Technical Writing & Research

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           Technical Writing and Research is designed to teach effective workplace communication
          skills in written and graphic presentations. Students will examine  how the technical
          writer interprets and appropriately presents specialized information to a specific
          audience. Using real-world, real-time examples, students learn the conventions of
          technical writing, the essentials of effective writing styles, and how to appropriately
          apply these skills to specific scenarios. Working from a reader-centered approach, topics
          include professional letters and memos, press releases, oral presentations, instructions,  lab
          reports, progress reports, and document design and visual aids. Microsoft Office skills in
          Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will be emphasized.
 
 

Course Outline

          ·   Chapter 1 - What is Technical Writing?
                         o   Outline chapter with class using outline view, Microsoft Word
                                          -   Discuss Code of Ethics and class
                                          -   AWYHL Text 1-5 pp 1617
                         o   Popular Mechanics Sails with Sizzle
                                          -   Technical aspects
                                          -   Jargon
                                          -   Tone and enthusiasm
         
             ·   Chapter 2 - Audience
                         o   Create Audience Analysis Table
                         o   Proquest and E-Library
                                            -   Find article and analyze using table
                         o   AWYHL TV Highlights ex 3 p 30
                                            -   Use PowerPoint to make organization chart
                                            -   Discuss hierarch and organizational behavior
                                                  PowerPoint
                         o   Analyze Memo to West
                         o   Analyze Ford Memo to VonZ
                         o   Analyze SAM TOM e-mail
                         o   Analyze Curles memo to GHHS
             ·   Chapter 3 - Memorandums
                         o   Stop and Think 3.2 p 40
                         o   Warm Up 3.3 p. 40
                         o   Stop and Think 3.3 p. 41
                         o   Stop and Think 3.4 p 41
                         o   Create Template for Memos in Word
                                            -   Follow formatting guidelines
                                            -   Save as template
                                            -   Use for all assignments
                         o   AWYHL