How to effectively communicate in the engineering field within the company, clients, public, etc.:

-Emails: The most common way engineers communicate is in emails. In Engineering 100, students are required to write something called a memo, which simulates an email and is graded on important writing aspects within it. An email, or memo, must be straight to the point with no “fluff”. It must have an introduction, elaboration of point of email, and a brief conclusion. These also must be written in the shortest time possible. Emails are written to everyone including people within and outside of the company.

Here is a link on how to write a professional email from the School of Engineering at University at Buffalo:

http://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/Engineering-life/professionalism/tips-for-writing-professional-emails.html

-Presentation format: This includes PowerPoint slides being brief, only showing important information and graphs.

This link provides information on effective visual aids in presentations from Penn State:

http://www.engr.psu.edu/speaking/Visual-Aids.html

-Reports: These are referred to as “Technical Reports” in the engineering world and are mostly written for bosses or managers reporting data and research. 

Here is a link from the University of Connecticut of a pdf consisting of specific information on how to write a good proposal or report. 

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~anandk/math191/Technical%20Writing.pdf

-Proposals: These are similar to reports but proposals usually “propose” a new idea, plan, or suggestion.

        

-Professional tone: Engineers always speak to colleagues and clients in a professional tone being polite and respectful.


By: Fiona Muegge