WRTG 393 students,
The second writing
assignment will be a technical description for a
non-specialized audience.
You will explain
to a non-technical audience how something works.
You
will choose an object or a process with which you are familiar. You will
describe this object or process to an audience that has little or no background
of the subject.
Keep in mind that you are not writing instructions on how to
do something. You wrote instructions for writing assignment #1. If you
describe a process, you cannot describe a process that involves direct human
action.
For writing assignment #2, if you describe a process, you will
describe an activity that takes place. You will describe how a phenomenon
happens or how a mechanism works. For example, you could describe how the heart
pumps blood in the human body. But you could not give instructions on how to
take someone’s blood.
Your
description will include pictures. The description will use visual detail in
both words and images.
Examples include
the following:
· You
are an auto mechanic. You could write a description of how spark plugs work to
an audience of non-mechanics. You would not write a set of instructions on
how to install spark plugs. You would describe how spark plugs work.
· You
work in technical support at a computer store. You could write a description of
how a graphics card works to an audience that is not familiar with computers. You
would not write a set of instructions on how to install a graphics card.
You would describe how graphics cards work.
· You
are a member of a gaming community. You will describe how the game operates to
an audience of non-gamers. You would not write a set of instructions on how
to play the game. You would describe how the game works.
· You
are in a branch of the military. You could write a description of how a
function of your unit operates to a non-military audience. You would not
write a set of instructions on how to do something in the military unit.
You would describe how a function or process in the military unit operates.
· You
might describe a piece of equipment that you included in your set of
instructions for writing assignment #1. For example, assume that you wrote a
set of instructions for writing assignment #1 on how to change oil in a car. In
that set of instructions, perhaps you listed a hydraulic jack as a piece of
equipment. For writing assignment #2, you could write a description of how a
hydraulic jack works in lifting up a car. You would not write a set
of instructions on how to jack up a car. You would describe how the jack works.
Overall, chapter 20 from Markel, “Writing
Descriptions,” should be read thoroughly as you begin this assignment.
Different types of descriptions call for different strategies. The chapter
from
Markel is an excellent resource in guiding your approach. The chapter is
available in eReserves in our class. On page 549,
Markel provides an excellent distinction between writing instructions and describing a process. Please become familiar
with that section of Markel’s chapter as you consider your topic for this
assignment.
Your description
should answer the following questions:
·
What
is the object or process? How is it defined?
·
What does the object or process do?
·
What does the object or process look like?
·
What is the object made of? (if you are
describing an object and not a process)
·
How
does the object or process work?
·
Why should the reader be interested in
your object or process?
In addition, the
document should be single-spaced.
Strategies
to Consider for this Assignment:
Your description
should follow one of these styles of organization
o
Spatial
–
§ This
style might be used when you want readers to describe an object or process
according to its physical layout. For example, in describing a
flatscreen
television set, you might start at the top and work your way to the bottom.
o
Functions in order of importance –
§ This
style would be used if you want to highlight the most important functions
first, the next most important functions second, etc. For example, in
describing a flatscreen television set, you might start with the pixels, which
make up the picture, and then proceed to describe other
functions.
o
Chronological –
§ This
style would be used if you want to describe the object or process according to
time. For example, in describing a flatscreen television set, you might start
with what happens first (the user turns the television on), what happens second
(the pixels respond), what happens third, etc.
Helpful Resources
·
“Writing
Descriptions,” chapter from M. Markel in eReserves
·
David McMurrey’s
Technical Description: What does it look like?
·
Scribd description of
a computer mouse
Length:
500-800 words. The
document should be single-spaced.
Due
Date:
Your instructor
will notify you of the due date.
