What Students Need to Know Prior
to Attending the Seminar

This page covers pretty much everything that students need to know prior to attending the seminar. Course coordinators—please point students at this page.

Who should take this seminar?

I aim this seminar at engineers and scientists.

What is the goal of the seminar?

The goal is for you to write more accurately and concisely, so that the people reading your writing say, "I get it."

What is the format of the seminar?

I'll present short batches of slides and then turn you loose to write. While you're writing, I'll be walking around, helping you with the exercises.

Should professional technical writers take this course?

No. I aim this course exclusively at engineers and scientists.

Are there any prerequisites?

Nope. If your job is technical, then you've met the prerequisites.

How much time does the seminar consume?

The seminar usually consumes two days, though some sites opt for the one-day version. Each day spans about eight hours. Ask your course coordinator for the start and stop times at your location.

Both days include a one-hour lunch break. You'll also get a short break in mid-morning and another on in the afternoon.

What material will students receive?

Each student receives the following material:

• a copy of Addison-Wesley's Spring Into Technical Writing for Engineers and Scientists
• a printed handbook containing all the slides and exercises used in the course

Do students need a computer?

Yes. In order to do the exercises, you will need a computer. You could, theoretically, do the exercises with pen and paper, but it will probably get frustrating.

What kind of computer do students need?

Any laptop or desktop PC is fine.

What word processing software do students need?

You only need a simple text editor such as Notepad. You do not need a WYSIWYG formatter such as Microsoft Word, though you could certainly do the exercises with Microsoft Word if you prefer.