Technical Writing and Editing (PUBL90005)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject teaches the writing and editing skills needed in the technical writing profession. The emphasis is on preparing instructional materials (also known as user documentation), both for printed and online delivery. Students will learn how to plan a documentation project, how to tailor writing for various audiences (local and international), how to write effective procedures, how to build subject-specific thesauri, and how to index and design documents.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be prepared for the profession of technical writing (also known as technical communication);
- have experienced writing and editing technical documents;
- have acquired an awareness of the global reach of technical writing and of the need to be sensitive to cultural, legal and language differences;
- understand the various moral dimensions in instructional and informational writing, and have gained an appreciation of the importance of minimising information denial, time theft and potential injury; and
- have acquired a framework for appreciating the importance of extending the role of editor to that of collaborative author in the preparation of technical documents
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- finely honed skills in writing, and editing, plain, utilitarian, audience-centric instructional materials;
- document design and structuring skills that enhance usability and readability;
- an appreciation of the moral and legal imperatives that drive effective communication in an information-hungry, time-poor and culturally diverse world; and
- skills in template-creation, indexing and thesaurus-building.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An edited technical documentation
| Early in the teaching period | 25% |
A report or media object
| Late in the teaching period | 25% |
A fully featured user manual
| During the examination period | 50% |
| Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Robert Levy Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: 1x2-hour seminar, taught weekly Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Publishing and Communications (Advanced) Course Graduate Certificate in Publishing and Communications (Advanced) - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 3 November 2022