ENGL 301 is a course in technical writing covering the principles behind producing effective written material. The types of documents covered in this class range from technical reports, project proposals and even correspondence. Furthermore, since written communication is perhaps of use in nearly every work environment, the teachings of this course should be of interest to professionals in multiple disciplines.

As students participating in ENGL 301, we will be introduced to writing in different contexts and registers (e.g., formal or informal). We will practice the techniques specific to each context both individually and in writing teams. Group activities will include peer reviewing and the collaborative creation of documents. We will also learn self-editing strategies to improve individual work.

In ENGL 301 we will take advantage of the Internet as a networking tool. One of our online specific assignments will involve the creation of an extensive Web Folio in the form of a LinkedIn profile and a self-designed website that displays our resume. In addition, we will be familiarized with the resources available to us through the UBC Career Services.

During the summer of 2016 I had the pleasure of working in a software company as a co-op student. This was my first experience working in an office environment. As part of my job, I had to maintain written communication with my teammates and managers through emails, reports, and/or chat. This presented an unexpected difficulty to me, as writing styles differed greatly amongst my coworkers. While some individuals would write correspondence in a formal style, others would send messages even without punctuation. How was I supposed to address my coworkers? In ENGL 301, I expect to learn how to write in different situations and registers. I would like to acquire a systematic way of knowing “how” my writing should look with respect to whom I am addressing and what kind of document I am writing.