The course develops technical writing skills necessary to communicate information gained through a process of technical or experimental work. The course highlights the factors that determine the degree of technicality of the language and concepts involved. You will learn how to write different technical reports, e.g., laboratory reports, research reports, design and feasibility reports, progress reports, consulting reports, etc. The course also approaches several language, structure, style, and content issues that you can encounter while reporting the results of your research.
This course is part of the English for Research Publication Purposes Specialization
Technical Writing
4.5
(79 ratings)
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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11 hour to complete
Introduction
1 video (Total 1 min), 6 readings
1 video
6 readings
Elena Bazanova10m
MIPT10m
LTTC10m
Clarivate Analytics10m
Valentin Bogorov & Darya Bukhtoyarova (Clarivate Analytics)10m
Grading Policy10m
Week
23 hours to complete
Module I: From Start to Finish
This module will help you acquire knowledge about technical writing, which deals with complex topics in precise ways. The module covers issues related to workplace research that you will have to conduct as a technical writer. Regardless of which technique you use, your challenge will be to sort the relevant information from the irrelevant, and the accurate from the bogus. The module focuses on audience, purpose, and measures of excellence in technical documents. In addition, you will learn what it means to be a good technical communicator.
The references included at the end this module will serve as a perfect complement to the information described in the video lectures.
9 videos (Total 52 min), 1 reading, 7 quizzes
9 videos
What’s in a name?5m
Characteristics of Technical Writing6m
Measures of Excellence in Technical Documents4m
The Content Approach7m
Acquiring the Three Types of Knowledge6m
Understanding Audience and Purpose6m
Collaborative Writing7m
Writing for Multiple Audiences5m
1 reading
Recommended readings and resources10m
7 practice exercises
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
End-of-Module Test40m
Week
35 hours to complete
Module II: Organizing the Information
In this Module, you will learn how to use visuals to communicate a large amount of information quickly and efficiently. The Module provides general guidelines for using graphical tools that you can use to design visuals with the output process of the report in mind. In addition, you will learn how to define a term using various techniques of extended definitions. The Module also provides guidelines for effective planning of technical report writing.
9 videos (Total 47 min), 2 readings, 8 quizzes
9 videos
Visuals4m
Technical definition6m
Extensions5m
Mechanism Description5m
Mechanism in Operation5m
Planning Stage4m
Report Structure: Part 14m
Report Structure: Part 29m
2 readings
FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.10m
Recommended readings and resources10m
7 practice exercises
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz14m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz12m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
End-of-Module Test40m
Week
43 hours to complete
Module III: Researching Your Subject
This module will help you develop an enhanced understanding of such types of technical documentation as feasibility and recommendation reports, instructions as well as laboratory research. The module covers issues related to various types of academic and workplace research. The focus is on acquiring the best available information – the most accurate, most unbiased, most comprehensive, and most current.
10 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading, 7 quizzes
10 videos
Academic vs. Workplace Research4m
Conducting Secondary Research7m
Primary Research12m
Focus on Process3m
Laboratory Report4m
Feasibility, recommendation, and evaluation reports6m
Instructions7m
Checklist for the technical report5m
Style of writing6m
1 reading
Recommended readings and resources10m
7 practice exercises
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
Preview Test6m
Graded Quiz10m
End-of-Module Test40m
Week
53 hours to complete
Module IV: Capstone Project
4 videos (Total 24 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
4 videos
Web of Science: the primary tool for information discovery8m
Web of Science: information search examples8m
Derwent Innovation Index: how to navigate the patent data6m
1 reading
FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.10m
2 practice exercises
Preview test6m
Graded Quiz10m
4.5
21 ReviewsTop Reviews
It's an amazing begin for peoples that need to have a first contact with the technical writing. The activities and lessons permit an engagement with other participants.
This course was a great opportunity to learn the pros and cons of technical writing. It was such an informative, interesting and enlightening learning experience.
Instructor
Elena Bazanova
Director of the Language Training and Testing CenterMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology
About Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Московский физико-технический институт (неофициально известный как МФТИ или Физтех) является одним из самых престижных в мире учебных и научно-исследовательских институтов. Он готовит высококвалифицированных специалистов в области теоретической и прикладной физики, прикладной математики, информатики, биотехнологии и смежных дисциплин. Физтех был основан в 1951 году Нобелевской премии лауреатами Петром Капицей, Николаем Семеновым, Львом Ландау и Сергеем Христиановичем. Основой образования в МФТИ является уникальная «система Физтеха»: кропотливое воспитание и отбор самых талантливых абитуриентов, фундаментальное образование высшего класса и раннее вовлечение студентов в реальную научно-исследовательскую работу. Среди выпускников МФТИ есть Нобелевские лауреаты, основатели всемирно известных компаний, известные космонавты, изобретатели, инженеры.
About the English for Research Publication Purposes Specialization
In five courses, you will acquire the knowledge and skills that are deemed to be essential to success in scientific writing. You will develop your expertise with a range of academic literacy skills and self-editing strategies to prepare a publishable manuscript that editors will take seriously. You will learn the unwritten rules of good writing to meet the requirements of modern-day research publications. You will also learn practical tools and techniques for writing an easy-to-read persuasive grant proposal and a convincing request for funding. Finally, you will gain skills necessary to communicate information obtained through a process of technical or experimental work.
This Specialization is the perfect first step into the world of research publications. It is designed to take your knowledge of academic writing and turn it into an in-depth understanding of current trends in scientific writing to help you get published in an international journal, win a research project grant, or report research findings. Our general goal was to make this Specialization as convenient as possible for you without sacrificing any essential content.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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