CLIENT PROJECTS, Rolf Norgaard
A rhetorically informed introduction to technical writing that hones communication skills in the context of multidisciplinary design activities. The course treats design as a collaborative, user-oriented, problem-based activity, and technical communication as a rhetorical and persuasive design art. Taught as a writing workshop emphasizing critical thinking, revision, and oral presentation skills, the course focuses on a semester-long design project for real campus or community clients, and on effective communication with multiple stakeholders. Whereas other writing courses might ask you to “write about X,” this course asks you to draw on writing and speaking “to do X.” See Course Schedule.

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PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT, Kathryn Pieplow
This course focuses on managing the design of a project for actual campus or community clients. We will duplicate, to the extent possible, the design processes used in business and industry, integrating the skills and strategies necessary for effective client communication, team collaboration, needs assessment, design, and presentation. The core of effective project design is critical thinking, rhetorical analysis, written and oral communication skills. Although taught as a writing workshop, unlike other writing courses that ask you “to write about X,” this course requires you to further develop your writing and speaking skills “to do X.” See Course Schedule.

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TECHNICAL WRITING ACROSS DISCIPLINES, Michel Hendry
This section pedagogically embraces both process theory and the stylistic and epistemological norms of technical writing across discipline.  This section reconciles structure with paradox and ambiguity in complex thinking and writing across discipline.  By undertaking applied exercises and assignments and participating in the workshop methodology for editing and revising, students learn to describe, analyze, evaluate, advocate courses of action, and research, design, and package technical information.  By completing an informational report, students recognize the value of description (appeals, tropes, definition, and visual language).  By completing an analytical report, students enlist the critical thinking skills of analysis (claim and evidence) and evaluation (induction, deduction, and counterargument) to make technical information useful to specific audiences.   By completing research proposals, recommendation reports, and promotional literature, students demonstrate their ability to apply descriptive, analytical, and evaluative principles to multiple contents and contexts. See Course Schedule.

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TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN, Amy Goodloe
Introduction to technical writing that will help you develop the communication skills you'll need to effectively participate in technical design activities. We will focus on both the process of technical design, which is collaborative, user-oriented, and problem-based, as well as the function of design as a mode of communication, particularly within the context of digital environments. Effective technical design requires insight into how users interact with information and environments, and effective technical communication requires clarity of purpose and message, critical thinking, and the skillful use of a range of rhetorical strategies to target multiple audiences. Class is delivered as a workshop, which puts emphasis on communication and design as processes that emerge through ongoing collaboration and revision. See Course Schedule.

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