For this week\'s discussion, your assignment is to consider the purpose and use

Question

For this week's discussion, your assignment is to consider the purpose and use of graphs, charts, and other visuals in technical communication. How can visuals improve comprehension and gain the attention of technical readers? Why would a technical writer choose to create a bar or line graph in their document? If a writer wants to show the divisions within a whole, which chart would he/she create? Why do technical writers create flow charts? Why would you want to obtain an organization chart for the company where you work?

Explanation / Answer

Visuals can help in improving comprehension as visual tools like graphs, charts, etc. help and enable writers of technical papers and journals to present technical information in an easy to read manner. Usually technical papers and journals consist of large quantities of data and analysis of that data. Such large quantities often confuse the readers and through charts, graphs and pictorial representations the writer is able to present the information in an easy to read and easy to analyze manner.

When data and information is displayed in charts and graphs then it becomes easier to understand and interpret the data. This makes the technical report easier and more importantly more meaningful. It enables the writer to present the information in a more efficient manner to the readers.

A technical writer will choose to create a bar or a line graph in the document to track changes over time. Bar graphs serve the purpose of comparing things between different groups, besides tracking changes over time. Line graphs are used to show the changes over the same period of time for several groups.

If the writer wants to show the divisions within a whole then the writer should use pie chart. Pie charts help the writers to compare parts of a whole and show the sub-sets within an entire set.

Technical writers create flow charts to better illustrate a complex process and clearly make the readers see and understand different paths that are involved in a complex process. It also allows the technical writers to make the flow charts a basis for easy reference later on.

I would want to obtain organization chart for the company that I work for with the purpose of better understanding the structure of the company and its culture and style. I will also be able to comprehend the company’s line of authority and responsibility and this will enable me to work more effectively and efficiently.

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