What you will learn

• Communication process
• Seven Cs
• Oral communication
• Interview techniques
• Meetings
• Presentations
• Group discussion
• JAM
• Business letters
• Report writing
• Resume
• Email
• Business etiquette
• Non-verbal communication
• Kinesics
• Proxemics
• Paralanguage
• Interpersonal skills
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Business English

Course content (22 lessons)

1. Course Introduction: Technical Communication — Course Introduction: Technical Communication Technical Communication is the art and science of conveying technical information — instructions, specifications, reports, analyses,…
2. 1.0 Unit 1 Overview: Concepts & Fundamentals — Unit I — Overview: Concepts & Fundamentals Unit I builds the conceptual foundation: 1. What is technical communication? — definition, need, importance 2. The communication process…
3. 1.1 Introduction — Definition, Need, Importance & Channel — 1.1 Introduction to Technical Communication Definition of Communication Communication comes from the Latin word communis , meaning "common" . To communicate is to make common — to…
4. 1.2 General vs Technical Communication & The Seven Cs — 1.2 General vs Technical Communication & The Seven Cs General Communication vs Technical Communication Every conversation you have is communication. But not every conversation is…
5. 1.3 Types, Styles & History of Technical Communication — 1.3 Types, Styles & History of Technical Communication Types of Technical Communication Technical communication takes many forms — different purposes call for different types .…
6. 2.0 Unit 2 Overview: Oral Communication — Unit II — Overview: Oral Communication Unit II covers the spoken side of professional communication. Spoken communication is where interviews are won, presentations land, and…
7. 2.1 Principles, Self-Introduction & Telephone Etiquette — 2.1 Principles, Self-Introduction & Telephone Etiquette Principles of Effective Oral Communication Oral communication is harder than written for one reason: it is live . You…
8. 2.2 Interviews — Meaning, Types, Techniques & Guidelines — 2.2 Interviews What is an Interview? An interview is a formal face-to-face (or video / phone) conversation between two or more people with a specific purpose — usually to evaluate…
9. 2.3 Meetings — Agenda, Minutes & Planning — 2.3 Meetings — Agenda, Minutes & Planning What is a Meeting? A meeting is a planned gathering of two or more people, in person or virtual, to discuss, decide, plan or coordinate…
10. 2.4 Presentations, Group Discussion & JAM — 2.4 Presentations, Group Discussion & JAM Project Presentations A presentation is a structured oral communication, usually supported by visuals, delivered to an audience to…
11. 3.0 Unit 3 Overview: Written Communication — Unit III — Overview: Written Communication Unit III covers the written side of professional communication. While oral communication wins the moment, written communication shapes…
12. 3.1 Technical Writing, Note-Making, Notice & Email — 3.1 Technical Writing, Note-Making, Notice & Email Writing Overview of Technical Writing Technical writing is the form of written communication that conveys complex or specialised…
13. 3.2 Business Letters — Persuasive, Sales, Complaint, Memo & More — 3.2 Business Letters What is a Business Letter? A business letter is a formal written communication used by individuals or organisations for professional, commercial, or legal…
14. 3.3 Report Writing — Elements, Categories & Format — 3.3 Report Writing What is a Report? A report is a structured, factual document that presents information about a specific subject — research findings, an investigation, a…
15. 3.4 Special Documents — Synopsis, Research Paper, Dissertation & Proposal — 3.4 Special Technical Documents This lesson covers four formal academic / professional documents that follow specialised conventions: 1. Project Synopsis 2. Scientific Article /…
16. 3.5 Job Application & Resume — 3.5 Job Application & Resume The Job-Application Package A complete job application typically has three components : 1. Cover letter (or application letter) — the persuasive sales…
17. 4.0 Unit 4 Overview: Soft Skills — Unit IV — Overview: Soft Skills Unit IV covers the soft skills that surround verbal and written communication — etiquette, body language, interpersonal skills, grammar,…
18. 4.1 Business Etiquette, Professional Personality & Workplace Protocols — 4.1 Business Etiquette, Professional Personality & Workplace Protocols What is Business Etiquette? Business etiquette is the set of conventions and standards that govern…
19. 4.2 Non-Verbal Communication — Kinesics, Proxemics & Paralanguage — 4.2 Non-Verbal Communication What is Non-Verbal Communication? Non-verbal communication is the transmission of messages through means other than words — body language, facial…
20. 4.3 Interpersonal Skills — 4.3 Interpersonal Skills What are Interpersonal Skills? Interpersonal skills are the abilities to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships with other people. They are the…
21. 4.4 Language Skills — Grammar & Common Errors — 4.4 Language Skills — Grammar & Common Errors Why Grammar Matters You don't need to be a grammarian. You do need to write and speak well enough that your audience trusts you.…
22. 4.5 Vocabulary, Spellings & Business English — 4.5 Vocabulary, Spellings & Business English Why Vocabulary Matters A strong vocabulary gives you precision — the right word for the right situation. It signals education, makes…

Course Introduction: Technical Communication

Course Introduction: Technical Communication

Technical Communication is the art and science of conveying technical information — instructions, specifications, reports, analyses, presentations — in a way that the audience can understand, act on, and remember. It is the discipline that turns engineering work into business value, scientific work into public policy, and academic work into a marketable career.

This course is structured into four units that mirror the way professional communication actually happens:

• Unit I — Concepts & Fundamentals: what technical communication is, the communication process, the seven Cs, types and styles
• Unit II — Oral Communication: speaking, interviews, meetings, presentations, group discussions, JAM
• Unit III — Written Communication: technical writing, letters, reports, research papers, proposals, resumes
• Unit IV — Soft Skills: business etiquette, non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills, grammar and vocabulary

By the end of this course you will be able to introduce yourself confidently in an interview, write a clean business email, prepare a project report, deliver a presentation, and avoid the most common grammar and etiquette mistakes that fresh graduates make.

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Why Technical Communication Matters

You can be the best programmer, the smartest analyst, or the most diligent student — and still lose opportunities because you cannot explain your work, write a sharp report, or hold your own in an interview.

Industry surveys (NASSCOM, McKinsey, India Skills Report) consistently rank communication skills among the top three reasons why fresh graduates fail to get placed or get promoted. Technical knowledge gets you the interview; communication gets you the job.

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The Four Units at a Glance

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What is "Technical" About Technical Communication?

Communication becomes technical when it carries specialised content for a specific audience with a clear practical purpose. Examples:

The boundary is not always sharp — but technical communication leans toward specialised, formal, purposeful and audience-aware content.

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Recommended Reference Texts

• Kavita Tyagi and Padma Misra, Advanced Technical Communication, PHI
• P.D. Chaturvedi and Mukesh Chaturvedi, Business Communication — Concepts, Cases and Applications, Pearson
• C.S. Rayudu, Communication, Himalaya Publishing House
• Asha Kaul, Business Communication, PHI
• Meenakshi Raman & Sangeeta Sharma, Technical Communication, Oxford University Press
• Strunk & White, The Elements of Style (timeless reference)
• William Zinsser, On Writing Well (for writing clarity)

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How to Get the Most From This Course

1. Practice every lesson aloud. Communication is muscle memory. Read sample dialogues, draft your own emails, deliver mock presentations.
2. Save templates. Resume formats, business-letter layouts, report structures — keep a personal library you can adapt.
3. Get feedback. Show your draft email to a friend before sending. Record a presentation and watch it back.
4. Read widely. A reader's vocabulary is always richer than a non-reader's. Newspapers, business magazines, well-written blogs all help.
5. Watch grammar — but don't be paralysed by it. Clear and correct beats clever and confused.

Let's begin.

Key Terms — Course Orientation

These course-level terms frame every unit that follows; examiners often open a paper by asking you to define communication itself.

Technical communication — The discipline of conveying technical information — instructions, specifications, reports, analyses, presentations — so the audience can understand, act on, and remember it. It turns engineering or academic work into business value.

Encoding / Decoding — Encoding is the sender translating an idea into words, visuals, or gestures; decoding is the receiver interpreting them. Most miscommunication begins at one of these two steps.

Channel — The medium that carries the message — email, call, report, slide deck, face-to-face. Choosing the right channel for the message and audience is half of effective communication.

Feedback — The receiver's response that tells the sender whether the message was understood. Communication without feedback is transmission, not communication.

Noise — Any interference that distorts the message — physical (bad line), semantic (jargon), or psychological (bias). Reducing noise is a recurring theme across all four units.

Soft skills — The non-technical, interpersonal abilities — etiquette, body language, teamwork, listening — that make all your other communication land well (Unit IV).

Self-check

Orient yourself before Unit I — answer these from the introduction, then check.

1. Name the four units of this course in order. (Concepts & Fundamentals; Oral; Written; Soft Skills)
2. Which two steps does a message pass through between sender and receiver? (encoding, decoding)
3. Why is communication without feedback merely "transmission"? (no confirmation of understanding)
4. Give one example each of physical and semantic noise. (bad phone line; unexplained jargon)
5. Which unit covers resumes and reports? (Unit III — Written Communication)

1.0 Unit 1 Overview: Concepts & Fundamentals

Unit I — Overview: Concepts & Fundamentals

Unit I builds the conceptual foundation:

1. What is technical communication? — definition, need, importance
2. The communication process — sender, encoding, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback, noise
3. General vs technical communication
4. The Seven Cs of effective communication
5. Types of technical communication — informative, persuasive, instructional, documentation
6. Style in technical communication — formal, semi-formal, informal
7. Language as a tool of communication
8. History and evolution of technical communication
9. Computer-aided technical communication

Learning outcomes

After Unit I you should be able to:

• Define technical communication and distinguish it from general communication
• Draw the communication process and label all seven elements
• Apply the Seven Cs to an example
• Identify the type and style of any given piece of technical communication
• Explain how digital tools have changed technical communication
• Discuss the importance of communication in a technology career

Topic map

Typical exam weight

Unit I usually contributes 2 long questions plus a short answer:

• Define communication. Explain the communication process with diagram. — long
• What are the Seven Cs of communication? Explain each with example. — long
• Differentiate general and technical communication. — short
• Discuss types and styles of technical communication. — long
• Discuss the role of computer-aided tools in modern technical communication. — short

Key Terms — Unit I Map

Unit I is definition-heavy; the terms below are the ones a viva or short-answer question will test first.

Communication process — The seven-element model — sender, encoding, message, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback — with noise acting across it. The standard diagram for any "explain communication" question.

Seven Cs — The checklist for effective communication: Clarity, Conciseness, Concreteness, Correctness, Coherence, Completeness, Courtesy. Unit I's highest-frequency long question.

General vs technical communication — General communication is personal, emotional, and informal; technical communication is factual, audience-specific, purposeful, and standardised. A staple "differentiate" question.

Type (of technical communication) — The purpose category — informative, instructional, persuasive, or documentation. Defined by why the message exists.

Style — The level of formality and tone — formal, semi-formal, or informal — chosen to suit audience and purpose.

Language as a tool — The view that language is the primary instrument of communication, to be calibrated (vocabulary, register) to the audience rather than shown off.

Computer-aided technical communication (CATC) — The use of digital tools — writing assistants, documentation platforms, diagramming, collaboration, translation — that amplify, not replace, the writer's skill.

Self-check

Self-test the Unit I map before you start the lessons.

1. List the seven elements of the communication process. (sender, encoding, message, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback)
2. State the Seven Cs from memory. (Clarity, Conciseness, Concreteness, Correctness, Coherence, Completeness, Courtesy)
3. Is a wedding invitation general or technical communication? (general)
4. Name the four types of technical communication. (informative, instructional, persuasive, documentation)
5. Does CATC replace the writer? (no — it amplifies skill)

Frequently asked questions

Is the Technical Communication course really free?

Yes. The entire Technical Communication course on Siksha Sarovar is free to read with no account required. You can optionally sign in with Google to save your progress.

Do I get a certificate for Technical Communication?

Yes — finish the lessons and pass the quiz to earn a free, verifiable certificate you can share on LinkedIn or with recruiters.

Can I run code while learning?

Yes. The built-in online compiler runs C, C++, Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript, C# and SQL directly in your browser — no installation needed.