Course Details
Technical Writing Skills for Engineers
25 Mar 2013
Professional Development
Communication
Organisation Development Institute Limited
Cnr Courtenay & Leach Streets
New Plymouth
New Zealand
Full Day
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
$700.00
Early Bird (if registered 6 weeks before course) $650.00 excl GST
Early Bird (if registered 6 weeks before course) $650.00 excl GST
The aim of this one-day workshop is to provide an introduction to elements of technical writing, especially for engineers.
This workshop addresses the leadership behaviour of Communication on our Leadership Competencies Framework.
Practising engineers are required to write proposals, specifications, reports, conference papers, letters and electronic messages. Writing is perhaps the most important way in which information is conveyed to managers, fellow engineers, clients and other project stakeholders. An engineer’s communication skills will therefore support their success as an engineer, alongside their technical expertise.
Engineering demands precision. While engineering writing should reflect this precision in the form of clarity of meaning, this ideal is not often attained. A brilliant project may be on the drawing-board, under way or completed, yet if it cannot be explained clearly and concisely, and the reader is not convinced of its importance, the project may not be realised or may be undervalued.
Engineering reports:
■are designed for quick and easy communication of technical information
■are designed for selective reading
■use text divided into sections with appropriate headings and subheadings
■use illustrations to present data.
This workshop covers the basic principles and practices of technical writing, including structuring a proposal, technical report, conference paper or journal article, the integration of illustrations into the document and the use of technical language that is clear, concise and correct.
This workshop qualifies for NZ Trade and Enterprise’s Capability Development Voucher Scheme.
Target Audience
This workshop is for engineers who are required to undertake significant writing tasks such as proposals, technical reports, conference papers and journal articles. It is particularly relevant for engineers for whom English is not their first language.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
■explain the importance and value of excellence in technical writing
■produce a proposal, report or paper which is correctly structured, according to the formatting requirements of the client, the conference organiser or the publisher of a journal
■recognise good writing with respect to clarity, precision, correct word usage, grammar, punctuation and logical flow, and apply these skills to your writing
■decide on the most appropriate method of presenting results (ie as tables, diagrams, graphs, etc)
■integrate illustrations with the text in a proposal, report or paper
■introduce variety into writing by using appropriate subdivisions, in the form of headings, subheadings, subsections and paragraphs
■apply the correct ethical practices with respect to copyright, due acknowledgement of others’ work and the avoidance of plagiarism
■helpfully appraise the written work of colleagues.
Content
■Justification for excellence in technical writing
■Structuring an engineering proposal, paper or report
■Use of illustrations – tables, graphs, diagrams, photographs
■Formation of sentences using correct grammar and punctuation
■Use of language for clarity and conciseness
■Introducing flow, variety and interest in technical writing
■Strategies for the writing process, from drafting to final editing
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This workshop addresses the leadership behaviour of Communication on our Leadership Competencies Framework.
Practising engineers are required to write proposals, specifications, reports, conference papers, letters and electronic messages. Writing is perhaps the most important way in which information is conveyed to managers, fellow engineers, clients and other project stakeholders. An engineer’s communication skills will therefore support their success as an engineer, alongside their technical expertise.
Engineering demands precision. While engineering writing should reflect this precision in the form of clarity of meaning, this ideal is not often attained. A brilliant project may be on the drawing-board, under way or completed, yet if it cannot be explained clearly and concisely, and the reader is not convinced of its importance, the project may not be realised or may be undervalued.
Engineering reports:
■are designed for quick and easy communication of technical information
■are designed for selective reading
■use text divided into sections with appropriate headings and subheadings
■use illustrations to present data.
This workshop covers the basic principles and practices of technical writing, including structuring a proposal, technical report, conference paper or journal article, the integration of illustrations into the document and the use of technical language that is clear, concise and correct.
This workshop qualifies for NZ Trade and Enterprise’s Capability Development Voucher Scheme.
Target Audience
This workshop is for engineers who are required to undertake significant writing tasks such as proposals, technical reports, conference papers and journal articles. It is particularly relevant for engineers for whom English is not their first language.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
■explain the importance and value of excellence in technical writing
■produce a proposal, report or paper which is correctly structured, according to the formatting requirements of the client, the conference organiser or the publisher of a journal
■recognise good writing with respect to clarity, precision, correct word usage, grammar, punctuation and logical flow, and apply these skills to your writing
■decide on the most appropriate method of presenting results (ie as tables, diagrams, graphs, etc)
■integrate illustrations with the text in a proposal, report or paper
■introduce variety into writing by using appropriate subdivisions, in the form of headings, subheadings, subsections and paragraphs
■apply the correct ethical practices with respect to copyright, due acknowledgement of others’ work and the avoidance of plagiarism
■helpfully appraise the written work of colleagues.
Content
■Justification for excellence in technical writing
■Structuring an engineering proposal, paper or report
■Use of illustrations – tables, graphs, diagrams, photographs
■Formation of sentences using correct grammar and punctuation
■Use of language for clarity and conciseness
■Introducing flow, variety and interest in technical writing
■Strategies for the writing process, from drafting to final editing
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Errol Wood, BSc (Hons), PhD, DipTchg, has 40 years’ experience as a teacher at both secondary and tertiary levels, research scientist, science leader, university professor, information services manager and manager of a private training establishment. He is the author of over 60 reports and papers for peer-review science journals, and has authored two books and two chapters in recent international texts. His role as a PTE manager has involved the writing of over 40 training packages for use by textile technology trainees in New Zealand. Errol is an occasional referee for three international journals – Journal of the Textile Institute, Textile Research Journal and the International Sheep and Wool Journal. Currently he is a part-time lecturer in Environmental Physics at Lincoln University and the principal tutor in wool and textile technology for the Plastics and Materials Processing Industry Training Organisation (PaMPITO).
Throughout his career Errol has often been required to review the written work of colleagues, both scientists and engineers, and through this has gained an appreciation of what constitutes good science writing. Errol has previously delivered this course regularly to the staff of AgResearch, where he was employed as Education Manager until July 2010.
Qualifications
BSc (Hons), PhD, DipTchg
Throughout his career Errol has often been required to review the written work of colleagues, both scientists and engineers, and through this has gained an appreciation of what constitutes good science writing. Errol has previously delivered this course regularly to the staff of AgResearch, where he was employed as Education Manager until July 2010.
Qualifications
BSc (Hons), PhD, DipTchg