Engineering communication (ESL) and logical cohesion in student papers

Professional engineering practice is undergoing profound and exciting changes. These changes are shaped by globalisation, the need for conservation of resources, growing recognition of the social and environmental consequences of engineering projects and the recognition that engineering involves far more than outstanding technical skills. Communication skills are increasingly recognised as vital to good engineering practice and increasingly communication courses are included, often as electives, in engineering degrees. In a few cases such courses are compulsory. This paper argues for the inclusion of communication courses which focus on developing skills in evidence based argument. These skills are seen as fundamental to the academic and professional life of an engineer. Further, it is proposed that the way in which the course focuses on the relationship of engineering to its social, environmental and ethical context promotes the development of holistic engineering practices. In communication, a common area of difficulty for students, which relates strongly to the development of an effective argument, is that of integrating evidence. In the Engineering Communication, English as a Second Language course, a number of strategies are taught to help students integrate their evidence more effectively. One such strategy shows students how to strengthen the internal links inhttp://www.fs.vsb.cz/akce/2004/iceer