ENGL210: Technical Writing

2.3: Ethics of Electronic Communication

• Andy Yen's "Think Your Email's Private? Think Again" URL

  Watch the TED Talk video or read the transcript. Andy Yen focuses much of his discussion on the privacy concerns related to emails at the server level. We can take this down to a much more personal level—how easy is it to share an email with someone else? How easy is it to share confidential data across the Internet in general? Have you seen new stories about posts on social media that result forced resignations or terminations? Reflect on how a single social media posting or improperly shared email ruin a person’s career.
  

• Writing Activity: Ethics of Electronic Communication Assignment

  In paragraph (50-100 words), document the ethical questions raised by electronic communication. Include any real world experience you have with issues and your plans for dealing with these concerns in the workplace.

• 2.3.1: CC & BCC

  • Deedra Wollert Hickman's "Audience Analysis: Primary, Secondary, and Hidden Audiences" Page

    Read this article on primary, secondary and hidden audiences.
    

  • William Stewart's "Email Blind Carbon Copy" Page

    Read this article.

• 2.3.2: Confidentiality

  • Business Communication for Success: "Ethics, Plagiarism, and Reliable Sources" URL

    Read the "Business Ethics" section. Examine the example in the second paragraph of the business ethics section about the newsletter vendor selection process in light of how easy it is to share documents and information electronically.
    

• 2.3.3: Legal Requirements for Record Keeping

  • United States National Archives: "Electronic Recordkeeping" URL

    Skim this website. It shows some of the many challenges faced by the public sector in terms of record keeping. These rules and regulations vary by industry and specific company policies. Both public and private industries face certain legal requirements for electronic record keeping. Aside from legal requirements, there are some cases where having a “paper trail” can protect an employee’s interests or document customer service issues. Knowing that the documents you create as a technical writer can have larger implications helps you to better plan and prepare what the documents should contain and how they should be retained

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency: "Basic Requirements of an Electronic Recordkeeping System at EPA" URL

    Skim this website. It shows some of the many challenges faced by the public sector in terms of record keeping. These rules and regulations vary by industry and specific company policies. Both public and private industries face certain legal requirements for electronic record keeping. Aside from legal requirements, there are some cases where having a “paper trail” can protect an employee’s interests or document customer service issues. Knowing that the documents you create as a technical writer can have larger implications helps you to better plan and prepare what the documents should contain and how they should be retained

  • Writing Activity: Electronic Recordkeeping Assignment

    In a paragraph (50-100 words), describe what you feel would be necessary for an email retention policy in your current or intended workplace. Justify your stance with examples.