Technical Writing Experience Guidelines

The Technical writing requirement can be met by completion of a scholarly publication as defined by the following three options:

1. Science-based paper accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or peer-reviewed conference proceedings in which the student is the lead author or has written the large majority of the paper; or
2. Science-based paper a College of Science faculty member with expertise in the area deems of publishable quality; or
3. Three approved science-based papers of at least 1,500 words each, at least one of which makes a strong or persuasive argument.

 

Documentation Process

Students should plan to complete the approval process in advance of an experience. Post-experience approvals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Preapproval Stage

Student:

1. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your interest in using an experience to meet the Technical Writing requirement; review the approval process and how to complete required documentation.
2. Complete the Experiential Learning Contract
   To complete the contract, you will need to identify an Evaluator (ex. faculty member, research principal or employment supervisor) who will work with you to assess and evaluate your technical writing process and experience. You will need to secure this individual's signature on the contract.* Once completed, you will submit or send the Experiential Learning Contract to the address below.
3. Complete the Technical Writing Preapproval Form with your evaluator. This form must be submitted prior to the beginning of the technical writing experience.

*Note: If an Evaluator will not be assigned before the experience starts, please provide general contact information including the location of the experience. Submit a statement to experientialcontracts@purdue.edu, outlining your intended experience and documenting how it will meet the Technical Presenting requirement. This statement will be evaluated pending the completion of the preapproval form by your Evaluator. The Preapproval stage is not complete until the Evaluator submits the Preapproval Form to the address listed on the bottom of the form and the experience is approved by a Faculty Representative.

Evaluator:

A student will work with their Evaluator to complete an approved technical writing paper(s) or publication. A process of observation to discuss a student’s progress towards the goal of a completed technical writing project and periodic feedback to the student are required. Students and their evaluators should meet regularly to monitor the process.

The following documents must be completed prior to the start of the Technical Writing experience:

1. Experiential Learning Contract containing requisite signatures.
2. Technical Writing Preapproval Form. This form allows an Evaluator, who will assess the student’s experience, to document the experiential process and how it will meet the Technical Writing requirement in College of Science core curriculum. Evaluators should be concise but thorough in their explanations. The Preapproval Form should be sent to the following address to secure approval of the experience by a Faculty Representative: Science Undergraduate Advising Office, Mathematical Sciences building, Room 231,150 N University St, MA 231, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2067 or email to: experientialcontracts@purdue.edu.

Faculty Representative:

The Faculty Representative will review the Experiential Learning Contract and Preapproval From to determine if the experience may be preapproved to meet the Technical Writing requirement. This decision will be sent to the student and student’s advisor via Purdue email addresses.

 

Final Approval Stage

Students:

The following documents must be completed and submitted to request final approval of a  Technical Writing experience:

1. Technical Writing Final Approval Form completed by your evaluator.
2. First draft and final draft of your technical writing paper(s) or publication.
3. First draft and final draft Technical Writing Rubrics. Both rubrics must be completed by your Evaluator.

Evaluator:

To provide documentation of the student’s technical writing process, the following forms must be submitted to secure a final approval:

1. Technical Writing Final Approval Form.
2. First draft and final draft Technical Writing Rubrics. Two rubrics must be submitted.

All documentation will be collected by the Undergraduate Education Office and therefore, should be sent to: experientialcontracts@purdue.edu or the Science Undergraduate Advising Office, Mathematical Sciences building, Room 231,150 N University St, MA 231, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2067.

Faculty Representative:

The Faculty Representative will review the evaluator’s and student’s submissions to determine if the Technical Writing requirement has been met. All documentation will be collected by the Undergraduate Education Office and therefore, should be sent to experientialcontracts@purdue.edu or the Science Undergraduate Advising Office, Mathematical Sciences building, Room 231,150 N University St, MA 231, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2067.

 

Resources:

Sample Technical Writing Outline