This textbook starts with an optional section that covers basic hand sketching techniques and concepts intended to increase your ability to sketch design ideas by hand and to think three-dimensionally. The book then proceeds with a basic introduction to AutoCAD 2013. The first three chapters are intended to get you familiar with the user interface and many of the common menus and tools. Throughout the rest of the book you will design a residence through to its completion.
Using step-by-step tutorial lessons, the residential project is followed through to create elevations, sections, details, etc. Throughout the project, new AutoCAD commands are covered at the appropriate time. Focus is placed on the most essential parts of a command rather than an exhaustive review of every sub-feature of a particular command. The Appendix contains a bonus section covering the fundamental principles of engineering graphics that relate to architecture.