TWC 130 Technical Writing and Communications aims to prepare engineering students to present complex information to a variety of audiences clearly, precisely and consistently using various formats, including correspondence (memos, letters, emails, text messages), reports, proposals, and presentations. The course is writing-intensive with informal in-class writing assignments aimed at giving the student consistent practice at writing and revision. Students will collaborate through teamwork on writing, research, design and presentations.
Notes:
Prerequisites: Admission to the First-Year Engineering Transfer program.
Corequisite: ENGR 101
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
|---|
| Total Credits | |
|---|
| Total Hours | 45 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Monitor and reflect on personal professional behaviours
- Predict the communication needs of different audiences
- Use headings, lists, and visual graphics in a variety of written formats
- Prepare and deliver oral presentations both independently and as part of a team
- Write a technical report adhering to recognized industry standards
- Incorporate sources into technical documents using Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) style of documentation
- Work as a member of a team to complete assigned tasks
Teaching and Learning Approach
This course employs different teaching methods to help students achieve their learning outcomes: lectures,
group projects, usability tests, as well as in-class writing, discussions, and reflection assignments. Learning
occurs best when motivated students have the opportunity to apply course concepts to their own areas of
expertise and interest, and in a variety of contexts; therefore, course assignments are designed to be open and
flexible in their topics and approaches. The primary task is to encourage students to think about technical and
professional communication in a rhetorical, critical sense, and to learn principles and guidelines that they can
apply in their careers, regardless of future changes in the technology, context, and culture of communication.Learning Resources
Required: H. Graves & R. Graves, A Strategic Guide to Technical Communication, 2nd ed. Toronto, Canada:
Broadview Press, 2012.Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Topics Introductions Audience Purpose Genre
2. Topics Technical Instructions Writing Process Organized Writing
3. Topics Effective Technical Prose Clarity, Cohesion, Concision Collaborative Practices
4. Topics Effective Technical Prose, Continued Designing Documents Page Layouts
5. Topics Proposal Writing
6. Topics Workplace Writing Emails, Letters, Memos Informative, Positive, Negative, Persuasive Writing
7. READING WEEK - No Classes
8. Topics Research & Collecting Information Secondary Research Library Workshop Tutorial
9. Topics Conducting Research, continued Primary Research: Interviews & Surveys Ethics in Research & Communications
10. Topics Formatting and Writing Reports
11. Topics Using Visuals
12. Topics Presenting Orally Public Speaking Visual Aids
13. Topics Testing Technical Documents Usability Review Reporting on Usability
14. Topics Student Presentations Course Wrap-Up Final Exam PrepAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
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| Professionalism Memos | 1, 2, 3 | 15% |
| Major Project: Instruction Manual | 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 | 25% |
| Presentation of Major Project | 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 | 10% |
| Final Exam Major Project 'Gates': Team Charter, Proposal, | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 | 30% |
| Annotated Bibliography | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.