Technical Communication and Writing

Serial Number
71030
Course Number
AM7150
Course Identifier
543 M8160
No Class
3 Credits
Elective
GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE / GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MECHANICS
- GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
- GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MECHANICS
ANDREW WO
- View Courses Offered by Instructor
- COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MECHANICS
- andrew@iam.ntu.edu.tw
- Institute of Applied Mechanics 應用力學研究所 Room 317
- 02-3366 5656
- Hi. Welcome to the class! It is my pleasure to help you learn various aspects of technical communication and writing. The overall goal of this class is to help you develop a life-long learning habit. Be sure you have this beyond-18-week-semester view engrave in your mind.
Tue A, B, C
APPLIED MECHANICS BLDG. ROOM NO.111 (應111)
Type 3
Limited, register online and distribute
30 Student Quota
NTU 30
No Specialization Program
English
NTU COOL
Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning

Notes
The course is conducted in English。
NTU Enrollment StatusNTU students only. Updated every five minutes during the course selection period.
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Course Description
It was said that your research is as good as you can communicate your findings. In other words, the world does not care about what you cannot communicate. Hence, communication skills in research is critical for a successful career. However, this skill is often overlooked since most of the training is based on technical matters. This course intends to help students to be a better communicator. Students taking this course should have at least an intermediate level of English. The reason for this prerequisite is that technical communication requires basic English skills.
Course Objective
This course is designed to develop students’ English ability in various aspects of communication skills needed for research. These skills can be divided into informal and formal settings. Skills for informal setting include: email communication, short technical talk etc. Skills for formal setting include: PowerPoint presentation, and writing skills for extended abstract.
Course Requirement
Students are required to demonstrate skill sets in oral and written communication.
Expected weekly study hours after class
Weekly homework and exam
Office Hour
Best to talk to me right after class or email me to make an appointment.
Designated Reading
Suitable papers
References
Buker, S. and Weissberg, R., Writing up Research- Experimental Research Report Writing for Students of English. Prentice Hall Regents, 1990.

Grading

30% Listening & speaking record	Due weekly
20% Informal communication	Email correspondence: request for info., thank you note, etc.
20% Formal communication	Abstract, powerpoint presentation, etc.
20% Exam	Exam on the reference text
10% Individual improvement

Adjustment methods for students

Course Schedule

2/20Week 1	2/20	Course logistics, individual assessment of various skills, research communication – an overview, the publication process
2/27Week 2	2/27	Basics of Informal writing - writing an email Basics of informal conversation - elevator talk
3/5Week 3	3/5	How to read a paper? Literature search Endnote
3/12Week 4	3/12	Students present Elevator Talk Write a "thank you" email.
3/19Week 5	3/19	Students present Elevator Talk Reference text: Writing up Research - Introduction (Ch. 2-3)
3/26Week 6	3/26	Reference text: Writing up Research - Introduction (Ch. 4), method (Ch. 5), materials (Ch. 6)
4/2Week 7	4/2	Reference text: Writing up Research - Results (Ch. 7), discussion (Ch. 8)
4/9Week 8	4/9	Reference text: Writing up Research - abstract (Ch. 9) Review of Reference text
4/16Week 9	4/16	Graphics presentation Oral presentation basics
4/23Week 10	4/23	Exam Ethics
4/30Week 11	4/30	Students present graphics
5/7Week 12	5/7	Students present graphics
5/14Week 13	5/14	Students present graphics Students present oral presentation & critique
5/21Week 14	5/21	Students present oral presentation & critique
5/28Week 15	5/28	Students present oral presentation & critique