Poems for the Sons of Martha
This is the time of year for graduations. Unfortunately, there won’t be the usual ceremonies and other gatherings to mark the occasion this year. Instead, we offer some classic poems–and […]
Engineering education
Public health, safety, and welfare
For the 2019-2020 school year, the ABET criteria for student outcomes include “an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, […]
The ethics of technical writing
While looking for something else, I happened on the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Rules of Practice regarding engineering communications. Here’s what they say about the ethics of technical […]
ASCE concrete canoe competition: what we learned
Every year the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) sponsors a concrete canoe competition. Winners of the regional competitions, along with a few wildcard teams, are eligible for the national […]
2019-2020 ABET criteria for student outcomes
For would-be engineers, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) sets the standards for university education. University engineering departments seeking accreditation must demonstrate how they meet the ABET criteria. […]
Write good engineering reports for clients
Many professionals struggle to write engineering reports for clients. Most engineering schools provide some instruction in report writing, but students’ reports tend to be formulaic and stilted. However, once students […]
Tables and figures in technical writing
In technical writing for clients, it’s often necessary to include numerical data in graphical or tabular form. Good tables and figures in technical writing make complex information much easier for […]
Help readers navigate long-form technical writing
Some engineering reports for clients are a few pages long, while others extend to 50 pages or longer. With long-form technical writing, most readers don’t have time to read the […]
Engineering student project helps Hmong farmers
Members of the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) got a preview of their new Brussels sprouts harvester last week. HAFA is a cooperative that owns 150 acres near Rosemount, MN. […]
You don’t say: editing technical writing
The art of technical writing — or any other writing — isn’t about getting it right the first time. It’s about editing until it’s right. Here are some things I […]