COURSE REFLECTION 

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The sixth aspect of LeADERS is Research, which I fulfilled through my Technical Writing class, ENGL 334W. This writing-intensive course focused on all forms of technical writing, pushing the students to remember the audience in every work they produce. Other main focuses include the purpose, the layout, the structure, and the content. Technical writing qualifies as any work that is taking complex information and translating it into more common verbiage to get the intended message across to the intended audience. Examples of technical communication include owner's manuals, operating manuals, standard operating procedures, and frequently asked questions, as well as presentations, websites, and more. Technical writers might also be found in copywriting, business writing, and grant writing. As this is what I want to pursue full time, it was integral that I take this course and try and gain as much from it as I could, which I did. 

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WORK SAMPLE

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For the final third of the semester in this class, we had an ongoing project in which we were to take on the role of project manager, deciding how to best reappropriate city space to create a new waste disposal facility. We had to choose between three different locations, each coming with its own benefits and shortcomings. Not only did we have to write an essay describing our reasoning behind whatever choice we made, but we also had to make a multimedia presentation that would act as the presentation pitch for the city council. 

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Before this course, I historically thought of technical writing as being somewhat disconnected from the emotional, and strongly attached to the rational. Accordingly, the challenge with this assignment was having to write a proposal in which I am simulated to be in power and have to make what is ultimately an ethical decision. What I remember to be particularly frustrating was imagining that, no matter what, there would be a body of people who would be unhappy with my decision-- even though it wasn't real! I could feel myself entering the shoes of a technical writer, who may become connected to their work in very real ways, even if it is not an area of personal expertise. 

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The second major part of this project was to create some sort of multimedia presentation that we would pitch to the city council. I had made a slideshow with audio only once before, but I felt technically competent here, and think that I effectively took on this role and got my point across to the intended audience for the intended purpose. When preparing this video, I found that my nervousness with public speaking still arose, even though I was alone in the comfort of my bedroom. This shows how immersive of an experience this was for me, and how passionate I am about my performance, no matter the field. ​

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​SKILLS DEVELOPED

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The main skills the above project developed were my problem-solving and decision-making skills. I first had to decide which of the three locations in the city would be best to reappropriate for city use. This is largely a normative issue in my eyes, as there were issues with reclaiming any one of the locations-- yet, there was one option with fewer downfalls than the other. This is how I eventually decided which land to use for the waste disposal facility. The next step of the process was to solve any problems that would arise with the use of the land chosen, which is what the video presentation aimed to accomplish. These two skills are useful everywhere, but in technical writing, this can particularly help when formulating any form of procedure or public policy. In the workplace in general, there is bound to be conflict in one way or another. Whether it is through customer service situations or times when I am in leadership, having the skills to quickly make decisions and effectively solve problems are indispensable. 

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Another skill this project--specifically the presentation portion--developed is my software skills. The project made use of Microsoft Word, PDF, Microsoft Powerpoint, and YouTube. I was able to create the proposal in Microsoft Word before converting it to a PDF for submission. For the presentation, I made the slideshow in Microsoft Powerpoint, including images and text, and then added my voiceover and recorded a video that would be uploaded to YouTube (unlisted). Being able to switch from platform to platform is a strong skill for a career in technical writing, and this research course well-prepared me for this occurrence. 

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LOOKING FORWARD

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Although I have developed many skills throughout this course, my goal is to keep fine-tuning my writing so that it always fits the ever-changing audience, and keep the purpose and content in mind before beginning to work on a project. I have discovered that these three factors will inform every step of the process of creating a piece of technical communication, and by not using these factors as guides I may end up having to rework or rewrite the piece. This course taught me how to better plan and research before beginning a project, and my goal is to use these skills whenever I can. I see the clear benefits it has on my work, and when I am working alongside another company in my future career, the stakes will be even higher to give my best for the benefit of the whole. 

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