Teaching Four Different Communication Styles In Freshman Engineering

to Engineering and Design provides freshmen engineering students with an informed understanding of what engineers do. By exposing students to experimental techniques, design skills, teamwork and the tools of the trade, a foundation for further study is established. In this context, it is critical to develop communication skills, both oral and written. Students are assigned four types of professional written communication: Lab Reports, Software Documentation, PowerPoint Presentations, and a Proposal. Each of these assignments is intended to provide students with a sample of the type of written work that is required of technical professionals. By introducing four different writing assignments, one combined with an oral presentation, each student is encouraged to be flexible in their mastery of written communication skills. Competence is achieved through repetition. At the conclusion of the course, the freshman are prepared to advance with a fundamental understanding of the methods employed in effective technical communication.