New communication technologies such as the internet, CD-ROM, and hypermedia will ensure that graduates who can think and communicate effectively using these technologies and about technical subjects will continue to be needed. Arizona State University currently offers two courses in technical communication with two additional courses in the soon to be available. All of these courses may be used to enhance students skills and may be applied toward the Writing Certificate offered by the Department of English. Our courses meet a variety of needs, ranging from students who wish to increase their skills in commujnication to those who wish to become professional writers. Technical communication classes at ASU are geared for students who anticipate that their careers will involve a substantial amount of writing and communication.
Courses are inter-related and offer a coherent group of technical communication skills.
Students examine and critique the interrelationships between textual and visual elements on published material and compose and design their own documents. The process of document production is viewed through a critical rhetorical perspective, i.e., students learn how visual material and text work together to meet audience needs and to accomplish authors purposes. In addition to analyzing and composing meaningful text, students learn about typography, page design, pictures, and graphics, and issues such as binding, paper selection, and printing. The course involves the development of communicative competence in written and oral discourse. Students read about document production issues from textbooks and professional articles.