Technical Writing
Lecturer: Jim Z. C. Lai (賴榮滄)
Email: zclai@mail.ntou.edu.tw
Course ID: D5701952
Credits: 3
Objective: This subject provides postgraduate technology students with professional communication skills appropriate to their course. The subject begins with the techniques necessary to develop a literature review and professional ethics is taught in the research context. Students will learn how to produce a complete literature review as well as a project proposal (their thesis/dissertation).
Course Prerequisites: None
Outline:
The various aspects of IT industry or scholarly reading and writing will be integrated into the creation of a full project proposal and a complete literature review. Common topics include: search strategies; evaluating sources of information; reading critically; reference lists and citation; writing critically and making an argument; producing a literature review; research ethics; and oral presentations. We will also cover development of a proposal, including: aims; background; significance; methodology; editing; proposal integrity (or consistency of the various parts of the proposal); stating and arguing a thesis; identification of research questions from gaps in the literature; significance of the research; and editing.
Teaching Method:
For the first three or four weeks, the lecturer will teach the students how to write a technical paper in English. Later on, class editing and discusions will be given. Finally, the lecture will teach the stdudent how to polish technical paper in English.
Reference:
Zobel, Justin. 2004, Writing for computer science, 2nd ed., Springer-Verlag, London. Rugg, G. & Petre, M. 2010, The unwritten rules of PhD research, Open University Press, Maidenhead, UK. Hart, Chris. 2002, Doing a literature review: Releasing the social science imagination, Sage, London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi. Wallace, Steve. 2009, How to wirte and submit an academic paper in 18 weeks, Wallace Adademic Publishing, Taiwan.
Course Schedule (subject to change):
Prework Activity: Research Topic Notes: Think about your possible topic and do initial literature survey to better understand the topic. Please read the Prework activity on Tronclass. Subject Introduction; The Role of Research in IT; Evaluating Sources of Information Notes: Tutorial: Your Research Interests and Skills; Groups and Topics Confirmation Endnote Notes: Tutorial: Referencing and Citation I Structuring a Literature-Based Report; Arguing Your Point of ViewNotes: Tutorial: Referencing and Citation II Writing Well: Synthesizing Information; Quoting versus Paraphrasing; Paragraphing; Critical Writing Notes: Tutorial: Paraphrasing and Paragraphing Project Aims and Objectives; BackgroundNotes: Tutorial: Preparing for Your Research Project Significance and Innovation Notes: Tutorial: Executive Summaries Project Methodology; Research EthicsNotes: Tutorial: Presentation Skills Identifying the Knowledge Gap Building a Table of Keywords ver
Evaluation:
Assessment task
1: Building Research Skills: To become an independent researcher. To develop the skills of working collaboratively and talking informally about research. Assessment task
2: Literature-Based Report: To establish search skills and the ability to evaluate the appropriateness of the articles chosen. To develop the skills of critical analysis and synthesis, direct and indirect citation, referencing and the writing of a complete report. Assessment task
3: Research Presentation: To develop the skills of presenting orally about research.