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School of Engineering
- Undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering
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- School of Materials and Chemical Technology
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- 工学院，物質理工学院，環境・社会理工学院共通科目
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- First-Year Courses
- School of Science
- School of Engineering
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology
- School of Computing
- School of Life Science and Technology
-
School of Environment and Society
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Department of Social and Human Sciences
- Department of Innovation Science
- Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
- Common courses
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- Academic unit or major
- Career development courses
- Instructor(s)
- Ricinschi Dan Gonzales Hazel Bantolino
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- Day/Period(Room No.)
- Wed5-6(G321,G324)
- Group
- D
- Course number
- LAC.M457
- Credits
- 1
- Academic year
- 2018
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- 2018/9/7
- Lecture notes updated
- -
- Language used
- English
- Access Index
-
Course description and aims
Master's Technical Writing, taught by active science and technology researchers, trains graduate students to form the ability of expressing themselves effectively in writing on topics closely related to their specialty.
In this lecture, iIn addition to providing information synthetized from relevant textbooks, the instructors offer students practical advice from their own experience as scientific paper authors, peer-reviewers and/or journal editors. Topics covered include the main steps needed to publish a scientific manuscript or technical report, writing each section of a research paper, and matters related to optimal transmittal of intended messages through effective vocabulary, sentences and paragraphs. The lecture aims to teach students what to write, where to write and how to write in the context of describing matters related to their specialized area in case of formal and informal documents (scientific papers, technical reports, cover letters, e-mails).
Student learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will:
1. understand the importance of tehnical writing for both current stage and future career
2. acquire and enhance the ability to write effectively each section of a scientific manuscript or technical report(*) from content, vocabulary and grammar viewpoints
3. acquire and enhance the ability to express their research-related ideas logically in sentences and paragraphs that properly transmit their intended messages to the targeted kind of readers
(*) In case some Master's students find it difficult to relate to writing of regular scientific manuscripts (having been involved in original research for a short time), in-class exercises and homeworks referring to other types of technical reports can be assigned, upon consultation with the instructors.
Keywords
written communication, research paper writing, technical writing style
Competencies that will be developed
| Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Class flow
The number of people of this class and 「Technical Writing」are added and they are a maximum of 30 students, based as much as possible on a match between student's and instructor's major and specialized area of research (if needed, a selection process will take place). The lecture will be offered twice in an academic year, in the fall semester. Students will attend the classes for 8 weeks, either in Ookayama or Suzukakedai campus. Main format of each class will be a lecture given by the instructor, with students as auditors as well as participating in class exercises. A number of individual written homeworks will also be assigned, which will be evaluated by the instructor.
Course schedule/Required learning
| Course schedule | Required learning | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | December 5(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Importance and role of Technical Writing, overall view on the process of writing a scientific paper | Understanding the importance of Technical Writing for one's career in science and technology and the necessary steps needed to go through in order to report one's research in scientific journals |
| Class 2 | December 12(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Introduction and Methodology | What to include in Introduction and Methodology sections and how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar |
| Class 3 | December 19(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Results and Discussion | What to include in Results and Discussion sections and how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar |
| Class 4 | December 26(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Sections of a Manuscript: Drafting the Conclusions, Title and Abstract | What to include in Conclusions and Abstract how to write them using proper vocabulary and grammar; How to give a manuscript a compelling title |
| Class 5 | January 9(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Matters of style in Technical Writing at word level and sentence level (word choice and order, grammar, punctuation) | How to select the words, word order, punctuation signs in a sentence and what grammar rules to follow to ensure optimal transmission of intended messages to readers |
| Class 6 | January 16(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Matters of style in Technical Writing at paragraph level (topic and support sentences, topic progression, linking expressions) | How to write effective paragraphs by arranging sentences in logical manner and how to connect them to ensure optimal transmission of intended messages to readers |
| Class 7 | January 23(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Matters of style in Technical Writing targeting specific concerns of specialized research fields (equations, chemical reactions, numbers, units of measure) and addresing topics proposed by students | How to describe in writing the specialized terms of various disciplines such as equations, chemical reactions, numbers, units of measure and other specific issues of technical writing brought up by students themselves |
| Class 8 | January 30(Wednesday), 13: 20-14: 50, Suzukakedai G321,G324 Summary and Comprehensive Discussion(Discussion among students) | Open discussion can raise the level of understanding among students. |
Textbook(s)
None-learning materials will be provided by instructors
Reference books, course materials, etc.
The Handbook of Technical Writing by Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, Walter E. Oliu, Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal, The elements of Technical Writing by Gary Blake, Robert W. Bly, The Craft of Scientific Writing by Michael Alley
Assessment criteria and methods
60% homework assignments, 40% participation in class activities
Related courses
- Technical Discussion
Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)
None
