Writing in Electrical Engineering

Writing in Electrical Engineering

Have you recently found yourself lost after high school, knowing that you want to go to college, but having no idea what to major in? I sure did! So after reading through the NMSU undergraduate catalogue and asking peoples advice, I found out that our university has one of the top 5 engineering colleges in the entire country and problems were solved! With a fascination of electronics and a steady hold on math, I decided that Electrical Engineering was the choice for me. However, after completing my first semester and gaining a greater knowledge on what Electrical Engineering is all about, I have a greater understanding of how important English and writing really are in this profession. Although most people assume Electrical Engineering to be a purely mathematical field, writing skills are an equally important factor in getting a E.E. major or living as a professional in the field.

In the world of engineering today, just as much writing is being done as there are equations being scribbled out. Whether you are writing a memo or an e-mail to a co-worker or you are writing a detailed essay describing your theories of tri-polar electromagnetism, intelligent writing is important. In an interview with Dr. Ram Prasad, the professor of Electrical Engineering here at NMSU, a brilliant piece of advice was given to me. He said, "You can be the most brilliant mathematician on the planet, but if you cannot effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas with others, it is a wasted talent." In this field a great understanding of technical writing must be achieved before you will be given credit for your thoughts.

In a field where so much education is required, you will be judged by your peers and sup...

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... or a journal article and publish it. The articles in periodicals such as Control Systems and Electronic Engineering are not written by journalists, they are written by the electrical engineers who created concepts like AUVs being used to defuse terrorist bombs and how much their research can benefit society. But in order for their work to be published or even considered worthy to read, it has to be very intelligent with a high level of writing skill and technique. Writing is just as important to an Electrical Engineers as the math and science which their professions are centered upon. In order to achieve your major as an electrical engineer and then practice as a professional in the field, you must learn how to perfect your writing skills. This can be achieved through practice in both reading and writing. So good luck. An endless world of possibilities awaits you.