University of Petra

Faculty of Engineering ....................... ‫كلية‬

Department of Civil ......................... ‫قسم‬
Engineering

Course Syllabus

Year : 2019/2020 Semester : First

Credit Hours
Course No. Course Title Prerequisite Co-requisite
Lectures / Lab.
901400 Technical Writing - None 2 hours

Instructor Name e-mail Office No. Office ext. Office Hours

Dr. Waleed Othman

Coordinator's Name:
(if applicable)

This course aims to enhance the writing process and teach the
fundamentals of effective individual and collaborative technical
writing (including the planning, drafting, and revising stages),
Short Course presentation, letters and memorandums, reports, proposals, e-mail, and
Description other documents using standard research techniques, documentation,
and formatting as appropriate to be effective technical communicators
in the context of the engineering academic and professional
environments.

Course Objectives
The course aims at enabling students to:
- analyze a variety of professional rhetorical situations and produce appropriate texts in response.
- identify and practice the stages required to produce competent, professional writing through
planning, drafting, revising, and editing.
- practice the ethical use of sources and the conventions of citation appropriate to each genre.
- write for the intended readers of a text, and design or adapt texts to audiences who may differ
in their familiarity with the subject matter.
- demonstrate improved competence in Standard Written English, including grammar, sentence
and paragraph structure, coherence, and document design.

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Course Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and their Alignment with Program ILOs, Teaching
and Learning Methods, and Assessment Methods:

Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to achieve the following
learning outcomes:

Course ILOs Program Teaching and Assessment

ILOs Learning Method
Method
Knowledge (K)
Understand basic technical writing, K (1) Modeling and Written
communication and documentation concepts, in-class exams
structures, and operations. practice
Recognize, explain, and use the rhetorical K (2) Modeling and Written
strategies and the formal elements of specific in-class exams,
genres of technical communication: reports, practice project, in-
presentations, letters, memorandums, proposals, class
emails. presentation
Intellectual Skills (I)
Organize and collect technical information to write I (4) Lecturing, Written
a technical report. brain- exams
storming,
mapping
Apply appropriate language, formatting, and I (3) Modeling, Written
designing techniques in different genres of check-lists exams
technical writing
Practical skills (P)
Produce writing appropriate to the genres and P (1) Modeling, Written
formats of professional communication checklists, exams
group work
Collect, analyze, document, and report research P (3) Modeling, in- Project
clearly, concisely, logically, and ethically class practice
Transferable Skills (T)
Participate actively in writing activities T (1) Modeling and Exercises
(individually and in collaboration) that model group work with
effective scientific and technical communication teacher’s
in the workplace. feedback
Use proper techniques and visual aids in T (1) Modeling and In-class
presentations group work assessment

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Course Schedule:

Week Topic Details Course ILO Reference

number
1 Discussing course objectives, ILOs Course syllabus
and course content
2 Basic writing skills K (1), I (4) Handouts and
worksheets (1)
3 Definition and characteristics of K (1) Gerson, 2001, pp. 1-9
technical writing
4 Technical communication style I (3) Riordan, 2014, pp 88-
106; Rosenberg, 2005,
pp. 31-61
5 Writing clearly, concisely and K (2), I (3) https://www.monash.e
precisely du/rlo/research-
writing-
assignments/writing/cl
ear-
communication/writin
g-clearly-concisely-
and-precisely#clearly
6 Writing memorandums and letters I (4), P (3) Gerson, 2001, pp. 34-
38; 26-34
7 Emails P (3), T (1) https://www.indeed.co
m/career-
advice/career-
development/how-to-
write-a-professional-
email
8 -9 Reports and referencing K (2), I(4), I https://www.monash.e
(3), P (1), P du/rlo/assignment-
(3) samples/engineering/e
ng-writing-technical-
reports
10-11 Proposals K (2), I(4), I https://www.aboutcivil
(3), P (1), P .org/writing-technical-
(3) proposals.html

http://thg.org.ng/empo
werment/resources/bus
iness_proposal_writin
g.pdf
12 Presentations Self-study: You Tube
videos
13 Presentations in class T (1) Assessment
14 Presentations in class T (1) Assessment

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Assessment Methods and Grading System:

Assessment method Grade Comments

First exam 20%
Second exam 20%
Report writing project 30%
Presentation 30%
Final exam 0%
Total 100

Learning References:

1- Textbook (s):
selected material from:
- Riordan, Daniel (2014) Technical Report Writing Today, 10th edition. Boston: Cengage
Learning.
- Gerson, S. M. (2001). Writing that Works: A Teacher's Guide to Technical Writing. Kansas
Competency-Based Curriculum Center, Washburn University.
- Rosenberg, B. J. (2005). Spring into technical writing for engineers and scientists. Pearson
Education India.

2- References:
On paragraph writing:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/index.ht
ml
https://www.monash.edu/rlo/research-writing-assignments/writing/clear-communication/writing-
clearly-concisely-and-precisely#clearly
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-professional-email
https://www.aboutcivil.org/writing-technical-proposals.html
Videos:
On paragraph writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa28_Rsl6oY
Types of sentences: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urr55rAreWc
Letters, memos, and emails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpx7qEuY_QA
Effective presentations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHhqWbI0y4M
PowerPoint tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF34-Wu6qWU
3- Other Resources:
<<Labs, computer resources, lecture rooms needed for the course>>

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Course Policies1

 Attendance Policy: University regulations apply to attendance.

 Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is an unacceptable mode of conduct, and will not be
tolerated in any form at University of Petra. All persons involved in academic dishonesty and
plagiarism in any form will be disciplined in accordance with University rules and regulations.

Approved by Name Date Signature

Coordinator of
Curriculum
Committee
Faculty Dean/ Head
of Department

1
Additional information may be added in this section according to the nature of the course.

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