Provides descriptions of courses offered at various colleges in the following areas: (1) improvement of technical communication; (2) technology and technical communication; (3) technical communication of scientific material; and (4) media for technical communication. Offers these descriptions as a means for creating technical writing assignments.…

Describes a technical writing course that meets the needs of students in English and the sciences. (RB)

Describes the methodology and results of a survey of technical writing teachers. Respondents indicated whether their institutions offer a course in lower division technical writing and how they believe such a course should be taught. They also rated the appropriateness of various types of writing exercises. (HTH)

Solves the problem of student diversity in technical writing courses by proposing a thematic approach to course content, with appropriate materials arranged in a classroom library of case studies. (RL)

The practical nature of technical writing is one of several concepts illustrated by the feasibility report assignment used in a technical writing course at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. As much as possible, the class is set up to simulate a work environment, including handouts printed as memos on letterhead paper. Students are…

Describes a writing assignment for business writing courses in which the class investigates a problem that affects them not as students but as members of a larger community. The assignment is a feasibility study for developing Athens, Ohio, as an arts and entertainment center. (HTH)

Proposes the concept of criteria formulation as an integral part of the report writing process. Suggests using the skills of analysis, synthesis, and valuing to produce readable, comprehensive, and accurate recommendation reports. (EL)

This anthology contains 21 articles on teaching methods and assignments in technical writing. The anthology is divided into three major sections. The first section, "Courses," presents plans for alternative approaches to the teaching of technical writing. The second section, "Components," offers a variety of activities for major segments within a…

Describes a method for using the press release to introduce basic technical writing principles and increase students' writing confidence. Includes lecture format and writing assignment. (HTH)

Explains why instructors need to make report writing an integral part of courses in business and technical writing. Discusses the advantage of group projects on campus-related issues. (EL)

Describes a simulated business approach in which students write about the kinds of correspondence that members of company departments might write. Discusses determining a schedule, forming departments and choosing a company, making assignments, and using student managers. (EL)

Presents a model for a technical writing course with special emphasis on the needs of English as a second language students. Explanations of assignments focus on the rhetorical, syntactical, and grammatical features to be stressed. Also considers problems resulting from cultural differences, and the advantages and disadvantages of the sequence.…

The English department of a technical college has developed a writing program that uses real audiences and real situations to better prepare students for the communication requirements of their professions. The exercises for each class are focused on the course content. In an advanced technical communication course, senior design, the students are…

The organizational report and letter writing course at Ohio University (Athens) is an advanced composition course designed to help students who expect to do such writing in their future jobs, but for whom technical writing and business communication courses are either inappropriate or insufficient. Students work in groups of four, investigating a…

The process-oriented advanced technical writing course described in this paper leads students progressively through the writing and editing processes while involving them in the technical writing of their respective disciplines. The readings, exercises, and report assignments used in the course are discussed to show how these activities awaken…