Document for an International Audience
I completed a course that focused on international technical communication. Part of our coursework included researching a specific country and writing a paper that presented a thorough analysis of the cultural variables. We were then to create some form of documentation that would fit within the range of cultural variables as well as meet the needs of the audience. (Click here. to review the original paper.)
Audience and Purpose
I chose to design a short guide that highlights some important historical landmarks and museums in Lithuania. My intended audience includes young Lithuanians and visitors to the country. The purpose of the document is to provide readers with a brief overview of Lithuanian history during Soviet and Nazi occupation and to describe the places that document the tragic events that happened to the Lithuanian people.
Rationale and Scope
While I considered creating a brochure about business communication between Lithuanians and Americans, I chose to focus on something that I felt was of major importance to the people of Lithuania. One of the focal points of the national culture is pride in surviving a period of repression and difficulty, especially among those who remember life under the Soviet regime. As the country grows its international ties, many worry that younger generations will not understand or appreciate the hardships and tragedy that the people have overcome. Some are afraid that Lithuanian culture will become diluted or westernized and the very ideals that so many fought for will be lost or forgotten. Additionally, few foreigners realize the depth of the horror that the Lithuanian people faced such as the fact that the Nazis massacred 96% of the Jewish population. One might argue that travel guides and tourism sites offer limited information about the places I describe, and Lithuanian children learn about national history in lower secondary school. Nevertheless, I did not find a document that focuses exclusively on this information or includes all of the places. I had to research numerous websites to gather the information; therefore, I felt that a guide would be appropriate and meet the needs of both young generations of Lithuanians and foreign visitors.
The guide contains information about Soviet and Nazi occupation of Lithuania. It does not contain an extensive history nor does it provide a timeline for all of the events. The guide discusses some of the major museums, landmarks, and attractions, but it does not include all of the sites that one can visit. At the end, one can view a list of resources to access for more information.
Design
I began with a 3-panel brochure. However, the importance of the topic and the amount of information demanded something that would project a stronger ethos. Therefore, I changed the template to an eight-page booklet. I incorporated various principles of design such as alignment and enclosure to project a serious and professional ethos. In order to make the document functional for various audiences, I used a couple of strategies. First, I included Lithuania's flag with an explanation of its meaning and a map with places labeled to appeal to visitors and add significance for natives. Additionally, I tried to avoid using too many prepositional and verbal phrases, passive verbs, and complex sentences so that one could translate the document more easily.
Audience and Purpose
I chose to design a short guide that highlights some important historical landmarks and museums in Lithuania. My intended audience includes young Lithuanians and visitors to the country. The purpose of the document is to provide readers with a brief overview of Lithuanian history during Soviet and Nazi occupation and to describe the places that document the tragic events that happened to the Lithuanian people.
Rationale and Scope
While I considered creating a brochure about business communication between Lithuanians and Americans, I chose to focus on something that I felt was of major importance to the people of Lithuania. One of the focal points of the national culture is pride in surviving a period of repression and difficulty, especially among those who remember life under the Soviet regime. As the country grows its international ties, many worry that younger generations will not understand or appreciate the hardships and tragedy that the people have overcome. Some are afraid that Lithuanian culture will become diluted or westernized and the very ideals that so many fought for will be lost or forgotten. Additionally, few foreigners realize the depth of the horror that the Lithuanian people faced such as the fact that the Nazis massacred 96% of the Jewish population. One might argue that travel guides and tourism sites offer limited information about the places I describe, and Lithuanian children learn about national history in lower secondary school. Nevertheless, I did not find a document that focuses exclusively on this information or includes all of the places. I had to research numerous websites to gather the information; therefore, I felt that a guide would be appropriate and meet the needs of both young generations of Lithuanians and foreign visitors.
The guide contains information about Soviet and Nazi occupation of Lithuania. It does not contain an extensive history nor does it provide a timeline for all of the events. The guide discusses some of the major museums, landmarks, and attractions, but it does not include all of the sites that one can visit. At the end, one can view a list of resources to access for more information.
Design
I began with a 3-panel brochure. However, the importance of the topic and the amount of information demanded something that would project a stronger ethos. Therefore, I changed the template to an eight-page booklet. I incorporated various principles of design such as alignment and enclosure to project a serious and professional ethos. In order to make the document functional for various audiences, I used a couple of strategies. First, I included Lithuania's flag with an explanation of its meaning and a map with places labeled to appeal to visitors and add significance for natives. Additionally, I tried to avoid using too many prepositional and verbal phrases, passive verbs, and complex sentences so that one could translate the document more easily.