Program Overview

Technical Communication and Writing

Course Overview

The course is designed to develop students’ English ability in various aspects of communication skills needed for research. These skills can be divided into informal and formal settings. Skills for informal setting include: email communication, short technical talk etc. Skills for formal setting include: PowerPoint presentation, and writing skills for extended abstract.

Course Details

• Serial Number: 71030
• Course Number: AM7150
• Course Identifier: 543 M8160
• Credits: 3
• Type: Elective
• Institute: GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE / GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MECHANICS
• Language: English

Course Objective

This course intends to help students to be a better communicator. Students taking this course should have at least an intermediate level of English.

Course Requirement

Students are required to demonstrate skill sets in oral and written communication.

Expected Weekly Study Hours

Weekly homework and exam

Course Description

It was said that your research is as good as you can communicate your findings. In other words, the world does not care about what you cannot communicate. Hence, communication skills in research is critical for a successful career. However, this skill is often overlooked since most of the training is based on technical matters.

Course Schedule

• Week 1: Course logistics, individual assessment of various skills, research communication – an overview, the publication process
• Week 2: Basics of Informal writing - writing an email Basics of informal conversation - elevator talk
• Week 3: How to read a paper? Literature search Endnote
• Week 4: Students present Elevator Talk Write a "thank you" email.
• Week 5: Students present Elevator Talk Reference text: Writing up Research - Introduction (Ch. 2-3)
• Week 6: Reference text: Writing up Research - Introduction (Ch. 4), method (Ch. 5), materials (Ch. 6)
• Week 7: Reference text: Writing up Research - Results (Ch. 7), discussion (Ch. 8)
• Week 8: Reference text: Writing up Research - abstract (Ch. 9) Review of Reference text
• Week 9: Graphics presentation Oral presentation basics
• Week 10: Exam Ethics
• Week 11: Students present graphics
• Week 12: Students present graphics
• Week 13: Students present graphics Students present oral presentation & critique
• Week 14: Students present oral presentation & critique
• Week 15: Students present oral presentation & critique

Grading

• Listening & speaking record: 30%
• Informal communication: 20%
• Formal communication: 20%
• Exam: 20%
• Individual improvement: 10%

References

• Buker, S. and Weissberg, R., Writing up Research- Experimental Research Report Writing for Students of English. Prentice Hall Regents, 1990.