DS1305 Technical Writing 9.0 credits

• The main text types
• Writing strategies
• Typical features of technical writing
• Genre analysis
• Report structure
• Referencing
• Integrating illustrations in a text
• Summary techniques
• Manual of style
• Language study

Methodology: The focus will be on writing as a process rather than as a finished product. Thus the students will be expected to write assignments in several drafts for review by peers and the teacher.

To increase awareness of different types of technical writing and what constitutes good writing style, a number of sample texts will be analysed in detail.

EU language portfolio levels A2-C1, http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

On completing the course, the student should be able to:

• identify and critically analyse the most important text types represented in engineering and academic texts.
• write short texts based on these text types.
• apply the Process Writing method to his/her own writing whereby constructive criticism from others (peers/teachers) is used to improve texts from first to final draft
• summarise texts and integrate them into scientific reports
• write a short report, adapted to a less specialised reader, on a topic from his/her own area of specialisation
• write clearly, correctly and concisely in the formal English style that is typical of engineering or specialised texts from his/her own area
• formulate his/her ideas in English logically, coherently, precisely and persuasively.

General entrance requirements for university studies, i.e. completed upper secondaray schooling incl. documented proficiency in English) and a compulsory placement test before applying. See our website for the test and information.

”Academic Writing”, Björk/Räisänen, Studentlitteratur

Compendium

• ANN1 - Assignments, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• ANN2 - Technical Report, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

75% attendance. Approved written assignments and a technical report. (ANN1; 4,5 credits, ANN2; 4,5 credits)

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

The course has limited participation. Students who are not present at course risk losing their place on the course.

The course programme may be subject to changes and courses with an insufficient number of students can be cancelled, get merged together with other courses or get a reduced number of lessons.