Online Writing Course - $129.99

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for technical writers and writers with expertise in areas such as law, medicine, or economics is expected to increase because of the continuing expansion of scientific and technical information and the need to communicate it to others

Technical writing, a form of technical communication, is a style of formal writing, used in fields as diverse as computer hardware and software, chemistry, the aerospace industry, robotics, finance, consumer electronics, and biotechnology. The main job of a technical writer is to modify technical information in such a manner that it can easily be understood by a layman. Technical writers develop product documentation, project proposals and catalogs.

The ExpertRating Technical Writing Certification course will teach you the nuances of technical writing and will guide you on how to create professional technical documents.

ExpertRating Online Writing Course (Technical Document Writing) Coverage (6 weeks program)

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

Are you inadvertently using a writing style that turns people off? This first lesson will explore the reasons why how you say something is just as important as what you have to say. This lesson will look at the history of the English language and ways that people have used language to set themselves apart from others. It'll look at a case study that illustrates the devastating consequences of writing for the wrong audience, and review traditional vs. modern ideas about how technical documents should be written.

Friday - Lesson 02

You can write a great document, but if it doesn't meet the needs of its readers, your document won't be effective. This lesson will review three steps that will help you to more accurately analyze your readers, discuss the particular needs of four kinds of readers, and outline specific writing strategies that will keep different kinds of readers interested in reading your document.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

You know what the subject of your document is, but how much detail should you include? What aspects of the subject should you write about and what should you leave out? In this lesson, you'll learn how to determine the purpose and scope of your document, gather information, interview subject matter experts, and outline your document.

Friday - Lesson 04

Every document you write gives you a chance to make a good (or bad!) impression. In this lesson, you'll learn how to create the best impression possible by using and creating a style guide. This lesson will review different writing styles and discuss when to use each one. You'll also learn how to discover your own writing style, and how to correct some writing style problems that commonly occur in technical and scientific documents.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05-

Words are the most basic unit of your writing style. All writers face challenges when trying to choose the right words. This lesson will discuss how to choose words that set an appropriate tone for your audience, how to handle technical terms, and how to correct common problems with word choice.

Friday - Lesson 06

Are your sentences bloated with heavy, convoluted language? Do you use passive voice more than you should? In this lesson, you'll learn how to construct powerful sentences. This lesson will examine several things that can make your writing "foggy" and discuss ways you can add clarity to your writing. You'll learn how to polish your sentences, grabbing—and keeping—your readers' attention.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Paragraphs are your document's building blocks. They give structure to your document, so you should construct them to bring your ideas to a logical and smooth conclusion. In this lesson you'll go over the four key elements of well-written paragraphs and specific strategies for developing effective paragraphs. You'll learn how to recognize the most common flaws in paragraphs, and then how to correct them to make those paragraphs stronger.

Friday - Lesson 08

When you're writing technical documents, you must use precise punctuation and mechanical conventions of writing to avoid vagueness and misunderstandings. This lesson will review traditional (also called close) punctuation conventions and show how you should use punctuation in your documents. It'll also discuss mechanical conventions, such as how to capitalize words, use abbreviations and acronyms, and how to write numbers. Finally, this lesson will talk about the conventions of structuring your documents, such as using parallel structure, inverted pyramid writing style, and correct use of headings and lists.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Do you know when you should use a bar chart or a line graph? When should you use a pie chart? You'll learn the answers to these questions plus how to use other types of charts in this lesson. You'll also learn general conventions for using graphical elements effectively, and look at other types of graphics, such as clip art, drawings, icons, screen shots, and more. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to add interest and information to your documents by using graphics effectively!

Friday - Lesson 10

How a document is designed can influence how well your readers receive your work and how easy it is for them to find the information they need. This lesson will unlock the secrets of good document design. You'll learn how to handle common page elements and why white space is your best friend!

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

What do people expect when they read your document? In this lesson, you'll learn the standard formats for reports, instructional documents, and proposals. You'll learn how to organize them and what people expect when they read them, plus ways to help your readers find information more quickly and to help them understand what you want them to do.

Friday - Lesson 12

Great technical documents don't just happen. They're the result of hours of work and attention to detail. In this final lesson, you'll learn how to infuse your writing with power and clarity by using effective editing and proofreading techniques. You'll learn tricks the pros use to eliminate as many errors as possible in their work. You'll also find out how to make your document stand out. Then this lesson will talk about how to handle management and usability reviews to be certain that every technical document you write is a great technical document!

Buy the ExpertRating Online Writing Course (Technical Document Writing) - $129.99

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