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So far, you have learned a bit about the role
of a technical communicator in relation to science
and technology. But until now, this book has
focused primarily on techniques for giving
effective presentations. Chapter 13 of Oral
Presentations for Technical Communication
continues a discussion about the unique role of
communicators in a world of highly complex
information--information that is often important
for the public but, unfortunately, only understood
by experts. Technical communicators play an
important role in making this information
understandable for all. This chapter examines the
following topics:
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Making a Difference in
Science/Technology Culture
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Beyond Efficiency: Technical
Communicators and the Public
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The Introduction: A Good Place to
Start
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These exercises build on the ideas addressed
in Chapter 13:
1. Prepare a short informative presentation (5-6
minutes) in which you describe your
responsibilities as a technical
communicator--either at your current job or
internship or as you might see these
responsibilities in your future career.
2. Find several articles in a science or
technology magazine and look for both positive and
negative features in how the writer used language
to make the topic accessible to a lay audience.
Prepare a short informative presentation (5-6
minutes) outlining your findings and explaining
which of these positive features you could use in
an oral presentation.
Presentations and Cyberspace. A number of
Web pages offer excellent examples of making
science and technology accessible, exciting, and
important for the public. Two good examples are the
informational pages for the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory
or the Los
Alamos National Laboratory.
Look at these and other science or technology Web
pages, and note what features are used. Consider
how you might use similar features in a scientific
or technical presentation.
Presentation and Teamwork. As a team,
look back at your informative presentations given
after you studied Chapter 9. Select a few that deal
with overtly scientific or technical topics. Using
one of the techniques illustrated in this chapter,
create a new introduction and conclusion. Write out
a list of the characteristics you are assuming
about your "public" audience.
Presentations and International
Communication. Remaining competitive in the new
global marketplace means keeping up with new
developments and advances in technology and
processes. However, as other countries are often
involved in the same industry, some information
required to remain on the cutting edge is often
published in another language. Identify the
languages that might be important to your given
field and determine what non-English publications
might contain information essential to being
competitive in your field.
Presentations and Your Profession. Talk
to one or several professionals in your field, and
ask them about instances when they must give
presentations that make their knowledge useful and
interesting to the public. Ask them about what
responsibilities they feel in this role.
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