The document discusses technical descriptions and their purpose and elements. It identifies two main types of technical descriptions - product descriptions, which describe what an object is like, and process descriptions, which describe how something works. The document outlines key elements of a good technical description, including a clear and limiting title, appropriate level of detail, effective visuals, and appropriate sequence. Sequence can be spatial, functional, or chronological. It also discusses being objective by using precise, photographic language when writing technical descriptions.

1. TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTIONS
Introduction to

2. OBJECTIVES

3. OBJECTIVES
Identify the purpose of
technical descriptions

4. OBJECTIVES
Recognize the two main
types of description

5. OBJECTIVES
Identify the elements of
a good technical
description

6. OBJECTIVES
Identify ways of being
objective

7. TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION

8. a detailed discussion of
the physical aspects of an
object or process
TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION

9. Like a technical
definition, a technical
description tells us
what something is

10. A description gives additional
information to help the reader
visualize what’s
being described

11. J?

12. J?
shape size
colormaterial
function operation

13. 1
OF TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
TWO
TYPES

14. Product Process
KKk

15. Product Process
KKk
Describes what
the object is like

16. Product Process
KKk
Describes what
the object is like
for people who
want to use the
product

17. Product Process
KKk

18. Product Process
KKk
Describes how
something works

19. Product Process
KKk
Describes how
something works
for people who
want to know how

20. 2
KEY
ELEMENTSOF A GOOD TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

21. No matter which kind of
definition you’re writing, there are
some key elements you’ll need
to include.

22. CLEAR AND
LIMITING TITLE
CLEAR AND
LIMITING TITLE

23. The title should promise exactly
what the description will deliver.

24. “BMW: Safety
First”

25. “BMW: Safety
First”
“How the Anti-
Lock Braking
System on the
BMW X5
Works”

26. APPROPRIATE
LEVEL OF
DETAIL
APPROPRIATE
LEVEL OF
DETAIL

27. Give enough detail to convey a
clear picture but don’t burden
the reader with unnecessary
information.

28. know who your
audience is and their
purpose for reading
the description

29. high detail
low detail

30. EFFECTIVE
VISUALS
EFFECTIVE
VISUALS

31. Use drawings, diagrams and
photographs with captions to
help users understand what
they are looking at.

32. avoid verbal and visual clutter

33. APPROPRIATE
SEQUENCE
APPROPRIATE
SEQUENCE

34. Present the information in an
order that helps the reader
process it

35. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen

36. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen

37. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen
part of most physical
descriptions

38. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen
part of most physical
descriptions
used when you want
the reader to visualize
a static object

40. 1
2 3 4
5

41. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen

42. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen
used to describe a
process or procedure

44. 1
2 3 4
5

45. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen

46. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen
reflects the order
in which the parts
function

47. spatial
y
based on where
the parts of an
object are
located
functional
F
reflects the
order in which
the parts
function
chronological
H
shows the
time at which
things happen
reflects the order
in which the parts
function
used to describe a
device or
mechanism in use

49. 1
3
4
5
2

50. 3
WHEN WRITING TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS
BEING
OBJECTIVE

51. USE
PHOTOGRAPHIC
LANGUAGE
USE
PHOTOGRAPHIC
LANGUAGE

52. help the reader visualize
the item being described

53. only describe things you
would see in a photograph

54. BE PRECISEBE PRECISE

55. Use high information words
that enable readers to picture
the item

56. use exact
measurements
specify
locations
Q
use words like
‘above’, ‘behind’,
‘adjacent’ and
‘parallel’
use correct
names
avoid using terms
like ‘thing’
k !

58. “The volume controls
are conveniently
placed.”

59. “The volume controls
are conveniently
placed.”
“The volume controls are
located on the left side of
the handset,28 mm from
the top, parallel with the
‘silent’ switch.”

60. SUMMARYSUMMARY