mjj 210 professional and technical communication · mjj 210 – professional and technical...

Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

MJJ 210 – Professional and Technical Communication

Compiled by Bradley Bock Last Revision: January 2020

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2020 – Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, EBIT, University of Pretoria i

Table of Contents

SECTION A: ORGANISATIONAL COMPONENT ............................................................................ 1

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1

2. Administrative information ................................................................................................ 2

3. Study materials and purchases ........................................................................................... 2

4. What is expected from Lecturers ....................................................................................... 2

5. What is expected from Students ........................................................................................ 2

SECTION B: STUDY COMPONENT ............................................................................................... 4

6. Background to Course ........................................................................................................ 4

7. Assessment ......................................................................................................................... 5

8. Course Themes and Outcomes ........................................................................................... 7


2020 – Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, EBIT, University of Pretoria 1

SECTION A: ORGANISATIONAL COMPONENT

1. Introduction

Background and brief description of the module

The professional engineer spends a significant portion of their time communicating ideas and

documenting outcomes as result of the multi-disciplinary and often long term nature of their work

environment. Thus an understanding of how to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing

is crucial.

Common means of verbal and written communication will be covered in this module, such as

presentations, meetings and report writing.

To provide a framework for these various assignments a project will be implemented through the

duration of the course. This will also provide some valuable, although limited, project execution

experience.

Departmental study guide

This study guide is a crucial part of the general study guide of the Department. In

the study guide of the Department , information is given on the mission and vision of the

department , general administration and regulations (professionalism and integrity, course

related information and formal communication, workshop use and safety, grievances,

support services, plagiarism, class representative duties, sick test and sick exam guidelines,

vacation work, appeal process and adjustment of marks, university regulations, frequently

asked questions), ECSA Graduate Attributes, ECSA knowledge areas, CDIO, new

curriculum and assessment of cognitive levels. It is expected that you are very familiar with

the content of the Departmental Study Guide. It is available in English and Afrikaans on the

Department’s website.

Eng:

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departmental-studyguide-eng-

2020_version21jan2020-002.zp185016.pdf

Afr:

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departementele-studiegids-afr-

2020_weergawe21-jan2020-002.zp185015.pdf

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departmental-studyguide-eng-2020_version21jan2020-002.zp185016.pdf

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departmental-studyguide-eng-2020_version21jan2020-002.zp185016.pdf

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departementele-studiegids-afr-2020_weergawe21-jan2020-002.zp185015.pdf

https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/120/Noticeboard/2020/departementele-studiegids-afr-2020_weergawe21-jan2020-002.zp185015.pdf



2. Administrative information

2.1 Contact information

Name Building and room number

Telephone number

E-mail address

Module Lecturer

Dr Heini Backeberg

Engineering III Room 6-91

012 420-2935

[email protected]

Time Table

Contact Session Venue Day & Time

Lectures/Tutorials Eng III-7 Monday: 09h30 – 11h20

Lectures/Tutorials Centenary 1 Thursday: 14h30 – 16h20

General communication

Please note that clickUp will be used to communicate all announcements. It is the student’s

responsibility to ensure they have access to the clickUp course.

Consulting Hours

As only roughly 2 hours of the 4 hours allocated every week for MJJ 210 will used for lectures, it is

recommended to use the remaining Tutorial time for consultations.

Matters that require a more private setting may be arranged by appointment via email.

3. Study materials and purchases

Course notes and miscellaneous study material will be posted on clickUp after each lecture.

There is no recommended textbook for this course.

4. What is expected from Lecturers

Courteous and professional in all interactions with students

Well prepared for lectures

Fair in all decisions

5. What is expected from Students

Courteous and professional in all interactions with each other and lecturers/TAs

On time hand in of all deliverables

Disciplined behaviour in class



Discussion of problems in/with course with lecturer as soon as possible in a professional

manner



SECTION B: STUDY COMPONENT

6. Background to Course

Course Aim

To provide a foundation in professional communication through instruction of best practices and

theory and the subsequent practice of these skills learned.

Course structure

The course takes the approach of lectures where understanding of core concepts and background to

best practices will be covered followed by assignments so as to practice the concepts covered.

Tie-in with other modules in the programme

This course will feed into all future professional work. With respect to university studies, it will feed

particularly into all courses where reports and presentations are required, such as future project

courses (e.g. MIA 320) as well as your final year thesis and design (MRN 412/422 and MOX 410

respectively).

Learning presumed to be in place

Familiarity in word processing (e.g. Microsoft Word) and presentation software (e.g. Microsoft

PowerPoint) is expected. Tutorials will be given to assist with the more advanced knowledge, as well

as resources made available on clickUp.



7. Assessment

Lectures and Assignments

The course consists of a 2 hour class on Mondays and Thursdays respectively.

The general trend will consists of a lecture followed by an assignment, to be worked upon in class as

well as after hours. Certain projects will require more time, and as such may spread over multiple

classes.

Attendance of classes is compulsory as per University regulations.

Assessment Breakdown

The breakdown of the course mark is described in Table 1.

Table 1 Assessment contribution breakdown

Assessment Contribution

to Final Mark (%)

Technical Report 30

Oral Presentation 20

Other assignments – Group 7.5

Other assignments – Individual 17.5

Exam 25

Handing in of assignments

All assignments must be handed in before the deadline communicated. If submitted late the

following applies:

Technical Report

o If ill over the 5 calendar days before the assignment deadline, a doctor’s certificate

with a specified amount of days booked off can be used to obtain an extension. The

extension will be equal to the number of days booked off. The doctor’s note and

submission thereof must adhere to the requirements prescribed by the Mechanical

and Aeronautical Engineering Departmental Study Guide.

o If handed in late, the following applies:

If less than or equal to an hour late – mark is reduced by 15 percentage

points

If between 1 hour and 24 hours late – mark is reduced by 30 percentage

points

If more than 24 hours late – report will not be accepted



Oral Presentation

o In the same manner as for a test, a doctor’s certificate booking the participant off

will be required. A new presentation timeslot will then be allocated. The doctor’s

note and submission thereof must adhere to the requirements prescribed by the

Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Departmental Study Guide.

Other assignments – Individual

o If late, assignment will not be accepted

Other assignments – Group

o If late, same late criteria as Technical report will be used

Group Work assessment

At the end of semester a group work review process will be undertaken. This will involve all

members of a group reviewing each other’s performance and rating them accordingly. These ratings

will then be used to calculate an adjustment factor. The adjustment factor will then be applied to the

student’s group work mark.

Exam Entrance and Pass Requirements

As per departmental guidelines, a student needs a semester mark of 40% to gain entrance into the

exam.

Furthermore, the Technical Report and Oral Presentation must be completed to gain entrance to the

exam and be allowed to pass the course.



8. Course Themes and Outcomes

Course Outcomes

The outcomes expected of the students at the end of the course are:

1. Understand the fundamentals of effective communication

2. Write a Technical Report

3. Structure a Logical argument

4. Implement Harvard style referencing

5. Differentiate between plagiarism, poor paraphrasing and adequate academic citation

6. Differentiate between good and poor information

7. Present a technical presentation

8. How to compose slides 9. Identify the influence of body language on communication

10. How to present data in graphical form

11. Identify common errors in data display

12. Be able to write a technically sufficient requirement statement

13. Know the practices of formal business emails

14. Conduct an effective meeting

Course Themes

The course covers communication of three main themes, illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. MJJ 210 Central themes

Written Communication

Verbal Communication

Visual Communication



8.2.1. Written communication

All engineers need to communicate the results of his/her work at some stage to engineering

audiences and the community at large. This often takes the form of written communication.

In this theme the student will be exposed to various areas where written communication will play a

role. Working in teams and individually the student will gain knowledge and experience of the

following outcomes:

Understand the fundamentals of effective communication

Write a Technical Report

Structure a Logical argument

Implement Harvard style referencing

Differentiate between plagiarism, poor paraphrasing and adequate academic citation

Differentiate between good and poor information

Be able to write a technically sufficient requirement statement

Know the practices of formal business emails

8.2.2. Visual communication

The use of visual media to communicate results and ideas is crucial in simplifying the transfer of

thoughts and ideas to an audience. The outcomes of this theme are:

How to compose slides

How to present data in graphical form

Identify common errors in data display

Identify the influence of body language on communication

8.2.3. Verbal communication

Effective verbal communication is the starting point and cornerstone of all engineering

communication. This can take place both the in the general day-to-day conversation and meetings

one encounters, as well as the more structured presentation format. The outcomes of this theme

are:

Conduct an effective meeting

Present a technical presentation



Course Outcomes – Credit Map

Outcome Mode of instruction Learning

hours estimated

Contact session:

Understand the fundamentals of effective communication

Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

3 2

Write a Technical Report Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

27 8

Structure a logical argument Lectures and Tutorials Self Study

7 3

Implement Harvard style referencing Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

3 3

Differentiate between plagiarism, poor paraphrasing and adequate academic citation


3 2

Differentiate between good and poor information


3 2

Present a technical presentation Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

12 6

How to compose slides Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

2 1

Identify the influence of common body language signs on communication


1 1

Identify common errors in data display Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

3 2

Be able to write a technically sufficient requirement statement


7 1

Know the practices of formal business emails Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

1 1

Conduct an effective meeting Lectures and Tutorials Assignments Self Study

8 6

Total 80 38



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http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html

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