Technical Writing

Clear, well-structured technical writing helps readers quickly understand complex information so they can take action with confidence. In this course, you will learn how to apply key technical writing skills to explain information in a clear and coherent manner. Learn to plan and structure your technical content across an array of genres ranging from instructions, standard operating procedures and emails to technical memos, technical reports and technical proposals.

This course is designed for professionals who do technical writing in their roles and want to strengthen and refine their skills, as well as those new to technical writing who are looking to build practical, applied skills. It is relevant to professionals in engineering, geosciences, architecture, technology, data and analytics, business intelligence, science, research, construction, manufacturing, and any other field requiring technical communication.

Please note: many students have some experience working in technical fields, but this is not a requirement for the course.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

• tailor your writing for both technical and non-technical audiences
• follow a structured approach for your technical documents
• learn to write appropriately for technical emails, technical memos, instructions, scope documents, reports and proposals
• incorporate AI tools to specifically improve your technical writing
• understand the role of persuasion in technical writing, whether giving recommendations within a technical report or getting buy-in for proposed solutions for a technical proposal
• apply technical writing best practices that will give you a communicative edge in your current role or future career path

Course outline

Week 1: Understanding technical writing; writing for technical and non-technical audiences

Week 2: Writing clearly and coherently; writing instructions

Week 3: Writing effective technical emails, technical memos and executive briefs; explaining complex concepts

Week 4: Writing formal documents; applying persuasive appeals in technical contexts

Week 5: Reviewing and finalizing your documents; using AI tools in technical writing

How am I assessed?

This course is marked complete/incomplete, and is based on your attendance and participation. Your instructor provides you personalized feedback on the assignments you submit.

Record of completion

Students who have successfully completed a course can access completion documents two weeks after the course ends. Course completion means 80% attendance and/or 80% completion of mandatory assignments.

Expected effort

Expect to spend 3-4 hours per week completing coursework, participating in the online forum, and attending the optional group video chat.

Technology requirements

To take this course, you’ll need access to:

• an email account
• a computer, laptop or tablet under five years old and using Windows or macOS
• the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
• a reliable internet connection.

For virtual office hours, you’ll also need:

• a video camera and microphone.

One day before the start of your course, we’ll email you step-by-step instructions for accessing your course.

Course format

This course is 100% online and instructor supported with weekly instructor office hours. Course work is done independently and at your own pace within deadlines set by your instructor. A new module is released each week. Log in anytime to your course to access the lessons as they become available.

Weekly office hours

Tuesdays, 6-6:40pm Pacific Time

This course offers optional weekly drop-in virtual office hours. Join your instructor and classmates by video conferencing to discuss course materials and assignments, receive feedback and ask questions.

Online materials will be available in Canvas for three weeks after the course ends, after which time you will no longer be able to access the course.