English for Technical Writers

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English for Technical Writers

• Lynn Beechey-Volz
• Chris Keelan
• WS 07/08

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Some common mistakes

• When we use fossil fuels in a long term we will
  destroy our environment
• So our aim is to use alternative energies like
  solar, wind and waterpower, to keep alive our
  environment in a good and healthy way
• The advantages are
• less air pollution through exhaust fumes
• keep alive all living things
• avoid global warming gases destroying the ozone
  layer
• The advanteges of alternative energy. Alternative
  energy is the futur

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Organisation Layout of Information

• Some possible responses to your writing
• How interesting!
• That looks very interesting
• Interesting
• Could be interesting
• Is this worth reading?
• This looks very heavy going
• Do I have to read this? No, I dont think I do!

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Organisation Layout of Information

• Warm-up Look at the curriculum vitae your
  teacher gives you and make notes on layout and
  how the information is organised
• How could you improve the CVs?

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Organisation Layout of Information Report
Writing

• With a partner, brainstorm what is important for
  layout / organisation of
• The front page
• The wording of titles
• The table of contents

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The Front Page 1
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The Front Page 2
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The Wording of Headings 1

• Construction and instrumentation of an
  experimental concrete road on the trunk road D7
  Upbridge bypass to determine the effect of
  omitting expansion joints

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The Wording of Headings 2

• Effect of omitting expansion joints in concrete
  roads

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The Table of Contents

• What is wrong with this table of contents?
• Contents Page No.
• Introduction 1
• Method 3
• Requirements 10
• Recommendations 16
• References 16
• Appendices 17

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Homework

• In terms of layout and organising information,
  consider what is important for the following
• The synopsis
• Footnotes
• Illustrations
• 200 words

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Contact

• Lynn.Beechey-Volz_at_hs-karlsruhe.de
• Chris.Keelan_at_hs-karlsruhe.de
• Office hours Chris F304, Lynn LI-024
• Tuesday, Thursday 1300 - 1345,
• Wednesday 1130 1215