What is TCP?

A SEAS program designed to improve undergraduate engineering students’ proficiency in the skills of communication and use of library resources .  The TCP and the Engineering Library work hand in hand in this endeavor.


How does TCP work?

• By supporting specially designated SEAS classes.   TCP Director Mary Westervelt and Engineering Librarian Doug McGee are working with SEAS professors to develop writing and information-literacy components in at least three regular courses in every SEAS department.  Clear communication, efficient information retrieval, and critical evaluation are targets in these courses.

• By providing writing tutoring to SEAS undergraduates.  Technical Communication Fellows provide peer tutoring.  Fellows' office hours are posted under the Contact a Fellow link at the left of this page.  If none of those hours works for you, contact Mary Westervelt to set up an appointment.

• By providing research support to SEAS undergraduates. Contact Doug McGee to set up an appointment.

• By training Technical Communication Fellows.  Fellows are SEAS undergraduates and master's students who are employed to aid in the development of effective writing skills among undergraduates in all SEAS departments. Ten Fellows were trained and employed in 2007;  an additional three began work as Fellows in January, 2008.   Fellows work with writing-intensive SEAS classes and are available to give help with writing for any class.

• By offering two one-semester, one-CU courses in Technical Communication:

• Technical Communication (EAS 400/500).  This course is open to undergraduates who have completed their Freshman Writing Seminar requirement, and to master’s students. 
• Technical Communication and Academic Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English (EAS 510).  This course targets the language issues of students whose native language is not English.
  

For more information, contact:

Mary Westervelt
Director, TCP
Office: Towne 306
Phone:  215.573.6486
mwester@seas.upenn.edu

Douglas McGee
Assistant Director for Engineering and Physical Sciences Libraries
Engineering Library
Office: 217 Towne (Engineering Library)
Phone:  215.898.8170
dmcgee@seas.upenn.edu