Technical Communications --
Overview
ENGR/EGTG 2210
Instructor: Professor John Findura
jfindura@[Link]
Overview
Introduction to technical
communications
e-mail
Introduction to grammar
Web resources
Teams
Assignment
Engineers and Writing
“It is nearly impossible to overstate the
benefits of being able to write well. The
importance of the written word in storing,
sharing, and communicating ideas at all
levels of all organizations makes a poor
facility with the mechanics of writing a
severely career-limiting fault.” John E. West,
The Only Trait of a Leader: A Field Guide to Success
for New Engineers, Scientists, and Technologists,
2008. [Link] (from A Guide to
Writing as an Engineer)
Engineers and Writing
“Poor communication skill is the
Achilles’ heel of many engineers,
both young and experienced—it can
even be a career showstopper. In
fact, poor communication skills have
probably claimed more casualties
than corporate downsizing.” H.T. Roman,
“Be a Leader—Mentor Young Engineers,” IEEE USA Today’s
Engineer, November 2002 (from A Guide to Writing as an
Engineer)
Engineers and Writing
POSITION AVAILABLE:
Process Control Engineering role. Salary is competitive
and full benefits.
Must have chemical plant or refinery day to day
operations experience. Must have a Chemical
Engineering degree.
Minimum Qualifications (5th item on list):
Good verbal and written communication skills
Course Information
Overview of the writing, editing,
research, and design principles of
technical and professional
communication.
Learn how to gather, organize, and
present information effectively.
Course Information (cont.)
Topics covered include:
Business and technical documentation;
Oral reports and public speaking;
Teamwork and participation in group
meetings;
Professional, ethical, legal, security,
and social issues and responsibilities,
including a respect for diversity;
Course Information (cont.)
Impact of engineering and technology
solutions and computing in a global,
economic, environmental, and societal
context and on individuals,
organizations, and society;
Use of visuals to communicate
material;
Research techniques using the library
and the Internet.
Required Texts
David F. Beer and David McMurrey,
Guide to Writing as an Engineer, 5th
ed., Wiley, 2013. (available as an
eBook)
Leo Finkelstein, Jr., Pocket Book of
English Grammar for Engineers and
Scientists, Waveland Press, Inc.,
reissued 2011.
Additional material presented in class
or on-line
Prerequisites & Requirements
ENWR 1101 Academic Writing
FDU Web mail account
FDU library card
Course Objective & Outcomes
Objective: To provide you with the
technical and business
communication skills needed to
succeed and advance in your field.
Course Objective & Outcomes
Outcome 1a: Demonstrate that you
can effectively, coherently, and
persuasively communicate technical
material in written reports and other
technical documents.
Outcome 1b: Demonstrate that you
can effectively, coherently, and
persuasively present technical material
orally, using appropriate presentation
software tools and other means.
Course Objective & Outcomes
Outcome 1c: Demonstrate that you
can communicate technical material to
a variety of audiences, in both technical
and non-technical environments.
Outcome 2: Demonstrate that you can
work well in teams, including the ability
to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
Course Objective & Outcomes
Outcome 3a: Demonstrate
understanding of professional, ethical,
legal, security and social issues and
responsibilities, including a respect for
diversity.
Outcome 3b: Demonstrate
understanding of the impact of
engineering & technology solutions &
computing in a global, economic,
environmental, & societal context & on
individuals, organizations, and society.
Outcomes (cont.)
Outcome 4: Demonstrate the ability to
engage in life-long learning or
professional development and
understand the need to do so, including
the ability to use online tools for course
work, to conduct research using the
library & Internet, with the ability to
identify & use appropriate technical
literature, and to know about & discuss
impact of current events on the future
of engineering & technology.
Grades are based on:
Weekly written homework -- 35%
Final team project report
Individual
contribution -- 15%
Team contribution -- 10%
Team/oral presentation -- 15%
Activities related to outcomes 2, 3,
& 4 -- 15%
Class participation (in class & on-
line) -- 10%
Homework
Unless told otherwise, all written homework
is due by 9:00 pm. via email, on the night I
designate after it is assigned, Discussion
Board assignments are due by the Sunday
after assigned, by 9:00 pm
Late homework will be marked down at
least 10 points.
Homework (cont.)
Plagiarism is forbidden
Using a paper bought from an Internet source or
someone else;
Copying someone else’s paper & putting your
name on it;
Copying large amounts of material from
published works (including the Internet) without
citing the sources;
Asking someone else to write a paper for you &
putting your name on it;
Other unauthorized or fraudulent uses of other
people’s writings;
See FDU’s Academic Integrity Policy for more
information.
Attendance
You are expected to attend class.
If you cannot make it to class because of
illness, personal emergency, or
business/work obligations, notify the
professor via e-mail prior to the start of
class.
You are responsible for information
presented in class that you miss (it’s online
in WebCampus).
Three unexcused absences will mean that
your final grade will drop by ten points –
from an A to a B, for example.
Computer Use & Requirements
The class depends on email &
WebCampus.
All homework will be either sent via
email or done on WebCampus
(Discussion Board)
Any schedule changes or other class
information will be sent via email
and posted as an announcement on
WebCampus.
Course Outline
Class 1 Introduction to technical
communications; Email; Web resources;
Teams; Discussion board.
Class 2 Review fundamentals of writing,
including use of computer; Defining &
choosing projects & teams; Grammar
review (word choice).
Class 3 Memos, letters, & more; Editing
& proof-reading; Meetings (video);
Grammar review (punctuation); Team
assignments.
Course Outline
Class 4 Technical communications
guidelines; Engineering documents
overview (proposals & progress reports);
More Meetings (video).
Class 5 Technical & engineering reports;
Projects review including proposal.
Class 6 Preparing presentations;
Documentation and ethics, etc.;
Introductions; Projects review.
Course Outline (cont.)
Class 7 Doing research & evaluating
what you find; Present introductions;
Grammar review (nouns & pronouns);
Projects review.
Class 8 How to listen; Interviewing
techniques; Voice mail; Grammar review
(verbs);Projects review.
Class 9 Graphics & tables; More ethics;
Team presentations of project
progress.
Course Outline (cont.)
Class 10 Review of Project Report
requirements; More ethics, etc.; Grammar
review (adjectives & adverbs); Project
review.
Class 11 Lab reports, instructions, and
specifications; Projects review -- first draft
of report due.
Class 12 Inspection & trip reports,
technical articles; manuals and other
documentation; Grammar review
(prepositions, conjunctions, & interjections);
Projects review – second draft of report
due.
Course Outline (cont.)
Class 13 Writing resumes and cover
letters; Project reports due.
Class 14 Deliver presentations.
Class 15 Final Exam Week (class on-
line – no exam).
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 1. “Engineers and Writing”
Importance of writing
Understanding what impedes process
Chapter 2. “Eliminating Sporadic
Noise in Engineering Writing”
● Specific writing problems
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 3. “Guidelines for Writing
Noise-Free Engineering Documents”
Essential requirements & guidelines for
effective engineering documents
Chapter 4. “Letters, Memoranda,
Email, & Other Media for Engineers”
Professional correspondence
Format and style
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 5. “Writing Common
Engineering Documents”
Content, format, and style
recommendations
Inspection & trip reports, laboratory
reports, specifications, progress
reports, proposals, instructions, and
recommendation reports
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 6. “Writing Research and
Design Reports”
Standard format
Chapter 7. “Constructing
Engineering Tables & Graphics”
Incorporating illustrations & tables into
technical documents
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 8. “Accessing Engineering
Information”
Finding information in libraries
Finding information on the Internet
Chapter 9. “Engineering Your
Speaking”
Presentations – solo or as a team
Speaking in the workplace
A Guide to Writing as an Engineer
Chapter 10. “Writing to Get an
Engineering Job”
Application letters & resumes
Chapter 11. “Ethics and
Documentation in Engineering
Writing”
Chapter 12. “Engineering Your
Online Reputation”
Forums, blogs, & social-networking applications