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Technical professionals are often required to define or describe a technical object, concept, or process to someone who has little knowledge or experience with the subject at hand. For example, an engineering firm might write a proposal to bid on a contract to develop a helicopter for the Defense Department; one section of the proposal would be a detailed description of the product the company proposes to develop. Technical descriptions are used before products and processes are developed (as part of proposals and planning documents), during development (in progress reports, for instance), and afterwards (as part of marketing and promotional literature and technical support documents).

This assignment asks you to select a product or process and write a description of it. It's a good idea to select something with which you are already familiar, so you can focus on learning how to write the description rather than focusing on both learning how to write the description and learning about the product or process. There are two different kinds of technical descriptions to consider. Choose whichever one is appropriate, depending on your topic.

Video Example: "How a Bailout Works" (South Park)

Product Description

A product description explains the features of a specific device, like a scientific instrument or computer program. Possible topics include devices that are specific to your field, or devices you use in everyday life:

 

 

Process Description

 A process description explains how a complex event occurs, including a mechanical process (i.e. how donuts are made) or natural event (i.e. how lightning is produced). You can choose a process that is specific to your field, or one that people may be curious about:

 

It is important to note that a product or process description is not an instruction set. An instruction set provides steps a user would take in order to complete a task (for example, steps to change oil in a car). In contrast, product and process descriptions describe how something works (for example, how oil functions to cool an engine). The contrast is between how to use something and how that thing works (e.g. how to use a microwave versus how the microwave heats food). For this assignment, you should focus on how things work, not how to use them. The next assignment will ask you to focus on instructions.

 

For Your Consideration

Before you begin to write, make sure to consider the rhetorical situation: audience, purpose and subject in order to construct the most effective argument.

Audience and Purpose             

Select an audience that would be interested in learning about the process or product you explain. For example, you could assume an audience of students reading about your topic in a textbook. You could write a marketing document to persuade people to buy a product. Or, you could write a description that would be part of a proposal being sent to a potential client. In the assignment you should assume that the description is crucial to the work of your audience.

Gathering Information 

Take time to learn about the product or process you select. This might require you to read background information or otherwise inform yourself about the topic.

 

Contents

For product descriptions, start with a sentence definition of the product and its various parts. This could become an extended definition if you think your audience needs more introductory information. Next, describe each part of the product in more detail, including its dimensions, materials, function, and relation to other parts. Conclude with a description of one complete operating cycle for the product.

For process descriptions, start with a definition of the process and the different steps it involves. Again, this could become an extended definition if you think your audience needs more introductory information. Next, describe each step in more detail. Conclude with a summary of one complete cycle in the process.

In either case, though, remember to choose contents based on the audience's level of interest, experience, and knowledge about the topic.

 

 Format

Include design features to help the reader locate information and understand the product or process better: diagrams, headers, bulleted lists and other technical communication conventions you've learned about. The final paper should be at least 1000 words and should be single-spaced.

  Visuals

You have two options here. First, you can develop your own visuals (a rough sketch is fine if you don't know how to prepare one with a computer program). Second, you can use a "reference visual," which is a copy of a published image. If you use a published image, be sure to cite the source and discuss any modification that image needs to fit your context. (For example, if you're describing how a snowblower engine works, you might use an image from the manufacturer's website rather than drawing your own. And if you can't find the exact image you need, you could use a similar image and discuss how your ideal image might be different.)

 

Writer's Checklist for Product Descriptions  

Did you provide a one sentence definition of your product in the introduction?

Did you clearly indicate the nature and scope of the description?  

 

Follow-up Introduction

 

What is the item?   

What does it do?   

What is its function?   

What does it look like?   

What is its principle of operation?   

What are its principal parts?  

Did you include a graphic identifying all the principal parts?  

 

The Major Components of the Body

 

Did you choose an appropriate organizing principle?  

Have you included graphics for each of the components?

 

The Conclusion

 

Have you summarized the major points in the part-by-part description?  

Have you included (where appropriate) a description of the item performing its function or an attempt to motivate the reader to take action?   

 

Writer's Checklist for Process Description 

Did you provide a one sentence definition of your process in the introduction?

Did you clearly indicate the nature and scope of the description?  

Follow-up Introduction

What is the process?

What is its function?

Where and when does the process take place?

Who or what performs it?   

How does the process work?

What are its principal steps?   

Did you include a graphic identifying all the principal steps?   

 

The Main Components of the Body  

Have you discussed the steps in chronological order?

Are the causal relationships clear among the steps?  

Have you used the present tense?  

Did you include graphics for each of the principal steps?   

 

Conclusion

Have you summarized the major points in the step-by-step description?   

Does your reader understand the importance or implications of the process?

Have you motivated the reader to take action?

 

Include your Email Address on Project Page 

I will send your grades through email.  

 

Source: Mike Markel's Technical Communication 8^th Edition.

Files

 Chapter 9 Power Point

Chapter 9 Quiz

Chapter 10 Power Point

Chapter 10 Quiz

Chapter 10 Bonus Questions

 

Student Work

Example #1 How Well Monitoring Works

Example #2 Wind Turbines

Example #3: The Nitrogen Cycle

Example #4 Human Powered Aircraft

Example #5 How a Flute is Made

Example #6: How Slingshot Works

Example #7:Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters

Planning Worksheet

Rough Draft Worksheet

Evaluation

Evaluation Criteria Assignment #4 Technical Description
		Excellent	Good	Needs Work
Completeness	The description is complete (includes all the information requested).  Additionally, the description follows Markel's four principles for writing descriptions. Includes visual argument.
Detail	The description is clear and substantial. The description provides comprehensive, specific, and precise detail. The sentence definition effectively begins the description, and the visual enhances the description.
Format and organization	Readers will be able to find the information they need. Design features enhance readability. Paragraphs utilize effective topic sentences.  Headings are clear. Title is effective. Includes bullet lists. Paragraph coherence.
Style	The description gives specific information in efficient sentences. Paragraphs are unified. Includes transitions within and between paragraphs.
Audience adaptation Mechanics	The description clearly addresses a specific audience, and it helps the audience understand the product or process.     Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct.
Participation	Attendance, in-class writing assignments, planning worksheet, posted rough draft, and one peer review (30% grade).

End Note