Course detail

Language as Discourse in Science and Technology

FEKT-BPC-JDTAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course focuses on the fundamental concepts and attributes of technical writing and speaking to prepare students for a future career as technical writers and communicators. Students will learn to convey technical information as briefly, clearly, and accurately as possible to increase the level of readability of different technical texts. Next, they will acquire academic and professional vocabulary, develop their writing and speaking skills in producing articulate and well-structured technical texts and delivering technical presentations and use different rhetorical strategies, communicative functions and metadiscourse markers in academic and professional discussions.

Language of instruction

English, Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Mgr. Ing. Eva Ellederová, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Foreign Languages (UJAZ)

Entry knowledge

Language proficiency at the level B1+ (Intermediate). Completing the course Introduction to Linguistics.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

To be eligible for admission to the exam, students must meet the following criteria: have at least 75% attendance, actively participate in classes, complete all assigned tasks, and pass a credit test. The credit test requires a minimum score of 24 points out of a possible 40 points. 

The final exam is both written and oral, and it consists of:

  1. Written part (max. 30 pts; cut-off score 15 pts);
  2. Informative technical presentation (max. 15 pts; cut-off score 7 pts);
  3. Persuasive technical presentation (max. 15 pts; cut-off score 7 pts)

The content and forms of instruction and assessment are specified by a regulation issued by the course supervisor and updated for every academic year.

Aims

The course aims to prepare students to
  • understand the concept of technical communication and the attributes of technical writing;
  • structure concise, clear, unambiguous and accurate academic and professional texts; 
  • write clear, concise and accurate technical definitions and instructions and describe mechanisms and processes;
  • actively use academic and professional vocabulary; 
  • make and give well-organized and compelling technical presentations; 
  • effectively use rhetorical strategies, communicative functions and metadiscourse markers in academic and professional contexts.

Study aids

Ellederová, E. (3025). Language as Discourse in Science and Technology. Vysoké učení technické v Brně.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Ellederová, E. (2025). Language as discourse in science and technology. Brno University of Technology. (EN)

Recommended reading

Alred, G. J., Brusaw, C. T., & Oliu, W. E. (2008). Handbook of technical writing. St. Martin's Press. (EN)
Wallwork, A., & Southern, A. (2020). 100 tips to avoid mistakes in academic writing and presenting. Springer. (EN)

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-APE Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Ing. Eva Ellederová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Concept of Technical Communication and Attributes of Technical Writing
  2. Technical Sentence Structure I: Writing Grammatically Correct and Effective Sentences 
  3. Technical Sentence Structure II: Conciseness, Clarity 
  4. Technical Text Structure I: Writing Clear and Coherent Paragraphs 
  5. Technical Text Structure II: Technical Definitions and Descriptions, Instructions and Troubleshooting
  6. Speech Acts in Technical Communication
  7. Rhetoric in Technical Communication
  8. Metadiscourse in Technical Communication
  9. Vocabulary in Academic and Professional Contexts I: Nouns, Verbs, Phrasal Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs and Metaphors in Technical Communication
  10. Vocabulary in Academic and Professional Contexts II: Words with Several Meanings, Collocations, Quantifying Expressions and Mathematical Terms  
  11. Language of Technical Presentations 
  12. Language of Meetings in Professional Settings

Language exercise

39 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Ing. Eva Ellederová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Concept of Technical Communication and Attributes of Technical Writing
  2. Technical Sentence Structure I: Writing Grammatically Correct and Effective Sentences
  3. Technical Sentence Structure II: Conciseness, Clarity
  4. Technical Text Structure I: Writing Clear and Coherent Paragraphs
  5. Technical Text Structure II: Technical Definitions and Descriptions, Instructions and Troubleshooting
  6. Speech Acts in Technical Communication; Meetings and Discussions in Professional Settings
  7. Rhetoric in Technical Communication
  8. Metadiscourse in Technical Communication
  9. Vocabulary in Academic and Professional Contexts I: Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Phrasal verbs, Metaphors 
  10. Vocabulary in Academic and Professional Contexts II: Words with Several Meanings, Collocations, Quantifying Expressions, Mathematical Terms 
  11. Structuring a Technical Presentation and Making an Effective Introduction
  12. Signposting and Describing Visuals in Technical Presentations

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course