TWC 5/401 Principles of Technical Communication

Course Objective:

This course will give students basic information design principles which will enable them to communicate effectively written, oral, and electronic forms.

All students will be expected to produce a

Technical Description x 2
Write a description of an object, mechanism, or phenomenon. Make sure you supplement your text with appropriate use of graphics.

Feasibility Study x 2
Present a solution to a potential problem at work, school, or elsewhere. Determine how feasible the solution will be to implement.

Instructions x 2
Determine some skill you are proficient enough with to instruct others. Determine the level of audience you will be writing to (novice, expert, or others), and write basic instructions in that skill

Of these three assignments, at least one must be paper, at least one must be electronic. Paper will be 3-5 pages

Proposal (10-15 pages) with a reflective/meta cover piece (3-5 pages) Proposal x 4, Cover Piece x 2
Present a request for funding, implementation of a new program or policies or any other request which requires approval. Make sure need is documented.

The reflective/meta cover piece will present your thought processes in putting together your proposal. It will detail why you made rhetorical choices based on need, audience, ethics, and similar issues.

Oral presentation using appropriate visuals x 1
Present your proposal to the class.

Grad students will do a White Paper on a problem in technical communication x 2

Choose a technical communication problem. In your report make sure, at the minimum, you include a Problem Statement, a Review of the Literature, an Analysis of the Problem, and Recommendations