Course Title: TECHNICAL WRITING

Course Code: EL118

Overview: Technical writing deals to develop technical and scientific writing skills across
disciplines. It also focuses on the rhetorical techniques in English and the application of
principles of various approaches relevant to reporting and writing of technical correspondences

MODULE NO. 1: INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL WRITING

Learning Targets:
 Define communication,
 Identify elements of communication,
 Describe how important communication elements are, and
 Select situations where proper communication is advised.
 Share ways on how proper communication can solve a given scenario.
Expectations:
For your successful learning adventure, I am expecting you to:
1. Read all the necessary materials provided in this module.
2. Accomplish all the given tasks excellently and on time.
3. Engage in meaningful conversations with others that may help you as you go through the
module.
4. Go after inputs that are reliable and relevant available in books or online.
Materials:
1. Mobile Device or Laptop with internet connection (if available)
2. Suggested links
2.1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCfzeONu3Mo
Discussion:
Engaging Question: When was the first time you communicate?
Most of you will say, you begun communicating as early as when you came out
of your mothers’ womb or when you were still babies. The first sound you made is the first time
you communicated to other people. Your first cry when you were born communicated meaning
to your mother and those who helped you come out of this world, that you are alive and healthy.
As you can see, communication is something innate to us all.
Communication is indispensable to human life. Without it, we cannot function properly,
we cannot advance as people, and we cannot live our lives. To communicate is an act we can
never erase from human history. But because this is something that we usually do, we tend to
forget to pay more attention to it and its importance. That is why oftentimes we engage in
conversations without considering how it will end. We have to bear in mind that communication
plays a very vital role in us. That is why we must understand its processes, principles, and ethics
for us to improve how we communicate and develop competence in making effective
communication situations.
When do you usually communicate?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Why do you communicate?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
How do you communicate?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Being able to answer and understand the answers to the questions above, would lead you
to embrace a deeper sense of communication.
As defined on Webster's Dictionary, communication is a process of using words,
sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas,
thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else. Its nature can be described into three main points.
1. Communication is a complex continuous process.
A process usually undergoes series of steps. Communication follows a series of steps too.
Whenever we communicate, first, we process our ideas/insights in mind and transform them into
words/signs that properly embody them. Then, the one receiving the message will decode and
process the information too to be able to create an appropriate response. For the messages to be
expressed well, the sender/receiver may choose the means on how to deliver them. This is called
the channel. This process goes on for the communication to continue. Encoding and decoding
messages in communication are very crucial in the process because this will promote
understanding between those involved.
The process of communication has the following elements:
1. Sender/Encoder- the one who sends the message
2. Message- the thought, idea, or feeling expressed using symbols/words
3. Receiver/decoder- the one who receives the message and provides feedback.
4. Feedback-pertains to the response of the receiver of the message.
5. Channel is the means/tool used to deliver the message.
6. Barrier/Noise- are hindrances that distort the flow of communication.
Understanding the nature and processes of communication gives us more venues to pay more
attention to the way we interact with others. We have to bear in mind that communication is a
complex process so sometimes due to varied conditions, we experience miscommunication.
These are some of the barriers that bend the communication process:
a. Use of jargons g. Communicative Style
b. Lack of attention h. Experience
c. Different perspectives or point of view i. Environment
d. Language difference j. Physical Disabilities
e. Cultural Difference k. Lacks trust and false assumption
f. Emotion

There are many reasons for possible miscommunication. For that reason, we have to always
root for the principles that we have to follow whenever we engage in a communication process.
a. Always observe clarity and adequacy. Express your message using words that can be
understood easily by the receiver. Use appropriate non-verbal cues. Provide an adequate

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 amount of information to the receiver. Always observe clear message construction. Mind
your listener’s perspective, limits, values, and cultural background.
b. Pay attention. Stay focused on the sender. Listen attentively to the message and cues
delivered. Also, pay attention to your listener’s background.
c. Provide feedback. (Be honest.) One of the signs that the communication process is
successful is when the receiver responds correctly to the sender. This shows that the
message is understood and clears on both sides.
d. Be consistent. Never communicate contradicting ideas. Talk about one concept at a time.
e. Consider time. There is always an appropriate time for everything including
communication. Also, take time to understand the ideas presented in the process before
giving feedback.
Check me out!
Please watch this video to help you better understand communication. Go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCfzeONu3Mo

The success of the communication process depends on your ability to practice these
principles and understanding how communication works.

Reflect on this!
Why is it important to be ethical in communicating today?
It is important to be ethical in communicating because:
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
Now that you are working your way to your professional careers, what important purpose
can communication serve you?
Communication serves many purposes to students like me. These purposes are:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Truly, communication serves a lot of purposes that would greatly help us in our daily
struggles and our future aspirations.
“Oftentimes, the words, emotions, or feelings that you failed
to properly communicate with can be the reason for that person
choosing to stay, to understand you, and to give you chances.”
_Ma’am Mans