Advanced Technical Writing University of Idaho
 
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© 2006 Phil Druker
 University of Idaho
 
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 Welcome to Advanced Technical Writing over the Web.

1. Use the Technical Check if you need to test your system.
2. Review the "Before you start" information below.
3. Review the "How to Proceed" information to the left.
4. Review the "Requirements" to the left.
Before you start, you need to understand these points:

 
  1. Course Goals:

    The Advanced Technical Writing over the Web class gives students experience with the process of completing research and writing reports about that research for a professional setting. The student will become thoroughly familiar with standard formats and conventions for different types of formal and informal reports, proposals, business correspondence, and public speaking. Through the course, students will develop their own voice in writing while becoming aware of the importance of analyzing their audience and learning to write for various audiences with different levels of technical expertise.

    The bottom line: Through this course, I want to help you to become a better writer:
    • a faster writer
    • a writer who knows how to organize material
    • a writer who produces clear, concise, correct documents
    • a writer who considers the readers

     

  2. THE PLAN --- Main course requirements:
    1. During this semester you will complete a research project. This will be a 15 – 20 page technical document that details research you completed this semester or very recently. You need to use primary and secondary research methods to complete this document. You need to analyze data that you present in this document.
       
    2. You will complete the research project by working in increments.
       
    3. This project has three main phases.
       
      1. The proposal. By mid-term you will complete a proposal for this project.
      2. The section of the final report. You will complete and submit a major section of the body of your final report.
      3. The final report. You will complete a final report, in which you report on and analyze the data you have collected.
    4. Other assignments will help you complete these main assignments. (During the first two weeks of class, you will complete some introductory assignments)

     

  3. The reasoning behind this plan:
    • By working through a project in increments, we will attempt to replicate what happens in the work place on a major project.
    • The course is designed to help you improve your writing.
    • Your writing will only improve if you write.
    • You need to have something to write about: therefore you must have some detailed research data to write about. TO DO THIS YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE RESEARCH THIS SEMESTER.

     

  4. BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
    1. READ THE MATERIAL presented here BEFORE you write.
    2. If you have questions, ask me through email or by phone.
    3. Be ready to complete a sophisticated semester-long project.
    4. Complete all the assignments.
    5. The writing you turn in, must be written during the time frame of this current semester.
    6. To receive a passing grade (D or better), you must submit an acceptable final report.

       
  5. Some ideas to consider:
    • I want to work with you to make this course and your semester-long project a success.
    • I’m willing to act as a “writing coach” for you, but you need to be willing to take my advice.
    • The grade you receive will reflect the quality of work you do for this course (and will not be based on your previous experience as a writer).
    • This course is about communication. You will be responsible for communicating with me and other students in the class. Be ready to email me or post ideas to the threaded discussion.
    • This is a NEW COURSE. So, be willing to help us figure out how to make this course work for you and for others!
    • I have taught technical writing for nearly 20 years. I have also worked as technical writer, a consultant, and as an editor on technical documents and for magazines. Professionals consider me to be a good editor. Take advantage of my expertise by being willing to change your writing.
    • If you cannot complete research this semester, or if you have not completed a research project recently, you should not enroll in this course.

     
  6.  This course is not about
     
    • desk-top publishing
    • Web publishing
    • writing for audiences with an incredibly high level of technical expertise
    • writing for in-house documentation purposes
    • writing lab reports for professors
    • writing for business purposes (promotional documents)

     
     

  7. This course is about
    • improving your writing
    • writing technical documents for people who do not know what you know
    • helping you work through and complete the documentation for a research project

So, welcome to the course. Thanks for your interest. Let’s work hard to make this a success.

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University of Idaho
 Environmental Science Program
 Advanced Technical Writing

thompson@uidaho.edu