Unit I — Overview: Concepts & Fundamentals
Unit I builds the conceptual foundation:
- What is technical communication? — definition, need, importance
- The communication process — sender, encoding, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback, noise
- General vs technical communication
- The Seven Cs of effective communication
- Types of technical communication — informative, persuasive, instructional, documentation
- Style in technical communication — formal, semi-formal, informal
- Language as a tool of communication
- History and evolution of technical communication
- 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.
- List the seven elements of the communication process. (sender, encoding, message, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback)
- State the Seven Cs from memory. (Clarity, Conciseness, Concreteness, Correctness, Coherence, Completeness, Courtesy)
- Is a wedding invitation general or technical communication? (general)
- Name the four types of technical communication. (informative, instructional, persuasive, documentation)
- Does CATC replace the writer? (no — it amplifies skill)