Engineering Writing by Design

Engineering Writing by Design

by Edward J. Rothwell, Michael J. Cloud
Released September 2017
Publisher(s): CRC Press
ISBN: 9781498700955

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Book description

Engineers are smart people. Their work is important, which is why engineering material should be written as deliberately and carefully as it will be read.

Engineering Writing by Design: Creating Formal Documents of Lasting Value demonstrates how effective writing can be achieved through engineering-based thinking. Based on the authors’ combined experience as engineering educators, the book presents a novel approach to technical writing, positioning formal writing tasks as engineering design problems with requirements, constraints, protocols, standards, and customers (readers) to satisfy. Specially crafted for busy engineers and engineering students, this quick-reading, conversational text:

  • Describes how to avoid logical fallacies and use physical reasoning to catch mistakes in claims
  • Covers the essentials of technical grammar and style as well as the elements of mathematical exposition
  • Emphasizes the centrality of the target audience, and thus the need for clear and concise prose

Engineering Writing by Design: Creating Formal Documents of Lasting Value addresses the specific combination of thinking and writing skills needed to succeed in modern engineering. Its mantra is: to write like an engineer, you must think like an engineer. Featuring illustrative examples, chapter summaries and exercises, quick-reference tables, and recommendations for further reading, this book is packed with valuable tips and information practicing and aspiring engineers need to become effective writers.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Contents
  4. Preface
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Authors
  7. To the Reader
  8. Chapter 1 Introduction (1/2)
  9. Chapter 1 Introduction (2/2)
  10. Chapter 2 Clearly Understand the Goal (1/3)
  11. Chapter 2 Clearly Understand the Goal (2/3)
  12. Chapter 2 Clearly Understand the Goal (3/3)
  13. Chapter 3 Mindset for Technical Writing (1/2)
  14. Chapter 3 Mindset for Technical Writing (2/2)
  15. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (1/6)
  16. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (2/6)
  17. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (3/6)
  18. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (4/6)
  19. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (5/6)
  20. Chapter 4 Avoid the Worst Thinking Traps (6/6)
  21. Chapter 5 Some Points of Grammar and Style (1/5)
  22. Chapter 5 Some Points of Grammar and Style (2/5)
  23. Chapter 5 Some Points of Grammar and Style (3/5)
  24. Chapter 5 Some Points of Grammar and Style (4/5)
  25. Chapter 5 Some Points of Grammar and Style (5/5)
  26. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (1/6)
  27. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (2/6)
  28. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (3/6)
  29. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (4/6)
  30. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (5/6)
  31. Chapter 6 Keep Your Reader in Mind (6/6)
  32. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (1/8)
  33. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (2/8)
  34. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (3/8)
  35. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (4/8)
  36. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (5/8)
  37. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (6/8)
  38. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (7/8)
  39. Chapter 7 Write Your Math Well (8/8)
  40. Further Reading (1/2)
  41. Further Reading (2/2)
  42. Quick Reference (1/6)
  43. Quick Reference (2/6)
  44. Quick Reference (3/6)
  45. Quick Reference (4/6)
  46. Quick Reference (5/6)
  47. Quick Reference (6/6)
  48. Back Cover

Product information

  • Title: Engineering Writing by Design
  • Author(s): Edward J. Rothwell, Michael J. Cloud
  • Release date: September 2017
  • Publisher(s): CRC Press
  • ISBN: 9781498700955