Technical writing for

Engineering
by
Assist.Prof.Dr. Eman El Tahan
Email e.eltahan@alexu.edu.eg

Office hours : Wednesday 10-12 Textile Eng Dept ( Textile building / Ground floor)
 Method Weight % To Assess When
Mid-Term Examination 20 Written communication skills
Final Examination 60 Written communication skills
Oral Examination
Practical Examination
Home Work 5
Quizzes 10
Other (Seminar) 5 Presentation skills
Total 100%
Lecture 1
What are the common types of writing?
Our course is about the

Technical writing
 Benefits of Technical Writing
• The Boss Wants a Report
• Completes a Job
• Unreported Work Can Be Lost Forever
• Writing technical reports and documents is the most effective means for
concluding a project and transferring new information or knowledge.
• Writing enhances job security by increasing your value to your employer.
• Oral reports on technical work will be altered each time a person shares the
results. Written reports do not change when transferred to others.
Types of Technical Studies
 Solving Problems
• The purpose of most technical professions is to solve problems.
• The problem could be in manufacturing; it could be related to a safety or
health hazard that has been identified.
• It could be related to marketing, such as reducing the time to market for new
products.
• Problem solving often requires testing, calculations, or both.
 Engineering projects almost include:

• State the problem (get all details)

• Select one approach to solving the problem
• Search literature and perform experiments
• Analyze data
• Decide if problem is solved or more work is needed
• Write report
 Develop Something New

• A study to develop a new material, process, machine, product, and so forth

may be needed a type of technical assignment.
• Often, management is essentially asking for an invention.
• Most projects in the development of something new require significant
effort, time and talent
 Feasibility Study

• What is the market?

• What is the long-term stability of the market?
• What does the equipment cost?
• What are the manpower requirements?
• What are the safety/government/health/liability concerns?
• What is the expected return on investment?
 General Methodology
• Performing laboratory projects during courses in engineering and science are
probably the closest a student gets to technical studies.
• How does one attack one of these projects?
 The key elements are:

• Proposing a project (when it is part of your job to do so)

• Gathering background information
• Planning the project or test
• Conducting experiments
• Analyzing data, reaching conclusions, making recommendations, and
reporting your work
What is technical engineering writing?
Technical writing it’s a form of writing that use
to clarify, simplify, and communicate their ideas,
often to a non-technical audience.
This is one of the most challenging aspects of
technical writing.
These non-technical readers might be executives,
sales representatives, end-users, consultants, or
virtually anyone else whose skills differ from the
technical writer’s own.
Why is technical writing important for
engineers?
Or,
How Does Technical Writing Relate to
Engineering Success?
Engineers who can transfer that essential
information improve communication inside
companies.
Better communication ultimately increases efficiency
and productivity.
For this reason, employers view engineers with
good communication and technical writing skills as
highly valuable
 Writing Strategy
• Understand how to develop a writing strategy
• Understand the importance of directing your technical writing to
specific individuals or groups
• Understand how to select appropriate readers
Who?

Information, ideas

Ideas , Information
procedures
 Technical
Documents

Formal Informal

Can be
Archived transient or
archived
 Formal

Published Technical
Patent
Work Report

Journal
Proposal
publication

Thesis Specifications

Book Investigation
contribution results
 Informal

Informal
Technical Memorandum
Report

Trip report Test report

Safety note Small study

Budget
Evaluation
status

Organization
change

letter
 Technical Memoranda
• In engineering and the basic sciences, most projects and studies are
concluded either by a formal or informal report.
• The readership and retention of this kind of document depends on the
situation
• Safety notes are a form of technical memorandum used in
many manufacturing organizations.
 Informal Reports
• Laboratory reports are generally a good example of an informal report.
• A report on bolt failure may have involved some laboratory work.
• A laboratory testing report is a good example also.
 Technical Paper
• A technical paper is a document written for publication in an archival journal.
• A key word in the definition is “archival.” If published, the work becomes a part
of permanent literature, which is kept in some libraries indefinitely.
• For work that will be of value to others years from now and that adds to
cumulative knowledge, select the technical paper report option.
• Technical papers for archival journals generally have a standardized style and
format.
So, the following question must be answered
Hints for Writing a Title

How to Write a Title

HOW TO WRITE A TITLE
 How
• How to Increase The Productivity in Weaving Mill

Importance
• The Importance of Textile Material in Marine Equipment

Can
Can Textile Industry in Egypt Survive in The Global Market