Effective Technical Writing June 7, 2009

Improve your technical writing—without compromising your technical message!

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!

This intensive three-day seminar will show you proven technical writing approaches and techniques that you can apply back on the job to achieve successful technical written communications.
How You Will Benefit

* 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
* Learn how to use illustrations
* Produce final drafts to make the “write” impression with your superiors

What You Will Cover

* The basics of good technical writing
* Understanding the needs of your audience
* Planning and organizing the project
* Overcoming writer’s block
* Selecting the appropriate format for your audience
* Preparing manuals, proposals and documentation
* Understanding sentence structure and powerful word usage
* The essentials of electronic writing
* Simplifying complex information/edit and revision techniques
* Incorporating graphs, charts and tables

Who Should Attend

Engineers, scientists, IT/computer personnel and people in R&D and other technical areas, as well as business professionals at all levels.

Recommended: Bring a sample writing piece for one-on-one feedback.
Extended Training Description

Learning Objectives

* 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, and Eliminate False Starts
* Recognize the Needs of Your Audience
* Learn How to Use Illustrations
* Edit and Polish the Final Draft to Make the "Write" Impression with Your Superiors

Aspects of Technical Writing

* Understand the Pitfalls, Style, and Characteristics of Technical Writing
* Review Samples of Technical Writing
* Prepare a Writing Sample in Technical Style

Understanding the Readers’ Needs

* Determine Various Readers’ Needs
* Convey Technical Information Clearly to Nontechnical Readers

Patterns of Technical Writing

* Become Familiar with the Various Patterns of Technical Writing
* Learn to Write:
— Definitions
— Narration
— Process Description
— Physical Description
— Instructions

Organizing Technical Information

* Learn How to Organize and Evaluate Technical Data
* Understand the Various Patterns of Technical Writing
* Structure the Physical Format to Enhance Presentations of Ideas
* Use Linking Words and Phrases in Sentences and Paragraphs

Writing the First Draft

* Understand the Writing Process
* Understand the Importance of Determining and Focusing on Your Purpose and Goals
* Become Familiar with Techniques for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Achieving Sentence Clarity and Precision

* Review Proven Techniques for Ensuring Clarity and Precision
* Avoid Wordiness and Confusing Sentence Constructions

Technical Report Elements

* Distinguish between Informal and Formal Reports
* Become Familiar with the Elements of Technical Reports

Technical Report Formats

* Understand the Nature of Technical Report Formats
* Distinguish Various Elements of Technical Reports
* Utilize Specific Organizational Formats for Different Reports

Writing Abstracts

* Understand the Function and Characteristics of Abstracts
* Become Familiar with Guidelines for Preparing Abstracts
* Distinguish between Descriptive and Informative Abstracts

Using Illustrations

* Know When to Use Illustrations in Technical Writing
* Review the Characteristics and Uses of Illustrations
* Become Familiar with Various Illustrations Useful in Technical Writing

Preparing Technical Manuals and Proposals

* Become Familiar with the Characteristics of Technical Manuals
* Understand the Components That Comprise Technical Manuals
* Learn the Principles of Technical Manual Writing Style
* Identify the Elements of Proposals

Editing and Proofreading Techniques

* Review Guidelines for Editing and Polishing Technical Writing
* Understand How to Write for Another Person’s Review and Critical Commentary

Official Website: http://www.focustraco.com/index.php/tm-training-schedule/details/177-110205