Books and Videos
• How-tos and Demos
• Web Searching

• Also see: Citing and Writing
• Also see: Grammar and Punctuation

 

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Journal and Magazine Databases

• OmniFile - This multidisciplinary database covers many journals on professional writing topics [more details].
• Communication and Mass Media Complete - Search 350 journals with full-text from over 200 titles [more details].
• Communication Abstracts - A comprehensive index of scholarly publications in communication [more details].
• Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts - An index of publications in linguistics, language, and rhetoric [more details].
• MLA International Bibliography - An index of publications in literature, linguistics, and rhetoric [more details].
• Academic Search Complete - Search 9,300 publications in the social sciences and humanities [more details].
• ACM Digital Library - Search journals and conference papers in computer science [more details].
• Business Source Complete - Search journals, company and industry reports, country profiles, and more [more details].
• Computer Science Index - An index of 500 publications in computer science [more details].
• ERIC - An index of education journals, magazines, and documents from 1966 to present [more details].
• Google Scholar - Use Google's powerful search to find scholarly journals, books, and web sites [more details].
• IEEE Xplore - Journals, proceedings, and standards in electrical engineering and computer science [more details].
• Information Science & Technology Abstracts - Find publications in information science and librarianship [more details].
• PsycINFO - A comprehensive index of psychology and related fields [more details].
• SAGE Communication Studies - Journals in mass communication, business communication, etc. [more details].
• Web of Science - An index of research journals in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences [more details].

• Also see: Engineering Technology
• Also see: Law
• Also see: Marketing
• Also see: Medicine

 

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Books and Videos

• Library Catalog - Find books and videos in the UHD Library's print and electronic collections.
• ebrary - Search electronic books from top academic and professional publishers [more details].
• netLibrary - Search electronic books from academic, professional, and popular presses [more details].
• Safari Tech Books Online - Electronic books on computer software, web design, etc. [more details].
• WorldCat - Search 58 million books and other materials in libraries around the world [more details].

 

Also see:

• Technical writing
• Technical writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• Business writing
• Business writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• Communication in design
• Communication of technical information
• Instructional design
• Interactive multimedia
• Intercultural communication
• Medical writing
• Public relations
• Public relations -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• User interfaces (Computer systems)
• Visual communication
• Written communication
• Web sites -- Design
• Web sites -- Evaluation

 

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How-tos and Demos

• OWL at Purdue - Writing guides on audience analysis, memo writing, business documents, resumes, and white papers.
• Access by Design - A guide to web design for universal usability.
• Accessibility Institute Demos - Learn how to design common HTML features for accessibility.
• Don't Make Me Think - Steve Krug's classic guide to designing usable web sites.
• How to Write a Paper - Guidelines for writing scientific papers in the medical sciences.
• How to Write and Present Technical Information - Principles of technical writing with memos, proposals, etc.
• How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper - A step-by-step introdution to scientific writing.
• MERLOT: Multimedia Educational Resources - Multimedia learning materials in computer science.
• MIT Guide to Science and Engineering Writing - See Part II for memos, proposals, instructions, procedures, etc.
• Nielsen Norman Group Reports - Reports on web design best practices. Full reports must be purchased, but summaries are free.
• Science and Technical Writing: A Manual of Style - An introduction to technical writing style.
• Usability.gov - Evidence-based advice and guidelines for web design and usability testing.
• Virtual Technical Reports Center - Find examples of technical reports to use as models.
• Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students - Covers letters, memos, presentations, and reports.

 

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Web Searching

• EServer Technical Communication Library - A guide to open access documents on all aspects of professional writing.
• Open Directory Project: Technical Writing - A guide to articles, associations, conferences, and other technical writing resources.
• TECHWR-L Magazine - Articles address writing, technological, or workplace problems; help readers make decisions about choosing tools, technologies, or document types or formats; provide information about how specific topics and technologies apply to or affect the field of technical writing; and provide instructions for learning, using, or adopting new tools or technologies. Also includes career information and job postings.
• Web Design References - Links on languages, information architecture, standards, accessibility, and usability.

 

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