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Ugur Akinci, Ph.D.

What did the 2019-

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What did the 2019-

  • “Writing is a strength that all should improve on, and the content of this course covers a foundation useful for all.

  • This course covers, writing techniques, editing techniques, components of a document, how to create a project plan, the use of tables, images, and flowcharts, and even touches on the future trends of technical communication. This is all-encompassing.

  • The course covers a wide range of topics to introduce Technical Writing and presents technical writing as an alternate career path.

  • The scope of the material is appropriate for the audience and purpose.

  • Content includes references to additional materials or resources.

  • The structure is evident.

  • The organization is logical and consistent.

  • Headings and subheadings consistently signal topics and subtopics.”

 AWARD WINNER.  

Our Professional Technical Writing course has garnered yet another award and selected one of the top 4% of the courses reviewed by 4 out of 10.

Michael Curtis said “this course is in the TOP 4% of 94,680 courses that we have reviewed. That’s remarkable. ”

Take it, study it, and finish it anytime you like.

  • 1 Final Assignment reviewed personally by the instructor.

  • Free WEEKLY UPDATE of writing tips, ideas, and tutorials

  • And my 30-day No-questions-asked Money-Back guarantee

  • ..

    Learn the principles of technical writing and editing to build for yourself a great writing career that pays well.

    Learn it from a  professional Fortune 100 technical writer who has been writing technical documents since 1998.

    Technical writing has consistently been selected over the years as one of the "100 Best Jobs" in America. It performs an irreplaceable support function in many sectors and provides a stable and consistent way for writers to earn a good living.

    "The sessions range from basic to specific, and are overall very helpful for someone looking to start a career in technical writing. Be sure to do the assignments, especially the final oneyou get to know how much you learned, and Ugur gives a surprisingly lot of useful feedback."

    Ya-Ching Chuang

    “I think that this course is really great overall because it teaches the "structure" of technical writing - as in what should be included () as well as what terminology to use & what NOT to use. The videos are great overall in explaining the concepts of technical writing. From my experience, Ugur is a very great & professional instructor who cares about his students. I have written to him many times asking him questions as well as asking for his advice and he has always responded back to me with his answers & his suggestions. He also provides many videos on YouTube offering his advice for technical writers. Because of this, I consider him more than an instructor - I consider him a friend. I would give this course 5.0 stars just for the very supportive instructor, but the videos & the course content itself has provided very valuable information for learning the "template" of technical writing documents (for a new technical writer such as myself at least). Highly Recommended Overall. ”

    Chuck Larson

    "The course was completely as advertised and delivered everything it promised. I especially appreciate Ugur's kindly approach to instruction and upbeat attitude towards life. The bonus lessons are great as well. I'll be a regular visitor to tcc6-dot-com. "

    Nathan Johnson

    "It is an amazing course and covered everything thoroughly. I suggest this course to anyone who's interested in technical writing."

    Indira Mungalpara

    “I learned so many useful skills. And, I was able to write up one of my favorite projects to organize in an easy-to-use format.”

    Alice Theibault

    “This is a very good course. I have no experience in technical writing and must say that the course is well organized and added resources are really helpful. Thank you. ”

    Agnieszka Draminska

    “This course was very well planned and organized. I was able to learn a great deal and I am happy with the results.”

    Chen Levinger

    “Yes - the variable information and the lectures about charts and graphs are helpful. Also the multi-threading.”

    Kristi Dozier

    “Great course. I learned some valuable tools that I have no doubt will come in quite handy in my technical writing career.”

    Mark Bailey

    “Good pace, very detailed.”

    Joy Krupnow

    “Excellent course, with lots of useful information. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and will be registering for more.”

    Karl Bamforth

    “It was excellent. Thank you”

    Narottam Kishore

    “Great. Well-thought-out, comprehensive, nice teaching, and a really competent author.”

    Christopher Knapp

    “I am not even finished with the course yet but already I am learning so much that I am able to apply immediately. The course instructor is responsive and available which is greatly appreciated and refreshing. It is obvious he has a passion for his work and wants to share. Thanks for creating this course. ”

    Lauren Schramm

    RECENT UPDATES

    >>> Our January 2023 Graduates and their Final Assignments:

    • “Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-iQ User Guide” by Jessie G.

    • “Self-Publish Your First Book on Amazon – User Guide” by Nataly M.

    • “Pumper User Guide” by Iain G.

    • “Guide to the CSC Wiz Electric Scooter” by Riam G.

    >>> Our December 2022 Graduates and their Final Assignments:

    • “Linear Slot Diffuser User Guide” by Dilek O.

    • “Beginner's Quick Start Guide to Spotify” by Kali L.N.

    • “Manage and Maintain Your Domestic Space” by Tricia B.

    • “Wildlife and Vegetation Habitat Assessment Protocol User Guide” by Tyler S.

    WE ARE PROUD OF THEIR 

     IMPORTANT NOTE.

    This BEGINNER LEVEL course does NOT teach how to write and communicate in English like, for example, a course designed for ESL (English as a Second Language) students. This is NOT an ESL course, a course teaching composition rules of English, or English grammar. The students are assumed to have a basic command of English grammar and the ability to read English instructions without any problems. If you have any questions or doubts about the content and nature of this course please inquire first before enrolling.

    HARDWARE/SOFTWARE   A majority of the instructions apply equally to both PC and Mac machines but for some lessons (like how to construct a Word template) you must use the Mac counterparts of the PC commands.

    According to glassdoor-dot-com, top-earning tech writers at companies like Google make as much as $165,000 a year.

    Obviously this course alone cannot guarantee that you will find a lucrative job right away but you will learn how to create your first technical document which you can use in applying for a technical writing position.

    What Did They Say About This Course (2) ?

    "It was a great help in learning about technical writing and editing techniques"

    "It was a great help in learning about technical writing and editing techniques, how to generate quality technical documentation. I liked the bonus section on Audience Analysis and RoboHelp. I'm hoping my certification will help me break into an entry-level technical writer role."

    Olivia Amici

    "It's an A+ course & instructor. "

    "This was a great course overall - especially for being free. It teaches the importance of understanding who your primary audience is & what kind of information to provide. To be honest, I also wanted to find out how the instructor is providing the information without paying before I purchase additional courses of his. He's a very great instructor that cares about his viewers. In my opinion, it's an A+ course & instructor. "

    Chuck Larson

    "This course is very helpful"

    "This course is very helpful especially for the beginners or for career changers who really want to establish a career in technical writing it briefs all contents required to be a technical writer."

    Upma

    "I have already learned a great deal"

    "This course is a good match for me. I have already learned a great deal. I love writing, and have written procedures with screenshots in my previous job. I would love to get into Technical Writing. "

    Regina Morgan

    "I am absolutely amazed at how much information I have learned"

    "I am absolutely amazed at how much information I have learned. The purpose of taking this course is to apply for a Technical Writing job. The person that's referring me at her employer said to find a Level 2 course since I use business writing daily and I have self-published two mystery novels. I am so glad I did not listen to her advice and started a Level 1 course. I know I would not have been successful in the job if I did not have the knowledge I've learned here. Also, I used Microsoft Word everyday throughout my career so it was nice to learn the style and multi-level numbering features (I didn't expect thisa nice treat). Also, I was totally clueless about charts and graphs, X axis and Y axis, etc. This course offered way more than the $200 I paid. Thank you."

    Gwendolyn Pegram

    " It's quite comforting to know that he is still very active regarding this course"

    "Most of what has been covered up to this point are things I know. I was already interested in making the career switch to Technical Writer, he just put extra emphasis on why it's a good decision. Edit: Just received a reply from Dr. Ugur Akinci about this review. It's quite comforting to know that he is still very active regarding this course. So be aware that if you partake in this course, you are not hung out to dry and don't have to flounder on your own."

    Kristen Ohlemeier

    "A great way to break into the technical writing field"

    "The course is simple to understand and is a good way to brush up on what I learned from the university plus additional modern tools which I have not learned about in the past. Ugur is approachable and presents topics clearly. I also liked the exercises after the lectures. As a lifestyle writer/copywriter, I would say this is a great way to break into the technical writing field. I would say there are several things that I still need to learn, and this course is a fantastic starting point for me as it opened up a lot of ideas that I have to delve into."

    Robby Benson Torres

    "Wonderful course. I learnt a lot. "

    Hairul Hazri Suleiman

    "A wonderful refresher..."

    "Many years ago, I worked as a technical writer, and this class has been a wonderful refresher for me. I think this would be a helpful class for someone who is entering the field of technical writing and needs to understand some of the field's overarching principles."

    Monica Prochnow

    "Instructor is very active and involved with his students"

    "This course is great so far. Simple but professional while giving work I wouldn't have expected to encounter. I do have some questions for teacher (later) and from what I've seen, he is very active and involved with his students. I also like the extra resources. A good investment. "

    Ashley Elijah

    "Best course I've taken through Udemy"

    "Dr. Akinci shares his extensive knowledge of technical writing in a clear and easy to understand format. From learning about a document's structure to useful hints in Word, there's something for anyone looking to expand their writing skills. The final assignment allows students to put their learning to work right away. Receiving prompt feedback from Dr. Akinci is extremely helpful. He praises where you excel and highlights ways to further improve future documents. He's super encouraging. I've learned an amazing amount. Best course I've taken through Udemy."

    Laurie Trowbridge

    "One of the best courses for beginners who want to be Technical Writers"

    "One of the best courses for beginners those who want to be "Technical Writers". Best teaching with lots of videos, assignments and explanation. It has helped me personally for developing my writing skills and learning the technical concepts for writing. Thank you for this course and I am glad that I was part of this course".

    Jitendra Dahare

    "One of the best in the technical writing field..."

    "Ugur Akinci does an excellent presentation and through delivery with notes and references. One of the best in the technical writing field. His past experience is certainly evident in the videos and supporting material."

    Ronald Nats

    "... helped me recently get a full-time technical writing job"

    "Ugur's course was very helpful. It helped me recently get a full-time technical writing job." 

    Loren Robinson 

    "Thorough, Useful, and Easy to Follow"

    "Dr. Akinci is an excellent instructor, in addition to being an accomplished technical writer. He guides the student through the very detailed, step-by-step process of producing user guides and technical manuals, and he does so with a friendly humour. Each lecture is an easily digested, bite-sized morsel. Aside from making the bits easy to learn, this also makes it easier to go back and find things later, if you need to check on something. I'd recommend this course to anyone with any interest in technical writing."

     Tamatha Campbell

    "A must course for anyone who writes technical documents. "

    "I currently work as a BA, and decided to take this course to concentrate on the logistics of writing. This course has superseded my expectations. Technical writing isn’t simply writing well, but designing a professional document for the end user. For this, you need to know how to create the components of a technical document, indexing, graphs and tables, just to name a few (all of which are covered in this course). 

    I considered myself a strong writer, but during the course, I realized that I was making common mistakes, changing from active to passive voice in my documents, assuming the end reader would understand my abbreviations, or acronyms, or writing noun trains…In this course you will learn everything you need to know (and in great detail) to write a technical document. 

    This course is by far, the best course I have completed through Udemy."

    Jennifer Somerville

    "A Worthwhile Investment..."

    This is a comprehensive, well-organised and well-considered course. Chapter-by-chapter, you learn the wide range of skills required by a successful technical writer. The lectures are very informative and come with a huge amount of extra resources and materials which are available for download. It’s also a plus that course is constantly updated and the instructor is also available and highly responsive to his students.

    I’d highly recommend this course but it shouldn't be aimed at just those interested in pursuing a career in technical writing. Academics, students, business people – anyone who writes reports - will reap benefits from this course. I found it well worthwhile investing both my time and money in this course."

    Kathryn H.

    "High Quality as Expected"

    "This course and professor's learning structure both serve as strengths to Udemy's catalog. I am satisfied by how much content that the professor provided, for the professional feedback that he directed toward our individual projects, and for the feeling of satisfaction to achieve a certificate and to potentially share our work with others. Thank you for piecing together a valuable educational experience. "

    Phill Keck

    "Great Technical Writing Course. "

    "Great course with great material. Ugur's insight and how he can relate real life scenarios to help teach the information in a way that makes it easier to learn and retain. Thanks Ugur. "

    Lee Dinkins

    "Great. Great course for beginners or even experts. "

     Nicholas Nelson 

    "Great course. The course is very helpful. "

    "The content is informative and comprehensive. Thank you. "

    Mariia Zlatkova

    “Valuable"

    "I haven't finished my work yet, but I have found his course very helpful." 

    – Michelle Daley

    “Excellent Course"

    "You course help me lot in my Daily Job. I am not a technical writer nor in the business of writing. But as a Project Engineer who prepared lots of technical reports and letters to client and contractors this course help me a lot. Most of the technical writing fundamentals given here are also applicable to my kind of Business writing. I could not make any product manual as I don't have any Product. Highly recommended to all those who wants to improve their Business Writing even though course is on technical writing."

    – Varun Patel

    “A very fine course. "

    "The course was very well delivered and lectures divided into sections and all sections contained important information and tips. Quizzes were just right for the task. Dr. Akinci presented the material clearly and competently. Moreover, he corrected the assignments promptly while providing a very thorough feed back."

    – Shaheda Rizvi

    “Take this Course. "

    "My name is, Justin Berg, I am a Product Manager for a web based EHR called MediTouch. I took this course to help with job responsibilities, but I wish I took this course in High School. I could have used the material from then and into the Future. The course was easy to complete and the material is to the point. The teacher will give great feedback for your final project and even offered to help assist with technical writing questions into the future."

    – Justin Berg

    "Possibly the most useful course I have ever taken"

    “Practical and useful… Possibly the most useful course I have ever taken."

    – Joaquin Roman

    "Incredibly helpful"

    “The grammar refresher at the beginning is incredibly helpful, and what I liked best was the introduction to vector graphics and flowcharts. Love it. "

    – Mohana

    "Finally..."

    “Finally a Technical Writing and Editing course that I can recommend to my colleagues and students."

    – Hakki Ocal

    "Do I need to buy anything else?"

    No. The course has all the materials you'll ever need, including 15 hours of video, PDF documents, and complimentary ebooks. 

    "How long will it take to finish the course?"

    It will take about six to eight weeks from start to finish if you spend 15-20 min a day. 

    "What does the course cover?"

    The course takes you from the basic principles of good technical writing and covers dozens of other topics including:

    • Difference between technical and business writing

    • How does technical writing compare with “creative writing” and journalism?

    • Principles of audience analysis

    • Components of a technical document

    • How to write a Documentation Plan

    • How to create an Index

    • Basic technical writing techniques and pitfalls to avoid

    • Basic technical editing techniques and things to avoid

    • How to create a document template

    • How to think in terms of variables

    • How to use tables properly in your documents

    • How to select and annotate images

    • How to use flowcharts in your documents

    "In addition to over 6 hours of video, do I also get any supplementary materials?"

    Yes. Here is a list:

    • 107 Lectures

    • Over 6 hours of video

    • 22 Exercise Sheets (attached as a resource file)

    • 22 Solution Sheets (attached as a resource file)

    • 36 Quizzes

    • 6 PDF Ebooks (attached as a resource file)

    • 40 PDF Supplement Documents (attached as a resource file)

    • Over 4,000 students

    • 1 Final Assignment reviewed personally by the instructor.

    • Free WEEKLY UPDATE of writing tips, ideas, and tutorials

    • And my 30-day No-questions-asked Money-Back guarantee

    Most lectures have downloadable PDFs related to the videos. Click the second-from-left button (with down arrow on it) on the upper-right corner of the lecture screen to access these PDF documents. Go ahead and start your journey to job stability and higher earnings today.

    30-.

    Yes. This course comes with my Try my course for 30 days and if you still don't like it Udemy will refund you 100%. You've got nothing to lose but everything to gain.

    Enroll now

    What's inside

    Syllabus

    Introduction to Technical Writing

    Will you be successful, will you find a job, and how much money will you make? Those are not things I can guarantee unfortunately. Honestly, I wish I could... As with anything else in life, much depends on how you market yourself and the time and effort you put into finding a technical writing job -- a subject that this course does not cover. However, there is something that I can guarantee for the students of this course. Watch this video to learn what it is...

    Read more

    Please send your Final Assignment to [email protected]. Or post it as a PDF file to Google Drive, DropBox, or any other file sharing sites and send the SHARE link to [email protected]. Thank you and good luck to you all!

    Welcome to Technical Writing and Editing! In this course we have a lot to cover, ranging from techniques of technical writing to template development and the proper way to use images and graphics. You'll be guided along with videos, exercises, and supporting materials. We'll help you develop your own technical document (say, a User Guide). Those who complete that assignment successfully will receive a handsome "Completion Certificate". We have a lot to cover together.

    Technical writing is usually confused with "office correspondence" or "business writing." Even though business writing is a part of it, technical writing is a lot more than that. Foremost, technical writing brings solutions to problems by describing how to operate a gadget, how to troubleshoot a system, how to set up a service, etc. 

    A printed technical document is like a well-oiled machine with many parts. Not every part is present in every document but most are. And some are indispensable, depending on the nature and length of the document, as explained in this video.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Front Cover).

    We continue with the description of the components of a technical document.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (TOC and Index).

    Creating a TOC (Table of Contents) is very easy with Word 365 (the online subscription version of Word 2019). You follow the same steps as in any other Word version. Watch this video to learn the importance of assigning proper paragraph styles, what happens to your TOC when you assign a Heading 1, Heading 2 or Heading 3 paragraph style to an image by mistake, and how to correct the error.

    Creating a LOF (List of Figures) is very easy with Word 365 (the online subscription version of Word 2019). You follow the same steps as in any other Word version but first make sure that CAPTION paragraph style is assigned to each figure by using the paragraph styles in the Home ribbon tab. Watch this video to learn how to do generate a LOF quickly with Word 365.

    Documentation Plan is a very crucial part of any document-writing project. Prepare a Doc Plan (for short) and get it approved in WRITING before you start writing the technical document itself. It is important to get the approval of your manager or client on such specifics like how many chapters the document should have, what will be contents of the individual chapters, who will review the document, what will be the delivery schedule etc. If you don't do that you can get into trouble. Why? Because when the managers or the client challenge your understanding of the project with an unpleasant question like "Why did you include this information and deleted the others? I did not tell you to do this!", you can comfortably fall back on the SIGNED and APPROVED Documentation Plan and cover yourself when things get a bit uncomfortable (and they do once in a great while). This video introduces and explains a sample Documentation Plan template which you can download, modify, and use for your own documentation project. Good luck!

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable "Documentation Plan" PDF.

    If you wish you can shop around and pick your own gadget or system to document with a User Guide. You'll continue to work on that assignment step-by-step and apply the things you learn to your guide throughout this course.

    In this video we are offering a good source to inspire you and help you decide what kind of a user guide you want to create. Or you can see the next lesson and follow the outline we have created to write a User Guide for publishing on Amazon Kindle. The choice is yours.

    Eliminating variance is important in technical writing. You must use the same paragraph styles, terms and labels, fonts, page design, color palette, etc. throughout your document. Such consistency builds confidence and trust in the reader. Documents that show a lot of variance in terminology or styling create doubts about the authority and credibility of the document.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has two downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheets named "Eliminate Variance." Try the exercises on your own before looking at the solution sheets.

    Sometimes it is okay to write with passive voice. HINT: See page 3 of the "100 Active Passive Exercises" Workbook.

    Anthropomorphism is attributing human-like qualities to non-human subjects. Watch this lesson to learn how to avoid this unfortunate error in technical writing.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Anthropomorphism).

    Dangling participles is a common problem in English. Here we offer you a great workbook prepared in the Q&A-style for you to master proper sentence construction and avoid dangling participles.

    Bracketing identical sentence components, clauses, and/or phrases is a good skill to have since it increases the readability of your technical documents and increases both comprehension and retention of information.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Bracketing) as well as lecture TRANSCRIPTION.

    Correct punctuation is a must in technical writing. If different writers mean different things by the way they punctuate units and measurements, the results can range from a simple misunderstanding to accidents and even disaster.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Punctuation).

    There are a lot of "noun trains" in technical writing that crate ambiguity. Ambiguous writing is not only bad and inefficient but it can be dangerous as well when the user is performing a critical procedure or dealing with hi-tech systems. Therefore you should learn how to simplify such noun trains by using the technique explained in this lecture.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Noun Trains).

    Eliminate these simple but common grammar errors from your writing since, for a professional writer, there is no excuse to commit them.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Common Grammar Errors).

    Knowing how to write a procedural task properly is a key skill for a technical writer because we write procedural tasks on a daily basis. That’s the heart of any technical document. Once you learn the basic principles, it’ll become a second nature and you'll write such tasks easily, almost on automatic drive.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable SOLUTION sheet (Cooking an Omelet) as well as lecture TRANSCRIPTION.

    Developing a style, or adopting an existing Style Guideline, has two important advantages in technical writing:

    1)  A document with consistent terminology, headings, and style in general builds confidence and trust in the reader. If your document has a lot of “variance” (please see the lecture about the importance of eliminating variance), the users become suspicious about the truth value of the content as well. You must avoid that by sticking to a consistent style and writing guideline. As someone quipped, “good techncial writing is boring” since it is consistent without any “creative” flourishes and variations. It is “boring” by design.

    2)  Writing a document according to a pre-planned style and content guideline is much easier than the other alternative. When you have a style guideline you don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time you need to start a procedural task or write a figure caption, etc. We’ll explain what we mean by that down below. A guideline is a major productivity tool. It’s your best friend.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable AP STYLE QUIZ BOOK ebook (PDF) and MICROSOFT STYLE QUIZ BOOK (PDF).

    Eliminating what is not necessary is an important and core editing principles. Ninety nine percent of the time a sentence is not easy to understand because it has too much stuff in it. Such sentences have unnecessary verbs, nouns, clichés, phrases. Once you cut them out, the sentence starts to breathe. 

    Continuing with our elimination method… "Less is more" as the famous minimalist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once said.

    Finding the core idea in a complicated sentence or paragraph is a skill that will serve you well in your technical writing career. Watch this video to learn the elimination technique with which you can isolate the core idea of any text.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Losing the Core Idea) as well as lecture TRANSCRIPTION (The Core Idea) and a PDF ebook 100 ACTIVE PASSIVE EXERCISES.

    One interesting way to learn how to write clean and lean sentences is to do the reverse: to start with a lean sentence and create a “monster” out of it by adding all kinds of unnecessary nouns, verbs and clichés. The end result may look like some of the technical statements we unfortunately encounter daily. Enjoy the “demolition derby”!

    Whenever possible avoid negative writing.

    Negative writing creates an unpleasant state of mind in the reader and triggers a needless defensive reflex even when what you are saying is true and beneficial for the audience.

    Medicine does not need to taste bitter. Try expressing the same idea in a positive manner.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable lecture TRANSCRIPTION (Avoid Negative Writing).

    Do not introduce ambiguity where there is none by using the word “should.”

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable lecture TRANSCRIPTION (Eliminate Should).

    A great technical editing method to untangle a run-on sentence that reads like a ball of tangled up wires is to identify the agent of each action mentioned in the sentence.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable SOLUTION sheet (Agent of the Action) as well as lecture TRANSCRIPTION (Identify Agent of Action).

    Creating templates is what professional technical writers do on a regular basis. In this introduction, we explain the basics of creating a MS Word template. Setting the margins, columns, page orientation, and main paragraph styles is crucial to configuring a correct page layout for a MS Word document. Here we demonstrate how you can do that.

    Once you save a MS Word document as a template you can use it to change the paragraph styles of other documents. You can accomplish that by attaching (or assigning) an existing template to a new Word document. This lecture explains and shows how you can do that.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable PDF supplement HOW TO SAVE AND ASSIGN A MS WORD TEMPLATE.

    MS Word does an excellent job of assigning multilevel numbering to indented headings that use the paragraph tags listed in the HOME tab. However, there are two important points that you need to pay attention to, as explained in this video.

    Where does the copyright information typically get published in a technical document?

    Here is a short introduction to creating an index with MS Word 2010. Every long technical document (say a document over 50 pages) should have an Index. Consumers and end-users ask for it regularly. and they get frustrated if they cannot find it at the end of the document.

    NOTE: You can skip this lecture if you know the difference between independent and dependent variables.

    Without knowing what dependent and independent variables are, you cannot have a healthy understanding of what graphs and tables really mean and how they work. Spend some time with this lecture to build a sound foundation to use tables and graphs properly in your technical documents.

    MAKE SURE to do the EXERCISES. Compare your results to the ones provided in the SOLUTIONS sheet.

    Watch this video to learn the relationship between tables and graphs, two components used frequently in all technical documents. This video assumes you are familiar with independent and dependent variables. If you are not, no problem -- please watch the previous video first.

    There are many types of graphs used to summarize, express and interpret data in technical documentation. Do you know which ones to use, where, and why?

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Selecting the Proper Type of Graphics).

    It is very easy to draw false conclusions when we look at a graph or chart. This lesson explains the situations in which it does not make sense to use a data chart or derive incorrect generalizations from it. 

    Here are five main principles of information tables for your technical or business documents. When applied, they create a positive user experience. Apply all of them for creating tables that your readers can read, understand, and remember easily.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a set of downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheets (Tables - Main Principles), and two respective EXCEL sheets for the Exercise and the Solution.

    Here are the last four main principles of information tables for your technical or business documents. When applied, they create a positive user experience. Apply all of them for creating tables that your readers can read, understand, and remember easily. 

    NOTE: Don't forget to download the EXERCISE  PDF file (together with its EXCEL sheet) attached to this lesson. After you complete the exercise, check your answer against the SOLUTION PDF file (which again comes with its related Excel sheet for your convenience).

    Here are some basic types of tables (with examples) that you can use in your technical document -- Tables with One and Two Variables.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable lecture TRANSCRIPTION (Tables - Main Types).

    You'd be amazed how many tables are out there without a name or a title -- leaving the readers scratching their heads and thinking... which is not a good thing. The Golden Rule of information design is: "Don't Make Me Think!" Watch this video to learn the right way to name a title.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheet (Naming Tables).

    Reformatting text as a table is yet another basic technique to cut down on the number of unnecessary words and convoluted and confusing paragraphs. Watch this video to learn how to display and summarize text in the form of an easy-to-understand table for maximum user comprehension.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has 3 SETS of downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheets (From Text to Table, Reformat Paragraphs into Tables (1), Reformat Paragraphs into Tables (2)).

    All technical writers must know how to create tabular data tables, especially if they are using the powerful PIVOT TABLE feature of Microsoft Excel. Watch this video to learn how to construct a tabular table.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a set of downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheets (Tabular Data), an EXCEL sheet for the Exercise, a lecture TRANSCRIPTION (How to Organize Tabular Data).

    When your main variables (sets) have sub-variables (subsets), it's better to create a new indented column for the subset to make the table more readable. Watch this video to learn how.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a set of downloadable EXERCISE and SOLUTION sheets (Indenting Columns), and a respective EXCEL sheet for the Exercise.

    Knowing the correct way to flowchart a process will save you tons of words and your readers will thank you for it. Here are the basic principles of correct flow-charting, with exercises.

    RESOURCE: This lecture has a downloadable SOLUTIONS sheet (Flowchart Exercises).

    There is no single image that is appropriate for your technical documents. It all depends the purpose for which you are creating or selecting the image.

    Let's remember: there is no single image format that is appropriate for your technical documents. It all depends the purpose for which you are creating or selecting the image.

    Organizing and naming images can mean a lot in terms of your productivity and sanity. When you have just a few images this may not seem like a big deal at all. But when you start to deal with hundreds and thousands of images, the experience shows that how you name your images can really make a difference in the ease with which you browse, find and use them.

    There is no reason to use words if you can express the same idea with images at the same level of precision. A picture is truly worth a thousand words but the difficulty is to find the right image to do justice to the words it is replacing. This PDF document explains how you can express your ideas with diagrams.

    A decision tree is a marvelous way to cut down the number of words necessary to explain a process or a system. Once you master this technique, you can express your technical ideas visually with increased power and precision.

    If an image is not annotated correctly, it could be a waste of space. Moreover, it could be confusing. It could create more questions than it answers. This lecture explains how to annotate and caption images correctly for your technical document for maximum comprehension and longer information retention.

    Traffic lights

    Read about what's good
    what should give you pause
    and possible dealbreakers
    Covers a wide range of topics to introduce technical writing and presents it as an alternate career path, which may be useful for career changers
    Includes a final assignment reviewed personally by the instructor, which provides personalized feedback and guidance to improve technical writing skills
    Teaches how to create a technical document template in MS Word and modify it, which is a valuable skill for technical writers
    Assumes students have a basic command of English grammar and the ability to read English instructions, so ESL students may find it challenging
    Requires using the Mac counterparts of PC commands for some lessons, which may be inconvenient for PC users
    Explores topics such as eliminating variance, avoiding anthropomorphism, and simplifying noun trains, which are essential for clear and effective technical communication

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    Reviews summary

    Technical writing fundamentals & career launch

    According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and practical foundation for technical writing, making it an excellent starting point for beginners and career changers. Learners praise the extensive coverage of techniques and tools, from document structure and editing to using tables, graphs, and flowcharts. A consistently highlighted strength is the instructor's quality and support; Ugur Akinci is described as knowledgeable, highly responsive, and supportive, offering valuable, thorough feedback on assignments. Many found the course immediately applicable to their jobs, with some reporting it helped them secure technical writing positions. It's also noted as useful for improving general business writing skills. Reviews indicate it's well-organized and easy to follow, offering great value and extensive resources.
    Provides useful extra materials & updates.
    "added resources are really helpful."
    "I also like the extra resources."
    "The lectures are very informative and come with a huge amount of extra resources and materials which are available for download."
    "through delivery with notes and references."
    "Free WEEKLY UPDATE of writing tips, ideas, and tutorials"
    Helps improve many types of writing.
    "Academics, students, business people – anyone who writes reports - will reap benefits from this course."
    "as a Project Engineer who prepared lots of technical reports and letters to client and contractors this course help me a lot. Most of the technical writing fundamentals given here are also applicable to my kind of Business writing."
    "Highly recommended to all those who wants to improve their Business Writing even though course is on technical writing."
    "I currently work as a BA, and decided to take this course to concentrate on the logistics of writing."
    Learn by doing, get useful feedback.
    "Be sure to do the assignments, especially the final one you get to know how much you learned, and Ugur gives a surprisingly lot of useful feedback."
    "The final assignment allows students to put their learning to work right away. Receiving prompt feedback from Dr. Akinci is extremely helpful."
    "corrected the assignments promptly while providing a very thorough feed back."
    "Best teaching with lots of videos, assignments and explanation."
    "I also liked the exercises after the lectures."
    "Simple but professional while giving work I wouldn't have expected to encounter."
    Great starting point for a new career.
    "sessions range from basic to specific, and are overall very helpful for someone looking to start a career in technical writing."
    "As a lifestyle writer/copywriter, I would say this is a great way to break into the technical writing field... this course is a fantastic starting point for me..."
    "This course is very helpful especially for the beginners or for career changers who really want to establish a career in technical writing..."
    "I have no experience in technical writing and must say that the course is well organized..."
    "I am so glad I did not listen to her advice and started a Level 1 course. I know I would not have been successful in the job if I did not have the knowledge I've learned here."
    "helpful class for someone who is entering the field of technical writing and needs to understand some of the field's overarching principles."
    "One of the best courses for beginners those who want to be "Technical Writers"."
    Covers essential techniques & tools.
    "This course covers, writing techniques, editing techniques, components of a document, how to create a project plan, the use of tables, images, and flowcharts..."
    "...teaches the 'structure' of technical writing - as in what should be included... what terminology to use & what NOT to use."
    "I learned so many useful skills. And, I was able to write up one of my favorite projects to organize in an easy-to-use format."
    "I learned some valuable tools that I have no doubt will come in quite handy in my technical writing career."
    "already I am learning so much that I am able to apply immediately."
    "It is an amazing course and covered everything thoroughly."
    "From learning about a document's structure to useful hints in Word, there's something for anyone looking to expand their writing skills."
    "guides the student through the very detailed, step-by-step process of producing user guides and technical manuals..."
    "learn everything you need to know (and in great detail) to write a technical document."
    "The grammar refresher at the beginning is incredibly helpful, and what I liked best was the introduction to vector graphics and flowcharts."
    Excellent feedback & highly responsive.
    "Ugur is a very great & professional instructor who cares about his students... he has always responded back to me with his answers & his suggestions."
    "Ugur gives a surprisingly lot of useful feedback."
    "It's quite comforting to know that he is still very active regarding this course... you are not hung out to dry and don't have to flounder..."
    "instructor is responsive and available which is greatly appreciated and refreshing. It is obvious he has a passion for his work and wants to share."
    "Receiving prompt feedback from Dr. Akinci is extremely helpful. He praises where you excel and highlights ways to further improve future documents."
    "corrected the assignments promptly while providing a very thorough feed back."
    "The teacher will give great feedback for your final project and even offered to help assist with technical writing questions into the future."

    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 Professional Technical Writing: Advance Your Writing Skills with these activities:
    Review Basic Grammar Concepts
    Reinforce foundational grammar skills to ensure clear and effective technical writing.
    Browse courses on Grammar
    Show steps
    • Review parts of speech and sentence structure.
    • Practice identifying and correcting common grammatical errors.
    • Complete online quizzes to assess understanding.
    Read 'The Elements of Style'
    Improve writing style and clarity by studying a foundational text on English composition.
    View Melania on Amazon
    Show steps
    • Read the book cover to cover.
    • Take notes on key principles and rules.
    • Apply the principles to your own writing.
    Edit Sample Technical Documents
    Sharpen editing skills by identifying and correcting errors in sample technical documents.
    Show steps
    • Find sample technical documents online.
    • Identify areas for improvement in clarity, conciseness, and accuracy.
    • Rewrite sections to improve readability.
    Four other activities
    Expand to see all activities and additional details
    Show all seven activities
    Create a Style Guide Excerpt
    Solidify understanding of style guides by creating a sample excerpt for a specific industry or company.
    Show steps
    • Research style guides used in a specific industry.
    • Develop a sample excerpt covering key style guidelines.
    • Share the excerpt with peers for feedback.
    Document a Personal Project
    Apply technical writing skills by documenting a personal project, such as a hobby or a software application.
    Show steps
    • Choose a personal project to document.
    • Create a documentation plan outlining the scope and structure.
    • Write the documentation, including user guides, tutorials, and troubleshooting tips.
    Study 'Technical Communication Today'
    Expand knowledge of technical communication principles and practices through a comprehensive textbook.
    Show steps
    • Read selected chapters relevant to your interests.
    • Complete the exercises and activities in the book.
    • Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own writing.
    Tutor Technical Writing Students
    Reinforce your understanding of technical writing by helping other students with their assignments and projects.
    Show steps
    • Volunteer to tutor students in technical writing.
    • Provide feedback on their writing and offer guidance.
    • Share your knowledge and experience to help them improve.

    Career center

    Learners who complete Professional Technical Writing: Advance Your Writing Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
    Technical Writer
    A technical writer creates documents such as instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily. This course prepares students to become technical writers by teaching them about technical writing, editing techniques, document components, project planning, and the use of tables, images, and flowcharts. Learners discover how to write clear, concise, and accurate documentation. Considering that the course covers the principles of technical writing, this course may help learners begin a career as a technical writer.
    Documentation Specialist
    A documentation specialist creates, organizes, and maintains documents, manuals, and other technical publications. This course is great for anyone looking to enhance their skills as a documentation specialist. This course may help documentation specialists since it covers writing and editing techniques, document creation, and proper use of visuals. Furthermore, the specific lessons on components of a document and the use of tables, images, and flowcharts may prove to be especially relevant for a documentation specialist.
    Technical Editor
    A technical editor specializes in reviewing and editing technical documents to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to established standards. Because technical editors work with similar information, skills taught in this course may be applicable to technical editors. The final assignment that is personally reviewed by the instructor may be especially helpful. Technical writers seek ways to improve and stay current, and this course may be useful for those reasons.
    Content Strategist
    A content strategist plans, develops, and manages content for various platforms, ensuring it aligns with business goals and user needs. The skills taught in this course may be useful to a content strategist. Content strategists need to understand document structure, writing techniques, and how to present information clearly and effectively. Because content strategists need a strong understanding of how to create well organized documents, skills and knowledge taught in this course may be useful to them. The use of tables, images, and flowcharts are elements of this course that may apply to this profession.
    Medical Writer
    A medical writer creates documents and manuscripts related to healthcare and pharmaceuticals. This course is applicable to a career as a medical writer. Medical writers need to have a strong understanding of document structure and how to present complex information clearly and accurately. Taking this course helps medical writers improve their document creation skills. The skills and knowledge discussed in this course may be useful for medical writers.
    Editor
    An editor reviews and revises written material to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. The skills taught in this course may be useful to an editor. Editors need to have a strong understanding of writing and editing techniques, as well as document structure. This course may benefit editors looking to improve their skills and knowledge of document creation. Because this course may boost on the job performance, consider taking it if you are interested in editing.
    Information Architect
    An information architect focuses on organizing, structuring, and labeling content in a way that is both effective and sustainable. This course may be useful for an information architect. Information architects need to understand how to structure documents logically, use headings and subheadings effectively, and present information clearly. Because the course covers document components, logical organization, and clear communication, it may help information architects enhance their skills.
    Proposal Writer
    A proposal writer prepares persuasive documents that outline the benefits of a product or service and convince stakeholders to accept a proposal. Proposal writers need to have a strong understanding of document structure, writing techniques, and how to present information effectively. This course teaches these skills and may boost on the job performance. Learning how to use tables, images, and flowcharts, as covered in this course, can further enhance a proposal writer’s ability to create compelling documents.
    Instructional Designer
    Instructional designers create learning materials, such as online courses and training manuals. This course may be useful to instructional designers. This course may provide instructional designers with skills for creating clear, organized, and effective learning materials. Those who wish to become an instructional designer should consider this course, as it covers writing and editing, document components, and the effective use of visuals.
    Curriculum Developer
    A curriculum developer designs and creates educational content and programs. Curriculum developers need to have a solid understanding of document structure, writing techniques, and how to present information clearly. This course may be useful for those who wish to become curriculum developers. Since the course covers these topics, it may help curriculum developers create well-organized and effective educational materials.
    Grant Writer
    A grant writer prepares proposals to secure funding from organizations. Grant writing requires creating well-structured, persuasive, and informative documents. This course may be useful for those who would like to become grant writers. Given its focus on writing techniques, document components, and visual aids, this course may prove particularly beneficial for grant writers seeking to enhance their skills and create compelling proposals.
    eLearning Specialist
    An eLearning specialist designs and develops online learning content, including interactive modules, videos, and assessments. This course may be useful for those who wish to become eLearning specialists. Since effective communication and document design are central to their roles, this course teaches these skills. Skills learned in this course, such as writing techniques, document components, and visual aids may be useful to eLearning specialists.
    Communications Specialist
    A communications specialist develops and implements communication strategies to convey information effectively to target audiences. Those interested in becoming a communications specialist should consider this course, as the elements discussed may be applicable to communications specialists. Because they may need to prepare reports, presentations, and other documents, this course may be useful. Moreover, skills learned may be useful in on the job performance.
    Web Content Manager
    A web content manager creates, edits, and maintains content for websites. This course may be useful for a web content manager. Web content managers need to have a strong understanding of writing techniques, document structure, and how to present information effectively online. For those looking to enhance their web content management skills, this course may be quite beneficial. Topics such as the use of visuals may be especially helpful.
    Digital Content Creator
    A digital content creator produces engaging content for online platforms, including blog posts, articles, and social media updates. A digital content creator may want to take this course. Because digital content creators may need to use a variety of writing and editing techniques to create content, this course may be useful. Also, those who do well in the class tend to find a career path in the field more clear.

    Reading list

    We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Professional Technical Writing: Advance Your Writing Skills.
    Provides a comprehensive overview of technical communication principles and practices. It covers various aspects of technical writing, including audience analysis, document design, and ethical considerations. The book is valuable as a reference text for understanding the breadth of technical communication. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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