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Technical Writing for Professionals

Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.

Description

The two-day fully-online Technical Writing for Professionals course will provide students with hands-on tools to create technical writing, which is more engaging, compelling and persuasive.  

Program Outcomes

By the end of this course, course participants will have the tools and strategies to:

  • Write in an engaging manner
  • Ensure internal logic and consistency
  • Select relevant material for inclusion and exclude the irrelevant
  • Select appropriate words to truly and accurately convey their intentions/meaning
  • Edit their own and other’s work
  • Appreciate the critical importance of edit/review/redraft.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites. A standard college or university English course or previous experience writing reports is recommended.

Who attends?

This course is intended for a very wide array of students including professionals, university students, government, indigenous partners, and anyone that writes (or reviews) technical material as part of their duties.  

How do I attend?

This course is available via our website schedule, or on contract to companies, community groups or organizations.  Interested groups or organizations can also arrange for an ‘in-house’ or contract delivery of this program. For further information, please contact us.    

What should I bring or supply?

Own computer and a stable internet connection, writing supplies for taking notes are also recommended.

Course Format

This two-day, 16-hour course is a highly interactive, classroom-based review of technical writing and reporting. Course participants will complete a number of in-class assignments, exercises, group discussions and group teachings. This course equips students with hands-on tools to create technical writing, which is more engaging, compelling and persuasive. The course draws on tools of other writing genres to inspire, motivate and empower better writers.

Instructor Profile

Sean Mitchell, PhD, RP Bio

NRTG Program Manager and Writer 

Sean has worked in and studied the field of biology and impact assessment since 1987 and in that time has gained experience in four Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland) working on a broad array of fish and wildlife, from periphyton to mammals. Sean’s experience has ranged widely from basic fieldwork to experimental biomechanics of crustaceans; from environmental impact analyses and fisheries issues through biogeography, philosophy, and sophisticated data analyses and modelling; from forests to the ocean. Sean has been, and strives to remain, a generalist in a world of hyper specialization and fascination with technology.

Sean’s chosen career has required continual writing during his professional life, including more than fifty contract reports, two academic theses, and twenty-three professional, peer reviewed papers. However, in addition to a requirement for his work, writing is a passion for Sean. He has written articles and short pieces for non-technical audiences and is currently working on three book projects (two non-fiction; one novel). Sean brings tools and strategies from other forms of writing to technical writing. He strongly believes, and propounds, that studying the processes which fiction and creative writers use can greatly help our technical writing abilities and efficiencies.

To teach a writing course requires some experience in teaching as well as writing. Sean has taught six biology courses at universities in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, ranging from first to third year, and from introductory biology to field school. He now brings the tools and strategies learned from these experiences to this writing course to create a valuable learning experience to the student.

Related Training 

Testimonials

What I liked about this course was Sean’s ability to bring technical writing back to the basics – to remind us of the intent or purpose of writing, and to remind us on a basic level how to construct a sentence, a paragraph, and a narrative. Beyond the basics, he provided us with strategies for improving our writing through every stage of the writing process. My biggest takeaway from the course is a reminder that even technical, scientific writing can (and should!) be compelling, interesting, creative and persuasive.
Melanie MacDonaldBiologist Halifax NS

Great course, more hands-on that I was expecting and surprisingly, it was not dry material. Sean had lots of stories, quotes, exercises and tips and by the end of the two days, I had confidence that I wasn’t the horrible writer I had made myself out to be. Writing just takes work and practice like everything else. I’d love to take this course annually to re-inspire and refresh my writing skills.

Jessica HobdenBiologist, Kelowna BC

This course was very engaging and covered a lot of material. It let me see and understand perspectives of writing that haven’t been covered in other classes and has already helped me look at writing for work and personal writing differently.

Emily Wood
The course was hands-on and involved, I liked how we wrote and edited throughout. I found the timing and pace of the course to be appropriate and efficient. I recommend taking this course if you are interested in enhancing your writing skills in a technical workplace.
Emma PoslunsBiologist, Halifax NS

My writing has improved tenfold since taking the course, as well as my confidence. My supervisor and I have both noticed it – whether it is an email, summary letter, or full report, the flow is better and everything reads easier.

Rachel CullenBiologist, Cochrane Alberta

Thanks Sean for a great course! I found it extremely valuable and am already feeling more confident it my technical writing.

Chandra Buchanan

What I liked about this course was Sean’s ability to bring technical writing back to the basics – to remind us of the intent or purpose of writing, and to remind us on a basic level how to construct a sentence, a paragraph, and a narrative. Beyond the basics, he provided us with strategies for improving our writing through every stage of the writing process. My biggest takeaway from the course is a reminder that even technical, scientific writing can (and should!) be compelling, interesting, creative and persuasive.

Melanie MacDonaldBiologist Halifax NS

Great course, more hands-on that I was expecting and surprisingly, it was not dry material. Sean had lots of stories, quotes, exercises and tips and by the end of the two days, I had confidence that I wasn’t the horrible writer I had made myself out to be. Writing just takes work and practice like everything else. I’d love to take this course annually to re-inspire and refresh my writing skills.

Jessica HobdenBiologist, Kelowna BC

This course was very engaging and covered a lot of material. It let me see and understand perspectives of writing that haven’t been covered in other classes and has already helped me look at writing for work and personal writing differently.

Emily Wood

The course was hands-on and involved, I liked how we wrote and edited throughout. I found the timing and pace of the course to be appropriate and efficient. I recommend taking this course if you are interested in enhancing your writing skills in a technical workplace.

Emma PoslunsBiologist, Halifax NS

My writing has improved tenfold since taking the course, as well as my confidence. My supervisor and I have both noticed it – whether it is an email, summary letter, or full report, the flow is better and everything reads easier.

Rachel CullenBiologist, Cochrane Alberta

Thanks Sean for a great course! I found it extremely valuable and am already feeling more confident it my technical writing.

Chandra Buchanan