This document outlines the technical communication semester that began on January 2nd, 2008. It introduces the fundamentals of various forms of technical writing and presentation required in engineering. Students will learn to take a reader-centered approach and work as a team on projects. Over the course of the semester, topics like reports, proposals, presentations, and other technical documents will be covered. Students will complete assignments biweekly to develop their technical communication skills.

1. TTeecchhnniiccaall CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonn
SSeemmeesstteerr ssttaarrtteedd 22nndd JJaann 0088
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2. Technical Communication
This unit aims to:
• Introduce students to the fundamentals in various
forms of writing and presentation required in the
engineering field.
• Provide students with the knowledge of approaching
technical communication from a rreeaaddeerr--cceennttrreedd
ppooiinntt--ooff--vviieeww..
• Provide students with the opportunity to work as a
team with your classmates by doing the team project,
from writing the proposal, to progress report, final
written report, and an oral presentation on the project.
2nd Jan
08
Technical Communication 2

3. Upon completion of this module, YOU will be able to:
• Arrange, plan, and compile technical documents.
• Write letters, memos, official reports and proposals.
• Express positive criticism and negative news
effectively.
• Give oral presentation and work in groups similar to
real world working environment.
• Organize YOUR own CVs and be prepared for job
interviews.
2nd Jan
08
Technical Communication 3

4. • Creating An Effective Style.
• Defining Objectives.
• Planning to Meet Reader’s Info. Needs.
• Planning Your Persuasive Strategies.
• Drafting Paragraphs, Sections & Chapters.
• Beginning a Communication.
• Ending a Communication.
• Using Visual Aids.
• Designing Pages.
• Reports.
• Proposals.
• Oral Presentations in Engineering.
• Letters, Memos, E-Mail, Facsimiles, Short Reports
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08
:Main areas to be covered
Technical Communication 4

5. • These topics have been grouped with
other “ related topics”
• We have two lectures each week, 1 &
2.
• An assignment will be given every two
weeks
• The full subject with ancillaries shall be
presented as in the following two
slides.
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08
Technical Communication 5

6. Week Study content Assignments
1 a) Introduction to Course
b) Communication & Your
Career
2nd Jan
08
Assignment 1 – Forklift
Technical Communication 6
2 a) Memo Format
b) Defining your objectives
Assignment 2 - Forklift Memo
3 &a) Introduction to Project
Creating Communications with
a team
b) Letter format
Assignment 3 Announcing the Smoking
Ban
4 a) Meeting The Reader’s
Informational Needs
b) Writing a Proposal
Assignment 4 Memo Requesting time off
to take course
5 a) Planning Your Persuasive
Strategies
b) Conducting Research
Focus Ethics – Crediting Your
Source
Assignment 5 Drug-testing Memo

7. 6 a) Drafting Paragraphs, Sections &
Chapters
b) Progress Reports
7 a) Beginning a communication
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08
Proposal for Final Report Due
Technical Communication 7
b) Test No.1
Assignment 6 Unsolicited Report
8 a) Ending a communication
b) Creating an Effective Style
9 a) Drafting Visual Aids
b) Drafting Visual Aids
Progress Report Due
10 a) Designing Pages and Documents
b) Documenting Your Sources
11 a) Oral Presentations
b) Test No.2
12 a) Evaluating Drafts
b) Communicating Electronically
13 Presentations of Final Repor Final Written Report Due

8. II -- WWHHAATT IISS CCOOMMMMUUNNIICCAATTIIOONN??
Any communication involves SIX basic elements:
[ENCODING] [DECODING]
SSEENNDDEERR———————————————————————— RREECCEEIIVVEERR
2nd Jan
08
CCOONNTTEEXXTT
CCOODDEE
CCOONNTTAACCTT
MMEESSSSAAGGEEAA
Technical Communication 8

9. II - WHAT IS TTEECCHHNNIICCAALL CCOOMMMMUUNNIICCAATTIIOONN??
Technical Communication (TC) is defined as “writing that
takes place within a concrete organizational context. It
is writing aimed at specific readers to achieve specific
purposes and actions”.
1. Primarily consists of reporting ““ssppeecciiaalliizzeedd
2nd Jan
08
Technical Communication 9
iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn””..
2. It is for the ““pprraaccttiiccaall” use of readers / listeners who
need that information;
3. The information is needed to ““ppeerrffoorrmm aa ttaasskk””,,
““aannsswweerr aa qquueessttiioonn””,, ““ssoollvvee aa pprroobblleemm””,, oorr ““mmaakkee aa
ddeecciissiioonn””..
The need is ddeeffiinniittee;
the information is to be uusseedd.

10. • If we contrast poetic communication with technical
communication, certain features of TC can easily be
noted.
• Passage:
2nd Jan
08
Tender-handed touch a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains,
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And it soft as silk remains.
So it is with human natures,
Treat them gently, they rebel,
But be as rough as nutmeg graters,
And the rogues obey you well.
Technical Communication 10

11. To Sum Up - Technical communication
1.Is the product of a writer/speaker who ffuullllyy
uunnddeerrssttaannddss the subject;
2.Focuses on the ssuubbjjeecctt, not the writer/speaker
3.Conveys oonnee mmeeaanniinngg only;
4. Is tailored to the specific nneeeeddss ooff aann
aauuddiieennccee;;
5. Is at the lleevveell ooff tteecchhnniiccaalliittyy that will be
understood by the specified audience;
6. Is eeffffiicciieenntt and rreeaaddaabbllee.
2nd Jan
08
Technical Communication 11

12. TECHNICALCOMMUNICATION
1. Impersonal, objective
2. Descriptive, denotative
3. Conveys one meaning
only; i.e. allows only one
interpretation
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08
POETIC COMMUNICATION
1. Personal, subjective
2. Expressive,
connotative
3. “Ambiguous"; i.e.
allows different
interpretations;
Technical Communication 12