EPD 397: Technical Communication

Home : Courses :
EPD 397 - Technical Communication

WWW Resources

Timetable Information

Engineering Courses on the Web (eCOW)

eCOW2 Courses

Create eCOW2 Course Homepage

eCOW Courses

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Ross), formerly Course Homepage of instructor Ross

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Nicometo), formerly Course Homepage of Nicometo

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Mcglamery), formerly Course Homepage of Mcglamery

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Matta)

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Grossenbacher), formerly Course Homepage of instructor Grossenbacher

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Fall 2008 (Black, James Roger), formerly Course Homepage of Black, James Roger

Archive

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Spring 2008 (Zwickel), formerly Course Homepage of Zwickel

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Spring 2008 (Nathans-Kelly), formerly Course Homepage of instructor Kelly

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Spring 2008 (Johnson), formerly Course Homepage of instructor Johnson

EPD 397: Technical Communication, Spring 2000 (Gold), formerly Course Homepage of instructor Gold

Additional Links

Course Homepage of Instructor Team for EPD 397

Edit This Page

Catalog Description

397 Technical Communication. I, II, SS; 3 cr. Communication for engineering, science, and technology; theory and practice in planning, preparing, and critiquing reports, proposals, instructions, and business correspondence; research strategies, collaborative work; oral presentations. P: Jr st.

Course Prerequisite(s)

EPD 155 or General Communication Course Part A Equivalent

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

Background in communication skills consistent with completion of at least two credits of Communication Part A (Gen Ed requirement) , including the ability to:
Read and think critically
Write essays suitable for a university setting
Adapt speech and writing for intended audiences
Speak and present with confidence in front of peers
Analyze and explain the strengths and weaknesses of written documents and oral presentations
Collaborate with others in communication projects
Understand the basics of personal computers and computer networks, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, web browsers, and internet search engines.

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

May include one or more of the following:
Anderson, P. Technical Communication, 4th ed., Harcourt Brace, 1999
David Beer and David McMurrey. A Guide to Writing as an Engineer, 2nd ed. Wiley, 2004. (ISBN 0-471-43074-9)
Paradis, J. and M. Zimmerman. The MIT Guide to Science and Engineeering Communication.MIT Press, 1997
Oliu, W., C. Brusaw, and G.Alred. Writing that Works, 6th ed., St.Martin s Press, 1998
Hacker, D. A Writer s Reference, 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martin s, 1999. CD-ROM version
EPD 397 Course Packets available at local copy shops
Writing models and course resources on course websites

Course objectives

Write effective technical and research reports, proposals, procedures, memoranda, process explanations, and/or professional correspondence aimed at an interdisciplinary audience
Prepare and deliver professional presentations and briefings, in a style suitable for future engineering design courses and the workplace, using visual aids and computer technology
Identify, retrieve, and critically analyze technical information through library research, computer databases, and online networks
Review and revise written and oral communication
Develop, integrate, and edit tables, charts, and diagrams
Work productively in a team, with emphasis on group process, decision making strategies, project planning, and peer review
Make thoughtful, well-informed career choices
Understand contemporary issues in engineering and the economic, environmental, political, and societal impacts of engineering decisions
Understand the ethical responsibilities of providing accurate information and communicating effectively with both the general public and professionals.

Topics covered

Developing communication processes: understanding the situation, purpose, and audience
Understanding communication attributes: content, structure, format, language, illustrations, appropriateness
Listening and reading critically; thinking logically; evaluating information sources; using evidence effectively
Designing and producing effective persuasive, informative, or analytic documents and presentations
Reviewing, evaluating, and revising technical documents and presentations
Writing email, letters, and memos; formal technical proposals, technical and research reports; procedures and instuctions
Giving technical presentations using visual aids: illustrations, graphs, tables, charts, diagrams
Writing and presenting for a variety of audiences, including experts, managers, technicians, and the general public
Working and writing as a team
Finding library and internet resources; creative research strategies
Reviewing grammar, syntax, and editing
Understanding intellectual property: patents, trademarks, copyright, and plagiarism
Understanding workplace communication needs: Resumes, job market research, employment correspondence, interviewing, organizational culture, professional ethics, inter-office survival skills, globalization, and international communications

Class/laboratory schedule

Two 75 minute classes per week for fifteen weeks
Individual instructor/student conferences at instructor's discretion

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component

This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, but does not provide design experience.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

Economic, environmental, ethical, health, safety, manufacturability, and sustainability considerations are incorporated into project presentations and discussed in case studies.

Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives and outcomes

This course serves students in a variety of engineering majors and contributes to the Technical Communication Certificate. The information below describes how the course contributes to the college's and the Technical Communication program's educational objectives.

This course is a graduation requirement for many engineering majors (except Chem Engr, which offers a department specific Comm B course) This course fulfills the university's General Communication Part B ("Comm B") requirement AND meets many of the A through K requirements from ABET This course counts toward the 24-credit Certificate in Technical Communication. The Certificate helps meet industry and government agencies' demands for engineers who are skilled in oral and written communication. This course contributes to the College's and the Technical Communication program's educational objectives: --Provide education in principles and processes for communicating about technical subjects (including problem solving methods, audience analysis, rhetorical analysis, conventions of format, and usability testing). --Provide education in the fundamentals of written, oral, and visual communication (including structure, style, mechanics, format, and delivery). --Emphasize effective interpersonal communication and management skills (including teamwork, interviewing, leading and facilitating groups, project management, and international communication). --Extend opportunities for students to research and think analytically about professional and ethical responsibilities. --Encourage awareness of societal impacts of technology, and provide research skills to allow students to continually track these impacts in contemporary issues, promoting life-long learning. --Use current technology to encourage effective communication in a variety of environments (including use of the web, distance communication, electronic publishing, group software, and layout and presentation software). --Strengthen relationships with other engineering departments and industries (i.e. integrate communication in the engineering curriculum and provide students with real world experiences through communication internships and guest lectures).

Assessment of student progress toward course objectives

Students will be evaluated on the basis of the following materials produced either individually or in teams:
Correspondence (memos, letters, resume)
Technical and/or investigative report(s)
Progress report, self-assessments, personal essays, and/or reaction papers
Research-skills assessments via CLUE library module and/or other activities
Peer reviews and critiques
Oral presentations (formal and informal)
In-class workshops assignments, writing assignments, and/or computer-based exercises
Technical Project: Formal proposal and presentation in response to a request for proposal: includes research, technical design or evaluation, management plan, and cost.
Students may also be evaluated through individual conferences with the instructor.

Person(s) who prepared this description

Laura R. Grossenbacher

Copyright 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Date last modified: 13-Dec-2007
Date created: 29-Jul-1999
Content by: custserv@epd.engr.wisc.edu
Accessibility

Web services
Thank you for visiting http://www.engr.wisc.edu//epd/courses/epd397.html