Stat 349 - Technical Communication

• Textbook: Open Technical Communication

Backwards Design

At the end of this course, students should know how to:

• Write a statistical report

  • with a summary page for a manager

  • Inverted design - conclusions first, then results, then methodology details in an appendix

  • Appropriate graphics

  • Using a given template

  • Create/record/give a presentation on the report's topic

• Write a scientific article
  • Linear design - Introduction/lit review, data, methods, results, conclusion
  • Appropriate graphics
  • Document a data set and analysis using GitHub
• Write a CV/cover letter

Components

• Introduction
• Problem Statement
• Literature Review
• Data description/documentation
• Methods description
• Results
• Conclusion
• References/citations
• Executive Summary/Abstract
• Graphics
• Template use -- quarto/LaTeX
• Presentations

Component	Statistical Report	Scientific Article	CV/Cover Letter
Making an argument	xx	xx	xx
Introduction	xx	xx	x
Problem Statement	xx	x	x
Literature Review	x	xx
Data description	x	xx
Methods description	x	xx
Results	xx	xx
Conclusion	xx	xx	x
References	xx	xx
Abstract/Exec Summary	xx	x
Graphics	xx	xx
Template use	xx	xx	xx
Presentation	xx	x

Timeline

Wk	Topic	Formative	Research Paper	Business Report
1	Class Structure, Git review	GitHub pages setup, Find an internship/job to apply for
2	CV/Cover Letter	Create Resume/CV and cover letter for job
3	Citation manager, How to read technical papers, Summarizing papers	Annotated bibliography (2 refs)
4	Argumentation, Summaries, Writing a Lit Review	Highlight arguments in a paper, add 2 more papers to bibliography
5	Introductions and Problem Statements	Analyze paper for problem statements, critique intro/lit review in a paper
6	Documenting Data	Write intro/problem statement
7	Methods	Document dataset and conduct EDA
8	Results	Describe methods and conduct analysis	Assign Research Topics
9	Graphics	Describe results and create supporting charts
10	Conclusions	Write conclusion for research + business		Assign Business Topics
11	Abstracts & Exec Summaries	Write abstract and exec summary. Compare/contrast.	Research Paper Check-in
12	Presentations & Posters	Create poster + slides		Business Report Check-In
13	Business Reports		Research Poster due	Business Report Peer Review
14	Presentations			Business Report Due
15	Research Paper	Portfolio Due	Research Paper workshop
Finals			Research Paper Due

Credits/Attribution

Course logo/background/image sources:

Pete O'Shea. https://www.flickr.com/photos/59668110@N04/5600161625{.uri}

Colourbox. https://www.colourbox.com/vector/charts-graphs-arrows-monochrome-hand-drawn-infographic-elements-business-economic-and-financial-templates-vector-illustration-vector-38684313 (inspiration)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP6qS5d3Ly4