Jan 25, 2005lecture011 MET 100W Writing Workshop: Meteorological Reports

Jan 25, 2005lecture012 MET 100W Technical Writing and Communication

Jan 25, 2005lecture013 Overview What is technical writing? Who cares? We are scientists! Unfortunately (?), even scientists have to write 

Jan 25, 2005lecture014 Reasons for writing (scientific writing after you’ve left SJS) –Disseminate information Papers in journals (JAS, BAMS) Books Instruction manuals Theses (senior, MS, PhD)

Jan 25, 2005lecture015 Reasons … –Gain funding ($$$ for you and your workers) –Justify your funding –Final reports (i.e., to justify the funding you got, and maybe help secure future funding!) –Other Seek new jobs (resumes) Letters to newspapers

Jan 25, 2005lecture016 Reasons … –According to the AMS website (URL on homework), roughly 50% of students graduating with a Meteorology degree will go into the private sector. –Where do the $$$ come from?

Jan 25, 2005lecture017 Reasons … –The company writes a proposal to an outside group (e.g., dairy farmers association) to perform a task (decide where to install power- generating windmills, say). –This may be written by the boss, or parts may be assigned to different workers, but the point is that there is some technical writing.

Jan 25, 2005lecture018 Reasons … –If the proposal is granted, the task is performed (that’s the fun part!) –Afterwards, a final report is written, and perhaps also some technical documents and instruction manuals. –Technical reports may also have to be generated for other groups (e.g., shareholders). –You may be involved in any/all of these steps!

Jan 25, 2005lecture019 Technical writing – is what? –How does technical writing differ from “non- technical” writing? –Consider:

Jan 25, 2005lecture0110 Technical writing – is what? “I WANDERED lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” William Wordsworth (1804)

Jan 25, 2005lecture0111 Technical writing – is what? “…we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Winston Churchill (1940)

Jan 25, 2005lecture0112 Technical writing – is what? –Both evoke emotion! –Technical writing does not. –A typical novel (sci-fi, mystery, Pride & Prejudice) is written in a style that: Evokes emotions May have long, complicated, involved sentences Makes you think (a lot). Try reading Sartre!

Jan 25, 2005lecture0113 Technical writing – is what? –A typical technical report is written in a style that: Does not evoke emotions. Should have shorter, less complex sentence structure (so you can find your way through easily).

Jan 25, 2005lecture0114 Technical writing – is what? For example, if you are writing a proposal for funding, you do NOT want to confuse the reader! You want the reader to understand what you are saying, and finally decide: “Yes! I will give you the money!”

Jan 25, 2005lecture0115 Technical writing – style –Thus, the technical writing style has certain elements (which we will examine later in the class), including: Clarity Honesty Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar Is well-organized

Jan 25, 2005lecture0116 Technical writing – style Is written in the 3 rd person –“we performed an experiment…” even if you did everything alone. Is written in a rather formal style –No contractions (“we have” rather than “we’ve”) –No jargon or commonly used expressions (“like, dude!”) –Nothing offensive (duh)(don’t use “duh” or “d’oh”)

Jan 25, 2005lecture0117 Structure of the course –First few weeks of class: Focus on technical writing issues: –How to get started –Developing a plan –Developing a timeline –Writing a draft –Editing etc.

Jan 25, 2005lecture0118 Structure of the course… –Mid-semester: Focus on non-written technical presentations: –How to make an effective powerpoint presentation –Posters

Jan 25, 2005lecture0119 Structure of the course… –Last part of semester: Students will choose a project (literature survey, chosen with help of faculty) and will generate: –A written report containing all the elements we will have discussed by then (good title, abstract, introduction etc.) –A powerpoint presentation of their work. –A poster presentation of their work.

Jan 25, 2005lecture0120 How the class will be taught –Mondays: Lecture –Wednesdays: In-class writing tasks These will be graded and will be due at the end of class.

Jan 25, 2005lecture0121 Lets’ get started! TASK: Write a complete list of instructions for how to log into cnn.com on the computer. Your target audience: a group of 20 senior citizens with these characteristics: ½ male, ½ female ½ born overseas (England, Russia, Vietnam), ½ born in US (N. Dakota, Texas, New York) Thus, a fraction are non-native english speakers. None owns a computer or has ever used one. The computer is powered OFF and is running the same OS as in DH 614. START!