This module is designed to replace TW4115: Principles of Professional and Technical Communication and Information Design. This module is being developed to fully de-couple undergraduate and postgraduate modules which were historically taught together, but are now fully separate. The new title is also clearer. The module's purpose is to introduce students to the disciplines of technical and professional communication and information design; to establish a rigorous standard in the writing of clear, concise, correct English appropriate for technical communication; to develop the students' ability to choose appropriate writing styles for a range of technical communication genres and diverse audiences; to provide practice through a range of assignments designed to improve the students' performance in creating different types of documentation: summaries, brochures etc.; and to develop the students' expertise in using the tools of the profession. This module introduces technical communication for different genres. More advanced modules include content on referencing and academic writing.

Introduction to technical communication; audience analysis; writing style for technical communication; information design; typography; colour; graphics and illustrations; technical communication genres; writing summaries; designing and writing brochures.

On successful completion of this module, it is expected that students will be able to: Describe the fields of technical communication and information design. Critique graphics and text. Write clear, concise, correct English appropriate for technical and professional communication. Choose appropriate writing styles for a range of technical and professional communication genres and diverse audiences. Create different types of documentation: summaries, information graphics and brochures. Use software tools: FrameMaker, Microsoft Word and Photoshop. Design documents. Use templates.

On successful completion of this module, it is expected that students will be able to: Share resources. Participate in online and face-to-face discussions.

The module is taught through lectures, labs, and tutorials. The lectures provide students with theoretical background on professional and technical writing and information design. In lectures, students learn how research influences professional writing and design practice (KNOWLEDGEABLE). Tutorials involve group discussions (CO-OPERATIVE and ARTICULATE) and afford students opportunities to practice writing and design (CREATIVE). In labs, students learn to use software tools to design professional documents (CREATIVE). Assessments include redesign of graphics and brochures the students choose themselves (PROACTIVE and CREATIVE). (Graduate attributes are in brackets.)