Monash University

Leader: Dr. Kevin Korb

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit covers problems with paper-based and on-line documentation; types of technical documentation used in software engineering; document specifications; minimalist design philosophy; graphic design of technical documentation; the context of technical writing; the writing process (analysis, planning, generation, testing, revision and maintenance of written texts); document publication techniques (including SGML, LaTeX and XML); the role of hypertext, hypermedia and markup languages in technical documentation; small-volume and large-volume hypertext; collaborative hypertext; intelligent hypertext.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit, students will have an understanding of:

1. Be able to organise and write clear technical documentation;
2. Understand the different types and roles of technical documentation, including code documentation (literate programming methods, function header documentation), internal designs, external designs, reference manuals, guides and introductory manuals;
3. Understand the use of the basic types of tools for producing documentation: editors, text formatters, typesetters, desktop publishers, graphics tools, printing and viewing tools;
4. Understand the role of style in writing;
5. Understand different approaches to the writing process and which approach best suits the individual student.

At the completion of this unit, students will have attitudes that will allow them to:

1. Be sensitive to the aims and uses of effective technical documentation at all stages in a project;
2. Be aware of different writing methods and styles and their suitability to different tasks
3. Appreciate the wider use of documentation in evaluating, promoting, and supporting projects;
4. Develop a sensitivity to different reader / audience types.

At the completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Be able to write effective and clear documentation;
2. Be able to use one of each major kind of documentation development and delivery tool.

Assessment

Prac Exam: 50%
Weekly Pracs: 50%

Contact hours

4 x contact hrs/week

Prerequisites

FIT1002, CPE1001, CSE1202, GCO1811, MMS1801, MMS1802, CSE1301

Prohibitions

CSE1305, CSE1402, GCO1063, SFT2203, SYS2204