# 3. Content Development This category focuses on the development of content and technical information products. It addresses technical genres, their content, and use, including memos, technical descriptions and specifications, instructional content, proposals, activity or status reports, and analytical reports. It also focuses on researching, including finding source materials, defining the scope of research questions and methods, and documenting sources and intellectual property concerns. ## Reading | Technical Communication Today | Technical Communication | | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | 4. Managing Ethical Challenges | 2. Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations | | 5. Letters, Memos, and E-Mail | 6. Researching Your Subject | | 6. Technical Descriptions and Specifications | 14. Corresponding in Print and Online | | 7. Instructions and Documentation | 15. Applying for a Job | | 8. Proposals | 16. Writing Proposals | | 9. Activity Reports | 17. Writing Informational Reports | | 10. Analytical Reports | 18. Writing Recommendation Reports | | 11. Starting Your Career | 19. Writing Lab Reports | | 14. Researching in Technical Workplaces | 20. Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions | | 20. Preparing and Giving Presentations | 21. Making Oral Presentations | ## Learning Objectives * Describe the function of technical communication genres. * Describe the steps and explain the activities typically undertaken in a good technical communication research process. * Explain the importance of copyright laws as applied to print and electronic documents. * Discuss methods of primary and secondary research and how and why sources are documented. ### Recall key terms and facts about developing the content of information products What technical genres are and how they are used The sources used for research and the different kinds of evidence 1. The different types of primary and secondary sources of evidence 2. The three kinds of evidence solid research draws on: * Electronic * Print * Empirical ### Understand the concepts, activities, and techniques used when developing the content of information products The types of communication situation each technical genre is typically used for and its typical content: 1. Letter, Memos, and E-mail 2. Technical Descriptions and Specifications 3. Instructions and Documentation 4. Proposals 5. Activity Reports 6. Analytical Reports How to define the research subject, specifically the use of: 1. Concept maps 2. Angles How to formulate research questions How to develop a research methodology, specifically: 1. The activities involved: * Mapping out a Methodology * Describing a Methodology * Using and Revising Your Methodology 2\. The use of Concept maps to sketch out the methodology What empirical evidence is \ The importance of triangulation \ How to appraise evidence to ensure its reliability \ How sources are documented, specifically: 1. When sources should be cited and the advantages of doing this 2. The use of in-text citations and a References list 3. The availability and use of different citation styles The concepts of: 1. Copyright 2. Trademarks and how laws for protecting intellectual property in the digital age are evolving --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://kelly-ohara7.gitbook.io/technical-communication-study-guide/content-development.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.