Directions

Please respond to two of the following prompts.

Prompt 1

• Define the following four areas of law that are relevant to ethical issues in technical communication: copyright, trademark, contract, and liability

Prompt 2

• What are the three characteristics of a code of conduct? On the Web, locate the American Chemical Society’s code of conduct. Evaluate its effectiveness against these characteristics

Prompt 3

• Define four types of oral presentations. Explain each one’s strengths and weaknesses

Prompt 4

• Go to ted.com and select a topic from “most popular talks.” After listening, comment on the following:
  • How does the speaker capture and hold the audience’s attention? How much text do the slides contain? How does the speaker structure the presentation? Is there a “theme” that runs throughout the presentation? What are some techniques that the speaker uses to make the presentation effective? Is there anything the speaker does that is ineffective? What is your overall impression of the presentation and of the speaker?

Parameters

Initial Post

• Minimum 150 words
• Include at least one reference from the text or outside source in your analysis

Answer preview

There are four areas of law governing ethical issues in technical communication. Copyright law governs the aspect of technical communication whereby unauthorized persons use any material or software without regard to express permission. However, there are exceptions to copyright law, including critics, reviewers, or educators who are allowed to make fair use of the materials by crediting the author. Trademark law defines the specific recognized brands of different items; hence trademarks should be utilized properly with the right icons and as adjectives. Contract law regulates the agreements made between parties such as the warranty, which can be implied or express (Jennings, 2014). The law expects technical writers to present the actual product based on what it was prepared for in their manual and packages. Lastly, liability law is the branch that limits the documentation found in product packages. This law informs the public to not use goods for other purposes other than that intended by the producers by explicitly stating the restricted uses. (425 words)