Preparation for Technical Writing in the Workplace

• Build curriculum that gives adequate time to expository or technical writing as well as to creative writing.
  
• Emphasize grammar, punctuation, and concise writing skills.
  
• Teach students to organize, use logic, and pay attention to detail.
  
• Teach students to use parallel structure effectively.
  
• Teach students to use —but not overuse—graphic organizers such as bullets, numbers, bold, italics, and color.
  
• Teach students consistency in the use of graphic organizers.
  
• Teach students to use tools other than words (charts, graphs, tables, ratios, schematics) to present information best demonstrated visually.
  
• Teach students to cite resources correctly using a standard format.
  
• Use team projects to help students learn collaboration, high level communication skills, project management, and adaptability.
  
• Include stimulating assignments or activities that increase interest in technical writing.
  
  
  

  "[Students] need a curriculum that provides a world-view of their roles, one that helps them to learn to anticipate the needs of their supervisors, other people in the company, and their customers. A sound curriculum will prepare them to understand the connections between communities (within organizations, across professions, and among broader communities) and the demands of communicating in all these settings." —Sherry Southard & Rita Reeves "Educating Future Technical Communicators" Intercom, January 1995

Writing in the Workplace