Technical Communication (Engineering)

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID: Engl 149 Technical Writing for Engineers
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract: This open textbook is designed for an undergraduate technical communication course, suitable for engineering or writing studies students. Created with grant funding from the State of California, this textbook identifies outstanding OER materials relevant to technical and professional communication and organizes them within a single document. Students may access the open textbook in PDF format or may print relevant sections.
This course has been replaced with Writing Arguments In STEM

Course Title and Number - Engl 149 Technical Writing for Engineers 

Brief Description of course highlights:  This course will explore the principles of technical communication. In addition to producing clear and easy-to-read documents, students will also examine the rhetorical dimensions of writing for technical environments. The class begins by analyzing the argumentative and stylistic conventions that govern technical communication. Through this critical analysis, students determine which conventions constitute the field’s “best practices” and will learn to incorporate these within their own compositions.

Catalog description:  The principles of technical writing. Discussion and application of rhetorical principles in technical environments. Study of methods, resources and common formats used in corporate or research writing. 4 lectures.

Prerequisites: Completion of GE Area A1 with a grade of C- or better.

Learning or student outcomes: 
- Analyze the rhetorical situation of technical documents, which can include the goals of the document, the needs of the audience or audiences, and the extended organization and cultural context
- Compose technical documents such as podcasts, summaries, instructions, usability surveys, and reports that effectively respond to specific rhetorical situations
- Use and translate research-based evidence in ways that are accurate yet accessible to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Revise technical documents based on informed reader feedback, and, in turn, provide critical feedback and advice for other writers
-  Collaboratively compose technical documents and manage team projects, which can include organizing group efforts, delegating responsibilities, and providing support and feedback for individual group members 

Sample Assignments:
Chapter 2.1 Document Design
The exercise can be used with Chapter 2.1 of the textbook.

Chapter 3 Definition Activity
This exercise can be used with Chapter 3 of the text.

Chapter 3.6 Translation and Writing Assignment
This exercise can be used with Chapter 3.6 of the textbook.

Chapter 3.7 Resume Writing
This exercise can be used with Chapter 3.7 of the textbook.

Chapter 4 Evaluate Content and Design of Professional Engineering Websites
This exercise can be used with Chapter 4 of the textbook.

Chapter 4 Usability Test Assignment
This exercise can be used with Chapter 4 of the textbook.

Instructors Names - Chelsea Milbourne, Anne Regan, Morgan Livingston, Sadie Johann 

Instructor Feedback:
Morgan Livingston: I am using this textbook as a supplement to my lectures. Students read a chapter before class, and we use the reading as a foundation to for the in-class work. The readings cover more than what I could accomplish in a ten-week quarter system, so I also quiz my students to ensure that they were able to obtain the important information that I couldn’t cover in lecture. It’s worked well!

Anne Regan: The text is the backbone of the class, and I found it useful in the areas of technical communication content, terminology, and application. Working through the text chapters with supplemental real-world examples made for an engaging student experience.

Sadie Johann: This textbook provides students an overview of the larger components of technical communication. The chapters are designed to facilitate group discussion and analysis. Students use the objectives in the chapters as checkpoints for their written work in and out of class. 

Chelsea Milbourne: This textbook supplements in-class lectures and activities. The chapters provide a theoretical overview of important technical communication concepts. Students then put these concepts into practice by analyzing sample documents and workshopping their own compositions.

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title: Technical Communication is an open education resource(OER) textbook, developed with funding from California State Assembly Bill 798 - The College Textbook Affordability Act of 2015. This textbook identifies outstanding OER materials related to technical and professional communication and organizes them within a single document.

Brief Description: We decided to develop this textbook to provide our students with an affordable educational resource dedicated to technical communication. Prior to using this OER resource, students purchased textbooks--which could cost up to $93 per student. In addition to the cost savings for students, this textbook offers information about a wide array of communication skills vital for contemporary technical communication. Such areas include writing, visual design, research practices, user testing, and product management.

Please provide a link to the resource  DRC Accessible Text
This text, V2 Technical Communication, has been modified for DRC students.

Authors:  Chelsea Milbourne, Anne Regan, Morgan Livingston, Sadie Johann

Student access:  Students can use the free PDF textbook in either the digital form or print as needed. 

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  Students saved an average of 93.00 dollars

License: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)