T ECHNICAL C OMMUNICATION G UIDE
FOR THE

F IRST -Y EAR E NGINEERING P ROGRAM

Purpose:
This guide is intended to provide first year engineering students with basic information about technical communication conventions, formats, and style, and to offer some advice about common writing errors, writing in a diverse community, and developing a stronger writing vocabulary. Additional Help:
For additional help with your writing assignments or for general writing support:
•

Visit the OSU Writing Center. Call 688-6429 to make an appointment, drop by, or visit their website at: http://cstw.osu.edu/writingcenter

•

Visit the Purdue University online writing lab
(OWL) at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

•

Visit the following site for APA citation format: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ TABLE

OF

C ON TE N TS

I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1
A. Technical Communication Overview .......................................................................... 1
B. Technical Communication in Engineering 1181/1182 ................................................. 1
C. Progression of Assignments ...................................................................................... 1
D. Evaluation of Assignments ......................................................................................... 2
E. Technical Communication Style ................................................................................. 2
I. Style Overview ....................................................................................................... 2
II. Writing Concise Sentences ................................................................................... 3
III. Varying Sentence Structure ................................................................................. 4
F. Revising/Editing.......................................................................................................... 4
G. Notes on Formatting Assignments ............................................................................. 5
II. Written Communication ....................................................................................................... 6
A. Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 6
I. Purpose: ................................................................................................................ 6
II. Content: ................................................................................................................ 6
III. Format: ................................................................................................................ 6
IV. Suggestions (to avoid common errors): ............................................................... 6
V. Sample Document: ............................................................................................... 6
B. Lab Memo .................................................................................................................. 8
I. Purpose: ................................................................................................................ 8
II. Content: ................................................................................................................ 8
III. Format: ................................................................................................................ 8
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION GUIDE (TOC)

PAGE I

IV. Suggestions (to avoid common errors): ............................................................... 8
V. Sample Document: ............................................................................................... 8
C. Lab Report ................................................................................................................14
I. Purpose: