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 are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Pre-approval 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 the required documentation.
2. Complete the Experiential Learning Contract
3. To complete the contract, you will 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.*
   
4. Complete the Technical Writing Preapproval Form with your Evaluator before beginning a technical writing experience.

*Note: If an Evaluator will be assigned after the experience starts, provide general contact information, including the location of the experience. Submit a statement to scienceadvising@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 Pre-approval stage is complete once the Evaluator submits the Pre-approval Form to scienceadvising@purdue.edu  and a Faculty Representative approves the experience. 

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 should 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 the College of Science core curriculum. Evaluators should be concise but thorough in their explanations. Once completed, email the form to scienceadvising@purdue.edu.

Faculty Representative:

The Faculty Representative will review the Experiential Learning Contract and Pre-approval form to determine if the experience may be pre-approved to meet the Technical Writing requirement. This decision is shared with the student and their academic advisor via Purdue email. 

Final Approval Stage 

Students:

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

 Technical Writing Final Approval Form completed by your Evaluator.

1. First and last draft of your technical writing paper(s) or publication.
2. First and final writing evaluation using the Technical Writing Rubrics form. Your Evaluator must complete both rubrics evaluations.

Evaluator:

To secure final approval, provide documentation of a student's technical writing process by submitting the following forms: 

1. Technical Writing Final Approval Form.
2. First draft and final draft Technical Writing Rubrics. 

All forms should be sent to: scienceadvising@purdue.edu for review. 

Faculty Representative:

The Faculty Representative will review the Evaluator's and student's submissions to determine if the Technical Writing requirement is met.

Resources:

Sample Technical Writing Outline