Republic of the Philippines

NDC-TAGUM FOUNDATION INC.

Apokon, Tagum City

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number ELT 5

Course Name TECHNICAL WRITING

Course Credits 3.0

The course revolves around fundamental principles in scientific and technical writing. It jumpstarts with
the nature characteristics, attributes, and properties of a technical account and zeroes in to the various
Course Description
material that fall under technical literature. The course prepares the student in writing various technical
material such as proposals, reports, thesis, journalistic outputs, and business letters.

Contact Hours/week 54 Hours

Prerequisite None
1. Exhibit the knowledge and skills in planning, managing, and evaluating communication programs.
2. Demonstrate skills in designing and producing multimedia (print, broadcast, audiovisual, and
Couse Outcomes
electronic) outputs.
3. Demonstrates skills in designing, managing, and evaluating communication campaigns;
At the end of this
4. Design media-based learning systems.
course, the learner
5. Conduct communication media research.
must be able to:
6. Uphold professional ethics and standards to practice social responsibility at all times.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the professional and ethical consideration of communication.
COURSE OUTLINE AND TIMEFRAME
WEEK COURSE CONTENT/SUBJECT MATTER
1 Technical Communication
 Introduction to technical communication
 Understanding ethical and legal considerations
 Overview of the writing process – pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing
 Writing collaboratively
2 ABC’s of Technical Writing
3 Nature of Technical Writing
 Content of Technical Writing
 Properties of Technical Writing
 Principles of Technical Writing
4 Definition
 Formal Definition
 Informal Definition
5 Classification
6 Description
 Description of Mechanism
 Description of a process
7 Partition
8 Plain language
 What is plain language?
 What is not plain language?
 Why use plain language?
 How to develop documentation in plain English
 Principles of plain language: readability, organizing information, designing an effective document
9 Audience question
 What is an audience?
 Types of audiences
  Captive vs. non-captive audiences
 Experts, technicians, executives, and non-specialist audiences
 Primary, secondary and tertiary audiences
 Real or intended audience
 Write your audience: meeting audience’s needs; audience analysis; creating an audience profile
10 Technical writing process
 Preparing to write
 Organizing information
 Writing the draft
 Revising
11 Determine the purpose and audience of a letter

COUSE LEARNING PLAN

Teaching and
Course Content / Assessment Resource Time
Desired Learning Outcome Learning
Subject Matter Task (ATs) Materials Table
Activities (TLAs)
Willingly accept the expectations  Scope of the course Socialized Recitation Manuals 3
and standards of the course for syllabus Discussions Syllabus hours
learning excellence.  Grading standards
 Course requirements
Note down the requirements  Rules and regulations
of the course and  Topics for group
schedules. discussion
Discuss the ethical and legal Technical Communication Lectures/Handouts Written Handouts 3
considerations  Introduction to technical Examination Syllabus hours
communication
Interactive
Detect the writing process  Understanding ethical Graded
discussion
and legal considerations Recitation
 Overview of the writing
 process – pre-writing, Board work Seatwork
drafting, revising and
editing
 Writing collaboratively
Discuss and exercise the ABC ABC’s of Technical Writing Lectures/Handouts Written Reference 3
of technical writing Examination Materials hours
Interactive
Graded Internet
discussion
Recitation
Board work Seatwork

Understand the content of Nature of Technical Writing Lectures/Handouts Written Reference 6

technical writing  Content of Technical Examination Materials hours
Writing
Interactive
Discuss the properties of  Properties of Technical Graded Internet
discussion
technical writing Writing Recitation
 Principles of Technical
Adapt the principles of technical Board work Seatwork
Writing
writing
Define definition Definition Lectures/Handouts Written Handouts 3
• Formal Definition Examination hours
Discuss different types of • Informal Definition
Interactive
definition Graded
discussion
Recitation
Differentiate formal and informal
definition Board work Seatwork
 PRELIM EXAMINATION
Define classification Classification Lectures/Handouts Written Powerpoint 3
Examination hours
Name the different ways to
Interactive
classify Graded
discussion
Recitation
Explain how to classify
Board work Seatwork

Oral reporting
Identify types of description Description Lectures/Handouts Written Reference 3
 Description of Examination Materials hours
Discuss the techniques used for Mechanism
Interactive
description  Description of a process Graded
discussion
Recitation
Distinguish description of a
process from description of Board work Seatwork
mechanism
Oral reporting

Define partition Partition Lectures/Handouts Written Reference 3

Examination Materials hours
Discuss the techniques used for
Interactive
partition Graded
discussion
Recitation
Write and produce partition
Board work Seatwork

Oral reporting
Define plain language Plain language Lectures/Handouts Written Book 6
 What is plain language? Examination hours
Discuss the principles of plain  What is not plain Interactive
language language? Graded
discussion
 Why use plain Recitation
Apply plain language language?
Board work Seatwork
 How to develop
documentation in plain
English Oral reporting
 Principles of plain
language: readability,
organizing information,
designing an effective
document
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Define audience question Audience question Lectures/Handouts Written Book 9
 What is an audience? Examination hours
Identify types of audience  Types of audiences Internet
Interactive
 Captive vs. non-captive Graded
discussion
Differentiate captive from non- audiences Recitation Powerpoint
captive audience  Experts, technicians, Board work Seatwork
executives, and non-
specialist audiences
 Primary, secondary and
tertiary audiences
 Real or intended
audience
 Write your audience:
meeting audience’s
needs; audience
analysis; creating an
 audience profile
Write a draft Technical writing process Lectures/Handouts Written Reference 6
 Preparing to write Examination Materials hours
 Organizing information Interactive
 Writing the draft Graded
discussion
 Revising Recitation
Board work Seatwork
Determine the purpose and Determine the purpose and Lectures/Handouts Written Internet 6
audience of a letter audience of a letter Examination hours
Interactive
Graded Reference
discussion
Recitation Materials
Board work Seatwork

Sample letters, Letters,

memos and memos or
proposals proposals
FINAL EXAMINATION: SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Suggested Readings and Alred, G. (2012). Handbook of technical writing. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
References De Belen, R. (2015). Elements of business writing and technical writing. Quezon City:
Wiserman’s Books.
Schwarzman, S. (2011). Technical writing management. USA: [S.I.].
Smith-Worthington, D. (2013). Technical writing for success. 3rd ed. Andover: Cengage Learning.
Course Students shall be required of the following in order to pass the course:
Requirements/Terminal 1. At least 44 hours/15 weeks (out of 54 hours/18 weeks) class attendance in one semester.
Assessment 2. 1st Warning – 4 absences; 2nd Warning – 8 absences; Dropped – 10 absences
3. Class participation in all class activities
 4. Participation in all oral reporting
5. Written and oral examinations
6. Submission of all the requirements/projects in due time
7. Participation in required Related School Activities (RSA)
Grading System

Classroom Policies

Prepared By: Reviewed By: Approved By: