As stated by Dr. Berryman, the originator of this course, the full-year course has 3 broad goals:

• To improve composition skills - by writing, editing, revising, and then rewriting a technical report. The paper should raise each student's general writing ability to at least the Senior level, serve to introduce each student to the field of technical writing, and increase each student's word processing skills.
• To improve presentation skills - by giving a technical talk on a professional topic to a knowledgeable audience. The talk should improve each student's general speaking skills, introduce each student to technical speaking, and increase each student's visuals/graphics creative skills.
• To increase each student's professionalism - by providing an opportunity for each student to contemplate their life's outlook, attitude, and approach. It should begin preparing each student for "life after graduation," including their development of life-long learning skills.