This is the basic course of technical writing. This provides information on different components of writing. Finally, it provides information on how you improve your writing with suggested books.

1. TECHNICAL WRITING
COURSE CODE: 301
EL-Batch 15 Section-I
B.E Electrical
English Language Development
Centre
ELDC

2. Dr. Habibullah Pathan
M.A, M.Ed, ELT (Glasgow, UK), Ph.D. (UK)
Post. Doc. (MIT, USA)
Humphrey Alumni (Boston University, USA)
Mr. Abdul Aziz Magsi
M.A (English), PGD. Teaching of English as Foreign
Language, M.S (English Linguistics)
COURSE INSTRUCTORS & FACILITATORS

3. Contact Hours:
Fridays
11:00 to 12:00 (Be in touch before meeting)
For further Correspondence Officially
magsiabdulaziz@hotmail.com
Contact through FB is not mandatory to be
entertained.

4. ELDC, MUET Jamshoro
Course Details
Contact Hours: 28
Credit Hours: 2
Marks Distribution :
10% Attendance
10% Assignments & Presentations
20% Mid-Semester Exam
40% Final Semester Exam

5. Planning &
Procedure

6. • It is the result of a deliberate and comprehensive
Design and Production process.
• Variation in the process occurs
• Most of the Technical & Scientific Writing
Follows the same process

7. • 1- Establish a Basic Criteria of 5 Characteristics
of ETR (Effective Technical Writing) ACCCA
• i- Accuracy
• ii- Clarity
• iii- Conciseness
• iv- Coherence
• v- Appropriate

8. • 2- Identify the specific purpose of the document
by clarifying
i- The reasons
ii- Specific objectives.
Answers to a specific problem
(in a problem statement)
It will help you determine the document's general
type.

9. • 3- Define your Audience
i- Users (readers)
ii- Level of Expertise
iii- Purpose of reading the document
iv- Attitude
(Towards You and Documents Subject Matter)

10. • So far, you must have done with defining
i- Purpose
ii- Problem
iii- Audience
Now go for
4- Collecting, Creating and Assembling Information

11. 5- Sketch out and outline & Organize the information
6- Sketch out Graphics and table to Present Data
(keeping in Mind the Audience)
Using these sketches
(Preliminary outline and Graphic/Data presentation outline)
7- Write a first Draft
NOTE: (At this point) Do not be overly concerned about
grammar, style, or usage.

12. Feature of
Document Expert Managerial Layperson
Introductions Technical Problem/solution Relevance
Math models OK Avoid Avoid
Equations OK
Keep simple or
avoid
Avoid
Graphics Detailed, analytical
Simple,
presentational
General illustrative
Detail level Accurate, numerical General, accurate Simple, narrative
Technical
terms
Expert, technical Administrative
General,
illustrative
Emphasis Analysis Operations, costs
Informational,
interest
GUIDELINES FOR DOCUMENT DENSITY

13. 8- Revise your document in stages
i- Organization
ii- The Content for
Accuracy & Appropriateness

14. 9- Edit the Paragraphs & Sentences
To improve
Clarity
Conciseness
Coherence
To fix the problems of
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, mechanics, or usage
10- One or More Reviews
Legal Reviews
Technical Reviews
Peer Reviews

15. Collaborative Writing
Document Planning & Management
Drafting
Revision

16. Characteristics

17. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

18. ACCURACY
It is the careful conforming to truth or fact.
3 Aspects of Accuracy
1-Document Accuracy
2-Stylistic Accuracy
3-Technical Accuracy

19. DOCUMENT ACCURACY
The proper coverage of your topics in appropriate detail
• Focus clearly on a problem
(Theoretical & Practical Problem)
• Problem statement & Preliminary Outline
(Tools to develop Document Accuracy)

20. STYLISTIC ACCURACY
the careful use of language to express meaning
Careful use of
• Paragraph, Sentences structures, & Word choice
• Using words Precisely

21. Technical ACCURACY
To be grounded in a technically accurate understanding and
representation of the subject
• Requires Stylistic Accuracy
• Depends on writers’
• Conceptual mastery of the subject
• Its vocabulary
• Skills of presenting data to avoid distortion

22. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

23. ACCURATE IN TWO WAYS
• Stylistically- Precise use of Language
• Technically- Use of Specialized Terms
(Technical Terms, electromigration, charge, electric field)

24. CLARITY
Ease of Understanding
Specialized languages, mathematically detailed analyses,
and complex conceptual schemes
3 ways to develop calrity
1- Structural clarity
2- Stylistic Clarity
3-Contextual Clarity

25. STRUCTURAL CLARITY
making it easy for the reader to get the large picture
Focus on
• Structure
• Design
• Organization

26. STYLISTIC CLARITY
Use of simple and Direct Language
• Simple sentence structure, avoiding wordy sentences
(Increase Readability)
• Excessive Nominalization
• Word Choices

27. CONTEXTUAL CLARITY
Availability of Importance, authorization, implications
• Reason of your document production
• What? Why?, who/ what proceeds?
• Introduction
• Problem statement
• Citations, references

28. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

29. CLARITY
• Simple & Direct Sentences
• Word order in the sentences
• Clarity is achieved by using rhetorical devices of
defining a term.

30. CONCISENESS
Conveys only the needed material not all the relevant
2 Strategies
1- Prepare a clear introduction
2- Develop a detailed outline
• Use Appendix to be referred to the information not necessary
• Eliminate Useless information
• Use Graphics

31. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

32. CONCISENESS
• Using minimum words
• It does not digress from the point.

33. COHERENCE
the quality of hanging together, of providing the reader an easily
followed path
• Logically & stylistically consistent information
• Organization and Expression of Ideas in a specific
pattern
• Linking various components of text/documents
(Sentences, Word-phrases, Paragraphs)

34. Paragraph
The most powerful instrument of coherence
• Organizing material in
TS (Topic Sentences) & SS (Supporting Sentences)
• Strategies to develop paragraphs
Exemplification, Analysis, Comparison and contrast,
Definition, Enumeration, Description
• Using Referents & Transitional Devices

35. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

36. COHERENT
• Develops its subject matter in easy-to-
follow line of thinking
• Use of Referents, Transitional devices
(the first component, this process, the second component)

37. APPROPRIATENESS
the specific institutional contexts in which it is written and read
2 Aspects
Appropriate for Goal
Appropriate for Audience’s Purpose
See Document Density

38. The flow of electrical current can induce the migration of
impurities or other defects through the bulk of a solid. This
process is called electromigration. In simple
electromigration, the force on the defect is thought to
have two components. The first component is the force
created by direct interaction between the effective charge
of the defect and the electric field that drives the current.
The second component, called the "wind force," is the
force caused by the scattering of electrons at the defect.
--J.A. Stroscio and D.M. Eigler, "Atomic and Molecular Manipulation with
the Scanning Tunneling Microscope," Science

39. APPROPRIATE
• To Purpose
(of presenting the process of eletromigration)
• To the Audience (readers of Science)

40. Types of Technical
Communication Documents

41. • Memoranda
• Meeting Documents
Agenda
Minutes of Meeting
• Literature Reviews
• Reports (Formal & Informal)
Long & Short
Lab Reports
Research Reports
Project Reports
Field Visit/ trip Reports
Consulting Reports
Progress reports
Design & Feasibility Report

42. • Letters
Job Application Letters
Acceptance Letters
Transmittal Letters
Letters of Inquiry
Technical Information Letters
References & Letters of Recommendations
Obtaining & Providing
• Proposals
• Press Release
• Task Oriented Documents
Mannuals (Technical & User Documentation)
Instructional Procedures
• Theses & Dissertations

43. • Oral Presentations
Formal & Informal
• Electronic Documentation
• Résumé & CV
• Covering Letters

44. THANKS!