Technical Writing One covered the following basic lessons of technical writing:
- Use terms consistently.
- Avoid ambiguous pronouns.
- Prefer active voice to passive voice.
- Pick specific verbs over vague ones.
- Focus each sentence on a single idea.
- Convert some long sentences to lists.
- Eliminate unneeded words.
- Use a numbered list when ordering is important and a bulleted list when ordering is irrelevant.
- Keep list items parallel.
- Start numbered list items with imperative words.
- Introduce lists and tables appropriately.
- Create great opening sentences that establish a paragraph's central point.
- Focus each paragraph on a single topic.
- Determine what your audience needs to learn.
- Fit documentation to your audience.
- Establish your document's key points at the start of the document.
Congratulations! You've completed the pre-class portion of Technical Writing One.
The in-class component of Technical Writing One helps you practice technical writing principles:
- If your organization offers the in-class portion of Technical Writing One, you are now ready for that class.
- If your organization doesn't offer the in-class portion of Technical Writing One, consider joining one of the free public courses listed on the Announcements page.