Writing User Documentation

Course outline

Phil Cohen wrote and presented a course in Technical Writing at the University of Technology, Sydney. If you want to use this material from the course, please contact us.

Week 12: The tech writing industry

Many of the students for this course are either looking for a career in technical communications, or to strengthen their current career. To move ahead, you need a map of where you can go.

This session uses a short slide presentation about the technical writing industry in Australia.

Writing test

A number of employers in the technical communications industry use short writing tests as a way of choosing staff or contractors. I have included this (simulated) writing test in the course for three reasons:

so that you can use the idea if ever you have to hire a writer
so that if you ever have to sit one of these tests, you know what you're in for
to give you some feedback on your writing style and skills

The writing test is a handout to be distributed in the classroom.