Module Code - Title:
TW5211
-
Principles of Professional and Technical Communication and Information Design
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
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: manuals, online help, brochures etc.
To develop the students' expertise in using the tools of the profession.
Syllabus:
Introduction to technical communication: audience analysis; writing style for technical and professional communication.
Introduction to information design: typography; colour; graphics and illustrations, page and screen layout.
Document genres: writing manuals; designing and writing brochures; writing for new media.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Describe the disciplines of technical communication and information design.
Critique graphics and text.
Write clear, concise, correct English appropriate for technical and professional communication.
Participate in online and face-to-face discussions.
Use software tools: FrameMaker, Microsoft Word and Photoshop.
Design documents.
Use templates.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Share resources.
Display a commitment to professional communication.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
n/a
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module is taught to on-campus and distance learning students.
In the on-campus version, students attend lectures, labs and tutorials. Lectures introduce and discuss key concepts and readings, students learn to use relevant software tools in labs, and tutorials focus on writing and information design practice.
In the online version, students use lecture podcasts, lab sheets, learning objects, and interact via the Sulis VLE to collaborate online and submit work. They are also invited to attend one on-campus software workshop during each semester. Attendance is not compulsory. The module incorporates graduate attributes by building knowledge, making students aware of their responsibility as communicators, and foregrounding an articulate writing style.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Market, Mike (2012)
Technical Communication (10th edition)
, Bedford/St, Martin's
Gurak, Laura and John M. Lannon (2006)
Concise Guide to Technical Communication (3rd edition)
, Longman
Collinson, Diane (2001)
Plain English
, Open University Press
Rubens, Philip (2001)
Science and Technical Writing
, Routledge
Other Relevant Texts:
Strunk, William and E.B. White (2000)
The Elements of Style
, Longman
Tufte, Edward (1983)
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
, Graphics Press
Zinsser, William (1988)
On Writing Well
, Harper and Row
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
ann.marcus.quinn@ul.ie