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PORTFOLIO

DITA / XML

I have experience creating original technical data sheets using easyDITA, a component content management system for structured authoring. Content created in easyDITA can be exported as fully formed HTML for use in online catalogs, user's guides and more. The content can also be  output as a PDF file for digital or print publication. Below is an example of a datasheet I created in PDF format as well as a snapshot of the code written to create it. I also have experience processing XML files for output at the command line using DITA Open Tool Kit.  

 

As a student intern for the Ooligan Press in Portland, Oregon, I gained valuable experience preparing manuscripts for publication. I edited manuscripts that were created in Adobe InDesign and exported to XML by cleaning up the element tags and editing content according to Ooligan's established style guide. The manuscripts I worked on were Faultland by Suzy Vitello (March 2021) and Laurel Everywhere by Erin Moynihan (November 2020). 

 

The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

Competencies

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  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Coding - XML, XHTML

  • Text Editing

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Domain Knowledge

Technologies

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  • Markup Language

  • XML, XHTML

  • HTML, CSS, Javascript

  • Notepad ++

  • Oxygen XML

  • easyDITA

  • DITA Open Tool Kit

  • MS Office

Personal Characteristics

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  • Independent Research

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

USER CENTERED DESIGN

I have experience with the process of user centered design in product design and development.  I was part of a research team that conducted usability testing of the Portland State University English Department website. The goal of our study was to assess the navigability of the department website and to qualify the user experience of the website. My team conducted user research, surveys, interviews, usability tests, analysis and synthesis of the data. My deliverables to the PSU English Department website are available to review by clicking on the images in the slider, below right.

Competencies

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  • Verbal Communication

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Style Guide Familiarity

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Subject Matter Expert Interviewing

  • Data Analysis

Technologies

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  • MS Office Suite

  • Google Suite

  • Google Sheets - Task Project Management

  • Zoom

  • Mural - Affinity Mapping

Personal Characteristics

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  • Independent Research

  • Collaboration

  • Subject Matter Interviewing

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

TECHNICAL EDITING

As a technical editor, I revised a standard operating procedure for Evergreen Airlines which is now Erickson, Inc. For this project I interviewed subject matter experts at Erickson, Inc. and paid particular attention to the SOP's organization, continuity, and clarity. I revised the document in Microsoft Word and saved it as a PDF which is available to view below. I also completed technical editing projects for iFixit, a how-to website that publishes wiki-like online technology repair guides. I edited several guides, and my revisions to the instructions for the Canon PowerShot A200 Camera Lens Replacement are linked below.  

 

I also created a user's guide for easyDITA, a component content management system. The user's guide was created entirely in easyDITA. For this project I conducted subject matter research, audience analysis, and content development. Because it was developed in easyDITA the final product was output as both HTML and as a PDF. 

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

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Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Verbal Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Coding - XML, XHTML

  • Text Editing

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Domain Knowledge

Technologies

​

  • XML, XHTML

  • easyDITA

  • HTML, CSS, Javascript

  • Notepad ++

  • Oxygen XML

  • MS Office including PowerPoint

  • Adobe Photoshop

  • iFixit

Personal Characteristics

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  • Independent Research

  • Collaboration

  • Subject Matter Interviewing

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

I can research, plan and create content for  projects in a wide range of topics and technical expertise. For example, I was part of a team that created website content for an in-progress National Science Foundation research grant awarded to Anne Thompson (Portland State University) and  Kelly Sutherland (University of Oregon), two marine biology research scientists. For another project I created the healthcare communication genre entry for the Portland State University technical communication mini-wiki and also edited the Wikipedia entry for Health Communication. I also created a blog post for the Ooligan Press in Portland, Oregon on the subject of young adult readers and their use of YouTube. 

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. In particular I gained valuable skills in subject matter expert interviewing which helps in developing targeted content for the end user.  Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right

Competencies

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  • Research

  • Genre Analysis

  • Audience Analysis

  • Domain Knowledge

  • Drafting and Copy Editing

  • Proof Reading

  • Style Guide Development

  • Project Planning

  • Collaboration

Technologies

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  • MS Office especially Excel

  • Task Management

  • MS Outlook

  • Slack

  • Google Drive

  • Adobe Suite

  • Technical Data Editing

  • Agile Project Management

Personal Characteristics

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  • Independent Research

  • Cooperative

  • Flexible

  • Subject Matter Interviewing

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

I have experience creating digital content using a variety of content management systems.  My primary experience is in cloud based CMS, and I have created projects in Wix, Weebly and SquareSpace. I created this portfolio website with Wix, and it is an example of the functionality and ease of  Wix's front-end user interface, particularly for adding text, video and graphics. I have also created a practice retail website using Weebly which combines CMS templates with original coding in HTML, CSS and Javascript.  That website, Spooky Candle Co., can be explored by clicking on the link below.

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Coding - XML, XHTML​

  • Project Planning

  • Text Editing

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Domain Knowledge

Technologies

​

  • HTML, CSS, Javascript

  • Notepad ++

  • MS Office

  • Adobe Photoshop

Personal Characteristics

​​

  • Independent Research

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

DIGITAL MARKETING

In addition to technical writing and editing, I have experience with digital marketing strategies and the tools Google Analytics and HubSpot, up-to-date tools and practices in digital marketing. I completed a customer journey map for my website Spooky-Candle-Co., and both that site and this portfolio site have been maximized for SEO with integrations to Google Analtyics and HubSpot. 

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As a student intern at the Ooligan Press in Portland, Oregon, I was part of a team contributor to the social media strategy document for their recent publication Finding the Vein by Jennifer Hanlon Wilde (April 2021). I created content for posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and I also sourced free images and resized them for use in social media. 

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Coding - HTML, CSS, JS

  • Text Editing

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Domain Knowledge

Technologies

​

  • HTML, CSS, Javascript

  • Notepad ++

  • MS Office

  • Adobe Photoshop

Personal Characteristics

​​

  • Independent Research

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

DOCUMENT DESIGN

I always strive to create documents following the best principles of document design: proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast. Documents should speak to their audience and communicate information clearly and concisely while also being attractive. In my working life and as a community volunteer I have created many documents: flyers, newsletters, advertisements, raffle tickets, posters and more. 

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One of my favorite tools for creating these kinds of documents is Microsoft Publisher. Documents created in MS Publisher can be output to many different file types with a high quality which makes it very versatile. I can also use other document design tools like Adobe InDesign and Canva.

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Verbal Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Design Principles

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • English Grammar and Punctuation

  • Subject Matter Expert Interviewing

Technologies

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  • Adobe PhotoShop

  • Adobe Illustrator

  • Adobe InDesign

  • Canva

  • MS Publisher

Personal Characteristics

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  • Research

  • Collaboration

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

  • Creative

GRAPHIC DESIGN

I have excellent experience creating content using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of apps. I can use Adobe PhotoShop, Illustrator and InDesign to create compelling images and text for a variety of projects. I work well as part of a production team and take pride in completing projects on time. Some of my projects include logo design, business cards, posters, menus and magazine layouts. I enjoy working with others to bring their visions to life. 

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

​

Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Visual Communication

  • Verbal Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Domain Knowledge

  • Subject MatterExpert Interviewing

Technologies

​

  • MS Office

  • Google Suite

  • Adobe CC Suite

Personal Characteristics

​​

  • Research

  • Collaboration

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

  • Creative

PROFESSIONAL WRITING

I have a written many texts for business and academic purposes which include reviews, grant proposals, business documents and academic papers.  What they all have in common is a focus on clarity, succinctness and deductively organized ideas.  The purpose of these texts is to clearly convey ideas to a broad audience using straight-forward plain language. 

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The professional competencies, technological skills and personal characteristics I developed while working on these projects are listed below. Project examples may be viewed by clicking on the images in the slider, below-right.

Competencies

​

  • Written Communication

  • Project Planning

  • Style Guide Familiarity

  • Audience Analysis

  • Content Development

  • Subject Matter Expert Interviewing

  • English Grammar and Punctuation

Technologies

​

  • MS Office

  • Google Suite

  • Adobe Suite

  • Slack

  • Scrum Board                        Agile Project Management

Personal Characteristics

​​

  • Independent Research

  • Collaboration

  • Subject Matter Interviewing

  • Time Management

  • Organization

  • Troubleshooting

  • Analytical Thinking

  • Attention to Detail

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