Technical Descriptions

1
Technical Descriptions

• Technical descriptions are usually a description
  of one of the following
• An object (aka a product)
• A process
• Technical descriptions describe either what
  something is (exactly), or how something works.

2
Observational Strategies

• Do background research
• Use your senses
• Take measurements
• Describe motion and change
• Describe the context
• Collect visuals
• Ask subject matter experts

3
Organizational Strategies

• Spatial
• What does it look like?
• What parts and material is it made of?
• Use to describe what something looks like
• Functional
• How does it work?
• Use to describe a mechanism in action
• Chronological
• How is it put together?
• How does it happen?
• Use to describe an item best visualized in terms
  of its order of assembly

4
Which organizational strategy would seem to work
best?

• A 15-passenger vans cruise control system
• A digital camera
• A bag of Cheetos
• A piece of furniture from Ikea

5
Use concrete details and precise and informative
language

• Subjective adorably cute
• Objective resembles a cartoon cow wearing a pink
  ruffled skirt
• Indefinite a sleek-looking Web server
• Definite the Hush Mini PC

6
How to organize an object description

• Introduction
• Include a formal definition of the object
• Define the scope and purpose of the document
• Description and Function of Parts
• Organized spatially, functionally, or
  chronologically
• Proceeds by part one, part two, part three . . .
• Summary and Operating Description
• Bring the parts back together in a brief
  recapping summary and explain how the objects
  design reinforces its use

7
Introduction Example

• One of the greatest environmental threats to our
  nation's agriculture is the growing acid rain
  problem. 

Acid rain is one of the greatest environmental
threats to our nation's agriculture.
Acid rain is an environmentally harmful
precipitation that forms after the combustion of
fossil fuels releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides
into the atmosphere. This document describes the
process in general terms, in order to demonstrate
the necessity for increased government regulation
in sensitive areas. This paper cites recent
studies by Smith and Jones (1997, 1998) to assist
EPA officials with their efforts to determine
which parts of the country should be designated
"at risk" or "potentially at risk" over the next
five years.
8
How to organize an object description

• Introduction
• Include a formal definition of the object
• Define the scope and purpose of the document
• Description and Function of Parts
• Organized spatially, functionally, or
  chronologically
• Proceeds by part one, part two, part three . . .
• Summary and Operating Description
• Bring the parts back together in a brief
  recapping summary and explain how the objects
  design reinforces its use

9
All Together Now

• Think of an object that could require a
  description.
• Write the name of that object on a piece of paper
  to give to me.
• Well work together to figure out how to write a
  document that would describe that object.