English 562

 

This course challenges students based on what they learned in the Foundations of Technical Writing class (English 362).

To write good technical documentation, you need to understand how to create source information. In this course, students research topics, interview sources, analyze their audience using proven research methods, and use the scientific method in creating and revising technical documentation while improving your essential writing and revising skills.

This course expands upon what you learned in English 362 and provides a realistic documentation experience. It stresses information-gathering methods in technical communication and simulates on-the-job training through live interviews and other forms of research. Students master the relevant software tools and begin to build a solid technical-writing portfolio. This class is a must if you want to develop your research and technical-writing skills for current or future employment. This course uses more complex writing projects as well as ongoing peer-review work.

Starting in Summer 2008, we offer the Advanced Technical Communication courses as a three-week, intensive program with projects due at mid-term and during Finals Week. Students are encouraged to enroll in both courses to help efficiently complete the Technical Communication program without interfering with major-degree course of study.

Prerequisite: English 362: Foundations of Technical Writing. Students must be comfortable working with computers, specifically email, electronic files, and basic Web design. Students are also expected to be familiar with creating documentation plans and abstracts, as well as the basic elements and forms of technical writing.

During this course, students are expected to master the basic software tools of the trade. Types of technical-writing forms that students create include proposals, specifications, technical papers, and instructions - students begin to develop a valuable technical-writing portfolio to show potential or current employers.