DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

COURSE TITLE-: TECHNICAL WRITING & PRESENTAION SKILLS

Course Code HU 221 (3,0)

Course Description:
This course has been designed to teach students to adapt their writing to different audiences and
purposes. It will help learners develop strategies for making subjects clear to readers who need to
understand them. Though this course, learners will learn to write in a clear, concise style and to present
information logically, and to design documents in which format contributes to clarity and efficiency.

Course Objectives:

1. Learn principles of effective technical writing.

2. Recognize and adapt writing for a variety of audiences and situations.
3. Apply effective writing strategies in order to produce concise, clear and meaningful
documents ranging from technical definitions to technical proposals and reports.

Methodology:

Teaching of concepts shall take place through lectures, during which analysis of technical examples will
held students grasp of concepts being taught. Exercises will follow each new concept: In order to check
and reinforce understanding.

Class Policy:

Punctuality and regularity are extremely important for this course. Anybody with less than 75%
attendance will not be given any marks/evaluation. All reading material will be given prior to the class or
during the class. Reach individual will be responsible for getting a personal copy of each handout given.
It is advisable that each student buy a separate folder to held all lecture notes, reading material and
assignments for this course.

Evaluation Criterion:

Attendance/Class participation 10 Marks

Quiz I 10 Marks
Mid-term exam 30 Marks
Quiz 2 10 Marks
End-term exam 40 marks

Reference books:
1) Anderson. V. Paul Technical Communication. A Reader-Centered Approach.5 th edition. 2003.
Thomson Wadsworth.
2) Gerson & Gerson. Technical Writing. Process and Product. 5 th edition 2006. Pearson Education Inc.
3) Huckin & Olsen. English for science and Technology. 1983, McGraw-Hill Inc.
4) McMurrey. D. Power Tools for Technical Communication. Wadsworth Publishing Company 2001.
Technical Writing & Presentation Skills

Course Contents: Course Code HU-221 Outline for Technical Writing.

Week Main Topic Lecture Contents

1. Introduction Technical A. What is technical communication?
Communication B. Factors to consider in technical communication
C. Examining your purpose.
D. Determining how to provide content.
2+3 The Writing Process A. Writing effective paragraphs for technology.
B. Developing a clear pattern of organization.
4+5 Getting started with A. Recognizing different audiences
technical writing B. Involving the audience.
6 Making writing effective A. Achieving parallelism in writing
B. Constructing effective sentences.
7 Memos
8 Assessment Week
9 Letter Writing E-Mails
10. Parts of a Formal/Technical  Title
Report  Abstract
 Outline/contents
 Introduction
 Body/procedures
 Conclusion
 Appendices
 Use of illustrations (Tables and Figures)
11+12 Parts of a Research Report  Title
 Abstract
 Contents
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Methodology
 Analysis/Results
 Discussion/interpretation
 Conclusion
 Recommendations
 References
13+14. Report Defence Presentation of Reports.