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TECHNICAL WRITING
Technical writing is a written
communication which by nature has the
characteristics of business, science and
technology. It focuses on audience selection,
makes use of precise, economical and
unemotional language and employs technical
jargon. Likewise, it uses certain conventional
and organizational format
Technical writing is any written form of writing or drafting technical communication used in a variety of technical and occupational fields, such as computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, aeronautics, robotics, finance, consumer electronics, and biotechnology.
Point of Contrast Technical Writing Literary/ Creative Writing
subject Scientific/ technical Generally about life
readership specific general
format formal informal
language Literal/direct/denotative Figurative/ indirect/connotative
style Impersonal/simple Personal/elaborated
tone Serious/unemotional Light/ conversational
content Objective/neutral Subjective/opinionated
purpose Informative/instructional Informative/entertaining
Two Basic Aspects of Technical Writing
- end products- skills used to make the
end products
END PRODUCTS OF TECHNICAL WRITING
Business letter abstractTechnical report graphic aidsFeasibility report handbookBrochureContractInstructional manualProposalMemorandumSpecification
A memorandum is an important form of written communication circulated within the company and its branches which is used to disseminates a message or information. ( Manalo & Fermin)
A memorandum (abbrev.: memo) was from the Latin verbal phrase memorandum est, the gerundive form of the verb memoro, "to mention, call to mind, recount, relate",[1]
which means "It must be remembered (that)...". It is therefore a note, document or other communication that helps the memory by recording events or observations on a topic, such as may be used in a business office.
Instructional Manual describes the procedures on how to install, operate and maintain a gadget or equipment
An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis review, conference proceeding or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject or discipline, and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. When used, an abstract always appears at the beginning of a manuscript or typescript, acting as the point-of-entry for any given academic paper or patent application.
The hydrodynamics of dolphin draftingby Daniel Weihs, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.Abstract:Background Drafting in cetaceans is defined as the transfer of forces between individuals without actual physical contact between them. This behavior has long been surmised to explain how young dolphin calves keep up with their rapidly moving mothers. It has recently been observed that a significant number of calves become permanently separated from their mothers during chases by tuna vessels. A study of the hydrodynamics of drafting, initiated in mechanisms causing the separation of mothers and calves during fishing-related activities, is reported here.
Results Quantitative results are shown for the forces and moments around a pair of unequally sized dolphin-like slender bodies. These include two major effects. First, the so-called Bernoulli suction, which stems from the fact that the local pressure drops in areas of high speed, results in an attractive force between mother and calf. Second is the displacement effect, in which the motion of the mother causes the water in front to move forwards and radially outwards, and water behind the body to move forwards to replace the animal's mass. Thus, the calf can gain a 'free ride' in the forward-moving areas. Utilizing these effects, the neonate can gain up to 90% of the thrust needed to move alongside the mother at speeds of up to 2.4 m/s. A comparison with observations of eastern spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) is presented, showing savings of up to 60% in the thrust that calves require if they are to keep up with their mothers.
Conclusions A theoretical analysis, backed by observations of free-swimming dolphin schools, indicates that hydrodynamic interactions with mothers play an important role in enabling dolphin calves to keep up with rapidly moving adult school members
A specification (often abbreviated as spec) is an explicit set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, product, or service.
Exact statement of the particular needs to be satisfied, or essential characteristics that a customer requires (in a good, material, method, process, service, system, or work) and which a vendor must deliver. Specifications are written usually in a manner that enables both parties (and/or an independent certifier) to measure the degree of conformance.
A brochure (also referred to as a pamphlet) is a type of leaflet. Brochures are advertising pieces mainly used to introduce a company or organization, and inform about products and/or services to a target audience. Brochures are distributed by mail, handed personally or placed in brochure racks.
Proposal is a written offer to solve a particular problem or need.
Business letter is a form of written communication used to transact business which cannot be conveniently conducted orally.
A graphic aid a text feature that helps the reader better understand the text visually. Such as tables, charts, timelines, captions, etc.
Wholistic Guide to TechnicalWriting ( Zall, 1980)
AccuracyBrevityConfidenceDignityEmphasisFacilityGrammatical CorrectnessHonestyIllustration
JudgmentKnowledgeLogicMechanical NeatnessNormal ProcedureObjectivityPlanningQualificationRevision
Straight SentencesThoroughnessUnityViewpointWord ChoiceZest
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL WRITING ( MILLS AND WALTER)
1. Technical Writing is written for specific person or group of people, real or imaginary, and they assumed to be intelligent but uninformed.
2. Technical Writing is written for a purpose. All wordsshould contribute to the intended purpose.
3. Technical writing uses simple, concrete and familiar language
4. Technical writing follows the “principle of first’.5. Technical Writing must be presentable and
attractive.
Use of Language in Technical Writing
Friendly Words: Goodwill over Indifference
Indifference: In reference to your request for our electrical bid on Project A…
Goodwill: Thank you for asking Roberts
Electric to submit a bid for the electrical work for Project A. we will be happy to…
Indifference: As a dental care provider,
it is important that your team keeps on schedule.
Goodwill:As a provider of quality dental care, I know that it is important to you that your team keeps on schedule.
Indifference: Attach your comments soon as you can, so we can get started.
Goodwill: I look forward to receiving your comment, so we can get started
Precision in the use of Wordsability/ capacity filtrate/ filteradjacent/ contiguous indicated/
requiredadvise/ tell/ inform infer/ implyaffect/ effect liable/ likelyalternative/ choice maximum/optimumamong/ between oral/ verbal
percent/ percentage
apparent/ obvious/ evident perfect/ uniqueappreciate/understand practical/ practicableassume/ presume
assure/ insure principle/ principal
balance/ remainder proportion/ part
bimonthly/ semimonthly reaction/ opinion
conclude/ decide replace/ reinstall
deteriorate/ degenerate target/ objective theory/ idea/ view/ opinion
encounter/ experience essentially/ basically universally/ generally few/less
A large number/part Many/mostA number of SomeA variety of Many, DifferentAbsolutely essential EssentialAccede to Agree to, AllowAccentuate StressAccorded GivenAcquiesce AgreeAdditional Added, More, Other
Address DiscussAdequate enough EnoughAdjacent to Next toAdvantageous Helpful, UsefulAdversely impact on Hurt, Set
backAfford an opportunity Allow, LetAggregate Total, SumAlleviate Ease, ReduceAppraise Tell, InformAs a consequence of BecauseAs a means of To
Ascertain Find out, LearnAt present NowAt the present time NowAt this point in time Now
Special Techniques of Technical Writing
DefinitionDescription of Mechanism
Description of a ProcessClassification and Partition
Interpretation
DEFINITION
It is giving meaning or explanation to a word or thing.
Words or “terms” are just symbols for real things. The thing which the word or terms refer to is call “referent”.
Categories of Words (Mills and Walter)
1.Familiar words for familiar things2.Familiar words for unfamiliar things3.Unfamiliar words for familiar things4.Unfamiliar words for unfamiliar
things
Familiar words for familiar things
These are words both known by the reader and the writer.
Example:
chalk shirt shoesnoodles
Familiar words for unfamiliar things
Words that seem to be familiar but when technical people use , they may have different meaning.
Mouse cheaterDirty Christmas treeApron lakeballoon
Unfamiliar words for familiar things
Monosodium glutamate Offy (off-license)
Analgesic Mackintosh
Sodium Chloride Aubergine
dimethyl ketone; 2-propanone carbon crystal
Braces
aluminum potassium sulfate torch
Unfamiliar words for unfamiliar things
EncephalopathyRecrudescencepostpartumaneurysm VaricellaA la CarteAd hoc Blatherskite
Callipygian - Having well-shaped beautiful buttocks. This fascinating obscure term. The word came into English in the late 1700s from Greek, kallipugos, which was used to describe a statue of Venus , from kallos meaning beauty, and puge, meaning buttocks. Kallos is also a root of the word calligraphy (decorative handwriting/lettering), and callisthenics (graceful gymnastics).
Methods of Definition
InformalFormal Sentence Definition
Amplified Definition
a. further definitionb. concrete examples and instances
c. comparison and contrastd. word derivation
e. negative statementf. physical descriptiong. analysish. basic principle
I. cause and effect j. location
Description of Mechanism
- introduction- part- by- part description- conclusion
Description of MechanismI. Introduction
A. What the mechanismsB. PurposeC. General AppearanceD. Division into principal parts
II. Part-by-part DescriptionA. part number one
1. what the part is2. purpose3. appearance ( including comparison)4. division into subparts
a. subpart number one (1) what the subpart is (2) purpose (3) appearance including comparison (4) detailed description (a) shape (b) size (c) relationship to other parts (d) methods of attachment (e) material
b, c …III. Brief description of mechanism in operation
Description of a ProcessI. IntroductionII. Equipment and MaterialsIII.Step-by-step Description of the
ActionIV.Conclusion
Classification and PartitionClassification - act of locating a specimen of all of the different kinds of objects which possess a given characteristic/s.Partition - division of unit into its componentsInterpretationThis is the art of establishing meaningful pattern of relationship among group of facts.