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by Mark D. Stewart
I have it on good authority that the Dean's office is considering having IT students fulfill their writing requirements through the Department of Rhetoric. I think this is a splendid idea.
Presently, IT students receive writing instruction through the Composition and Communication Program sponsored by the English Department. Although Composition has done its job well, the Scientific and Technical Writing Program sponsored by the Department of Rhetoric specifically addresses issues of communication in a technological world. According to the Department of Rhetoric's Web site http://rhetoric.agoff.umn.edu/, successful technical communicators have the following skills: "strong writing and editing, oral communication, visual communication, and computer skills." In addition, technical communicators "need a sound knowledge and understanding of the goals, methods, and concepts involved in math and technology, as well as in a specific scientific area."
IT students can only gain from what the Department of Rhetoric has to offer, including world-class scholars and instructors in the field of scientific and technical writing. As the paradigms of communication shift, it is becoming imperative for all students in all fields, especially those in science and technology, to communicate effectively. The Department of Rhetoric provides instruction in:
-the techniques for written, oral, and visual communication, including gathering information, analyzing the audience, assessing conventional communicational formats and processes, and drafting, testing, and revising documents;
-organizational theory, with an emphasis on action research in scientific and/or technical settings;
-the principles and concepts of conducting experiments and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data;
-grant preparation and proposals for non-profits and/or research or business proposals;
-experimental and survey research techniques for both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in scientific and technical communication;
-ethics, experimental bias, and inferential statistical analysis;
-the theories and practice in international and intercultural scientific, technical, and business communication;
-the principles of technical communication involving projects, scripts, and online support, and using a mark-up language; and
-the criticism and practice to examine how science is "translated" for popular audiences.
These skills can give IT students an edge as they pursue careers in their fields.
IT students should check out the Department of Rhetoric's technical communication courses, or consider minoring in Scientific and Technical Communication. Below is a small sampling of the undergraduate and graduate courses scheduled to be offered next Fall by Rhetoric. For a complete listing, please visit http://www.semesters.umn.edu/tccat/template/courses.cfm.
RHET 3257. Scientific and Technical Presentations.
RHET 3562. Technical and Professional Writing.
RHET 4165. Managerial and Organizational Communication, Planning, and Change.
RHET 4501. Usability and Human Factors in Technical Communication.
RHET 4573. Writing and Managing Projects and Proposals.
RHET 5511. Research in Scientific and Technical Communication.
RHET 5534. Designing Technical Training for Intercultural Audiences.
RHET 5562. Theory and Practice in International Business Communication.
RHET 5662. Advanced Technical Communication.
RHET 5664. Science Writing for Popular Audiences.
IT students should check out these and other technical communication courses offered by the Department of Rhetoric, or consider a minor in Scientific and Technical Communication. Under semesters, the Department of Rhetoric will offer three new minors, two of which encompass specific areas of scientific and technical communication.
For more information, contact either Dr. Laura Gurak, Undergraduate Major Coordinator, at (612) 624-3773 or gurak@tc.umn.edu, or Cheryl Towler, Assistant Undergraduate Major Coordinator, at (612) 625-4710 or towl005@tc.umn.edu.
