If writing technical information and effective memos, letters, reports, manuals, instructions, documentation, specifications, or proposals is a tough proposition, this technical writing course is for you. In this intensive three-day seminar, you will learn proven technical writing approaches and techniques that you can apply back on the job to achieve successful written technical communications. Bring a current project and get one-on-one feedback.

Your technical writing will improve as you learn to:

• Organize your material by purpose and audience
• Write with greater clarity and precision in less time
• Present complex technical information simply
• Know the purpose of your writing before you begin
• Recognize the needs of your audience
• Use illustrations
• Produce final drafts to make the right impression with your superiors

1. Aspects of Technical Writing

• Pitfalls, style, and characteristics of technical writing
• Samples of technical writing
• Prepare a writing sample in technical style

2. Understanding the Readers' Needs

• Determine various readers' needs
• Convey technical information clearly to nontechnical readers

3. Patterns of Technical Writing

• Various patterns of technical writing
• Learn to write:
  • Definitions
  • Narration
  • Process description
  • Physical description
  • Instructions

4. Organizing Technical Information

• How to organize and evaluate technical data
• Structure the physical format to enhance presentations of ideas
• Use linking words and phrases in sentences and paragraphs

5. Writing the First Draft

• The writing process
• Importance of determining and focusing on your purpose and goals
• Techniques for overcoming writer's block

6. Achieving Sentence Clarity and Precision

• Proven techniques for ensuring clarity and precision
• Avoid wordiness and confusing sentence constructions

7. Technical Report Elements

• Informal vs. formal reports
• Elements of technical reports

8. Technical Report Formats

• Nature of technical report formats
• Elements of technical reports
• Organizational formats for different reports

9. Writing Abstracts

• Function and characteristics of abstracts
• Guidelines for preparing abstracts
• Descriptive vs. informative abstracts

10. Using Illustrations

• Know when to use illustrations in technical writing
• Characteristics and uses of illustrations
• Illustrations useful in technical writing

11. Preparing Technical Manuals and Proposals

• Characteristics of technical manuals
• Components that comprise technical manuals
• Principles of technical manual writing style
• Elements of proposals

12. Editing and Proofreading Techniques

• Guidelines for editing and polishing technical writing
• How to write for another person's review and critical commentary