Certificate in Technical Writing

The following are General Expected Outcomes. For more specific details see the individual course outlines listed below.

Upon successful completion of this Certification Program you will be able to:

• Analyze audiences and purposes for various technical documents and write effective technical documents by incorporating editorial changes and user feedback
• Correct instances of improper usage, eliminate trite and redundant phrases, so you can write clear and precise sentences
• Apply sound formatting principles to the design and layout of documents and insert eye-catching graphics, charts, and tables that illustrate key points
• Create information plans and content specifications and implement publications projects
• Manage production processes and evaluate project successes and failures

Introduction to Technical Writing For Industry

If you want to become a technical writer, or if you have just become a technical writer and wonder what the job and the profession may involve, this course will introduce you to an exciting and rewarding career in technical communication. You?ll learn what tasks you will do, how your work fits into the organization?s process, and where the field is headed. You?ll get right into planning, writing, editing, and testing ? the key activities in a technical communicator?s day. Each lesson focuses on a specific area of technical communications and you will receive information, resources, questions and assignments geared towards the specific area. You can email any questions, thoughts, or concerns you may have at any time. The course is designed to help you become a professional technical communicator.

Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify tasks and job titles in the profession of technical communication.
• Write and edit step by step instructions.
• Organize a set of procedures.
• Articulate the levels of edit.
• Analyze and edit a document following the recommendations in a style guide.
• Identify key components of an information plan, and content specification.
• Analyze an audience.
• Perform a task analysis.
• Identify key activities in user-centered design.
• Perform user testing on a procedure.
• Identify the key emotional competences for outstanding performance.
• Define key terms used in technical communication.

Assessment:

Your progress will be assessed in several ways:

• Through evaluation of your written work, using detailed guidelines given in each module.
• Through self quizzes.
• A final exam or project at the discretion of the course instructor/administrator.

Contact Hours: 30

Intermediate Technical Writing

This second course, Intermediate Technical Writing introduces you to basic page design such as headings, lists, tables, notices, and highlighting. You`ll learn and be expected to use standard design, format, and style for these page-design elements in the documents you write for this course.

The course is appropriate for anyone who has had some on-the-job experience as well as those who have taken Introduction to Technical Writing for Industry. Intermediate Technical Writing may be taken alone or as part of the sequence of courses leading to a certificate in technical writing.

Throughout the course students can communicate with the instructor on assignments and may discuss any issues related to technical writing.

Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• State good design practices for headings, lists, notices, graphics, tables, and highlighting.
• Recognize common problems involving headings, lists, notices, graphics, tables, and highlighting.
• Use standard design, format, and style of headings, lists, notices, graphics, tables, and highlighting in their writing projects.
• State the common design and structure of written instructions and for recommendation reports.
• Use headings, lists, notices, graphics, tables, and highlighting effectively in written instructions.
• Perform audience and task analyses in preparation to write instructions.

• Create instructions that focus on reader tasks, that explain actions clearly and that use an effective design enabling readers to accomplish their tasks.

Assessment:

Your progress will be assessed in several ways:

• Quizzes on headings, lists, notices, tables, and highlighting. Instructor review and acceptance of the instructions and recommendation report.
• Activities will include readings, exercises, and quizzes on headings, lists, notices, tables, graphics, highlighting; and then readings, exercises, quizzes, and examples focused on instructions. Activities will also include writing and revising (as necessary) a set of instructions and a recommendation report that apply the standards for design, format, and style covered in the units on headings, lists, notices, tables, graphics, highlighting, and instructions.

Contact Hours: 30

Advanced Technical Writing

Advanced Technical Writing will give you the expertise and confidence to market yourself as a technical writer or simply to tackle more advanced assignments at work. Building on the skills you have acquired in the previous technical writing courses, this course emphasizes audience analysis, document organization and design, supplements, visuals, and research techniques. The course consists of one proposal that will incorporate all stage of technical writing: planning, writing, designing, and revising.

Throughout the course students can communicate with the instructor on assignments and may discuss any issues related to technical writing.

Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Analyze readers and/or situations to prepare for writing a proposal
• Define the purpose of a proposal
• Gather, record, and interpret data
• Use content, design, and style guidelines to produce a more readable, concise document
• Write and edit technical documentation
• Write a winning proposal

Assessment:

• Students will demonstrate their understanding of advanced technical writing by creating a proposal that meets the required standards set forth by the instructor.
• The proposal will include research, supplemental materials, and graphics that meet the expectations and criteria.
• The student will submit the proposal in stages for assessment and feedback.
• Students demonstrate mastery of advanced technical writing by achieving at least 80% on the final proposal.

Contact Hours: 30