Chapter 3 Summary

1
Chapter 3 Summary

• Designing Usable Information

2
Usability and Technical Information

• When you design a communication you are creating
  a communication document
• Before you begin writing or designing any
  information, learn all you can
• Make an audience analysis
• Perform a task analysis
• Develop an information plan
• Do research

3
Usability During Writing Process

• Revise your plan and your product
• Create documentation that is context-sensitive
• Test early versions of communication
• Qualities testing
• Quantitative testing

4
Usability After Info is Released

• Provide mechanics for user feedback
• Plan for next version or release

5
Writing Organizing Info

• Use appropriate grammar style
• Proper punctuation
• Use active voice when possible
• Avoid nominalizations
• Unpack nouns
• Avoid worldly phrases, but dont over edit
• Avoid unnecessary jargon
• Avoid biased language
• Write from users point of view
• Dont rely on grammar spell checker
• Consider international issues
• Use white space effective page design

6
Proofreading Your Final Draft

• Ensure that everything is just right. Basic
  errors distract the reader and make the writer
  look bad.

7
Tips for Proofreading

• Save it for the final draft
• Take a break beforehand
• Work from hard copy
• Keep it slow
• Be especially alert for troublesome areas in your
  writing
• Proofread more than once
• Dont rely only on computerized aids

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End of Chapter 3 Summary

• Designing Usable Information