Technical

Communication

Objectives

 Show why engineers need to know how communicate

 Identify how technical communication is different from high

school writing

 Identify what makes a good technical report or presentation

Rev: 20140827, NAO Technical Communication 2

What is technical

communication?

 Laboratory reports and

memos

 Journal papers

 Guides & Manuals

 Proposals

 Patents

 Specifications

 Progress and design reports

 ..and more!

Technical Communication 3Rev: 20140827, NAO

Technical Communication is Different

High School Writing

 Expository

 Double spaced

 Essay format

 Descriptive

 Length requirement

Technical Communication

 Informative

 Often single spaced

 Professional format

 Concise and precise

 Short is preferred

Technical Communication 4Rev: 20140827, NAO

Why do engineers need to

communicate?

Living in a “sound bite” world, engineers must learn to

communicate effectively … If we place our trust solely in the

primacy of logic and technical skills, we will lose the contest

for the public’s attention—and in the end, both the public and

the engineer will be the loser.

-Norman Augustine, chair of the Human Space

Flight Committee

Technical Communication 5Rev: 20140827, NAO

Questions to ask while

preparing

 What is my goal?

 Who is my audience?

 What are the limitations of my medium?

 How can I reduce the “noise”?

Technical Communication 6Rev: 20140827, NAO

What is your goal?

 Inform (Provide)

 Request (Obtain)

 Instruct (Give)

 Propose (Suggest)

 Recommend (Suggest)

 Persuade (Convince)

 Record (Document)

Technical Communication 7Rev: 20140827, NAO

Who is your audience?

 Am I delivering the information my audience wants?

• How much detail should I provide?

• What level of technical vocabulary is appropriate?

Technical Communication 8Rev: 20140827, NAO

Limitations of your medium

 Written vs. oral communication

 Abstract/executive summary vs. memo vs. report

 Specifications from audience

Technical Communication 9Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing the “noise”

 Write or speak clearly and concisely

 Identify facts vs. opinions

 Use the specified format

• If unspecified, choose a common format

 Use appropriate spelling and grammar

Technical Communication 10Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Writing concisely

 Using too many words

Many have made the wise observation that when a stone

is in motion rolling down a hill or incline that that moving

stone is not as likely to be covered all over with the kind of

thick green moss that grows on stationary unmoving things

and becomes a nuisance and suggests that those things

haven’t moved in a long time and probably won’t move any

time soon.

Technical Communication 11Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Writing concisely

 Using just enough words

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Technical Communication 12Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Writing

concisely

 Using showy words

• I am waiting for class to commence.

• I am waiting for class to start.

• It is essential that the gauge be cleaned at frequent

intervals.

• Clean the gauge frequently.

Technical Communication 13Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Writing Clearly

 Ambiguity

 Good paragraph use

 Sections and subsections

 Bullets

Technical Communication 14Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Presenting

Clearly

 I can read this (32 pt.)

• I can read this, too (28 pt.)

 We are getting small, but still readable (24 pt.)

 This is getting too small to read (20 pt.)

 Please be kind to your audience (16 pt.)

 Don’t go below 20 point font (12 pt.)

Technical Communication 15Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Presenting

Clearly

 Don’t blind your audience.

Technical Communication 16

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Good Idea

Good Idea

Good Idea

Good Idea

Good Idea

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Bad Idea

Good Idea

Good Idea

Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Presenting

Clearly

 Watch size and complexity of figures and tables.

 Use few words.

Technical Communication 17Rev: 20140827, NAO

Reducing Noise: Presenting Clearly?

Technical Communication 18Rev: 20140827, NAO

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