About this course: 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.
Created by: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Taught by: Elena Bazanova, Director of the Language Training and Testing Center
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
| Basic Info | Course 4 of 5 in the English for Research Publication Purposes Specialization |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 2-4 hours per week. |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
1 video, 6 readings
- Reading: Elena Bazanova
- Reading: MIPT
- Reading: LTTC
- Reading: Clarivate Analytics
- Reading: Valentin Bogorov & Darya Bukhtoyarova (Clarivate Analytics)
- Reading: Grading Policy
WEEK 2
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, 1 reading, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: What’s in a name?
- Video: Characteristics of Technical Writing
- Video: Measures of Excellence in Technical Documents
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: The Content Approach
- Video: Acquiring the Three Types of Knowledge
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Understanding Audience and Purpose
- Video: Collaborative Writing
- Video: Writing for Multiple Audiences
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion Point
- Reading: Recommended readings and resources
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 3
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, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Visuals
- Video: Technical definition
- Video: Extensions
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Mechanism Description
- Video: Mechanism in Operation
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Planning Stage
- Video: Report Structure: Part 1
- Video: Report Structure: Part 2
- Reading: FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion Point
- Reading: Recommended readings and resources
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Peer-graded assignment
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 4
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, 1 reading, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Academic vs. Workplace Research
- Video: Conducting Secondary Research
- Video: Primary Research
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Focus on Process
- Video: Laboratory Report
- Video: Feasibility, recommendation, and evaluation reports
- Practice Quiz: Preview Test
- Video: Instructions
- Video: Checklist for the technical report
- Video: Style of writing
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion Point
- Reading: Recommended readings and resources
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: End-of-Module Test
WEEK 5
Module IV: Capstone Project
4 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Practice Quiz: Preview test
- Video: Web of Science: the primary tool for information discovery
- Video: Web of Science: information search examples
- Video: Derwent Innovation Index: how to navigate the patent data
- Reading: FAQ concerning peer-review assignments.
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion Point
Graded: Graded Quiz
Graded: Peer-graded assignment: Writing an Instruction
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
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.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | |
|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
I enjoyed learning technical writing course from Coursera. Thank you for introducing such a complicated topic in the simplest possible way.
Very sound testing method. You really need to be attentive.
1 star less because of the last video that seemed to be a promotion for a certain website, felt inappropriate for such a good course.
Great course and got great insights about Technical Writing. Adding some Technical Writing Tools would have been even nicer. Thanks
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D
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.