Learn the art of writing for business and the professions. This course will help you evaluate your current writing skills and identify what is required to master the art of technical writing. The emphasis is on creating clear, professional communications. Topics include: technical communication, form and style in technical communication, creating audience-centred documents, and the profession of technical writing.

Update your skills by adopting the techniques of successful technical writers. Explore trends in the technical communication profession and the growth in the application of online writing. Discuss the development of a work portfolio and its use as an employment aid. Review the key characteristics necessary for success in this field.

Successful technical writers have good style and design skills built on a foundation of strong technical skills in writing mechanics, editing, and plain language usage. This course focuses using editing skills to improve writing. Practise the three levels of editing, as well as peer review and group editing. Topics include: grammar review, plain language, conceptual and stylist editing, proofreading, peer and group editing, interpersonal issues in editing, and computerized document checkers.

Covers the critical steps of managing document projects from conception or proposal through to delivery. Learn how to produce a document plan and monitor project process. Topics include: what defines project management; the project development process and document project flow; project preparation and planning; and how to conduct, complete, and deliver a project.

An effective proposal sets you apart in the current competitive marketplace. This course examines the principles and techniques of writing and presenting winning proposals. Topics include process, style, content, and delivery.

Tips and success strategies for writing online documentation. Focuses on the principles of good writing and design in an online environment. Topics include: what is “online,” determining project scope and terms of reference, standards of the development process, developing a document plan or storyboard, principles of online writing and design, creating a prototype, user testing, and delivering the final project.

Review the document development process for producing effective manuals and training guides. Topics include information design techniques, improving usability of manuals via reader analysis and peer review, and considerations for internationalizing documents.

Focuses on the structure, content, format, audience, purpose, and style of reports. Students learn about report format components, utilizing them to facilitate reader access and comprehension; communicate effectively and clearly with reader(s) by addressing leader concerns, needs, and interests; and analyze and develop a clear and appropriate structure that facilitates reading and comprehension.

Explores the effective application of design principles and processes, taking into account a number of human factor issues, to create audience-oriented information for print and web-based media. This is not a computer course.