Technical Writing Extension Certificate

E-mail: cebusiness@mtroyal.ca
Information: 403.440.8804 or toll-free 1.888.392.3655
Register: Start here
Location: Lincoln Park Campus, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW

Required Courses | Optional Courses | Student Testimonials

Do you have a technical background and a passion for writing? Businesses need technical writers who can combine the skills of effective communication with practical experience using the latest tools and technology. Many successful technical writers also work as independent contractors across a variety of industries.

This program enables you to develop skills using key software programs commonly used by technical writers. Learn to apply a systematic approach to creating technical documents, select appropriate styles of writing for specific technical purposes, conduct an audience analysis and evaluate the effectiveness of a technical communication form.

Requirements
A grade 12 level of proficiency in written and spoken English and strong intermediate skills in MS Word and Windows are strongly recommended requirements for technical writing courses.

Program Notes
We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communications before registering in any other courses. Some required courses may require some assignments to be submitted within a week after the course has finished.

Earning Your Certificate
Complete the nine required courses (135 hours) plus 22 hours of optional courses within two years with a minimum grade of C in each required course. You may also register in individual courses of interest.

Career Outlook
At the conclusion of the Technical Writing Certificate, you will have both the skills you need to be successful in the field of technical writing and a portfolio that demonstrates your abilities, which may qualify you for an entry-level position, depending on personal and professional suitability for the field.

Required Courses

Foundations of Technical Communication
Explore the discipline of technical writing and enhance your writing techniques to meet the demands of today’s marketplace. Study the concepts involved in technical writing, including audience analysis, document organization, and grammar and writing skills to create clear, concise, correct and cohesive communications. Apply these through practical exercises. 

Producing Software Specifications
Functional requirements and design specifications are vital to any development or manufacturing project. Explore the role these and other technical documents play in developing a software product, and discover the elements they must have to describe a product properly using UseCases and other specification documents. Prepare representative documents using MS Word. 
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Editing Basics for Technical Documents
Editing is a vital step in creating professional, accurate and usable technical documentation. Discuss the role of the editor and the editing process, as well as examining the types of edits that documents can undergo. Practise various edit types through hands-on exercises. 
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Site Architecture for Online Media
Information websites, online help and Intranets are prevalent in the business and technology world. Review the benefits and challenges, and examine and practise the skills necessary to design sites that are well organized and easy to navigate. Apply these skills while developing an information site using a combination of XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and a Content Management System.
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Design & Authoring Online Media
Discover how to author pages that are organized, readable, easily comprehended and credible. Apply these skills while authoring pages using a combination of XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) within a managed environment. Information websites, online help and Intranets are prevalent in the business and technology world. Review the benefits and challenges, and examine and practise the skills necessary to author pages. 
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Site Architecture for Online Media before registering in this course.

Flare
Flare is the tool for developing web and desktop-based online help systems. Explore the many features of this powerful tool while creating an HTML-based online help system. 
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Preparing Policies & Procedures
Preparing effective policies and procedures has become a major focus for technical writers as quality standards like ISO 9000 emphasize their role in developing quality products and services. Examine the essential ingredients of policies and procedures and practise using these to prepare effective policies and procedures using MS Word. 
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Writing User Guides
Design and prepare effective user guides that enable the reader to successfully operate a product. As well, study and follow through the process of guide and manual creation using MS Word, including task and audience analysis, documentation standards, instruction writing and information organization.
Note: We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

Technical Layout & Design
Discover how the principles of page layout, typography and design can help you produce effective and readable technical documents. Put these principles into practice by designing technical documents using MS Word. 
Note: We strongly recommend that you complete Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in this course.

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Optional Courses

Choose 22 hours
We strongly recommend completion of Foundations of Technical Communication before registering in any optional courses.

Adobe FrameMaker
FrameMaker is one of the most in-demand tools for technical writers. Acquire the skills necessary to produce technical documents including the ability to work with master pages and text frames, import and place text and graphics, and create and manage books.

Adobe Acrobat for Technical Writing
Adobe Acrobat’s PDF format allows you to read, review and publish information from a variety of sources as a single organized documentation package. Discover how to use Acrobat to deliver your information to any audience including professional imagesetters, your local work group, and even the web. Use Acrobat for editorial reviews of documentation and to capture and record information research. 

Creating Training Manuals
Learn to design and prepare effective training materials for a variety of training situations. Study the process of creating training materials using MS Word, including task and audience analysis, documentation standards, teaching roles, learning sequences and evaluation techniques. 

Portfolios for Technical Writers
Portfolios can be excellent tools for technical writers seeking employment. Examine various types and discuss the process of developing a portfolio, including deciding which technical writing documents to include/exclude, organizing work samples and assessing its value from an employer’s point of view. Discuss how a portfolio supports other job search tools. 
Note: Please bring hard-copy samples of technical communications you have produced or are currently working on for discussion in class.

Indexing Technical Documents
A well-crafted index is essential to locating information within a document, yet preparing an effective index is a complex process. This practical, hands-on session uses MS Word in teaching indexing practices for technical writing that can be applied to many different writing projects. 

Writing Engineering Specifications
Apply the principles and practices of technical writing to prepare engineering specifications. The practical, hands-on approach of this course is designed to assist technical and engineering specialists to prepare effective engineering specifications. Use the MasterFormat 2004 specification standard to revise and prepare a set of engineering specifications with MS Word. 

Effective Business Writing
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4 Ds of Professional Speaking Seminar
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Professional Business Presentations
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Speak with Confidence for Success
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I'd Sooner Die than Speak in Public
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Vocal Excellence Seminar
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What to Say When the Pressure is On Seminar
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Student Testimonials

“Hands-on approach. We used the software for the entire course (much better than just lecture).”

- Adobe Framemaker student

“[The instructor] offered advice on which user guides to buy, which is helpful. She created excercises which helped reinforce what we learned. She also had good tips and advice. It’s good to have an instructor that uses this program everyday.”

- Adobe Framemaker student

“I liked the exercises a lot. They really help drive home the ideas.”

- Foundations of Technical Communication student

“It gave me hands-on learning in an area that I wanted to improve upon. This course was exactly what I needed. I would definitely recommmend this course to others.”

- Foundations of Technical Communication student

“Very practical, relevant and up to date information, good to learn what employers want and how to market myself.”

- Portfolios for Technical Writers student

“Clarified exactly what policies and procedures should accomplish, applicable to my current job.’

- Preparing Policies & Procedures student

“Very useful information, "hands-on" learning all day long. It'=’s exactly what I wanted to learn.”

- Preparing Policies & Procedures student

“So many tips! This course will make life way easier.”

- Technical Layout & Design student

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