Presentation for U. Idaho technical writing course.

1. DESCRIPTIONS in Technical Writing

2. Questions that govern the act of description:
• How does X work?
• What does it look like?
• What is it made of?
• How has it been put together?
• What does it do?

3. Descriptions provide information that allows people
to successfully do their jobs, make appropriate
purchases, or accomplish other sorts of tasks.

4. Information Typically Included in
Technical Descriptions
• Background (depending on placement)
• Features
• Physical attributes (shape, size, texture, color,
position, material)
• Functions
• Characteristics (qualities)
• Visuals

5. Difference between Definition and Description in
Technical Writing
Definition Description
Typical individuals are 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long and
weigh 30 to 35 grams (1.1 to 1.2 oz). Queens are
larger and may weigh well over 50 grams (1.8 oz), the
largest reaching 80 grams (2.8 oz). They are well-adapted
to their underground existence. Their eyes
are quite small, and their visual acuity is poor. Their
legs are thin and short; however, they are highly
adept at moving underground and can move
backward as fast as they can move forward. Their
large, protruding teeth are used to dig and their lips
are sealed just behind the teeth, preventing soil from
filling their mouths while digging. About a quarter of
their musculature is used in the closing of their jaws
while they dig - about the same proportion as found
in the human leg.[5] They have little hair (hence the
common name) and wrinkled pink or yellowish skin.
They lack an insulating layer in the skin.
Its karyotype has 2n = 60.[2]

6. Written Components of Technical
Descriptions
Introduction
Background (depending on context)
Parts, Characteristics, or Steps
Visuals

7. Introduction
• Name the object/process,
• Identify what audience needs to know about
background (and why),
• Give short description of object/process (what
is it? or how does it happen?
• Provide forecasting statement about what’s in
your developed description.

8. Background
• Explains why this description will be useful to
the audience (what, exactly, will it enable them
to understand or do?).
• Provides information and/or definitions that
the audience needs to know in order to
understand the description.

9. Parts, Characteristics, and Steps
• Parts are the physical components of the thing.
• Characteristics are describable aspects of the
thing, but not parts (length, width, material,
etc.)
• Steps are the parts of a process (explain how the
thing is used, or how it’s created, e.g.).

10. Visuals
• Graphics, illustrations, photographs, tables,
charts, etc., that support your written
description.
• Make sure they’re appropriate for the audience
and purpose of your description.