PST 328
Technical Writing
for the
Public Safety Telecommunicator
INTRODUCTION
This course is designed to teach the principles of Technical Writing to the Public Safety Telecommunicator. To this end, several chapters of the text are not addressed in this course. Although the chapters on resumé writing, web-site programming, and oral presentations are important and beneficial, they do not pertain directly to the day-to-day operations of the Public Safety Telecommunicator. The chapters that are being taught have been arranged and combined for maximum continuity and application.
The concepts of Technical Writing are similar and yet very different from other types of written communication. It is the objective of this course to instruct the student in the proficient use and application of the general principles of Technical Writing.
Technical Writing both analyzes and explains in order to communicate. The course will begin with a review of grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation before analysis of the general principles that make Technical Writing different from other types of writing. In addition to the textbook, each student will receive an email with more tips on avoiding common grammar and punctuation mistakes.
Public Safety Communicators are very much affected by technological changes. The textbook for this course provides an extensive overview of various types of technical writing and the effects of changing technologies on this type of communication.
This course is intended to improve the written skills of the Public Safety Telecommunicator and is designed to have specific assignments specifically designed for the profession. These assignments will include the review of Standard Operating Policies, Training Manuals, intra-and inter-agency correspondence, and memos that occur frequently in the profession. Students will also be asked to develop policies and procedures for various emergency situations. It is the purpose of this course to allow the students to apply their assignments to their individual agencies and find practical applications for proposals, research reports, and other written communications necessary for the smooth operation of emergency management agencies.
The importance of having good verbal and written skills in today’s marketplace cannot be emphasized enough. Communication with different audiences, definition of terms, accommodations to multiculturalism, avoidance of sexist language, and the retention of a personalized writing style are all daunting tasks without the foundation of the sound, general principles of Technical Writing.
These principles also include the practice of ethics to prevent legal liabilities. The students will learn the ethical guidelines for Technical Communicators whether these apply to the written word or the use of graphic designs in reports and instruction manuals.
A separate section of General Information for the assignments and use of the computer for this class is given. The students should familiarize themselves with the web-site for this course. This site will list all pertinent information under separate headings.