Course content

The course emphasizes writing various student assignments and engineering-related texts. There are many written submissions throughout the course, which will prepare the students particularly well for their bachelor’s studies. The writing instruction mainly focuses on texts relevant to engineers and engineering students.

In the communication component, we work with basic communication theory and practical communication in the workplace and professional life. Other important topics include argumentation, argumentation analysis, and technical language. The course also includes instruction in preparing and delivering oral presentations.

Project work is another key topic in the course. We work on planning, execution, and collaboration skills. In the literature component, we study a few literary texts and periods in literary history, and we also touch upon the history of the Norwegian language — all with an effort to make these topics as relevant as possible for future engineers.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

• The candidate has knowledge of communication processes and how communication can be adapted to the situation, purpose, and audience.
• The candidate has knowledge of basic project theory.
• The candidate has knowledge of the importance of reading for personal language development.
• The candidate has knowledge of different genres within nonfiction and fiction, and understands how literature can provide insight into past and present social developments.
• The candidate has knowledge of key developments in the history of the Norwegian language that shed light on current challenges in language and communication.
• The candidate has knowledge of the similarities and differences between bokmål and nynorsk and their main characteristics.

Skills

• The candidate is capable of defining communication goals and adapting the level and form of communication to the recipient and situation.
• The candidate can write Norwegian clearly and linguistically correct.
• The candidate can write and structure argumentative and analytical texts, such as discussions and reports.
• The candidate can produce clear, purposeful, and user-oriented functional texts, including reports, project documents, summaries, notes, letters, emails, and meeting documents.
• The candidate can analyze the use of rhetorical devices in nonfiction and fiction, and apply sound argumentation in their own writing.
• The candidate is capable of planning, structuring, and delivering oral presentations.
• The candidate is capable of planning and conducting meetings and discussions.

General competence

• The candidate understands the importance of communication and writing competence for academic and professional development, and for work as an engineer.
• The candidate is capable of expressing themselves clearly orally and in writing in context relevant to engineering.
• The candidate is capable of working with academic material in a critical, analytical, and systematic manner.
• The candidate is capable of using appropriate strategies for reading, note-taking, and developing conceptual understanding.
• The candidate is capable of collaborating effectively in groups.
• The candidate is capable of gathering information from various sources and using it critically, appropriately, and responsibly.

Learning methods and activities

Teaching methods: Lectures, individual and group exercises, writing sessions, written assignments, project work, oral presentations, self-assessment, and peer assessment.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises
• 80 % attendance

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Admission to: Forkurs for ingeniør- og sivilingeniørutdanning

Course materials

"Norsk for ingeniører", av Talmo, Stifoss-Hanssen og Ulstein, Universitetsforlaget 2022, 3. utgave.