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7.5. Writing and Communication (Mandatory)

7.5.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Effective written, oral, and digital communication is a core engineering competency, independent of any particular specialty. This course develops academic and technical writing, oral presentation, and professional digital-communication skills, so that students can produce clear reports and collaborative academic work, apply standard citation norms, and communicate technical content to varied audiences throughout their engineering studies and professional careers.

7.5.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Apply grammar, style, and academic writing conventions to produce clear, well-organized written texts.
2. Write academic and group research texts following standard citation norms (APA).
3. Deliver structured oral presentations, adapting content to different audiences.
4. Communicate professionally through digital channels and with project stakeholders.

7.5.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

ABET-3) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. (Familiarity)

7.5.4. Content ↑ Back to top

7.5.4.1. Written and Technical Communication (19 hours) [Skills ABET-3] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Gurak and Lannon, 2013; American Psychological Association, 2020)

Topics

1. Audience analysis and adaptation of technical content
2. Written communication: technical reports, memos, emails, and specifications
3. Visual communication: graphs, charts, diagrams, and effective slide design

Learning Outcomes

1. Write a clear, concise, and well-organized technical report on a laboratory experiment or design project [Usage]
2. Create effective graphs and diagrams to present engineering data [Assessment]

7.5.4.2. Oral Presentation and Professional Communication (19 hours) [Skills ABET-3] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Gurak and Lannon, 2013; American Psychological Association, 2020)

Topics

1. Oral presentations: structure, delivery techniques, and handling Q&A
2. Proposal writing: technical approach, management plan, and cost estimating
3. Executive summaries and communicating with non-technical stakeholders

Learning Outcomes

1. Deliver a structured oral presentation on a technical topic using appropriate visual aids [Usage]
2. Outline the key sections of a competitive engineering proposal [Familiarity]
3. Develop an executive summary that conveys key project findings to a senior management audience [Usage]

7.5.4.3. Digital and Collaborative Communication (18 hours) [Skills ABET-3] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Gurak and Lannon, 2013; American Psychological Association, 2020)

Topics

1. Collaborative writing and document management in team settings
2. Digital communication: web content, social media guidelines for engineers
3. Persuasive communication and negotiation techniques

Learning Outcomes

1. Manage a collaborative document (e.g., on Google Docs or SharePoint) for a team project [Assessment]
2. Explain the professional risks and opportunities associated with engineers using social media [Familiarity]
3. Employ basic negotiation tactics to resolve a simulated conflict over project scope [Usage]

7.5.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Gurak, L. J. and Lannon, J. M. (2013). A Concise Guide to Technical Communication. Pearson, 4th edition.

American Psychological Association (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, 7th edition.