In CM3410, we will focus on techniques used to communicate technical information, both in written and oral form. We will discuss some general techniques useful in virtually all writing situations, using material available on-line from Plain Language organizations, and in the printed texts. The idea will be to apply these techniques to documents that chemical engineers would be likely to write. These techniques will cover everything from sentence-level structures to paragraph structures to whole documents. You will be asked, as individuals, to produce at least three pieces of writing: a resume and cover letter, a memorandum, and a set of abstracts and an executive summary. I may also ask you to produce in small groups a more extended piece of technical writing, or another individual piece of writing. These pieces of writing will receive letter grades. We will also do some in-class exercises in revising poorly-written text, and you can expect short quizzes on the assigned reading. All formal writing materials will be placed in a portfolio to be handed in at the end of the semester.

Also, as this class is expected to include oral communication, there will be a discussion of proper speaking practices, and there will be three formal talks assigned during the course of the term, two of them to be given as individuals, one as a group. I am going to ask you to purchase a videotape on which you will record your talks. You will receive extra credit for watching the tape and submitting written memos discussing your performance.