1 Introduction To Writing for Computer Science and Engineering

2 Course Objective Learn how to write technical documents! Including –User manuals – Have you written one? –Technical manuals - Have you written one? –Describing algorithms – Do you know? –Technical Papers – What’s that? –Project proposals - ??? NOTE: We don’t learn how to write essays

3 Why such a course? The biggest problem for engineers (including computer scientists) is that –They cannot communicate effectively their thoughts They can write millions of line of code that will do extra-ordinary tasks but.. This limits significantly their career prospects

4 Motivation A scientific paper presents new ideas and demonstrates their correctness. These should be presented with clarity and without ambiguities. Unfortunately scientists in many cases cannot communicate well. Why? Please provide your opinion.

5 Scientific Writing Scientific writing is about structure, non- ambiguity, completeness. The reader must be able to reconstruct the author’s work. –In clearly written senior project report this should hold true A difficult to understand paper is never convincing. –After half-a-read people will give up Good writing and presentation can persuade the reader that the work is of value

6 Scientific writing For example, the reader tends to judge statements to be wrong if they contain numerous spelling errors. –The issu hear is that this teqnical paper is realy interestin. –The issue here is that this technical paper is really interesting Layout issues such as font and spacing are also important. –The issue here is that this technical paper is really interesting –THE issue Here is that this technical paper is really interesting

7 Problems English is the language of science If English is not your native language, you probably confront many difficulties Usually scientists have little experience of writing extended documents. Many are intimidated by writing and avoid it because it’s not fun

8 Remarks Few scientists are natural writers Those who write well, learn usually through experience –Their early papers are often embarrassingly poor It is not so difficult to become a good writer Steps: create a logical organization, use concise sentences, revise against checklists of possible problems, seek feedback and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

9 Getting Started with Latex Download TexMaker v3.5 ( –This is a free, multiplatform latex editor Download Miktex ( –Version 2.9, Basic –These are the latex libraries Install both in the default folders –If you can

10 Now you are ready! Download and start reading the latex getting started tutorial and Create the first example