Interested in developing your technical writing skills? Or are you looking to make a strategic career advancement? Whatever your goal, our Technical Writing course will give you the edge.

A surprising number of people and industries are involved in technical writing. The engineer, the marketing executive, the PR consultant and the freelance writer are some of the careers that use technical writing techniques.

Technical communication has become an integral part of a company's products and services. It also plays a major role in the training of workers, sales representatives and customers. Throughout the course you will study the skills needed to become a confident technical writer, and learn how to apply those skills in the business world - either as an extension of your existing skills or as a new career.

The Courses Direct's Technical Writing course is focused on the range of writing skills required to get your message across quickly, easily and concisely. Plus, as your course is delivered by correspondence, there are no timetables to adhere to so your study can fit around your current lifestyle.

• Technical communication
• Understanding your audience
• The purpose and scope of your message
• Collecting and sorting information
• Technical documentation
• Preparing and presenting information
• Overseas markets
• Sending communications overseas
• Office equipment

About Technical Communication

How to communicate technical information. The fundamentals. Methods of communication, from written reports to video. Visual communication. The costs of bad communication. 

Understanding your Audience

Use of the material - where and how. How to be a good technical communicator. How to develop good habits. 

The Purpose and Scope of your Message

Factors that enhance your message. Those that detract from it. Starting on a communication project. Planning. The purpose of your documentation. Planning checklist. 

Collecting and Sorting Information

Assembling the facts. Making a start. Steps to follow. The Reason tool. The Control tool. The Source tool. Library classification systems. Writing to be understood. Dividing your work. 

Technical Documentation

Making notes. Identifying sources of information. Interviewing people. Documents held by the client. Books and trade magazines. The Internet. Collating, classifying and evaluating. Indexes. 

Preparing and Presenting Information

Methods of presenting the information. Slide making. Desktop publishing. Filming. Recording. Structuring for impact. Graphics. Drawings and diagrams. Photographs. Algorithms. Tables. Graphs and charts. Symbols, abbreviations, acronyms and formulae. Copyright. 

Preparing and Presenting Information (continued)

Technical manuals. Technical articles. Information sheets. Sales and technical presentation. Lecture and conference material. Specifications. Abstracts. Press releases. Handbooks. 
Overseas Markets - Basic design. Text guidelines. Using a translator. Globalisation. Localisation. What to say. Bringing about change. What result do you want? What are you selling? 

Sending Communications Overseas

Electronic communications. Airmail delivery. Packages sent by sea mail. Illustrations. Graphic design. Form and arrangement in a communication. The outline analysis. 

Office Equipment

Microfilm, Videotape, Photocopies. Paper sizes. Typesetting. Binding. Choosing paper. The Audience: Who, what, where, why and when. The opening. Software to help technical writers.