Assignment Three: Technical Descriptions
For this assignment you will either be creating a technical description or an extended technical definition. Officially, an extended technical definition is a microgenre of a technical description, but there are some differences worth noting.Technical descriptions are "longer explanation[s] . . . of the physical or operational features of an object, mechanism, or process"(Markel 534). While technical descriptions include technical definitions, an extended technical definition is slightly different.
An extended definition includes the three parts of a basic sentence definition, "[1]the term being defined, [2]the category in which the term belongs, and [3]the distinguishingfeatures that differentiate it from its category" (Johnson Sheehan 155). It also expands the definition by adding more details of an object, process, or idea (Markel 534). It is divided by adding some (all) of the following: examples, partition, principle of operation, analogy,negation, and etymology (Markel 538 - 541).
Technical descriptions need a title/indication of the nature/scope of what the description will accomplish; anintroduction that answers the questions in table 20.1 on page 545; a body with appropriate detail that discusses each step or section with detail, creativity, and clarity; and a conclusion that usually explains how the steps work together or summarizes the main steps. Look at the guidelines on page 547 for writing tips and additional help.
What you choose to do this on is up to you. You are free to choose any object, place, or process (and the definition of these can be pretty loose-think about my spider example). If you want to choose something that interests you, something you currently work with, something from your future workplace, or something else entirely-go for it. If you want to do something out of the ordinary you can always ask me if it's okay.
Requirements
• The description/definition should be between 600 to 1000 words.
• It should be typed in a serif font.
• It must focus on clear writing that uses creative and technical writing techniques.
• It should be written for an audience similar to Wikipedia.