Technical Writing

Are you a technical writer who wants to learn about the Python programming language? Or do you want to advance your career as a technical writer in the software development industry?

If your answer is yes, then this course can help you.

Python is currently the most popular programming language in the world. According to SlashData, "there are now 8.2 million developers in the world who code using Python, and that population is now larger than those who build in the Java language."

If you are serious about your technical writing career, you must be able to communicate efficiently with your development team about the software code they have been developing. Moreover, top-paying companies in the software industry often require technical writers to not only read and understand Python source code but also to develop sample code exercises that enrich developers' documentation.

But how can you do that if you're just a technical writer who has never written a single line of code? You should find someone to show and guide you through this software development jungle, preferably quickly so that you can get back to writing documentation that helps your target users.

This course is designed to help technical writers learn Python programming language in order to communicate more efficiently with their development team and develop sample code exercises for documentation.

Ph.D. Sehrish Aqeel, a top expert in Python from JPDocu School of Technical Writing, shares her vast experience with Python in a friendly and relaxed manner. She has over 14 years of experience teaching at the university and online, and now she shares her knowledge with the technical communications community through this course through practical explanations and hands-on exercises.

By the end of the course, participants will become technical writers who can confidently read and understand Python source code, use Python terminology, and develop a simple application following the instructor's guidelines.

You will soon realize that Python language can be easy to understand and learn when you have the right teacher. There is no complicated theory, just practical explanations, and simple hands-on exercises to smoothly introduce you to the language. Of course, this course does not aim to turn you into a developer - do not expect to gain solid development skills here. However, by the end of this course, you will become a technical writer who can read and understand Python source code, use Python's terminology confidently, and get the chance to develop a simple application yourself, following the instructor's guidelines.

So, enroll now and see how simple and easy Python can be. Impress your development team with the skills of a professional technical writer who knows Python language too.

What's inside

Learning objectives

You will be able to read the basic syntax of python programming language
Set up and install an environment for working with python (anaconda)

Understand the meaning and intended use of common python techniques (elif, while, for, comments, etc.)
Perform hands-on exercises and a mini-project to practice what you've learned

You will be able to read the basic syntax of python programming language
Set up and install an environment for working with python (anaconda)
Understand the meaning and intended use of common python techniques (elif, while, for, comments, etc.)
Perform hands-on exercises and a mini-project to practice what you've learned

Syllabus

Introduction

Comments - Exercise 1

Installation and Interface Explanation

Basic Syntax, Input and Output Operations

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on exercises and a mini-project, allowing learners to immediately apply their knowledge and build a portfolio piece

Taught by an instructor with 14 years of experience teaching Python, which can help learners grasp the fundamentals more easily

Covers how to write documentation for a Python application, which is a highly valuable skill for technical writers in the software industry

Focuses on practical explanations and simple exercises, which can be beneficial for technical writers who are new to programming

Uses Anaconda, a distribution of Python, which simplifies package management and deployment, making it easier to set up a development environment

Does not aim to turn learners into developers, which may not be suitable for technical writers seeking in-depth programming knowledge

Reviews summary

Technical python introduction for writers

According to learners, this course is a highly effective introduction to Python for technical writers with little to no prior coding experience. Students praise the clear explanations provided by the instructor and the useful hands-on exercises and final project, which help build confidence in reading and understanding code. Some learners with prior programming knowledge found the pace slow or the depth limited, which aligns with the course's stated goal of not creating developers. A few students also reported difficulties with the initial software setup, occasionally requiring external troubleshooting. Overall, it successfully helps technical writers bridge the gap and communicate more effectively with development teams.

Course includes helpful hands-on examples and projects.

"Practical examples were helpful."

"...the hands-on exercises are excellent."

"The final project was a good way to tie things together."

Instructor explains concepts effectively and clearly.

"Dr. Aqeel explains things so clearly and the hands-on exercises are excellent."

"The instructor is very knowledgeable and presents the material in an engaging way."

"I feel much more confident discussing code now."

Highly effective for technical writers new to Python.

"As a technical writer with zero coding experience, this course was perfect."

"This course is exactly what a tech writer needs to get a foothold in understanding Python codebases."

"It's probably good for absolute beginners though."

Some learners encountered issues with installation steps.

"Setup instructions were a bit tricky on my specific OS."

"I struggled with the Anaconda installation mentioned in the setup."

"Had to find external resources to get it working."

May be too slow or basic for those with prior coding skills.

"Too slow and basic for me. I have a little programming background..."

"It's not deep, but it gives you the language and basic structure knowledge."

"Don't expect to become a developer, which is fine as the course states."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Technical Writing: Getting Started with Python with these activities:

Review Basic Programming Concepts

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Reinforce fundamental programming concepts like variables, data types, and control flow to better understand Python's syntax and structure.

Browse courses on Programming Fundamentals

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Review online tutorials or introductory programming books.
Practice writing simple programs in any language.
Focus on understanding variables, loops, and conditional statements.

Review "Python Crash Course"

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of Python through a project-based approach, reinforcing concepts learned in the course.

View Python Crash Course, 3rd Edition: A Hands-On,... on Amazon

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Work through the initial chapters covering Python basics.
Choose a project from the book that aligns with documentation tasks.
Complete the project, paying attention to code clarity and documentation.

Review "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python"

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Learn practical Python skills for automating tasks, which can be directly applied to creating documentation examples and understanding code.

View Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 3rd... on Amazon

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Read the chapters relevant to basic Python syntax and data structures.
Complete the practice exercises in each chapter.
Try to adapt the examples to documentation-related tasks.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Practice Python Syntax Exercises

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Reinforce Python syntax through repetitive exercises, focusing on areas like loops, conditionals, and data structures.

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Find online resources with Python syntax exercises.
Complete at least 10 exercises per week, focusing on different concepts.
Review solutions and understand any mistakes.

Write a Blog Post on Python for Technical Writers

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Solidify understanding by explaining how Python can be used in technical writing, targeting other technical writers as the audience.

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Research common Python use cases in technical writing.
Outline the blog post with clear sections and examples.
Write the blog post, explaining concepts in simple terms.
Edit and proofread the post before publishing.

Create a Simple Python Script for Documentation

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Apply learned Python concepts by creating a script that automates a documentation-related task, such as generating a table of contents or formatting code snippets.

Show steps

Identify a repetitive documentation task that can be automated.
Write a Python script to perform the task.
Test the script and refine it as needed.
Document the script's functionality and usage.

Career center

Learners who complete Technical Writing: Getting Started with Python will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Technical Communicator

A technical communicator specializes in translating complex technical information into easily understandable content for various audiences. The ability to read and understand Python source code, as emphasized in this course, helps a technical communicator collaborate more effectively with development teams. Understanding Python empowers them to create accurate and insightful documentation, tutorials, and user guides. Learning Python programming language allows a technical communicator to better support developers and end-users. This course specifically helps by providing a foundation in Python syntax, data types, and control structures, ensuring that the technical communicator can confidently navigate and interpret code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Communicator

Documentation Specialist

A documentation specialist creates and maintains documentation for software, hardware, and other technical products. This course helps documentation specialists because it provides a practical introduction to Python. By learning to read and understand Python source code, documentation specialists can improve the accuracy and relevance of their work. The course's focus on hands-on exercises and a mini-project provides valuable experience in applying Python concepts, helping the documentation specialist to create more effective examples and tutorials. This understanding allows documentation specialists to communicate more effectively with developers, leading to higher quality documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Documentation Specialist

Content Developer

Content developers design and create engaging content for various platforms, often focusing on technical subjects. This course helps a content developer in the software space by giving them familiarity with Python. Python is a very commonly used language. Understanding Python enables them to develop more effective learning materials, tutorials, and documentation for software products. The course's emphasis on practical explanations and hands-on exercises helps content developers gain a solid understanding of Python concepts. This course provides a practical and efficient way for content developers to quickly acquire the skills they need to create high-quality, Python related content.

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API Writer

An API writer is responsible for creating documentation for Application Programming Interfaces, which are crucial for software integration. This course can be invaluable for API writers, particularly those working with Python-based APIs. The ability to read and understand Python code helps the API writer to accurately document API endpoints, data structures, and usage examples. The course's focus on practical exercises enables them to create more effective and user-friendly API documentation. By understanding Python's syntax and structure, an API writer can significantly improve the clarity and completeness of their documentation.

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Technical Trainer

A technical trainer develops and delivers training programs on technical topics, often related to software or hardware. This course will be useful for technical trainers who need to teach Python or related technologies. The course's practical approach and hands-on exercises help technical trainers gain a solid understanding of Python concepts. The ability to read and understand Python source code, as taught in this course, allows technical trainers to provide more effective instruction and support to their students. By learning Python through this course, technical trainers can enhance their expertise and deliver more engaging and informative training sessions.

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Instructional Designer

An instructional designer creates learning experiences and materials, often for online courses or training programs. This course may be especially useful for instructional designers who are developing courses related to software development or data science. The course's focus on Python programming and practical exercises enables instructional designers to create more effective and engaging learning materials. By understanding Python syntax and structure, instructional designers can develop more accurate and relevant content for their courses, thus improving the learning experience for students.

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Software Support Specialist

A software support specialist provides technical assistance to users of software applications. This course may be beneficial for software support specialists who need to troubleshoot Python-related issues. The ability to read and understand Python source code allows software support specialists to diagnose problems more effectively and provide more accurate solutions to users. The course's practical exercises and hands-on learning approach can help software support specialists develop the skills they need to excel in their role. This course can help software support specialists to better assist users who are working with Python-based software.

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Curriculum Developer

Curriculum developers research and create educational content and associated materials to guide learning within a subject area. This course may be helpful for curriculum developers who are building Python related subject matter. By learning the syntax of the Python programming language, curriculum developers can be more effective at designing a curriculum about Python. The course's structure of practical explanation and simple exercises gives curriculum developers insight into what will be effective when creating a curriculum as well as what content may be useful.

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eLearning Developer

An eLearning developer designs and creates online learning materials, often using multimedia and interactive elements. This course may be useful for eLearning developers who are creating content related to software development or data analysis. The course's practical approach and hands-on exercises help eLearning developers gain a solid understanding of Python concepts. The ability to read and understand Python source code, allows eLearning developers to create more engaging and effective online learning modules. Completing this course lets eLearning developers better support the learning of Python.

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Digital Learning Specialist

A digital learning specialist integrates technology into the educational process, creating engaging and effective online learning experiences. This course may be useful for digital learning specialists seeking to incorporate Python into their projects. The course's practical approach and hands-on exercises help digital learning specialists gain a solid understanding of Python concepts. The ability to read and understand Python source code, allows digital learning specialists to create more engaging and effective digital learning modules. Learning Python could improve one's ability to create effective digital learning.

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Technical Sales Engineer

A technical sales engineer combines technical knowledge with sales skills to promote and sell complex technical products or services. This course may be helpful for technical sales engineers who are selling software or hardware solutions that involve Python. The ability to read and understand Python source code enables technical sales engineers to better understand the technical aspects of the products. The course's focus on practical exercises can also help them demonstrate the value of the product to potential customers. This course may let technical sales engineers better communicate with technical decision-makers.

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Business Analyst

A business analyst analyzes an organization's processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. This course may be useful for business analysts who work with data-intensive projects or software development teams. While not directly related to the core responsibilities of a business analyst, the ability to read and understand Python source code can facilitate better communication with developers. The course's focus on practical exercises may also enhance their understanding of software development processes. Understanding Python may allow one to extract better insights.

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Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. While project managers may not directly write code, understanding Python, as taught in this course, may facilitate communication and collaboration with software development teams. The course's introduction to Python syntax and concepts can help project managers better grasp the technical aspects of software projects. This course may improve team member collaboration and project outcomes, especially in Python-focused projects.

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Data Analyst

A data analyst examines data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform business decisions. While this course primarily focuses on using Python for technical writing rather than data analysis, the foundational knowledge of Python programming can be a stepping stone for learning data analysis libraries like Pandas and NumPy. The ability to read and understand Python code, acquired through this course, helps a data analyst collaborate more effectively with data engineers. This course may be useful for data analysts looking to expand their skillset.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. This course may be useful for marketing managers in the software or technology industries. While not directly related to marketing, understanding Python can provide insights into product development and technical aspects of the business. The ability to read and understand Python code may facilitate better communication with technical teams. This course may help marketing managers who want a deeper understanding of the products they are marketing.

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