1. Written Communications ELEC 106 Dr. Mark McKinney With a little help from Dr. Ron Hayne

2. ELEC 1062 Written Communication Skills  Why do we write?  What does our writing say about us?  How do we learn to write well?  What is the number one thing employers look for in EE graduates?

3. 3 Written Communication Skills  What kind of writing will you have to do as a practicing engineer?  How does this compare to what you have been taught to write in classes?  What type of writing do you engage in most?  For any writing: What are the goals of the writing? Who is your audience? ELEC 106

4. 4 McKinney’s 10 Rules of Technical Writing 1.Know your assignment. 2.Plan out your “story.” 3.Tell the story with pictures (or figures…or tables) and then write text around them. 4.Know how to create and properly use good graphics. 5.Never be afraid to insult your audience’s intelligence. ELEC 106

5. 5 6.Use only as many words as you need. 7.Always use proper grammar and spelling. 8.Don’t start writing at the very last minute. 9.Take yourself out of the writing. 10.Never, ever put something in writing that you aren’t absolutely positive is correct. McKinney’s 10 Rules of Technical Writing ELEC 106