[ENGL 555] Technical and Professional Writing

Course Title: Technical and Professional Writing

Course Description

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of technical and professional writing, equipping students with the skills to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create technical and professional documents for varied audiences and purposes.
• Apply clear, concise style and professional tone across genres.
• Design and format documents print and digital for readability and usability.

Course Contents

Unit I: Foundations (9 Hours)

1. Technical communication and the workplace
2. Genres and the technical writing process
3. Characteristics and importance
4. Profiling the reader
5. Working in teams
6. Ethical considerations in technical writing

Unit II: Genres of Technical Writing (9 Hours)

1. Career materials: résumé and job letter
2. E-mails, letters, memos, and texts
3. Technical descriptions and specifications
4. Instructions and documentations

Unit III: Proposals and Reports (12 Hours)

1. Types of proposals
2. Planning, organizing, and drafting
3. Style, design, and medium
4. Brief reports
5. Formal reports

Unit IV: Style and Designing (9 Hours)

1. Plain style and Persuasive style
2. Documentation: APA, MLA, Chicago Manual
3. Designing documents and interfaces
4. Creating and using graphics

Unit V: Completing and Presenting (9 Hours)

1. Revising, Editing, and Proofing
2. Document cycling and usability testing
3. Planning, organizing, and delivering presentation
4. Creating and using visuals

Evaluation Scheme

Internal Evaluation

External Examination

Prescribed Text

Johnson-Sheehan, Richard. Technical Communication Today. 7th ed., Pearson, 2024.