English 318 is an advanced writing course for upper-level undergraduates in scientific and technical fields. As part of their general education requirements, all NMSU students must take at least two writing courses. The first is English 111. For students in scientific and technical majors, the second course is usually either English 218, Technical and Scientific Communication, or English 318, Advanced Technical and Professional Communication. English 318 students are expected to bring material from their own majors into all writing assignments.
Writing is an important part of professional life.
Because writing is so pervasive, it is easy to overlook. I come at the study of writing from the perspective of rhetoric. Recently, rhetoricians have turned their gaze to scientific, technical, and workplace communication. In such contexts, one finds complex rhetorical problems worthy of sustained theoretical and practical attention. The study of good speaking and writing can take many forms.