ENGL 421: Technical Writing

This overview of ENGL 421 provides core information about the course for Purdue students, faculty, and academic advisors who have general questions about the course. Questions about a specific section of the course should be directed to the individual instructor.

Catalog Description

This course teaches the practice and principles of technical writing. The course emphasizes rhetorical approaches to research and writing, teaching concepts such as usability and accessibility. Students write diverse technical documents such as memos, technical reports, documentation and websites. 

Sample course syllabus: ENGL 421, Fall 2023

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Use theories of rhetoric to develop texts, think critically, solve problems, and engage with the needs of diverse audiences.
• Apply data-driven approaches to specific rhetorical contexts, problems, and situations.
• Communicate complex technical information, processes and procedures in a variety of genres.
• Compose effective, industry specific, technical documents that emphasize the importance of usability and accessibility for the rapidly changing field of technical writing.
• Produce team-written technical projects for specific contexts and industries.