Document and Design discussion

Above are the example of the slides that will be discussed in this blog.

Putnis, Peter & Petelyn & Roslyn (1996) stated good document design is document which helps readers read efficiently and emphasize the most important content. It must have good flow of information, pages are in correct order and balance the graphic with the text. These statements are supported by :

• Nielsen (1997), web users will not read web pages word by word. They scan the page and search for the words they want. Web pages have to put scannable text, using highlighted keywords, interesting sub heading, bulleted lists and one idea per paragraph. Like the first slide, heading has a keywords ` document` when will be good for web users to find the reading and it has interesting subheading. Subheading also applied in second slide.
  And beside that, bulleted points are there in both slides to let the readers grasp the information and remember it easily.

• Another author Rothman (2005) said good technical writing involves reliable information which no symbolic. It is written for a direct and specified purpose and remain unchanged. It should be detailed and in chronological order. The first slide contains no symbol and it arrange in chornological order as it write the first point first for the `two important points` stated. Second slide also put in same order followed the discussion.

• Reep (2006) stated that design features like eye-catching graphics direct the readers more focus to the infromation provided. The image included must be the image that author wants readers to have. Authors use format elements to help readers move through a document using :
  written cues, white space, color and typographics device. The first slide use white space for all the slide that makes readers focus on the information directly and color for the heading also different. Compared to second slide, the space is not all white.

• Windschuttle (1988) stated document need to have a heading and sub heading to help readers read the information. It will help readers to know what the document is about, where the flow is and when all the headings are brought together, it will be an insight to the whole document. The second slide does not contain the heading so it will not give clear flow to readers and make the font bigger. Compared to first slide, heading is big, sub heading is there to help readers and font of all words are big so readers easy to read.
  

Reference Lists:

Nielsen, J 1997, `How users read on the Web`, Useit.com, issue October, viewed on 7th April 2009, http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

Putnis, Peter&Petelin & Roslyn 1996, Writing to Communicate, Professional Communication : Principles and Application, Prentice Hall, Sydney, viewed on 6th April 2009, http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/webservices/fedoraldap/default.aspx?bibid=554412

Reep, DC 2006, Document Design, Technical Writing, Pearson/Longman, New York, USA, viewed on 6th April 2009, http://www.library.unisa.edu.au/webservices/fedoraldap/default.aspx?bibid=931547

Rothman, S 2005, `What makes good scientific and techncial writing?`, Associated Content,viewed on 7th April 2009, <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9447/error?cat=4>.

Windschuttle, K 1988, Report: Writing and Presentation, Writing, Researching and Communicating, Mc-Graw Hill, Sydney, viewed on 6th April 2009,http://catalogue.library.unisa.edu.au/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=2040&recCount=10&recPointer=1&bibId=1037496