Course Objective

The course aims at adding to the students’ competence in technical report writing and research methodology. Students are familiarized with the mechanics and conventions of technical writing through learner-centered approach. They are sensitized to the communicative needs of the computer professionals in the context of electronic communication. Class activities, authentic and non-authentic texts, group discussions and research projects shall gear them towards meeting the objective. The issue and problems of planning and designing technical presentations and documents for varying situations and audiences are also dealt with in the course.

Course Outline

1. Overall View of Technical Reporting

   1. Matters of Definition

   2. Goals of Technical Writing

   3. Identifying the Audience

   4. Writing Styles

   5. Reports Compared with Writing in General

2. Finding Way in the Library

   1. Card Catalogue

   2. Reference Work

   3. Periodicals, Journals and other Publications

   4. Computerized Information Retrieval; Browsing

3. Gathering Information

   1. Choosing Topic

   2. Checking Proposed Topic for Usability

   3. Searching the Literature

   4. Generalizing from Particulars and Particularizing from Generalities

   5. Administrating Questionnaires

   6. Letters of Inquiries

   7. Reviewing the Gathered Information

4. Technical Exposition

   1. Topical Arrangement

   2. Exemplification

   3. Definition

   4. Classification and Division

   5. Causal Analysis

   6. Effective Exposition

5. Technical Narration

   1. Technical Narration

   2. Description and Argumentation

   3. Persuasive Strategy

6. Organizing Information and Generalizing Solutions

   1. Brainstorming

   2. Organizing Material

   3. Constructing the formal Outline

   4. Outlining Conventions

   5. Electronic Communication

   6. Generating Solutions on the Computer

7. Polishing Style

   1. Paragraph

   2. Listing

   3. Sentence; Clear Sentence Structure, Sentence Length, Sentence Order

   4. Pomposity; Empty Words, Elegant Variation, Pompous Vocabulary

8. Creating the Professional Report

   1. Prose Elements

   2. Mechanical Elements

   3. Graphical Elements

9. Application/Correspondence

   1. Correspondence

   2. Style

   3. Format and Tone

   4. Replies to Letters of Inquiries

   5. Letters of Complaints and Adjustments

   6. Correspondence for Job Hunt

   7. Resumes

   8. Letters and Memorandum Reports

   9. Writing Business Letters

10. Reports

    1. Proposals

    2. Progress Reports

    3. Leaflets

    4. Brochures

    5. Articles for Magazines and Journals

    6. Physical Research Reports

    7. Feasibility Reports

    8. Handbooks

    9. Manuals and Documentations

Text Books

1. Murphy and Hildebrandt, "Effective Business Communication", 7th Edition, McGraw-Hill

2. Olive, Brusaw and Alred, "Writing That Works – Effective Communication in Business", 4th Edition, St Martin Press, 1992

3. Arif Khattak, "A Textbook of English Prose and Structure", Topi – Pakistan, 2000