I just finished school about a year ago from RIT and sadly enough I felt that when I was done with school I was a worse writer then before I started. This was mostly because I actually wrote a lot in HS. In college after freshman year when I took my writing courses I didn't need to write much afterwards.

On a side note. I agree with the person that wrote that know the difference between passive and active is important. At my first job that was something that we were trying to change throughout the entire work culture. Most of our technical/letter type documents were written in passive voices and just read very poorly. They instituted a new 'Technical Writing' course that was tought in house which one part of it was trying to teach you the difference between passive/active.

Out side of that. If you are teaching mostly engineers I must feel sorry for you. They don't want to be there.

But, they should know that if they can't write they are limiting themselves a lot. My first two jobs require significant writing. Both work around the gov't. The first required deep technical writing analysis reports that can evovled to 1000+ documents. For just a single sub assembly of a larger system.

My next job most of the documentation is concernd with the SBIR programs. Here there is techincal aspect, but there is also a persuation aspect.

So, I would say the things that you really need to teach are as follows. 2 weeks of just review of grammer. I know this is sad, but they really aren't learning this is HS or middle school for the most part. Don't do this as a lets go over what a verb is, but as all those rules of thumbs you actually think that we know.

Next, go over the different types of technical writing techniques. I actully had to write a letter to my boss at my old job that finished with 'Yours very truly'.... Yeah, it felt very lamn writing that.

Next persuation. If they are going to writing(helping at first) proposals to the gov't for grants. This will be helpful (very helpful). The guys that these grants are written to very often have very little technical background. Therefore, it isn't always about who has the best understanding of the concept. But, who can convince the reader that you know what you are going to do. Very good skill to learn and develop. Yes, what I am saying here is if you are very good at BSing, writing proposals will be a good skill to work towards.

At some schools, they have people that all they do is write proposals for PIs. I know some people that have masters in their degree and all they do is take the notes from PIs at schools and companies and write their technical journal articles and etc for them. Yes, they get paid very well. 70+K within 3 years. Starting around 45K. This is to say if you write well.

Ha, I could go all night.

I guess what I am saying is that instead of covering things like poems, non-fiction work, etc. The intro course for engineering types schools should be most pointed at the electives that deal with things that I discussed above. If it does not, then the students will be less inclined to take those elective which they would really benefit from.

Anyways, it is 12:30 PM I and somewhat drunk off my ass. So, I hope you enjoyed my rant.