Technical Writing (new)

Course Calendar

Course Description

In this course, you’ll dive into the world of professional document creation, focusing on the types of writing you’ll encounter in the workplace. We’ll cover a range of technical writing genres, from correspondences like memoranda, proposals like unsolicited proposals, reports like recommendation reports, to essential job application materials like résumés. Each step of the way, you’ll learn how to plan, draft, and refine these documents to perfection. Expect a dynamic mix of activities, including comprehension checks, writing workshops, teamwork projects, and writing assignments, all geared towards polishing your communication skills for the professional world. Prepare to transform your written communication skills, making them as strong and effective as your technical abilities!

Course Learning Objectives

1. Master the conventions of various technical writing genres such as correspondences, application materials, proposals, technical guides, technical reports, and technical descriptions by examining the various rhetorical strategies used in them and applying those strategies in your own writing. 
2. Acquire research skills by locating, evaluating, using, and citing primary and secondary research to support your argument. 
3. Develop visual literacy – the ability to encode and decode information based on how it is physically structured for reading – by applying design elements such as page layout, typeface, font size, spacing, proximity, alignment, color, contrast, repetition, grouping and white space in your writing.
4. Revisit in-depth the stages of the writing process, by using audience analysis techniques, invention techniques, content organization techniques, revision and editing techniques with an emphasis on grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and style.
5. Document sources appropriately.
6. Gain collaborative skills by planning, assigning roles and tasks, writing group contracts, arranging face-to-face and online meetings, using online collaborative conferencing and writing tools such as Doodle and GoogleDocs, speaking up, showing signs of good listenership, compromising, developing tolerance, etc. 

Course Projects

The course is structured around four projects and each unit/section is dedicated to a project:

Rhetorical Analysis Memorandum

Locate a technical document and examine how it reflects the characteristics of technical writing. Share your analysis in a 2-3-page memorandum addressed to me. 

Unsolicited Proposal

Identify a local problem on your campus, workplace, or field of study and write a 10-12 page unsolicited proposal that presents a  fully-fleshed solution to the problem. Your proposal should be addressed to the relevant decision-makers.

Recommendation Report

In groups of 2-3 students, you will identify a number of options that could be the potential solution to a client’s problem, systematically weigh each of these options against a set of methodologically-generated criteria, and recommend the best course(s) of action to your client in a 40 to 60-page recommendation report. 

Résumé Workshop

Find a job listing that aligns with your qualifications and skill set, and then customize your existing résumé to match the job’s specifications.

Who is this course for?

1. Engineers and Technicians: Professionals who need to create clear and concise documentation for technical processes, product manuals, or user guides.
2. Scientists and Research Professionals: Individuals who must communicate scientific research, findings, and protocols in formats such as research papers, journal articles, and lab reports.
3. IT Professionals: Specialists in information technology who need to produce documentation such as system manuals, user instructions, and project specifications.
4. Medical Writers: Healthcare professionals or writers specializing in creating patient information leaflets, medical reports, and documentation for regulatory compliance.
5. Business Analysts: Those who must convey complex business data and analyses in clear, accessible language for reports, white papers, and case studies.
6. Project Managers: Professionals who oversee projects and require skills to write project proposals, progress reports, and post-mortem analyses.
7. Software Developers: Developers and programmers who need to create technical specifications, developer guides, and end-user documentation for software applications.
8. Graduate Students and Academics: Individuals in academia who must present their findings and theories in a structured, clear manner, suitable for academic papers, theses, and presentations.
9. Government Employees: Those working on public sector projects that require the creation of policy documents, regulatory submissions, or procedural guidelines.
10. Instructional Designers: Professionals who design educational materials and training programs that need to write instructional text, guides, and supporting material for educational content.
11. Legal Professionals: Individuals who must interpret and communicate legal information and requirements in contracts, legal briefs, and compliance documents.
12. Quality Assurance Specialists: Experts who document quality standards, procedures, and compliance with industry regulations.
13. Technical Sales Representatives: Sales professionals who need to create technical proposals, product descriptions, and sales enablement literature that clearly explain the features and benefits of technical products.
14. Content Strategists and Marketers: Those in content creation and marketing roles who aim to produce engaging and informative content that translates complex ideas into reader-friendly formats.
15. Environmental Scientists: Professionals who need to write environmental impact reports, sustainability studies, and compliance documents related to environmental regulations.