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(ENGL 316) Technical Writing

Technical writing is focused on communicating complex and technical information used within and across a large variety of fields. In its simplest form, it is writing that requires direction, instruction, or explanation. Requires various forms of professional writing, including a research project.

Credit Hours 3.0 Lecture
Prerequisites English – professional writing majors and professional writing minor students only
Offered Winter
Programs Professional Writing Minor

Course Learning Outcomes

In their writing:

  1. Develop persuasive thought by asserting and supporting a central purpose in their writing.
  2. Address different audiences and purposes through various kinds of writing.
  3. Implement effective document design, including an ability to convey complex information visually.

In their reading:

  1. Read texts critically and analytically.
  2. Analyze purpose, audiences, and the selected mode of delivery for each reading.
  3. Identify and examine various aspects of persuasion including the use of logical, emotional, and character appeals in both written and visual forms.
  4. Use sample documents to develop functional, contextual and critical understanding of technical and professional writing genres.

In their research:

  1. Research a topic relevant to the theme of the class.
  2. Search and critically evaluate all relevant search sources.
  3. Employ effective research tools, such as discipline-specific search engines and annotated bibliographies.
  4. Understand plagiarism and avoid it.
  5. Select and integrate information and quotes from sources into a significant project.
  6. Provide complete, accurate documentation for source uses.

In their thinking:

  1. Critique the thinking and writing of other students.
  2. Understand principles of ethical communication to guide or temper their analysis and creation of texts.
  3. Present and defend their own ethical communication choices to others in the class, orally and in writing groups.