Assumptions

• Good technical writing is good writing; it has a purpose, an audience, appropriate tone and format, and uses relevant visuals to aid communication.
• Writing is a complex process which involves brainstorming, planning, drafting, receiving feedback, revising, and editing.
• The more you write, the more effective your writing will become.
• Work is normally done with and for other people, especially in business and industry; stimulation from sharing writing with peers enriches and empowers the work of each individual.

Goals

If you complete the course as directed and do well, you will develop your existing writing skills, so that you will be able to:

• write the kind of specialized reports required in your present and future occupations;
• identify the audience for your writing and prepare text suitable for that audience;
• select and use the appropriate formats and layouts for organizing your material, including plenty of white space;
• select and/or develop simple, yet appropriate visuals to give impact and clarity to your reports;
• pursue appropriate research methodology to develop your reports;
• document your reports correctly and completely;
• write a well-organized and effective research report.