Writing@CSU

Writing Guides

Communicating in Civil Engineering

Introduction

Types of Communication

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Graphics

Poster Sessions

Inspections

Presentations

Lab Reports

Project Notebooks

Letters, Memos, E-mail

Proposals

Narrative Writing

More On Narrative Writing

Perspective: Narrative Writing in Publications

Perspective: Explaining a Concept

Perspective: Writing Style

Perspective: Creativity in Engineering Writing

Public Meetings

Purpose

Audience

Perspective: Public Meetings

Perspective: Presentation Levels

Operating Procedures

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Purpose

Audience

How to Write Operating Procedures

Perspective: Operating Procedures

Perspective: The Language Used in Operating Procedures

Engineering Reports

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Policy Statements

More on Policy Statements

Definition of Policy Statements

Audience

Perspective: Policy Statements and Earthquakes

Specifications and Codes

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Definitions of Specifications and Codes

Audience

Perspective: Codes

Perspective: Writing Specifications that Satisfy Codes and Citizens

Communication Conventions

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Headings & Subheadings

Group Writing

Lists

Perspective: Writing Style

Graphics

Perspective: Engineering Writing

Active & Passive Voice

Perspective: Writing in Industry

Terseness

Perspective: Terseness in Writing

Pronouns

Perspective: Details in Engineering Writing

Advice from Engineers

More on Advice from Engineers

Present Information Logically

Perspective: Writing Style

Format Your Documents

Perspective: Creativity in Engineering Writing

Know Your Purpose and Audience

Perspective: Logical Flow

Perspective: Structured Writing

Perspectives on Communicating as an Engineer

More on Perspectives

Writing Style

Creativity in Engineering Writing

Terseness in Writing

Narrative Writing in Publications

Presentation Levels

Explaining a Concept

Writing Specifications that Satisfy Codes and Citizens

Operating Procedures

Being Hired as an Engineer

Logical Flow

Writing Style

Engineering Writing

Structured Writing

Details in Engineering Writing

Developing Your Writing

Public Meetings

Technical Presentations

Writing in Industry

Codes

The Language Used in Operating Procedures

Policy Statements and Earthquakes

Additional Resources

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Writing@CSU Home Page | Writing Guides | Communicating as a Civil Engineer

Narrative Writing in Publications

Neil Grigg, Civil Engineering Professor

Narrative writing is acceptable in some publications, but most technical people don’t want to read anything like that. They demand cut and dry writing. I’ve noticed more creative writing in publications recently; however, it takes a lot of confidence to write that way. You don’t want to risk loosing your readers’ attention because of your creativity.

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