Program Overview
Program Overview
The Technical Communication program is a 1.0-unit course designed for students in their 1st to 5th year, held during the spring semester. The program is led by instructor Nobuji Nomura.
Course Description
The program focuses on the fundamentals of technical communication, which involves conveying information based on facts and data. Through lectures and exercises, students will learn how to effectively communicate technical information, including the use of idea generation methods, grammar, layout design, and the role of text and images.
Course Method
The program will be conducted through a combination of lectures and exercises. Students will participate in various exercises, such as vocabulary building, explaining concepts from multiple perspectives, and conveying the essence of content without relying on specialized terminology.
Relationship to Degree Programs and Competencies
The program is related to the master's and doctoral degree programs, focusing on competencies such as knowledge utilization, communication skills, and internationality.
Course Objectives
The program aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Acquire methods for verbalizing and conveying one's ideas
- Learn how to logically construct concepts
- Develop methods for controlling presentation settings
Keywords
Technical Communication, Layout Design, Presentation
Course Plan
The program will consist of lectures and exercises, with students presenting their work, such as written assignments. The goal is to encourage original ideas and thinking, rather than seeking correct answers.
Detailed Course Plan
The course plan includes the following topics:
- Introduction to Technical Communication
- Generating Ideas
- Understanding one's inner thoughts and ideas
- Using logic to organize ideas
- Considering social and cultural contexts
- Conveying Information through Text
- Preparing to write: planning and organization
- The act of writing: revising and editing
- Publishing knowledge: editorial design
- Visual and Auditory Communication
- Techniques for conveying information visually
- Techniques for conveying information through speech
- Effective Presentation
- Presenting oneself: tone and image
- Controlling the presentation setting: atmosphere and fashion
Prerequisites
Interest in presentation and related fields is required.
Evaluation Method
The program will be evaluated based on two reports, each accounting for 50% of the final grade. The evaluation criteria include achieving a score of 60% or higher on each report, with grades ranging from A+ to D.
Allocation of Learning Time
The program will allocate 65% of the time to lectures and 35% to exercises. Students are expected to engage in self-study, including reviewing and editing their own work, such as materials from previous presentations.
Teaching Materials and References
The recommended reference material is "Technical Writing for Researchers and Students" by Nobuji Nomura. Students are also encouraged to bring a Japanese dictionary and an English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary.
Other Notes
In the event of absence due to circumstances such as attending conferences or conducting fieldwork, students are required to submit a "reason document" to the instructor. If the instructor deems the absence justified, the student may be allowed to submit a report in lieu of attendance.