Technical definition and description

Overview
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. Its 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.
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:
Manual grass clippers
Fuel cell
Battery
Catalytic converter
Manual can opener
A computer or video game
A specific car model
A process description explains how a complex event occurs, including a mechanical process (i.e. how a washing machine works) 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:
How a specific drug works
How steel is made
How fuel cells work
How a computer compiles and executes a program
How a microwave works
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.
Audience and Purpose
For this assignment, you will be writing to a general audience that lacks any specialized knowledge of the product or process. However, this audience should be motivated to understand the product or process that you are describing. You must describe it in a manner that will be accessible to this non-technical 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. Please note that as you use information from sources, you must cite it appropriately. Please dont plagiarize. For this assignment, focus only on a final bibliography that includes all your sources of information and graphics, not in-text citations.

You can find APA guidelines here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html
You can find MLA guidelines here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

Either citation style is acceptable for more information, explore around the relevant section of the Purdue OWL website to see the basics.
Suggested Approach/What I Will Be Looking For
For product descriptions, start with a sentence definition of the product and its various parts. Remember that at the most basic level, a definition should include the item, category, and distinguishing characteristics. This could (and likely should) become a longer or 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 a longer or 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. Note that process descriptions are far more likely to be organized chronologically (for example, step one, step two, etc.), while product descriptions may be organized spatially or functionally.
Format
The format for this essay is more flexible than traditional academic essays. While your assignment may resemble an academic essay in some ways, you may also use a fuller infographic format like you saw in Thing Explainer. In either case, use visual design elements like diagrams, illustrations, headings, and lists to help readers locate information and better understand the product or process.
The final paper should be at least 1250 words. If you are submitting in a format other than a Word Document (like a PDF or a tool mentioned immediately below), you must include a Word or other simple text file (.docx, .doc, .rtf, .txt) that includes only the words used in your definition and description (in other words, no diagrams or illustrations with special formatting).
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). If you are interested in creating your own visuals, especially if you are using an infographic/Thing Explainer format or simple illustrations, consider using one of the following tools:
Canva.com (create a poster/infographic from scratch or use a template)
Prezi.com (get started with Prezi Design for an infographic-friendly format)
Piktochart.com (much like Canva, create an infographic or poster)
In any case, you may be interested in using a free trial to get extra tools only available in the paid versions. Just remember to cancel in time after you hand in your final draft, and make sure you save a backup!
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 youre describing how a snow blower engine works, you might use an image from the manufacturers website rather than drawing your own. And if you cant find the exact image you need, you could use a similar image and discuss how your ideal image might be different.)
A NOTE ON FIRST DRAFTS: Your first draft does not have to be complete or perfect. In most cases, you will have at least a week for revision. You will go through peer review and receive comments from me, which means that drafts can be, well, very drafty. A partially complete draft, a draft you know has some issues to sort out, or a draft stuck in a rut are all acceptable – it’s more important to hand in something timely that you can receive feedback on. During the revision process, you’ll have a chance to ask questions of your readers or ask for specific types of feedback, and I encourage you put some thought into things and do so. Finally, drafts are not worth points in UBLearns, but whether you handed in a draft and responded to feedback will be factored into your final grade (see the Draft Workshops policy for more on this).

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