1. Baseline Logic Definition of Text Schemata Driving schemata
A set of slots
Relationships among them
Automatic cueing
Driving schemata
each component sets the stage for the next
some components are shared
features of the component trigger an expectation for the next component

2. A proposal Example
“In today’s business world, it is more important than ever to have a wide range of skills and interests.”
What slot?
What next?

3. What Next? What’s to be done Today’s business world More about
Objectives
More about
business
world
Situation
Development

4. Slots--Raising Expectations
If you give a mouse a cookie..
He’ll ask you for a glass of milk.
If you give your audience a problematic situation
you’ll point them to a solution

5. Invoking Dependencies
If you promise a mouse a cookie
you’d better have a cookie
If you propose to do a project
you’d better make a case for why you are qualified do it

6. How to Use Slots all slots accounted for in the text in the legwork
in the situation

7. An example: Situation Slot
“While many new disciplines have become involved in technical communication, the goal remains to make the life of the user as easy as possible.”
Do I need to elaborate?
Does my audience know and accept this goal?
“to make the life of the user as easy as possible”
Yes: simple remind
No: explain, support

8. Proposal Schema Situation objectives methods qualifications costs
benefits

9. Scrabble Game--Assigning Slots
A. We have recently developed a 2 semester writing intensive sequence at X college.
B. A person aspiring to enter the business world must be a modern day orator.
C. In today’s business world, it is more important than ever to have a wide range of skills and interests.
D. Our workshop will be of interest to educators and administrators seeking to better prepare their students for the business world.
E. Colleges should develop writing-intensive courses.
F. We propose to describe our sequence and lessons learned in a 3 hour workshop.

10. Situation Types Lack insight Insight but no plan
Traditional technical communicators have skills that will go unrecognized if we are not willing to change the way we think of ourselves.
Insight but no plan
In my presentation, I will address areas where technical communicators can add value for their companies and the end users they support.
Insight and plan, but no implementation
If you are a multidisciplinary team creating large documents with many files, you need tools that allow you to work and track your changes.

11. Linking Situation to Objectives
lack insight ->
give insight
insight but no plan ->
develop plan
insight and plan, but no implementation ->
implementation

12. Linking Situations to Objectives:
Situation: Insight and plan, but no implementation
“We are a multidisciplinary team creating large documents with many files, and need tools that allow us to work and track our changes.”
Objective: Implementation
“This session will train us to use Studio 3.0, teaching its main features and functions.”

13. Insight Projects Make me smarter: Competitive assessments
Marketing studies
Review of the literature
Benchmarking studies
membership surveys
war stories

14. Planning Projects Give me a plan recommend a process
define the options
analyze alternatives
describe a technique or tool

15. Implementation Projects
Make me work better
increase or improve
decrease or reduce
support or further goals

16. Aligning Are benefits aligned with objectives & desired result?
Desired Result: Encourage teams with diverse backgrounds to define tasks and goals.
Objective: “I will demonstrate the Interface Design Kit.”
Realigned Objective: “I will demonstrate how the exercises in the Interface Design Kit encourages users to explore, evaluate, and define task goals.”

17. Align Are benefits aligned with current situation?
Benefit: we can better position ourselves to continue advocacy for the end user
Situation: Technical Communication Skills will go unrecognized
Realigned Situation: Skills technical communicators use to advocate for the end user are going unrecognized.